Chinnachiru Kiliye
From Neethikku Thandanai · 1987
- Lyricist
- Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
- Singers
- K. J. Yesudas, Swarnalatha
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Neethikku Thandanai1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Chinnajchiru kiliyae kannammaa | Little tiny parrot, my Kannamma, |
| Selva kalanjiyamae….ae… | O treasure trove of wealth... |
| Ennai kali theerththae ulagil | Dispelling my sorrows, in this world |
| Yaetram puriya vanthaai | You arrived to elevate my life. |
| Male | |
| Chinnajchiru kiliyae kannammaa | Little tiny parrot, my Kannamma, |
| Selva kalanjiyamae….ae… | O treasure trove of wealth... |
| Ennai kali theerththae ulagil | Dispelling my sorrows, in this world |
| Yaetram puriya vanthaai | You arrived to elevate my life. |
| Female | |
| Pillai kaniyamuthae kannamma | Sweet child-nectar, my Kannamma, |
| Pesum porchiththiramae…ae… | A speaking golden painting... |
| Male :Pillai kaniyamuthae kannamma | Male: Sweet child-nectar, my Kannamma, |
| Pesum porchiththiramae…ae… | A speaking golden painting... |
| Female | |
| Alliyanaiththidavae en munnae | To gather and embrace you tight before me, |
| Aadi varum thaenae…. | O dancing honey... |
| Male :Thaenae….aadi varum thaenae…. | Male: Honey... O dancing honey... |
| Male | |
| Uchchithanai mugarnthaal | When I kiss the crown of your head, |
| Karuvam ongi valaruthadi | My sense of pride grows immensely, |
| Uchchithanai mugarnthaal | When I kiss the crown of your head, |
| Karuvam ongi valaruthadi | My sense of pride grows immensely, |
| Mechchiyunai oorar pugazhnthaal | When the townspeople praise you in admiration, |
| Maeni silirkkuthadi…ee… | My body thrills with joy... |
| Maeni silirkkuthadi… | My body thrills with joy... |
| Male | |
| Kannaththil muththamittaal ullanthaan | When I kiss your cheek, my inner heart |
| Kalveri kolluthadi…ee… | Gets intoxicated with bliss... |
| Female :Kannaththil muththamittaal ullanthaan | Female: When I kiss your cheek, my inner heart |
| Kalveri kolluthadi…ee… | Gets intoxicated with bliss... |
| Male | |
| Unnai thzhuvidilo kannammaa | When I embrace you, Kannamma, |
| Unmaththam aaguthadi…ee…. | It drives me into ecstatic delight... |
| Unnai thzhuvidilo kannammaa | When I embrace you, Kannamma, |
| Unmaththam aaguthadi…ee…. | It drives me into ecstatic delight... |
| Male | |
| Chinnajchiru kiliyae kannammaa | Little tiny parrot, my Kannamma, |
| Selva kalanjiyamae….ae… | O treasure trove of wealth... |
| Female :Ennai kali theerththae ulagil | Female: Dispelling my sorrows, in this world |
| Yaetram puriya vanthaai… | You arrived to elevate my life... |
சின்னஞ்சிறு கிளியே கண்ணம்மா
செல்வக் களஞ்சியமே......ஏ....
என்னைக் கலிதீர்த்தே உலகில்
ஏற்றம் புரிய வந்தாய்......
Little tiny parrot, my Kannamma,
O treasure trove of wealth...
Dispelling my sorrows, in this world
You arrived to elevate my life.
சின்னஞ்சிறு கிளியே கண்ணம்மா
செல்வக் களஞ்சியமே.....ஏ..
என்னைக் கலிதீர்த்தே உலகில்
ஏற்றம் புரிய வந்தாய்
Little tiny parrot, my Kannamma,
O treasure trove of wealth...
Dispelling my sorrows, in this world
You arrived to elevate my life.
சின்னஞ்சிறு கிளியே கண்ணம்மா
செல்வக் களஞ்சியமே....ஏ......ஏ.....
செல்வக் களஞ்சியமே.....
Sweet child-nectar, my Kannamma,
A speaking golden painting...
Male: Sweet child-nectar, my Kannamma,
A speaking golden painting...
பிள்ளைக் கனியமுதே கண்ணம்மா
பேசும் பொற்சித்திரமே.....ஏ.....
பிள்ளைக் கனியமுதே கண்ணம்மா
பேசும் பொற்சித்திரமே.....ஏ.....
To gather and embrace you tight before me,
O dancing honey...
Male: Honey... O dancing honey...
அள்ளியணைத்திடவே என் முன்னே
ஆடி வரும் தேனே.....
தேனே......ஆடி வரும் தேனே
When I kiss the crown of your head,
My sense of pride grows immensely,
When I kiss the crown of your head,
My sense of pride grows immensely,
When the townspeople praise you in admiration,
My body thrills with joy...
My body thrills with joy...
சின்னஞ்சிறு கிளியே கண்ணம்மா
செல்வக் களஞ்சியமே....ஏ......ஏ.....
செல்வக் களஞ்சியமே.....
When I kiss your cheek, my inner heart
Gets intoxicated with bliss...
Female: When I kiss your cheek, my inner heart
Gets intoxicated with bliss...
உச்சிதனை முகர்ந்தால்
கருவம் ஓங்கி வளருதடி
உச்சிதனை முகர்ந்தால்
கருவம் ஓங்கி வளருதடி
மெச்சியுனை ஊரார் புகழ்ந்தால்
மேனி சிலிர்க்குதடி.......ஈ.....
மேனி.... சிலிர்க்குதடி...
