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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chitta Chitta Kuruvi Chinukku Than

From Paattukku Oru Thalaivan · 1989

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Paattukku Oru Thalaivan1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
………………………..The sprightly sparrow shows off its flair
Male
Sittaan sittaan kuruvi sinukku thaanA stylish ornament adorns this young girl's ear
Indha chinna ponnu kaadhil oru kunukku thaanChorus: Hey, the sprightly sparrow shows off its flair
Chorus :Hey sittaan sittaan kuruvi sinukku thaanA stylish ornament adorns this young girl's ear
Indha chinna ponnu kaadhil oru kunukku thaanTried to woo her by singing a song
Male
Paattu paadi madakka paathaTried to milk a bull instead
Kaala matta karakka paarthaOh, will your calculations ever work out or happen?
Ada palikkuma nadakkuma un kanakku thaanThe sprightly sparrow shows off its flair
Sittaan sittaan kuruvi sinukku thaanA stylish ornament adorns this young girl's ear
Indha chinna ponnu kaadhil oru kunukku thaanHoi, the sprightly sparrow shows off its flair
Chorus
Hoi sittaan sittaan kuruvi sinukku thaanA stylish ornament adorns this young girl's ear
Indha chinna ponnu kaadhil oru kunukku thaanThyagaraja Bhagavathar, KBS, and DMS
Male
Thiyaagaraaja baagavadharum kbs um dms umAren't they related to our master? Aren't they our father's lineage?
Aiyaavoda sondham thaanae appavoda vamsam thaanaeListening to our song... Chorus: Listening and listening
Enga paattaChorus :Kettu kettuMale: He copies and plays it... Chorus: Ilaiyaraaja
Male :Eduthu viduraarChorus :IlayaraasaMale: Caught off guard... Chorus: Forgetting to reign
Male :Asanthu irunthuChorus :Aazha maranthaaMale: That king... Chorus: The old king
Male :Andha raasaChorus :Pazhaiya raasaSa Ri Ga Ma Pa Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa
Male
Saa ri ga maa paa ga maa pa dha ni saaOur physical energy and voice are enough, Yaelo Ailasa
Enga saareeram podhum yaelo ailasaThe ragas of our fathers and grandfathers
Engappan paatan raagamAre now tucked safely inside our kurta pocket
Ippo jippa pocketulaThe sprightly sparrow shows off its flair
Male
Sittaan sittaan kuruvi sinukku thaanA stylish ornament adorns this young girl's ear
Indha chinna ponnu kaadhil oru kunukku thaanChorus: Hoi, the sprightly sparrow shows off its flair
Chorus :Hoi sittaan sittaan kuruvi sinukku thaanA stylish ornament adorns this young girl's ear
Indha chinna ponnu kaadhil oru kunukku thaanTried to woo her by singing a song
Male
Paattu paadi madakka paathaTried to milk a bull instead
Kaala matta karakka paarthaOh, will your calculations ever work out or happen?
Ada palikkuma nadakkuma un kanakku thaanThe sprightly sparrow shows off its flair
Sittaan sittaan kuruvi sinukku thaanA stylish ornament adorns this young girl's ear
Indha chinna ponnu kaadhil oru kunukku thaanHoi, the sprightly sparrow shows off its flair
Chorus
Hoi sittaan sittaan kuruvi sinukku thaanA stylish ornament adorns this young girl's ear
Indha chinna ponnu kaadhil oru kunukku thaanIf any leader gives us a command
Male
Thalaivar yaarum thalaiya pottaWe will sing a raga and sacrifice our lives
Raagam paadi usura viduvomThe mosquitoes that breed because of the rain
Mazhaiyinaala valarum kosuvaWe swat them in perfect rhythm
Thaalathodu naanga adippomIf given an inch... Chorus: We will take a mile
Male
Edatha kuduthaaChorus :Madatha pudippomMale: The pot kept inside the monastery... Chorus: We will take it
Male :Madathil irukkumChorus :Kodatha eduppomMale: Like a debt... Chorus: We will alter and beat it
Male :Kadatha pol adhaChorus :Maathi adippomMale: Even boiling tea... Chorus: We will cool and drink it
Male :Kodikkum teayaiyumChorus :Aathi kudippomThe song you sing is a complete disaster!
Male
Nee paadum paattu aiyoo arogaraIt makes no sense, go away, it is all half-baked
Puriyadhu podi ellam ara koraWhatever was torn, we stitched and wore well
Kizhinjadhellam nalla thechomThathom Thagidathom
Thathom thagidathomThe sprightly sparrow shows off its flair
Male
Sittaan sittaan kuruvi sinukku thaanA stylish ornament adorns this young girl's ear
Indha chinna ponnu kaadhil oru kunukku thaanChorus: Hey, the sprightly sparrow shows off its flair
Chorus :Hey sittaan sittaan kuruvi sinukku thaanA stylish ornament adorns this young girl's ear
Indha chinna ponnu kaadhil oru kunukku thaanTried to woo her by singing a song
Male
Paattu paadi madakka paathaTried to milk a bull instead
Kaala matta karakka paarthaOh, will your calculations ever work out or happen?
Ada palikkuma nadakkuma un kanakku thaanThe sprightly sparrow shows off its flair
Sittaan sittaan kuruvi sinukku thaanA stylish ornament adorns this young girl's ear
Indha chinna ponnu kaadhil oru kunukku thaanHeii, the sprightly sparrow shows off its flair
Chorus
Heii sittaan sittaan kuruvi sinukku thaanA stylish ornament adorns this young girl's ear
Indha chinna ponnu kaadhil oru kunukku thaan

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful Tamil folk track from 'Paattukku Oru Thalaivan' features humor, musical banter, and lively folk rhythms. The song humorously mocks someone trying to woo a girl with half-baked singing, comparing the attempt to trying to milk a bull. The singers proudly claim a rich musical lineage descended from Tamil musical icons like M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, K.B. Sundarambal, and T.M. Soundararajan, boasting that rhythm and melody run naturally in their blood. Throughout the track, the singers emphasize their spontaneous rhythmic talents—claiming they can swat mosquitoes in rhythm and master any melody effortlessly. Self-referential and witty, the song playfully teases contemporary musical trends while celebrating raw, inherent folk mastery.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Sittaan sittaan kuruvi sinukku thaan

Repetition of the 'S' sound in initial words creates a rhythmic, chirpy cadence mimicking a bird.

Idiomatic Hyperbole / Metaphor

Kaala matta karakka paartha

Comparing trying to woo someone with bad singing to 'trying to milk a bull' (Kaala matta karakka paartha).

Solvatam / Rhythm Syllables

Saa ri ga maa paa ga maa pa dha ni saa

Use of traditional Carnatic solkattu (solfa syllables) integrated into folk context.

Anaphora / Refrain

Sittaan sittaan kuruvi sinukku thaan

The repeated opening refrain anchors the song's playful tone across stanzas.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics playfully reference iconic Tamil music legends including M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, K. B. Sundarambal (KBS), and T. M. Soundararajan (DMS), alongside a self-referential mention of maestro Ilaiyaraaja.

Keep listening

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