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Lyrics & meaning

En Chella Kili Sirikka

From Idhaya Malar · 1976

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Idhaya Malar1976

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
En chellakili sirikka kadhai sollavaaShall I tell a story to make my dear parrot smile?
Female
En chellakili sirikka kadhai sollavaaShall I tell a story to make my dear parrot smile?
Pillai siriththidum sirippae azhagallavaaIsn't a child's innocent smile the true definition of beauty?
En chellakili sirikka kadhai sollavaaShall I tell a story to make my dear parrot smile?
Pillai siriththidum sirippae azhagallavaaIsn't a child's innocent smile the true definition of beauty?
Female
Ennenna kadhaiyo nadakkirathuWhat kind of strange stories are unfolding around us!
Ennenna kadhaiyo nadakkirathuWhat kind of strange stories are unfolding around us!
En idhayamum ninaiththaal sirikkirathuEven my heart smiles when it reflects upon them.
Female
En chellakili sirikka kadhai sollavaaShall I tell a story to make my dear parrot smile?
Pillai siriththidum sirippae azhagallavaaIsn't a child's innocent smile the true definition of beauty?
Female
Mappillai paarkka ramanai thediSearching for Rama to see her groom,
Janagi ponaalaamJanaki went, so they say;
Mappillai paarkka ramanai thediSearching for Rama to see her groom,
Janagi ponaalaamJanaki went, so they say;
Female
Antha mannavan thunaiyaai innoru seethaiBeside that king, another Sita as his companion,
Vaazhvathai paarththaalaamShe saw living with him, so they say;
Antha mannavan thunaiyaai innoru seethaiBeside that king, another Sita as his companion,
Vaazhvathai paarththaalaamShe saw living with him, so they say;
Female
Ingu eththanai rama kadhaiHow many Ramayanas exist in this world?
Adhil idhu oru rama kadhai….Among them all, this is another story of Rama...
Female
En chellakili sirikka kadhai sollavaaShall I tell a story to make my dear parrot smile?
Pillai siriththidum sirippae azhagallavaaIsn't a child's innocent smile the true definition of beauty?
Female
Kallaiyum pennaai maattri vaiththaanaamHe turned even a stone into a living woman,
Kaaviya thalaivan avanHe was the noble hero of the ancient epic;
Oru pennaiyum kallaai maattri vittaanBut he turned a living woman into emotionless stone—
Intha kadhaiyin thalaivvan ivanHe is the protagonist of this present story;
Oru pennaiyum kallaai maattri vittaanBut he turned a living woman into emotionless stone—
Intha kadhaiyin thalaivvan ivanHe is the protagonist of this present story;
Female
Adhu devanin manamaagumThat was the compassionate heart of a deity,
Idhu manithanin gunamaagum…This is the cruel nature of a mortal man...
Female
En chellakili sirikka kadhai sollavaaShall I tell a story to make my dear parrot smile?
Pillai siriththidum sirippae azhagallavaaIsn't a child's innocent smile the true definition of beauty?
Female
Kungumam konda mangal mangaiAn auspicious maiden adorned with vermilion,
Kaigalil valaiyosaiWith the gentle tinkling of bangles on her wrists;
Nalla kulamagal vaazhum koyili ellaamIn every home where a virtuous woman lives like a temple,
Adhuthaan maniyosaiThat delicate chime is the sacred temple bell;
Nalla kulamagal vaazhum koyili ellaamIn every home where a virtuous woman lives like a temple,
Adhuthaan maniyosaiThat delicate chime is the sacred temple bell;
Female
Antha osaiyum ketkattumae adhilMay that divine sound echo far and wide,
Ullangal vaazhattumae….And in its harmony, may pure hearts flourish and live...
Female
En chellakili sirikka kadhai sollavaaShall I tell a story to make my dear parrot smile?
Pillai siriththidum sirippae azhagallavaaIsn't a child's innocent smile the true definition of beauty?
Aaaaaaaahaah ooohoh mmmmmmAaaaaaaahaah ooohoh mmmmmm
Mmmmmmm…..mmmmmmmmMmmmmmm.....mmmmmmmm

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

In 'En chellakili sirikka kadhai sollavaa' from Idhaya Malar (1976), the singer addresses a young child as her 'dear parrot', offering to tell stories while lamenting the deep ironies and sorrow of her marital life. She draws sharp parallels to the Ramayana: while the epic Lord Rama turned the stony figure of Ahalya back into a living woman, her modern husband has reduced a living, emotional woman into unfeeling stone through neglect and betrayal.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis / Irony (Muran)

Kallaiyum pennaai maattri vaiththaanaam ... Oru pennaiyum kallaai maattri vittaan

Contrasts Lord Rama turning stone into a woman (Ahalya) with the mortal man turning a living woman into stone.

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagamm)

Nalla kulamagal vaazhum koyili ellaam / Adhuthaan maniyosai

Compares a noble, virtuous woman's home to a sacred temple and her bangles' chime to temple bells.

Second-Letter Rhyme (Edukai)

Kungumam konda mangal mangai

The second consonant 'ng' rhymes across consecutive words/lines ('Kungumam', 'mangal', 'mangai').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Vishwanathan with lyrics by Pulamaipithan, this poignant lullaby-style song highlights P. Susheela's expressive vocals. It forms a central emotional crux in Idhaya Malar (1976), contrasting mythological ideals with modern relationship struggles.

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