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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chittang Chittang Kuruvi

From Kavalan Avan Kovalan · 1987

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Vijay Anand
Details
Kavalan Avan Kovalan1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Chittaang chittaang kuruvi…ee….Little sparrow, chirping sparrow...
Chinna kuruvi….Little sparrow...
Sindhuthaan padikkuthaiyaaIt is singing a tune, sir
Seraga adikkuthaiyyaaIt is flapping its wings, sir
Panguni chiththirai vanthathumOnce the months of Panguni and Chithirai arrive
Parisam onnu podu….pozhuthoduGive the betrothal gift... well in time
Ada michchamum meedhiyumAh, the rest and remaining
Appo nee paarththukkalaamYou can take care of it then
Female
Ponnuthaan aallaachchuThe girl has now come of age
Poovudambu noolaachchuHer flower-like body has grown thin as a thread
Kanni naan ennaththa sollaWhat can I, a maiden, say?
Kannurangi naalaachchuIt has been days since I last slept
Female
Ennavo aayaachchuSomething has happened to me
En manasu noyaachchuMy heart has fallen sick
Unnaththaan ennaiya vannamConstantly thinking of you like oil
Puththi kettu poyaachchuI have lost my mind completely
Female
Asaththra neraththilae…ae…At a weary time...
Asaththura neraththilaeAt a time when I feel exhausted
Enna nee usuppuriyaeWhy are you teasing and waking me up?
Thovaichcha ravikka pola hanLike a freshly washed blouse, huh
En manasa puliyuriyaeYou are wringing my heart dry
Female
Thedhiya vachchu melaththu kottuSet the wedding date and beat the drums
Aiyyaravachchu thaaliya kattuBring the priest and tie the holy knot
Mama chinna mamaUncle, my dear little uncle
Ada chekku pola eppavumHey, like an oil press bull
Unnaiya suththi vaaraenI keep revolving around you always
Female
Chittaang chittaang kuruvi…ee….Little sparrow, chirping sparrow...
Female
Yaeththamthaan podaamaaWithout operating the water-lift
Yaereduththu poottaamaWithout hitching up the plow
Kaththiri veyilu paayumWhere the scorching summer heat strikes
Pachchai mannu naanthaanaeI am the raw, unbaked clay
Female
Yaenunnu ketkkamaWithout asking why
Yaereduththu paakkaamaWithout even looking up at me
Nikkira kalluli manganStanding like a stubborn stone
Needhaanaiyaa machchaanaeYou are that man, my cousin
Female
Manasukku yaeththapadiJust as my heart desires
Manasukku yaeththapadiJust as my heart desires
Mammuthan neeyurukkaWhile you exist as my grand lord
Female
Unnaiyae nenaichchapadiConstantly thinking only of you
Oththayila naanirukkaWhile I am left all alone
Female
Vaadaiyil enna vaattidalaamaShould the chilly north wind torment me?
Vaalipa theeya miittidalaamaaShould the fire of youth be stoked like this?
Mama chinna mamaUncle, my dear little uncle
Ada raaththiri naanoru maathiri aayidarenHey, at night I become an entirely different person
Female
Chittaang chittaang kuruvi…ee….Little sparrow, chirping sparrow...
Chinna kuruvi….Little sparrow...
Sindhuthaan padikkuthaiyaaIt is singing a tune, sir
Seraga adikkuthaiyyaaIt is flapping its wings, sir
Panguni chiththirai vanthathumOnce the months of Panguni and Chithirai arrive
Parisam onnu podu….pozhuthoduGive the betrothal gift... well in time
Ada michchamum meedhiyum appo nee paarththukkalaamAh, the rest and remaining you can take care of it then

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

In 'Chittaang Chittaang Kuruvi', the female protagonist playfully expresses her deep longing, romantic impatience, and desire to marry her cousin/beloved. Metaphorically comparing herself to a restless sparrow and soft unbaked clay, she candidly sings about her sleepless nights, yearning for his affection, and urge to formalize their relationship before the auspicious spring months pass.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upama)

Thovaichcha ravikka pola han / En manasa puliyuriyae

Compares her wrung-out heart to a freshly washed blouse being squeezed ('Thovaichcha ravikka pola en manasa puliyuriyae') and her endless circling to an oil press bull ('Ada chekku pola eppavum unnaiya suththi vaaraen').

Metaphor (Rupaka)

Pachchai mannu naanthaanae

Compares her vulnerable, untamed state under romantic heat to unbaked clay ('Pachchai mannu naanthaanae').

Second Letter Rhyme (Ethugai)

Ponnuthaan aallaachchu / Poovudambu noolaachchu

Rhyming of second letters across adjacent lines ('Ponnuthaan' / 'Poovudambu' / 'Kanni' / 'Kannurangi').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song from 'Kavalan Avan Kovalan' (1987) features music composed by Vijayanand with playful folk-oriented lyrics by Vaali, famously rendered in S. Janaki's energetic and expressive vocal style.

Keep listening

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