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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ilanguyile

From Anbulla Rajinikanth · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Anbulla Rajinikanth1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ilanguyile chinnan chiru mayilaeOh young cuckoo, my tiny little peacock!
Adi unakkedhukku veena mana kavalaeWhy do you have unnecessary worries in your heart?
Ingae vazhithunaiya naan thaan irukaiyilaeWhen I am right here as your companion along the way!
Kovikkira paapa coimbatore ponaIf the angry little child goes to Coimbatore,
Kalakalannu sirithiduva vala valannu pesiduvaShe will laugh happily and chatter away nonstop!
Chorus :Kalakalannu sirithiduva vala valannu pesiduvaChorus: She will laugh happily and chatter away nonstop!
Female
Ilanguyile chinnan chiru mayilaeOh young cuckoo, my tiny little peacock!
Adi unakkedhukku veena mana kavalaeWhy do you have unnecessary worries in your heart?
Ingae vazhithunaiya naan thaan irukaiyilaeWhen I am right here as your companion along the way!
Kovikkira paapa coimbatore ponaIf the angry little child goes to Coimbatore,
Kalakalannu sirithiduva vala valannu pesiduvaShe will laugh happily and chatter away nonstop!
Chorus :Kalakalannu sirithiduva vala valannu pesiduvaChorus: She will laugh happily and chatter away nonstop!
Female
Kattu purathilae koda mazha penjudhaamOut in the forest, a summer rain fell, they say!
Chorus :HaiiiiiiiChorus: Yay!
Female :Koda mazhaiyilae kaattu yana nenanjudhaamFemale: In that summer rain, a wild elephant got drenched, they say!
Yana nenanjadhum hasukkunu thaan thumbhichaanAs soon as the elephant got wet, it sneezed suddenly with an 'achoo'!
Thummi mudinchadhum thumbhikkaiyum pinjidhaamAnd right after sneezing, its trunk got torn off, they say!
Female
Kadha kadhaiya naanum sollattumaShall I tell you story after story?
Chorus :Hoi hoiChorus: Hoi hoi!
Female :Kadu kadutha nenja killatumaFemale: Shall I pinch away the sorrow in your hardened heart?
Chorus :Hoi hoiChorus: Hoi hoi!
Female :Kannaga nee irundha kann imaiyaa naan iruppenFemale: If you are the eye, I will be the eyelid that guards it.
Kadalaaga nee irundha karai iranda naan iruppenIf you are the ocean, I will be the two shores that hold it.
un mugathil thuyaram enna kanmaniyae konjam siriWhy is there sorrow on your face, my darling? Smile a little!
Female
Ilanguyile chinnan chiru mayilaeOh young cuckoo, my tiny little peacock!
Adi unakkedhukku veena mana kavalaeWhy do you have unnecessary worries in your heart?
Ingae vazhithunaiya naan thaan irukaiyilaeWhen I am right here as your companion along the way!
Kovikkira paapa coimbatore ponaIf the angry little child goes to Coimbatore,
Kalakalannu sirithiduva vala valannu pesiduvaShe will laugh happily and chatter away nonstop!
Chorus :Kalakalannu sirithiduva vala valannu pesiduvaChorus: She will laugh happily and chatter away nonstop!
Chorus
…………………………….....
Female
Yeri karaiyilae naara onnu ninnuchaamOn the lake bank, a crane was standing, they say!
Embhi kudhikkura meena pudichu thinnuchaamIt caught and ate a fish that was leaping high!
Thinnu mudichadhum korattu vittu thoongichaamAfter eating, it let out a loud snore and fell asleep!
Vitta korattaiyilae meenu veliyae vandhuchaamFrom the powerful snore it blew, the fish popped back out!
Female
Thanniyilae thaavi kudichiduchaamIt leaped right back into the water!
Chorus :Hoi hoiChorus: Hoi hoi!
Female :Naaraiya parthu sirichiduchaamFemale: It looked at the crane and laughed!
Chorus :Hey heyChorus: Hey hey!
Female :Ammadi nee nenacha eppodhumae sirichidalaamFemale: Oh dear girl, if you make up your mind, you can always smile!
Polladha thunbathilum meenattam kudhichidalaamEven in dreadful suffering, you can leap out playfully like that fish!
Chithiramae rathinamae muthinamae konjam siriMy beautiful painting, my precious gem, my pearl, smile a little!
Female
Ilanguyile chinnan chiru mayilaeOh young cuckoo, my tiny little peacock!
Adi unakkedhukku veena mana kavalaeWhy do you have unnecessary worries in your heart?
Ingae vazhithunaiya naan thaan irukaiyilaeWhen I am right here as your companion along the way!
Kovikkira paapa coimbatore ponaIf the angry little child goes to Coimbatore,
Kalakalannu sirithiduva vala valannu pesiduvaShe will laugh happily and chatter away nonstop!
Chorus :Kalakalannu sirithiduva vala valannu pesiduvaChorus: She will laugh happily and chatter away nonstop!
Kalakalannu sirithiduva vala valannu pesiduvaShe will laugh happily and chatter away nonstop!
Lalala lalala lalala lalala ……………Tra-la-la tra-la-la tra-la-la tra-la-la...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Ilanguyile Chinnan Chiru Mayilae is an uplifting and comforting lullaby-like song designed to bring joy to a grieving or downhearted child. The singer addresses the child using tender endearments like 'young cuckoo' and 'tiny peacock', offering lifelong protection and companionship. To bring a smile to the child's face, the singer narrating silly, humorous fables—such as an elephant sneezing off its trunk in summer rain, or a consumed fish escaping through a crane's loud snore. The core message is one of optimism, love, and emotional resilience. It reminds the listener that happiness is a choice and that even in times of extreme adversity, one can leap back into joy, safe in the embrace of a loving protector.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Irettai Kilavi (Onomatopoeic Doublets)

Kalakalannu sirithiduva vala valannu pesiduva

Tamil rhythmic doublets used to represent joyful sounds and continuous action, adding a childlike, cheerful tone.

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagam)

Kannaga nee irundha kann imaiyaa naan iruppen

Deep metaphorical comparisons expressing total protection and togetherness—eyelids to eyes, and shores to the sea.

Simile (Uvamai)

Polladha thunbathilum meenattam kudhichidalaam

Comparing human emotional bounce-back to a fish leaping out of danger back into water.

Endearment Climax (Adukkuthodar / Imagery)

Chithiramae rathinamae muthinamae konjam siri

Stringing together terms of preciousness ('picture', 'gem', 'pearl') to comfort the listener.

Did you know?

Trivia

This famous track is from the 1984 Tamil film Anbulla Rajinikanth, in which Superstar Rajinikanth plays an idealized version of himself visiting an orphanage. Actress Meena played one of her most famous roles as a child artist (Rosy) in this movie. Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by Vani Jairam, the song remains one of the most iconic comforting tracks in Tamil cinema history.

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