Kelamma Chinnaponnu
From Kanni Thaai · 1965
- Lyricist
- Panchu Arunachalam
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Kanni Thaai1965
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kelammaa chinna ponnu kelu un | Listen, little girl, listen, I will answer your question, listen. |
| Kelvikku badhilai solven kelu | I will answer your question, listen. |
| Kelammaa chinna ponnu kelu un | Listen, little girl, listen, I will answer your question, listen. |
| Kelvikku badhilai solven kelu | I will answer your question, listen. |
| Vaazhvilae valarndhirukkudhu naadu | The country has grown in development, |
| Ezhai vazhiyai mattum thaduthu nikkudhu | Yet only the path of the poor is blocked, standing as |
| Maedu maedu | Bumps and obstacles. |
| Male | |
| Kelammaa chinna ponnu kelu un | Listen, little girl, listen, I will answer your question, listen. |
| Kelvikku badhilai solven kelu | I will answer your question, listen. |
| Male | |
| Ezhai padum paadu…ooo… | The suffering endured by the poor... |
| Adhil ezhundhu nikkudhu veedu…uu.. | Upon that suffering stands their meager home... |
| Ezhai padum paadu…ooo… | The suffering endured by the poor... |
| Adhil ezhundhu nikkudhu veedu… | Upon that suffering stands their meager home... |
| Iruppadhuvum paduppadhuvum | Where they reside and lay down to sleep |
| Kuruvi vaazhum koodu | Is merely like a sparrow's nest. |
| Iruppavanga kodukkanum | Those who have wealth must give, |
| Illaadhadhai edukkanum | To fulfill what is lacking for others. |
| Iruppavanga kodukkanum | Those who have wealth must give, |
| Illaadhadhai edukkanum | To fulfill what is lacking for others. |
| Adhai thaduppavarai maruppavarai | Those who obstruct or refuse to give, |
| Sattam pottu pidikkanum | Must be apprehended by enacting strict laws. |
| Male | |
| Kelammaa kelu… | Listen, oh listen... |
| Kelammaa chinna ponnu kelu un | Listen, little girl, listen, I will answer your question, listen. |
| Kelvikku badhilai solven kelu | I will answer your question, listen. |
| Male | |
| {Thavithavikkira ezhaikkaaga | {For the suffering poor who yearn, |
| Thittam podanum porulai | Plans must be made regarding resources, |
| Sarisamamaa pangu vaikka | To divide wealth equally, |
| Sattam podanum } (2) | Laws must be enacted} (Repeated) |
| Male | |
| Kuviya kuviya vilaivadhellaam | Whatever yields in vast abundance, |
| Kooru podanum | Must be divided into equal shares. |
| Kuviya kuviya vilaivadhellaam | Whatever yields in vast abundance, |
| Kooru podanum | Must be divided into equal shares. |
| Ezhai kudisaikkullae paalum thaenum | Inside the hut of the poor, milk and honey |
| Aaraa odanum | Should flow like a river. |
| Paalum thaenum aaraa odanum | Milk and honey should flow like a river. |
| Male | |
| Kelammaa kelu… | Listen, oh listen... |
| Kelammaa chinna ponnu kelu un | Listen, little girl, listen, I will answer your question, listen. |
| Kelvikku badhilai solven kelu | I will answer your question, listen. |
| Male | |
| {Saalaiyilae maedu pallam | {Bumps and hollows on the road |
| Vandiyai thadukkum | Obstruct the motion of the vehicle; |
| Naattu janangalilae maedu pallam | Inequalities among the nation's people |
| Desathaiyae kedukkum} (2) | Will ruin the entire country} (Repeated) |
| Male | |
| Ezhai manam kobappattaa | If the minds of the poor turn angry, |
| Ennennamo nadakkum | Unforeseen consequences will unfold. |
| Ezhai manam kobappattaa | If the minds of the poor turn angry, |
| Ennennamo nadakkum | Unforeseen consequences will unfold. |
| Adhai enni paathu nadandhu kondaa | If society considers this and acts wisely, |
| Nimmadhi kidaikkum kidaikkum | Peace and harmony will surely be attained. |
| Male | |
| Kelammaa kelu… | Listen, oh listen... |
| Kelammaa chinna ponnu kelu un | Listen, little girl, listen, I will answer your question, listen. |
| Kelvikku badhilai solven kelu | I will answer your question, listen. |
கேளம்மா சின்னப்பொண்ணு கேளு உன்
கேள்விக்கு பதிலைச் சொல்லுவேன் கேளு
கேளம்மா சின்னப்பொண்ணு கேளு உன்
கேள்விக்கு பதிலைச் சொல்லுவேன் கேளு
வாழ்விலே வளர்ந்திருக்குது நாடு
ஏழை வழியை மட்டும் தடுத்து நிக்குது
மேடு மேடு
Listen, little girl, listen, I will answer your question, listen.
