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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chinnamma (Female)

From Veluchami · 1995

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
Deva
Details
Veluchami1995

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aariraariraaro arputhamae aariraariraaroOh wonder, lullaby sound aariraariraaro
Aariraariraaro arputhamae aariraariraaroOh wonder, lullaby sound aariraariraaro
Female
Chinnamma chinnammaaLittle lady, little lady
Singaara kann konda chinnamma ho…Little lady with beautiful, stylish eyes
Intha Chinnanchiru payaWhen this tiny young boy...
Kaaval irukkaiyil ennammaa...is here as your guardian, what is there to worry about, my lady?
Female
Thaaipaalu illaama edhu venumWhat else do you need besides mother's milk?
Nee konjam sollammaa hoPlease tell me a bit, my lady
Un thaai endra dheivaththaiThe goddess known as your mother,
Un kannil naan kandaen sellammaI saw her reflection in your eyes, my darling child
Female
Chinnamma chinnammaaLittle lady, little lady
Singaara kann konda chinnamma ho…Little lady with beautiful, stylish eyes
Intha chinnanchiru payaWhen this tiny young boy...
Kaaval irukkaiyil ennammaa...is here as your guardian, what is there to worry about, my lady?
Female
Chinnamaava suththi suththiSurrounding the little lady,
Seema vaeli katti vaippenI will put up a grand protective fence
Saamakkozhi koovum mattumUntil the midnight rooster crows,
Chanhirana kaaval vaippaenI will put the moon on guard duty
Female
Kannukkulla thottil kattiTying a cradle inside my eyes,
Chinna ponna poththi vaippaenI will wrap up and protect this little girl
Kaaththu keeththu andaamaththaanSo that even the wind cannot touch her,
Kaal kadukka kaaval nippaenI will stand guard until my legs ache
Female
Vera yaarum sontham thevaiyillaNo other relative is needed
Aaraaro ho….Lullaby sound Aaraaro...
Intha veluchaami vittaa vera saami illaOther than this Veluchami, there is no other god
Aaraaro ho….Lullaby sound Aaraaro...
Female
Chinnamma chinnammaaLittle lady, little lady
Singaara kann konda chinnamma ho…Little lady with beautiful, stylish eyes
Intha Chinnanchiru payaWhen this tiny young boy...
Kaaval irukkaiyil ennammaa...is here as your guardian, what is there to worry about, my lady?
Female
Aaraaro aaraaro aaraariraaroLullaby chant: Aaraaro aaraaro aaraariraaro
AaraariraariroLullaby chant: Aaraariraariro
Female
Thaayillaatha pillai endruAs a child without a mother,
Bhoomiyila illaiyammaaNo child exists on this earth, my lady
Thaayillaatha pillaikellaamFor all motherless children,
Dharmamae annaiyammaaRighteousness itself acts as the mother
Female
Kaaththu mazhai vanthaalaennaWhat if wind and rain come?
Koodavae vaaraenammaaI will come right along with you, my lady
Unga uppa thinnaenammaaI have eaten your salt and owe my loyalty, my lady
Usura kooda thaaraenammaaI am willing to give my very life, my lady
Female
Vera yaarum sontham thevaiyillaNo other relative is needed
Chinnamma ho…Little lady...
Intha veluchaami vittaa vera saami illaOther than this Veluchami, there is no other god
Chinnamma ho…Little lady...
Female
Chinnamma chinnammaaLittle lady, little lady
Singaara kann konda chinnamma ho…Little lady with beautiful, stylish eyes
Intha chinnanchiru payaWhen this tiny young boy...
Kaaval irukkaiyil ennammaa...is here as your guardian, what is there to worry about, my lady?
Female
Chinnamma chinnammaaLittle lady, little lady
Singaara kann konda chinnamma ho…Little lady with beautiful, stylish eyes
Intha chinnanchiru payaWhen this tiny young boy...
Kaaval irukkaiyil ennammaa...is here as your guardian, what is there to worry about, my lady?
Female
Aarariraariro….aarariraariro….Lullaby chant: Aarariraariro... aarariraariro...
Aarariraariro….aarariraariro….Lullaby chant: Aarariraariro... aarariraariro...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the movie Veluchami (1995) is a moving folk lullaby centered on loyalty, devotion, and protective guardianship. The singer comforts a young girl ('Chinnamma'), reassuring her that as long as he is around to protect her, she has no reason to fear. Seeing the sacred memory of her late mother in the child's eyes, he promises to go to extraordinary lengths to ensure her safety and happiness. The lyrics deeply emphasize traditional values of gratitude and loyalty ('eating one's salt'), proclaiming that for an innocent motherless child, righteousness (Dharma) itself steps in as a mother. He promises to offer his very life to shield her from any hardship.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Mohnai (Alliteration)

Unga uppa thinnaenammaa / Usura kooda thaaraenammaa

Repetition of the initial sound 'U' in consecutive lines ('Unga' and 'Usura') creates a rhythmic phonetic connection.

Hyperbole (Exaggeration)

Chanhirana kaaval vaippaen

The lyricist poetically exaggerates protective watchfulness by claiming he will assign the moon itself to stand guard until midnight.

Metaphor

Dharmamae annaiyammaa

Righteousness (Dharma) is directly metaphorized as a mother figure for motherless children.

Refrain / Folk Lullaby Motif

Aariraariraaro arputhamae aariraariraaro

Use of traditional Tamil lullaby vocables ('Aariraariraaro', 'Aaraaro') to establish a gentle, soothing mood.

Did you know?

Trivia

Veluchami (1995) stars Sarathkumar and Vineetha, with music composed by Deva and lyrics written by Vairamuthu. The song blends traditional rural lullaby phrasings with emotional narrative elements of loyalty and servitude common in mid-90s Tamil village dramas.

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