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Panchalankuruchi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Chinnavane Thennavane

From Panchalankuruchi · 1996

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. Janaki, Krishnaraj, Bhuvana
Music director
Deva
Movie name
Panchalankuruchi
Movie release year
1996
Lyrics added on
15 Nov 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Chinnavanae thennavanae
Sabaiyerum mannavanae
Chinnavanae thennavanae
Sabaiyerum mannavanae
Varundhaana nadanthu paaraiyaa
Ini varungaalam unakku thaanaiyaa
Naadanda raasakka
Vaazhndha edam en magane
Mannu thaan kaanjirukkum
Indha makkal manasila eeram irukkum
Kai kaalu suthamirundhu
Kallamillaa manasirundha
Naadi desi engum
Un peru nelachirukkum
Porukku nee ponaa
Puludhi kelambaadha
Magaraasan kambeduthaa
Andha madhura thaan kalangaadha
Naalaikku poludhu
Adhu unakkaaga vidiyum
Nambikkai nee kondu
Nadadaa en sella maganae
Kannimaaru koyil odaiyila
Kanji kondu pora pon mayila
Maalaiyila manjolaiyila
Oru velai irukku vandhu vidu
Aasai amchaan kaathirundhaen naan
Arisi porichu kondu vaaren
Koodi pesi irukka thaan oru
Koraapaayum kondu vaaren
Maadham mummaari peiyum
Valamaana seemaiyada
Kalappa kaayum munnae
Kadhir velaiyum boomiyada
Rendu kaiyil kathi sutha
Vamsathilae vandhavanae
Seemai ellaam kappam katta
Seetezhudhi vittavanae
Ponnaana boomi aatha
Thannaala thara maatta
Vervai vedhachu vechaa
Verungaiyaa vidamatta
Paadupadu magane
Un pasi thagam theerum
Paanjaalankuruchi
Adhu pachakkodithaan kattum
My young one, prince of the south,
O king who steps into the royal court,
My young one, prince of the south,
O king who steps into the royal court,
Walk ahead without sorrow, my dear,
For the future surely belongs to you!
Kings who once ruled the land
lived right here, my son.
The soil may be parched and dry,
but there is warmth and kindness in the hearts of these people.
If you work with clean, honest hands
and keep a heart free of deceit,
across every corner of this land,
your name will live on forever.
If you march out to battle,
won't the dust rise in the air?
If a noble man like you raises his staff,
won't even the great city of Madurai tremble?
Tomorrow's new day
will dawn just for you.
Hold fast to your faith
and walk forward, my precious son!
By the stream near the Kannimar (seven virgin goddesses) temple,
O golden peacock carrying porridge to the fields,
this evening in the mango grove,
there is something special to do, so please come!
My darling, I have been waiting for you,
I will roast some rice and bring it along.
Just for us to sit together and talk,
I will bring a woven reed mat too.
Blessed with three good rains every month,
this is such a fertile land, my boy!
Even before the plow can dry,
the grain ripens in this rich soil!
You were born into a proud lineage
of warriors who can wield swords in both hands!
Issuing royal decrees
for all the surrounding lands to pay tribute!
Mother Earth, as precious as gold,
will not give her bounty on her own.
Yet if you sow your hard-earned sweat,
she will never leave you empty-handed.
Work hard, my son,
and your hunger and thirst will be quenched.
This land of Panchalankuruchi
will surely wave a green flag of victory for you!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Chinnavanae Thennavanae' from Panchalankuruchi is an uplifting folk ballad that blends parental guidance, heroic heritage, playful romance, and agrarian pride. It encourages a young protagonist to hold his head high, highlighting that true leadership comes from a clean heart, hard work, and living up to the legacy of historic warriors who once ruled the southern soil with courage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)

“Chinnavanae thennavanae / Sabaiyerum mannavanae”

Matching second consonants in adjacent lines ('Chinnavanae' / 'Sabaiyerum' - 'n' sounds; 'Mannu' / 'Indha').

Monae (First-letter alliteration)

“Paadupadu magane / Un pasi thagam theerum”

Alliteration of the initial letter 'P' in 'Paadupadu' and 'Pasi'.

Personification / Metaphor

“Ponnaana boomi aatha / Thannaala thara maatta”

Depicting Mother Earth (Ponnaana boomi aatha) as a generous mother who rewards honest hard work (sweat) with prosperity.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie Panchalankuruchi is named after the historic village ruled by Veerapandiya Kattabomman, a famous 18th-century chieftain who fought against British rule. The lyrics by Vairamuthu echo the traditional folk ballads (Kummi and Naattupura Paattu) native to the Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi regions of Tamil Nadu.

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