Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

En Chella Kili Sirikka

From Idhaya Malar · 1976

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Idhaya Malar
Movie release year
1976
Lyrics added on
29 Jul 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
En chellakili sirikka kadhai sollavaa
En chellakili sirikka kadhai sollavaa
Pillai siriththidum sirippae azhagallavaa
En chellakili sirikka kadhai sollavaa
Pillai siriththidum sirippae azhagallavaa
Ennenna kadhaiyo nadakkirathu
Ennenna kadhaiyo nadakkirathu
En idhayamum ninaiththaal sirikkirathu
En chellakili sirikka kadhai sollavaa
Pillai siriththidum sirippae azhagallavaa
Mappillai paarkka ramanai thedi
Janagi ponaalaam
Mappillai paarkka ramanai thedi
Janagi ponaalaam
Antha mannavan thunaiyaai innoru seethai
Vaazhvathai paarththaalaam
Antha mannavan thunaiyaai innoru seethai
Vaazhvathai paarththaalaam
Ingu eththanai rama kadhai
Adhil idhu oru rama kadhai….
En chellakili sirikka kadhai sollavaa
Pillai siriththidum sirippae azhagallavaa
Kallaiyum pennaai maattri vaiththaanaam
Kaaviya thalaivan avan
Oru pennaiyum kallaai maattri vittaan
Intha kadhaiyin thalaivvan ivan
Oru pennaiyum kallaai maattri vittaan
Intha kadhaiyin thalaivvan ivan
Adhu devanin manamaagum
Idhu manithanin gunamaagum…
En chellakili sirikka kadhai sollavaa
Pillai siriththidum sirippae azhagallavaa
Kungumam konda mangal mangai
Kaigalil valaiyosai
Nalla kulamagal vaazhum koyili ellaam
Adhuthaan maniyosai
Nalla kulamagal vaazhum koyili ellaam
Adhuthaan maniyosai
Antha osaiyum ketkattumae adhil
Ullangal vaazhattumae….
En chellakili sirikka kadhai sollavaa
Pillai siriththidum sirippae azhagallavaa
Aaaaaaaahaah ooohoh mmmmmm
Mmmmmmm…..mmmmmmmm
Shall I tell a story to make my sweet darling smile?
Shall I tell a story to make my sweet darling smile?
Isn't a child's smile the most beautiful thing?
Shall I tell a story to make my sweet darling smile?
Isn't a child's smile the most beautiful thing?
So many strange stories happen in life!
So many strange stories happen in life!
Even my heart laughs when it thinks of them.
Shall I tell a story to make my sweet darling smile?
Isn't a child's smile the most beautiful thing?
Searching for Rama to choose her groom,
Janaki went, they say.
Searching for Rama to choose her groom,
Janaki went, they say.
Beside that king, living as his partner,
she saw another Sita, they say.
Beside that king, living as his partner,
she saw another Sita, they say.
How many stories of Rama are there in this world!
And among them, this is one such Rama's story...
Shall I tell a story to make my sweet darling smile?
Isn't a child's smile the most beautiful thing?
He turned even a stone into a woman, they say,
that noble hero of the epic.
He turned even a living woman into stone,
the hero of this story here!
He turned even a living woman into stone,
the hero of this story here!
That was the heart of a god;
this is the cruel nature of a mortal man...
Shall I tell a story to make my sweet darling smile?
Isn't a child's smile the most beautiful thing?
For a blessed woman wearing kumkum,
the chiming of bangles on her wrists—
in every home-temple where a good wife lives,
that is the sacred bell ringing!
in every home-temple where a good wife lives,
that is the sacred bell ringing!
May that sound always be heard, and within it,
may loving hearts live happily...
Shall I tell a story to make my sweet darling smile?
Isn't a child's smile the most beautiful thing?
Aaahhh... Oooh-hoh... Mmmmmm...
Mmmmmm... Mmmmmm...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Idhaya Malar

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.