I will answer your question, listen.
Listen, little girl, listen, I will answer your question, listen.
I will answer your question, listen.
The country has grown in development,
Yet only the path of the poor is blocked, standing as
Bumps and obstacles.
கேளம்மா சின்னப்பொண்ணு கேளு உன்
கேள்விக்கு பதிலைச் சொல்லுவேன் கேளு
Listen, little girl, listen, I will answer your question, listen.
I will answer your question, listen.
ஏழை படும்பாடு ஓஓ.....
அதில் எழுந்து நிக்குது வீடு.....ஊ....
ஏழை படும்பாடு ஓஓ.....
அதில் எழுந்து நிக்குது வீடு.....ஊ....
இருப்பதுவும் படுப்பதுவும்
குருவி வாழும் கூடு
இருப்பவங்க கொடுக்கனும்
இல்லாதவன் எடுக்கனும்
இருப்பவங்க கொடுக்கனும்
இல்லாதவன் எடுக்கணும்
அதை தடுப்பவரை மறுப்பவரை
சட்டம் போட்டு பிடிக்கனும்
The suffering endured by the poor...
Upon that suffering stands their meager home...
The suffering endured by the poor...
Upon that suffering stands their meager home...
Where they reside and lay down to sleep
Is merely like a sparrow's nest.
Those who have wealth must give,
To fulfill what is lacking for others.
Those who have wealth must give,
To fulfill what is lacking for others.
Those who obstruct or refuse to give,
Must be apprehended by enacting strict laws.
கேளம்மா கேளு......
கேளம்மா சின்னப்பொண்ணு கேளு உன்
கேள்விக்கு பதிலைச் சொல்லுவேன் கேளு
Listen, oh listen...
Listen, little girl, listen, I will answer your question, listen.
I will answer your question, listen.
{தவிதவிக்கிற ஏழைக்காக
திட்டம் போடனும்
பொருளை சரிசமமா பங்கு வைக்க
சட்டம் போடனும்} (2)
{For the suffering poor who yearn,
Plans must be made regarding resources,
To divide wealth equally,
Laws must be enacted} (Repeated)
குவிய குவிய விளைவதெல்லாம்
கூறு போடனும்
குவிய குவிய விளைவதெல்லாம்
கூறு போடனும்
ஏழை குடிசைக்குள்ளே பாலும் தேனும்
ஆறா ஓடனும் பாலும் தேனும் ஆறா ஓடனும்
Whatever yields in vast abundance,
Must be divided into equal shares.
Whatever yields in vast abundance,
Must be divided into equal shares.
Inside the hut of the poor, milk and honey
Should flow like a river.
Milk and honey should flow like a river.
கேளம்மா கேளு......
கேளம்மா சின்னப்பொண்ணு கேளு உன்
கேள்விக்கு பதிலைச் சொல்லுவேன் கேளு
Listen, oh listen...
Listen, little girl, listen, I will answer your question, listen.
I will answer your question, listen.
{சாலையிலே மேடு பள்ளம்
வண்டியை தடுக்கும்
நாட்டு ஜனங்களிலே மேடு பள்ளம்
தேசத்தையே கெடுக்கும்} (2)
{Bumps and hollows on the road
Obstruct the motion of the vehicle;
Inequalities among the nation's people
Will ruin the entire country} (Repeated)
ஏழை மனம் கோபப்பட்டா
என்னென்னம்மோ நடக்கும்
ஏழை மனம் கோபப்பட்டா
என்னென்னம்மோ நடக்கும்
அதை எண்ணிப் பார்த்து நடந்து கொண்டா
நிம்மதி கிடைக்கும் கிடைக்கும்
If the minds of the poor turn angry,
Unforeseen consequences will unfold.
If the minds of the poor turn angry,
Unforeseen consequences will unfold.
If society considers this and acts wisely,
Peace and harmony will surely be attained.
கேளம்மா கேளு......
கேளம்மா சின்னப்பொண்ணு கேளு உன்
கேள்விக்கு பதிலைச் சொல்லுவேன் கேளு
Listen, oh listen...
Listen, little girl, listen, I will answer your question, listen.
I will answer your question, listen.
Kelammaa chinna ponnu kelu un
Listen, little girl, listen, I will answer your question, listen.
Kelvikku badhilai solven kelu
I will answer your question, listen.
Kelammaa chinna ponnu kelu un
Listen, little girl, listen, I will answer your question, listen.
Kelvikku badhilai solven kelu
I will answer your question, listen.
