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Lyrics & meaning

Chinnanchiru Kiliye Kannamma

From Manamagal · 1951

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singers
V. N. Sundaram, M. L. Vasanthakumari
Music director
C. R. Subbaraman
Details
Manamagal1951

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Chinnanchiru kiliyae kannammaOh my tiny little parrot, Kannamma!
Chinnanchiru kiliyae kannammaOh my tiny little parrot, Kannamma!
Selva kalanchiyamaeMy treasure trove of wealth!
Chinnanchiru kiliyae kannammaOh my tiny little parrot, Kannamma!
Selva kalanchiyamaeMy treasure trove of wealth!
Ennai kali theerthae ulagilDispelling my sorrow in this world,
Ennai kali theerthae ulagilDispelling my sorrow in this world,
Yetram puriya vanthaai…aa…You came to elevate my life!
Female
Chinnanchiru kiliyae kannammaOh my tiny little parrot, Kannamma!
Chinnanchiru kiliyaeOh my tiny little parrot!
Female
Pillai kani amuthae kannammaSweet nectar-like fruit of a child, Kannamma!
Pesum por chithiramae…ae…A speaking picture crafted in gold!
Pillai kani amuthae kannammaSweet nectar-like fruit of a child, Kannamma!
Pesum por chithiramae…ae…A speaking picture crafted in gold!
Alli anaithidavae enn munnaeTo scoop you up and embrace you in front of me,
Alli anaithidavae enn munnaeTo scoop you up and embrace you in front of me,
Aadi varum thaenae….ae…..You come dancing like sweet honey!
Female
Chinnanchiru kiliyae kannammaOh my tiny little parrot, Kannamma!
Chinnanchiru kiliyaeOh my tiny little parrot!
Female
Oodi varugaiyiale kannammaWhen you come running towards me, Kannamma,
Ullam kulirathadiMy heart cools down with joy!
Oodi varugaiyiale kannammaWhen you come running towards me, Kannamma,
Ullam kulirathadiMy heart cools down with joy!
Aadi thirithal kandaal unai poiSeeing you wander and play around,
Aadi thirithal kandaal unai poiSeeing you wander and play around,
Aavi thazhuvuthadiMy soul longs to embrace you!
Female
Ucchi thanai mugarnthaalWhen I kiss the top of your head,
Garuvam oongi valaruthadiMy pride swells high!
Ucchi thanai mugarnthaalWhen I kiss the top of your head,
Garuvam oongi valaruthadiMy pride swells high!
Mechi unnai oorar pugazhnthaalWhen the townspeople praise and appreciate you,
Maeni silirkuthadiMy body thrills with goosebumps!
Mechi unnai oorar pugazhnthaalWhen the townspeople praise and appreciate you,
Maeni silirkuthadiMy body thrills with goosebumps!
Male
Kannathil muthamittalWhen I kiss you on the cheek,
Ullam than kalveri kolluthadiMy heart gets intoxicated with joy!
Kannathil muthamittalWhen I kiss you on the cheek,
Ullam than kalveri kolluthadiMy heart gets intoxicated with joy!
Kannathil muthamittalWhen I kiss you on the cheek,
Ullam than kalveri kolluthadiMy heart gets intoxicated with joy!
Unnai thazhuvidilo kannammaWhen I embrace you, Kannamma,
Unmatham aaguthadi…ae….It becomes sheer madness of ecstasy!
Unnai thazhuvidilo kannammaWhen I embrace you, Kannamma,
Unmatham aaguthadi…..It becomes sheer madness of ecstasy!
Un kannil neercvazhinthaalIf tears shed from your eyes,
Enn nenjil uthiram kottuthadiBlood drips from my heart!
Un kannil neercvazhinthaalIf tears shed from your eyes,
Enn nenjil uthiram kottuthadiBlood drips from my heart!
Enn kannir pavai yandro kannammaAre you not the apple of my eye, Kannamma?
Enn kannir pavai yandro kannammaAre you not the apple of my eye, Kannamma?
Enuyir ninathandroIs not my very life force yours?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Chinnanchiru Kiliye is one of Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar's most celebrated poems, conveying profound parental love and affection towards Kannamma, imagined as a young child. The narrator marvels at the child's presence, describing her as a treasure trove, a speaking golden painting, and nectar-like fruit that dispels all worldly sorrow and fills life with joy. The emotional intensity escalates through descriptions of physical affection—kissing her cheek, embracing her, and taking pride in her praise—culminating in an empathetic bond where a single tear from her eyes causes blood to bleed from the narrator's heart, demonstrating that her life and soul are inseparable from his own.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Rupakam)

Selva kalanchiyamae / Pesum por chithiramae

Compares the child to various precious entities like a parrot ('kili'), treasure trove ('selva kalanchiyam'), nectar-like fruit ('kani amudhu'), and a golden painting ('por chithiram').

Hyperbole (Atisayokti)

Un kannil neer vazhinthaal / Enn nenjil uthiram kottuthadi

Expresses extreme empathy by stating that if a tear falls from the child's eyes, blood drips from the speaker's heart.

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Oodi varugaiyiale / Aadi thirithal kandaal

Matching second consonant 'd' sound across lines to create rhythmic harmony.

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Trivia

Written by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar, this immortal Tamil poem was adapted into the 1951 movie 'Manamagal' starring Padmini and N. S. Krishnan. The film's music was composed by C. R. Subbaraman, and this classical track was rendered by Carnatic icon M. L. Vasanthakumari along with V. N. Sundaram.

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