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Punnagai Mannan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Singalathu Chinnakuyile

From Punnagai Mannan · 1986

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Punnagai Mannan
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
10 Jan 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Jingala jingala jingala jingala
Jingala jingala jingala jingala
Jingala jinga jeeboomba jingala jinga..
Kannam valikkum killathae kalluli manga..
Male :Hooo…
Singalathu chinna kuyilae
Ennaku oru manthirathai sollu mayilae..
Singalathu chinna kuyilae
Ennaku oru manthirathai sollu mayilae..
Jingala jinga jeeboomba jingala jinga.
Jingala jinga jeeboomba jingala jinga.
Male :Hooo….
Anbae nee indri alaigal aadaathu
Kangal saainthaalum imaigal moodathu
Poovae neeyindri pozhuthum pogaathu
Kaadhal illaamal kavithai vaazhathu
Aatharikka nalla ilaignan
Manam vittu kaathalikka nalla kavignan
Kaadhalikka vantha kalaignan
Ivan endrum thaavanikku nalla thalaivan
Thadai ethu thalaivaa
Idai melae udai neeyae
Poomanjam nee poda vaa..
Enakkena singalathu chinna kuyil naan
Unnakoru manthiratha sollum mayil naan
Singalathu chinna kuyil naan
Unnakoru manthiratha sollum mayil naan
Jingala jinga jeeboomba jingala jinga.
Jingala jinga jeeboomba jingala jinga..
Male :Hooo…
Nilavae naanthanaa nijamaa veen gaeli
Unthan madithaanae nilavin naarkaali
Oru naal amarnthaalum ulagil naan raani
Kaaman poochudum kalaiyil nee gnyani
Aathirathil thottu vaikiren
Irukkattum rathirikku vittuvaikiren..
Vittuvidu thathalikkiren
Ennai vittu etti nillu echarikkiren..
Pidivaatham thaguma
Kodi ondru kani rendu vaangaamal thaangathamma..
Singalathu chinna kuyilae
Ennaku oru manthirathai sollu mayilae..
Singalathu chinna kuyilae
Ennaku oru manthirathai sollu mayilae..
Jingala jinga jeeboomba jingala jinga..
Kannam valikkum killathae kalluli manga..
Male :Hooo…
Jingala jinga jeeboomba jingala jinga.
Jingala jinga jeeboomba jingala jinga.
Male :Hooo….
Jingala jingala jingala jingala
Jingala jingala jingala jingala
Jingala jinga jeeboomba jingala jinga...
My cheek hurts, do not pinch me, you naughty rascal...
Hoo-ooh...
Little cuckoo from Sri Lanka,
Teach me a magic spell, my peacock...
Little cuckoo from Sri Lanka,
Teach me a magic spell, my peacock...
Jingala jinga jeeboomba jingala jinga.
Jingala jinga jeeboomba jingala jinga.
Hoo-ooh...
My love, without you the waves will not dance,
Even when my eyes are tired, my eyelids will not close.
My flower, without you the day will not pass,
Without love, poetry cannot live.
He is a good man to care for you,
A fine poet to love you with all his heart,
An artist who has come just to love,
He is forever a true lover for the girl in the half-sari.
What is stopping you, my love?
Wrap yourself around my waist like a dress,
Come, lay out a bed of flowers...
I am that little cuckoo from Sri Lanka,
I am the peacock who will teach you a magic spell!
I am that little cuckoo from Sri Lanka,
I am the peacock who will teach you a magic spell!
Jingala jinga jeeboomba jingala jinga.
Jingala jinga jeeboomba jingala jinga...
Hoo-ooh...
Am I truly the moon, or are you just teasing me?
Isn't your lap the throne for the moon?
Even if I sit there for just a day, I am the queen of this world.
You are a master in the art of the God of Love!
In my eagerness, I touch you now,
Let it be, I will save the rest for tonight...
Let me go, my heart is fluttering!
Step away from me, I am warning you...
Is such stubbornness fair?
Can a tender vine bear it without gathering its two sweet fruits?
Little cuckoo from Sri Lanka,
Teach me a magic spell, my peacock...
Little cuckoo from Sri Lanka,
Teach me a magic spell, my peacock...
Jingala jinga jeeboomba jingala jinga...
My cheek hurts, do not pinch me, you naughty rascal...
Hoo-ooh...
Jingala jinga jeeboomba jingala jinga.
Jingala jinga jeeboomba jingala jinga.
Hoo-ooh...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Singalathu Chinna Kuyilae is a vibrant romantic duet from the 1986 film Punnagai Mannan. The song portrays playful romance and teasing banter between the lead characters. The male lover affectionately addresses his beloved as a sweet Sri Lankan cuckoo and a peacock, asking her for the secret spell of her love. The female lover responds with equal wit, balancing playful resistance with genuine affection. Through poetic metaphors connecting nature, moonlight, and love, the song highlights the passionate connection and anticipation between the lovers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhyme / Iyaibu

Singalathu chinna kuyilae / Ennaku oru manthirathai sollu mayilae..

End-rhyming scheme with matching vowel-consonant sounds at the end of poetic lines.

Metaphor / Uruvagaim

Unthan madithaanae nilavin naarkaali

Comparing the lover's lap directly to a throne made for the moon.

Alliteration / Monai

Anbae nee indri alaigal aadaathu

Repetition of initial vowel sounds across words in the same line.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vairamuthu, this energetic song features playback singing by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra. The track incorporates rhythmic chant-like syllables ('Jingala jinga') and playful references to Sri Lanka, reflecting the setting and background of the characters in the film.

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