Vaazhvilae valarndhirukkudhu naadu
The country has grown in development,
Ezhai vazhiyai mattum thaduthu nikkudhu
Yet only the path of the poor is blocked, standing as
Maedu maedu
Bumps and obstacles.
Kelammaa chinna ponnu kelu un
Listen, little girl, listen, I will answer your question, listen.
Kelvikku badhilai solven kelu
I will answer your question, listen.
Ezhai padum paadu…ooo…
The suffering endured by the poor...
Adhil ezhundhu nikkudhu veedu…uu..
Upon that suffering stands their meager home...
Ezhai padum paadu…ooo…
The suffering endured by the poor...
Adhil ezhundhu nikkudhu veedu…
Upon that suffering stands their meager home...
Iruppadhuvum paduppadhuvum
Where they reside and lay down to sleep
Kuruvi vaazhum koodu
Is merely like a sparrow's nest.
Iruppavanga kodukkanum
Those who have wealth must give,
Illaadhadhai edukkanum
To fulfill what is lacking for others.
Iruppavanga kodukkanum
Those who have wealth must give,
Illaadhadhai edukkanum
To fulfill what is lacking for others.
Adhai thaduppavarai maruppavarai
Those who obstruct or refuse to give,
Sattam pottu pidikkanum
Must be apprehended by enacting strict laws.
Kelammaa kelu…
Listen, oh listen...
Kelammaa chinna ponnu kelu un
Listen, little girl, listen, I will answer your question, listen.
Kelvikku badhilai solven kelu
I will answer your question, listen.
{Thavithavikkira ezhaikkaaga
{For the suffering poor who yearn,
Thittam podanum porulai
Plans must be made regarding resources,
Sarisamamaa pangu vaikka
To divide wealth equally,
Sattam podanum } (2)
Laws must be enacted} (Repeated)
Kuviya kuviya vilaivadhellaam
Whatever yields in vast abundance,
Kooru podanum
Must be divided into equal shares.
Kuviya kuviya vilaivadhellaam
Whatever yields in vast abundance,
Kooru podanum
Must be divided into equal shares.
Ezhai kudisaikkullae paalum thaenum
Inside the hut of the poor, milk and honey
Aaraa odanum
Should flow like a river.
Paalum thaenum aaraa odanum
Milk and honey should flow like a river.
Kelammaa kelu…
Listen, oh listen...
Kelammaa chinna ponnu kelu un
Listen, little girl, listen, I will answer your question, listen.
Kelvikku badhilai solven kelu
I will answer your question, listen.
{Saalaiyilae maedu pallam
{Bumps and hollows on the road
Vandiyai thadukkum
Obstruct the motion of the vehicle;
Naattu janangalilae maedu pallam
Inequalities among the nation's people
Desathaiyae kedukkum} (2)
Will ruin the entire country} (Repeated)
Ezhai manam kobappattaa
If the minds of the poor turn angry,
Ennennamo nadakkum
Unforeseen consequences will unfold.
Ezhai manam kobappattaa
If the minds of the poor turn angry,
Ennennamo nadakkum
Unforeseen consequences will unfold.
Adhai enni paathu nadandhu kondaa
If society considers this and acts wisely,
Nimmadhi kidaikkum kidaikkum
Peace and harmony will surely be attained.
Kelammaa kelu…
Listen, oh listen...
Kelammaa chinna ponnu kelu un
Listen, little girl, listen, I will answer your question, listen.
Kelvikku badhilai solven kelu
I will answer your question, listen.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a social-reformist anthem addressing a young child's questions about social inequality. The singer explains how economic progress in the nation often neglects the impoverished working class. The song advocates for equal distribution of wealth, socialist reforms, and legal mechanisms to compel the wealthy to support the underprivileged so that prosperity ('milk and honey') reaches even the humblest huts.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Mondhai / Emonai (Second-letter Assonance)
“Iruppavanga kodukkanum / Illaadhadhai edukkanum”
The second consonant 'ru' repeats across adjacent words, creating rhythmic harmony.
Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagamm)
“Kuruvi vaazhum koodu”
The line compares the tiny, fragile living conditions of poor families directly to a sparrow's nest.
Idiomatic Hyperbole (Uruvagak Kooru)
“Ezhai kudisaikkullae paalum thaenum / Aaraa odanum”
'Paalum thaenum aaraa odanum' uses the traditional idiom of milk and honey flowing like a river to represent abundant prosperity.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kanni Thaai (1965) featured M. G. Ramachandran in the lead role and was produced by Devar Films. Music for the film was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, and the lyrics reflected the strong Dravidian socialist reform motives prominent in MGR's cinema during the 1960s.
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