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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yei Chittukku Chittaan

From Annai – 2000 Film · 2000

Lyricist
Kadhal Mathi
Singer
Anuradha Sriram
Music director
Dhina
Details
Annai – 2000 Film2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
………………………….
Female
Haei sittukku sittaanHey, the smartest among sparrows,
Sittukku sittan sittukuruviA sparrow that is the cleverest of sparrows!
En mettukku thaalam thattudhu paaruLook at the gushing waterfall
Kottum aruviBeating rhythm to my tune!
Female
Haei sittukku sittaanHey, the smartest among sparrows,
Sittukku sittan sittukuruviA sparrow that is the cleverest of sparrows!
En mettukku thaalam thattudhu paaruLook at the gushing waterfall
Kottum aruviBeating rhythm to my tune!
Female
Kandha thuni thooliyilaeIn a cradle made of tattered cloth,
Thulir nilavu thoongidumaeA tender moon will sleep.
Pull veli panithuliyaiThe dewdrop from the grassy meadow
Thoodhena vaangidumaeWill act as a messenger.
Aththuvaana kaattukkoru vaeli illaiThere is no fence for a deserted forest,
En kai pidicha kaththukkoru velai illaiAnd the wind I hold in my hand has no bound work!
Female
Haei sittukku sittaanHey, the smartest among sparrows,
Sittukku sittan sittukuruviA sparrow that is the cleverest of sparrows!
En mettukku thaalam thattudhu paaruLook at the gushing waterfall
Kottum aruviBeating rhythm to my tune!
Haei sittukku sittaanHey, the smartest among sparrows,
Sittukku sittan sittukuruviA sparrow that is the cleverest of sparrows!
Female
Kammbangaattu moolaiyilaeIn the corner of a millet field,
Karumbhu thinna kasakkumaWill eating sugarcane taste bitter?
Katterumbu kanukaalaIf a bull ant bites your ankle,
Kadichadhunna valikkumaWill it hurt?
Female
Kammbangaattu moolaiyilaeIn the corner of a millet field,
Karumbhu thinna kasakkumaWill eating sugarcane taste bitter?
Katterumbu kanukaalaIf a bull ant bites your ankle,
Kadichadhunna valikkumaWill it hurt?
Female
Sokkupodi pottu ennaCasting a spell on me,
Vaikkapporu yaethu machaanHe set fire to the haystack, my friend!
Pottu thanga thaalikku thaanFor the sacred golden wedding knot,
Ettu thikkum iluthuthadichaanHe announced it loud in all eight directions!
Ammadi tharisaaga velaniji irukkenOh dear, I have grown fertile from barrenness,
Kanneerum aanandhamaa karutharuchenI have conceived, and even my tears turn into joy!
Female
Haei sittukku sittaanHey, the smartest among sparrows,
Sittukku sittan sittukuruviA sparrow that is the cleverest of sparrows!
En mettukku thaalam thattudhu paaruLook at the gushing waterfall
Kottum aruviBeating rhythm to my tune!
Sittukku sittaanThe smartest among sparrows,
Sittukku sittan sittukuruviA sparrow that is the cleverest of sparrows!
Female
………………………….
Female
Ezha janam vayiru neranjuThat poor people lived with a full stomach,
Vaazhndhathaaga saritharamThis country has never seen
Kandhadhilla indha dhesamSuch history before;
Pechukkuthaan suthathiramFreedom is only in speeches!
Female
Ezha janam vayiru neranjuThat poor people lived with a full stomach,
Vaazhndhathaaga saritharamThis country has never seen
Kandhadhilla indha dhesamSuch history before;
Pechukkuthaan suthathiramFreedom is only in speeches!
Female
Vaayum vayiraaga ippaWith mouth and stomach satisfied,
Neranjuthu emmanasuNow my heart is full!
Maangaava kadichittaWhen eaten with a bite of mango,
Pazhanganchi thaen amudhuOld cold rice tastes like sweet nectar!
Undaana usurukku thaan pozhachirukkenI survive now for the life created inside me,
Rendaaga uruvedhuthu serakadichenTaking form as two, I flap my wings and fly!
Female
Haei sittukku sittaanHey, the smartest among sparrows,
Sittukku sittan sittukuruviA sparrow that is the cleverest of sparrows!
En mettukku thaalam thattudhu paaruLook at the gushing waterfall
Kottum aruviBeating rhythm to my tune!
Sittukku sittaanThe smartest among sparrows,
Sittukku sittan sittukuruviA sparrow that is the cleverest of sparrows!
En mettukku thaalam thattudhu paaruLook at the gushing waterfall
Kottum aruviBeating rhythm to my tune!
Female
Kandha thuni thooliyilaeIn a cradle made of tattered cloth,
Thulir nilavu thoongidumaeA tender moon will sleep.
Pull veli panithuliyaiThe dewdrop from the grassy meadow
Thoodhena vaangidumaeWill act as a messenger.
Aththuvaana kaattukkoru vaeli illaiThere is no fence for a deserted forest,
En kai pidicha kaththukkoru velai illaiAnd the wind I hold in my hand has no bound work!
Female
Haei haei sittukku sittaanHey, hey, the smartest among sparrows,
Sittukku sittan sittukuruviA sparrow that is the cleverest of sparrows!
En mettukku thaalam thattudhu paaruLook at the gushing waterfall
Kottum aruviBeating rhythm to my tune!
Sittukku sittaanThe smartest among sparrows,
Sittukku sittan sittukuruviA sparrow that is the cleverest of sparrows!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This joyous and rustic Tamil song celebrates motherhood, simple rural pleasures, and the resilience of the underprivileged. The protagonist expresses her boundless joy at conceiving a child, referring to her baby metaphorically as a 'tender moon' resting in a cradle of worn cloth. She finds delight in nature and simple food like leftover rice eaten with mangoes, viewing her pregnancy as a transformation from barrenness into rich fertility. Intertwined with her personal celebration is a poignant commentary on social reality—noting how poverty often deprives poor people of basic satisfaction, while grand political talk of freedom remains empty words. Despite these hardships, her unborn child gives her a renewed purpose to live, dream, and fly high like a free bird.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Thulir nilavu thoongidumae

The unborn child is affectionately referred to as 'Thulir Nilavu' (a tender moon).

Monai (Initial Consonant Alliteration)

Kammbangaattu moolaiyilae / Karumbhu thinna kasakkuma

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across words in the line.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Sittukku / Mettukku

Repetition of the second consonant sound 'tt' between lines.

Personification

En mettukku thaalam thattudhu paaru / Kottum aruvi

The falling waterfall is personified as beating rhythm to the protagonist's tune.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics for this song were written by lyricist Kadhal Mathi for the 2000 Tamil film 'Annai'.

Keep listening

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