Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chinthamani Chinthamani

From Kizhakku Mugam · 1996

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
K. S. Chitra, Chorus
Music director
Adhithyan
Details
Kizhakku Mugam1996

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
………………...
Chorus
Haei haei hahaehaeiHey hey haha-hey
Hoyi hoyiHoi hoi
Haei haei haeiHey hey hey
Female
Chinthaamani chinthaamaniChinthamani, Chinthamani
Chikkupukku chinthaamaniChikkupukku Chinthamani
Nenjil enna koyil maniWhy is a temple bell ringing in the heart?
Paavaada uduththi powdera pottuWearing a skirt and applying face powder
Pallikku ponaa paththu maniShe went to school at ten o'clock
Female
Chinthaamani chinthaamaniChinthamani, Chinthamani
Chikkupukku chinthaamaniChikkupukku Chinthamani
Paavaada uduththi powdera pottuWearing a skirt and applying face powder
Pallikku ponaa paththu maniShe went to school at ten o'clock
Male
………………....
Chorus :……………….Chorus: ...
Chorus
Tv paththaathaa school-lu edhukkuIsn't TV enough, why do we need school?
Paadam paththaathaa paritchai edhukkuAren't lessons enough, why do we need exams?
Chudithaar vanthaachchu thaavani edhukkuChudidhar has arrived, why do we need the traditional half-saree?
Chittukku siraichchaalai edhukkuWhy create a prison for a free little bird?
Female
Kannagi maduraiyil indru irunthaalIf Kannagi were in Madurai today
Aval vedikundai thirugi erinthiruppaalShe would have twisted and thrown a grenade instead!
Andru koozhukku paadiya avvai irunthaalIf Avvai, who sang for porridge back then, were alive today
Indru icecream thankavithaan solluvaalShe would surely compose poems praising ice cream!
Chorus
Dhinamthorum dhinam maarumEvery day, the world changes daily
Nee maraathirunthaal maari viduIf you haven't changed yet, change yourself now
Ini kovanam enbathu ration aanaalIf loincloths become rationed items tomorrow
Neeyum oru muzham vaangi viduYou too should go buy a cubit of it!
Female
Chinthaamani chinthaamaniChinthamani, Chinthamani
Chikkupukku chinthaamaniChikkupukku Chinthamani
Paavaada uduththi powdera pottuWearing a skirt and applying face powder
Pallikku ponaa paththu maniShe went to school at ten o'clock
Male
Haei haei haei….Hey hey hey...
Chorus
Yaeru poyaachchu tractor vanthaachchuThe plow is gone, the tractor has arrived
Vaiththiyar poyaachchu doctor vanthaachchuThe traditional healer is gone, the modern doctor has arrived
Veettukkul cinimaavum vaan vazhi vanthaachchuCinema has entered homes via airwaves
Viragu gas aagi pochchuFirewood cooking has turned into gas stoves
Female
Chinthaamani chinthaamaniChinthamani, Chinthamani
Chikkupukku chinthaamaniChikkupukku Chinthamani
Paavaada uduththi powdera pottuWearing a skirt and applying face powder
Pallikku ponaa paththu maniShe went to school at ten o'clock
Female
Chinthaamani chinthaamaniChinthamani, Chinthamani
Chorus :OhoChorus: Oho
Female :Chikkupukku chinthaamaniFemale: Chikkupukku Chinthamani
Chorus :OhoChorus: Oho
Female :Paavaada uduththi powdera pottuFemale: Wearing a skirt and applying face powder
Chorus :OhoChorus: Oho
Female :Pallikku ponaa paththu mani….Female: She went to school at ten o'clock...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Chinthaamani' from the film Kizhakku Mugam (1996) is a playful, upbeat track that humorously observes modernization and youth culture in rural and semi-urban Tamil Nadu. Through playful banter and energetic rhythms, the singer describes a young schoolgirl's daily routine while contrasting traditional customs with fast-paced contemporary shifts.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allusion (Purana/Literary Reference)

Kannagi maduraiyil indru irunthaal / Aval vedikundai thirugi erinthiruppaal

The lyrics humorously re-imagine classical Tamil icons—Kannagi from Silappatikaram and the legendary poetess Avvaiyar—adapting to modern modernities like grenades and ice creams.

Anaphora / Repetition (Emonai & Onomatopoeia)

Chinthaamani chinthaamani / Chikkupukku chinthaamani

The rhythm is built around playful repetition of rhythmic non-lexical words like 'Chikkupukku' and 'Chinthaamani' to mimic modern train motion and catchy folk rhythm.

Parallelism & Contrast

Yaeru poyaachchu tractor vanthaachchu / Vaiththiyar poyaachchu doctor vanthaachchu

Lines contrast traditional rural technology and lifestyle items with modern replacements in paired parallel structures (plow vs tractor, traditional doctor vs modern doctor).

Did you know?

Trivia

Kizhakku Mugam (1996) featured music composed by Adithyan, with lyrics written by Vairamuthu. The song uses lighthearted satire to highlight the transition of Tamil rural society into modern technology, media, and westernized clothing.

Keep listening

More from Kizhakku Mugam