- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Chinna Thayee
- Movie release year
- 1992
- Lyrics added on
- 22 Jun 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Chinna Thayee is a poignant cry of distress from a helpless young woman facing abandonment and social injustice. She appeals to the fierce village deity, Sudalai Maadan, seeking protection and questioning why the divine seems to favor the wealthy while ignoring the plight of the poor. She asserts that before God, there should be no caste or social division, pleading for a sign of hope to end her torment. In the second half of the song, her lament shifts to her personal pain of broken love. She reflects on her past closeness with her lover, holding their child who serves as a poignant reminder of abandoned promises. Fearing his union with another, she wonders if their entire past was merely a dream, yet clings to a desperate hope that their hearts might one day reunite like surging rivers.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Apostrophe / Direct Address
“Kottaiya vittu vettaikku pogum Sodala maada saami”
The entire refrain directly addresses the local guardian deity, Sudalai Maadan, pleading for divine intervention.
Second-letter Rhyme (Ethirai)
“Thaazhnthaalum / Veezhnthaalum”
The second consonant 'tzh' / 'zhn' matches across successive lines to create rhythmic flow.
Simile (Upamai)
“Soppanam polae aagiduma / Vellangal pola ondraaguma”
Compares the temporal nature of past happiness to a dream ('soppanam polae') and the hoped-for reunion of hearts to merging floods ('vellangal pola').
Keep listening
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