When I embrace you, Kannamma,
It drives me into ecstatic delight...
When I embrace you, Kannamma,
It drives me into ecstatic delight...
சின்னஞ்சிறு கிளியே கண்ணம்மா
செல்வக் களஞ்சியமே....ஏ......ஏ.....
செல்வக் களஞ்சியமே.....
Little tiny parrot, my Kannamma,
O treasure trove of wealth...
Female: Dispelling my sorrows, in this world
You arrived to elevate my life...
கன்னத்தில் முத்தமிட்டால் உள்ளந்தான்.....
கள்வெறி கொள்ளுதடி...ஈ.....
கன்னத்தில் முத்தமிட்டால் உள்ளந்தான்.....
கள்வெறி கொள்ளுதடி....ஈ...
உன்னை தழுவிடிலோ கண்ணம்மா
உன்மத்தம் ஆகுதடி.......ஈ.....
உன்னை தழுவிடிலோ கண்ணம்மா
உன்மத்தம் ஆகுதடி.......ஈ.....
சின்னஞ்சிறு கிளியே கண்ணம்மா
செல்வக் களஞ்சியமே.....ஏ....
என்னைக் கலிதீர்த்தே உலகில்
ஏற்றம் புரிய வந்தாய்..
சின்னஞ்சிறு கிளியே கண்ணம்மா
செல்வக் களஞ்சியமே....ஏ......ஏ.....
செல்வக் களஞ்சியமே.....
Chinnajchiru kiliyae kannammaa
Little tiny parrot, my Kannamma,
Selva kalanjiyamae….ae…
O treasure trove of wealth...
Ennai kali theerththae ulagil
Dispelling my sorrows, in this world
Yaetram puriya vanthaai
You arrived to elevate my life.
Chinnajchiru kiliyae kannammaa
Little tiny parrot, my Kannamma,
Selva kalanjiyamae….ae…
O treasure trove of wealth...
Ennai kali theerththae ulagil
Dispelling my sorrows, in this world
Yaetram puriya vanthaai
You arrived to elevate my life.
Pillai kaniyamuthae kannamma
Sweet child-nectar, my Kannamma,
Pesum porchiththiramae…ae…
A speaking golden painting...
Male :Pillai kaniyamuthae kannamma
Male: Sweet child-nectar, my Kannamma,
Pesum porchiththiramae…ae…
A speaking golden painting...
Alliyanaiththidavae en munnae
To gather and embrace you tight before me,
Aadi varum thaenae….
O dancing honey...
Male :Thaenae….aadi varum thaenae….
Male: Honey... O dancing honey...
Uchchithanai mugarnthaal
When I kiss the crown of your head,
Karuvam ongi valaruthadi
My sense of pride grows immensely,
Uchchithanai mugarnthaal
When I kiss the crown of your head,
Karuvam ongi valaruthadi
My sense of pride grows immensely,
Mechchiyunai oorar pugazhnthaal
When the townspeople praise you in admiration,
Maeni silirkkuthadi…ee…
My body thrills with joy...
Maeni silirkkuthadi…
My body thrills with joy...
Kannaththil muththamittaal ullanthaan
When I kiss your cheek, my inner heart
Kalveri kolluthadi…ee…
Gets intoxicated with bliss...
Female :Kannaththil muththamittaal ullanthaan
Female: When I kiss your cheek, my inner heart
Kalveri kolluthadi…ee…
Gets intoxicated with bliss...
Unnai thzhuvidilo kannammaa
When I embrace you, Kannamma,
Unmaththam aaguthadi…ee….
It drives me into ecstatic delight...
Unnai thzhuvidilo kannammaa
When I embrace you, Kannamma,
Unmaththam aaguthadi…ee….
It drives me into ecstatic delight...
Chinnajchiru kiliyae kannammaa
Little tiny parrot, my Kannamma,
Selva kalanjiyamae….ae…
O treasure trove of wealth...
Female :Ennai kali theerththae ulagil
Female: Dispelling my sorrows, in this world
Yaetram puriya vanthaai…
You arrived to elevate my life...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is an adaptation of Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar's immortal poem, which portrays a parent's profound affection and adoration for their young child, addressed lovingly as Kannamma. The lyricist metaphorically describes the child as a tiny parrot, a treasure trove, delicious sweet nectar, and a living golden painting that brings immense light into life, banishing all past misery. The poem captures the pure joy of simple moments—kissing the child's head, hearing others praise her, and hugging her—which bring boundless pride, thrilling bliss, and spiritual elevation to the parent's soul.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvam)
“Chinnajchiru kiliyae kannammaa”
The child is metaphorically referred to as 'Chinnajchiru kili' (little parrot), 'Selva kalanjiyam' (treasure trove), and 'Pesum porchiththiram' (speaking golden picture) to convey her priceless value.
Anaphora (Repetition)
“Uchchithanai mugarnthaal Karuvam ongi valaruthadi”
Repetition of key lines enhances melodic flow and emphasizes intense emotional tenderness.
Moni / Alliteration
“Kannaththil muththamittaal ullanthaan”
Consonance of sound 'Ch' in 'Chinnajchiru' and 'K' in 'Kannaththil muththamittaal' creates a rhythmic cadence in Tamil poetry.
Did you know?
Trivia
Originally authored by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar in the early 20th century, 'Chinnanjiru Kiliye' is one of the most famous child-devotional poems in Tamil literature. In the 1987 film 'Neethikku Thandanai', music legend M. S. Viswanathan scored the soundtrack, with iconic renditions sung by K. J. Yesudas and S. Janaki.
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