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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannu Pada Poguthaiya

From Chinna Gounder · 1992

Lyricist
R. V. Udhaya Kumar
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Chinna Gounder1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Ooru kannu uravu kannuThe eyes of the village, the eyes of relatives,
Naai kannu nari kannuThe eyes of dogs, the eyes of foxes,
Noi kannu nolla kannuThe eyes of disease, squinted eyes,
Nalla kannu kolli kannuGood eyes, burning evil eyes,
Kanda kannu munda kannuRandom eyes, worthless eyes,
Karichi kottum elaa kannumAll eyes that pour envy and malice,
Kanda pini tholaiyattumMay all afflictions and illnesses disappear,
Kadugu pola vedikattumMay evil eyes burst like mustard seeds,
Nalladhellam nadakattumMay all good things happen,
Naadum kaadum sezhikattumMay the country and the forests flourish!
Male
{Kannu pada pogudhaiyaEvil eyes might fall upon you,
Chinna goundarae} (2)Oh Chinna Gounder!
Suthi poda venumaiyaWe need to ward off the evil eye for you,
Chinna goundaraeOh Chinna Gounder!
Unaku suthi poda venumaiyaWe need to perform the ritual to ward off the evil eye for you,
Chinna goundarae heyy…Oh Chinna Gounder, hey...
Chorus
Kannu pada pogudhaiyaEvil eyes might fall upon you,
Chinna goundaraeOh Chinna Gounder!
Suthi poda venumaiyaWe need to ward off the evil eye for you,
Chinna goundaraeOh Chinna Gounder!
Unaku suthi poda venumaiyaWe need to perform the ritual to ward off the evil eye for you,
Chinna goundarae …Oh Chinna Gounder...
Male : Amaa….Male: Yes...
Male
Saatchigalai set up pannumThe practice of setting up false witnesses,
Velai ingu illae illaeIs non-existent here,
Vakeelum poiya choluraLawyers telling lies,
Vadham ingu vandhadhillaeTo argue has never happened here,
Male
Ededuthu padichadhillaeYou have not read big books,
Evarukkum nee koranjadhillaeYet you are inferior to no one,
Vaakedupu nadandhadhillaeNo voting or elections have ever been held,
Ethilum eppovum thothadhillaeYou have never lost in anything, ever!
Male
{Veedhiyila oru veeranA brave hero on the streets,
Manu needhiyila nalla chozhan} (2)A righteous Chola king in delivering justice,
Male
Indha oorukulla nee dhaan aiyaIn this village, you alone, sir,
Engalukku thozhanAre a true friend to us,
Indha oorukulla nee dhaan aiyaIn this village, you alone, sir,
Engalukku thozhan hoiAre a true friend to us, hoi!
Chorus
Kannu pada pogudhaiyaEvil eyes might fall upon you,
Chinna goundaraeOh Chinna Gounder!
Suthi poda venumaiyaWe need to ward off the evil eye for you,
Chinna goundaraeOh Chinna Gounder!
Unaku suthi poda venumaiyaWe need to perform the ritual to ward off the evil eye for you,
Chinna goundarae …Oh Chinna Gounder...
Chorus
Naathu nadum velaiyilaeWhile planting the paddy saplings,
Paatu onnu venumA song is needed,
Paatukullae maamanukkuWithin the song, to my beloved uncle,
Seidhi solla venumA message needs to be conveyed,
Err pidikum kai pidichuHolding the hand that holds the plough,
Naan nadakka venumI wish to walk beside you,
Andha ezhumazhai saamiLord Ezhumalai of the Seven Hills,
Vandhu aadharikka venumMust come and support us,
Male
Err eduthu nee nadanthaWhen you walk holding the plough,
Maala vandhu thozhil vizhumGarlands come and rest on your shoulder,
Thozhirukum thundum angaeEven the towel resting on your shoulder,
Un kadhaiya solla varumWill tell stories of your greatness,
Male
Muthaana paramparai dhaanA precious ancestral lineage indeed,
Kuppanum suppanum annan thambi thaanCommon folk like Kuppan and Suppan are all brothers here,
Ellorum oramurai thaanEveryone belongs to one unified family,
Ezhaiyum sazhaiyum sarisaman thaanThe poor and the wealthy are treated equally,
Male
{Iyavoda maanamMaster's honor,
Andha kavari maanai meerum} (2)Surpasses even that of the legendary Kavarimaan deer,
Male
Andha kavari maanu paramparaikaeTo that honorable Kavarimaan lineage,
Unaala thaan peruFame comes because of you,
Kavari maanu paramparaikaeTo that Kavarimaan lineage,
Unaala thaan peruuuh…Fame comes because of you...
Chorus
Kannu pada pogudhaiyaEvil eyes might fall upon you,
Chinna goundaraeOh Chinna Gounder!
Suthi poda venumaiyaWe need to ward off the evil eye for you,
Chinna goundaraeOh Chinna Gounder!
Unaku suthi poda venumaiyaWe need to perform the ritual to ward off the evil eye for you,
Chinna goundarae …Oh Chinna Gounder...
Male
Ama.. kannu pada pogudhaiyaYes... evil eyes might fall upon you,
Chinna goundaraeOh Chinna Gounder!
Suthi poda venumaiyaWe need to ward off the evil eye for you,
Chinna goundaraeOh Chinna Gounder!
Unaku suthi poda venumaiyaWe need to perform the ritual to ward off the evil eye for you,
Chinna goundarae …Oh Chinna Gounder...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the classic movie 'Chinna Gounder' (1992) is a rich folk-inspired hymn of praise and affection dedicated to the village leader, Chinna Gounder. The opening stanzas feature traditional rural incantations designed to ward off 'drishti' (evil eyes) from envious onlookers, wishing for total prosperity for the village and its fair leader. The verses go on to praise Chinna Gounder's untainted justice system, which relies on truth rather than corrupt lawyers or fabricated evidence. The heroine affectionately expresses her wish to walk by his side in marriage, admiring his egalitarian worldview where rich and poor are treated as equals, and his self-respect that excels even the legendary Kavarimaan deer.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upama)

Kadugu pola vedikattum

Compares the popping of evil eyes under a ritual spell to mustard seeds crackling when heated ('Kadugu pola vedikattum').

Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Ooru kannu uravu kannu

Rhyming of the second consonant sound across successive lines ('Ooru', 'Naai', 'Noi', 'Nalla').

Cultural Symbolism / Allusion

Andha kavari maanai meerum

Refers to 'Kavari Maan', a legendary deer in Tamil literature known to die if it loses its fur, symbolizing extreme self-respect and honor.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although credited as unknown in the prompt, the music for 'Chinna Gounder' was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with vocals by Mano and P. Susheela. The film was a major milestone in Vijayakanth's career, running for over 100 days and popularizing village chieftain dramas in 1990s Tamil cinema.

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