T. M. Soundarajan and K. Jamunarani perform Kumaradevan’s ‘Chinnakutti Ponnu Nee’ from the album Thenkinnam. Composer Shankar Ganesh underscores marital conflict escalating over alcoholism. The wife pleads while the husband justifies his addiction.
Chinnakutti Ponnu Nee
K. Jamunarani | T. M. Soundarajan • From “Thenkinnam”
What is the meaning of Chinnakutti Ponnu Nee Lyrics from Thenkinnam?
The husband demands their daughter count coins for liquor. The wife lists lost possessions: ‘Everything sleeps in the pawnshop.’ Kumaradevan contrasts past prosperity with current ruin through cold hearth imagery.
Chinnakutti Ponnu Nee Sillaraiya EnnuHey my little girl, count the loose change.
Ada Chinnakutti Ponnu Nee Sillaraiya EnnuOh, hey my little girl, count the loose change.
Naan Kettukinnae Vaaraen Nee Ketkaamalae PoraeI keep asking as I come, but you walk away without listening.
Naan Kettukinnae Vaaraen Nee Ketkaamalae PoraeI keep asking as I come, but you walk away without listening.
Ennaiyaa Nainaa Naan Idhae Petta MainaWhat’s this, mister? I’m the pet ‘maina’ bird of this neighborhood.
Ada Ennaiyaa Nainaa Naan Idhae Petta MainaOh, what’s this, mister? I’m the pet ‘maina’ bird of this neighborhood.
Naan Odhukkikkinae Poraen Nee Orasikkitae VaaraeI’m trying to move away, but you keep brushing against me.
Naan Odhukkikkinae Poraen Nee Orasikkitae VaaraeI’m trying to move away, but you keep brushing against me.
Ennaayirukku Paiyilae Eduththu Kodu KaiyilaeWhat’s inside your pocket? Take it out and put it in my hand.
Ada Ennaayirukku Paiyilae Eduththu Kodu KaiyilaeOh, what’s inside your pocket? Take it out and put it in my hand.
Paiyilae Onnum Illaattaa Kazhatti Kodu KammalaIf there’s nothing in your pocket, take off your earrings and give ’em to me.
Paiyilae Onnum Illaattaa Kazhatti Kodu KammalaIf there’s nothing in your pocket, take off your earrings and give ’em to me.
Sarkku Vanthiduchchi Santhosam KaaththirukkuThe ‘liquor’ has arrived, and happiness is waiting.
Sarkku Vanthiduchchi Santhosam KaaththirukkuThe ‘liquor’ has arrived, and happiness is waiting.
Udanae Kudikkanum Olagaththa MarakkanumI’ve got to drink right now and forget the whole world.
Udanae Kudikkanum Olagaththa MarakkanumI’ve got to drink right now and forget the whole world.
Adi Chinnakutti Ponnu Nee Sillaraiya EnnuHey my little girl, count the loose change.
Naan Kettukinnae Vaaraen Nee Ketkaamalae PoraeI keep asking as I come, but you walk away without listening.
Kalluppaanai Vanthathumae Soththu Paanai YaenguthuAs soon as the ‘toddy’ pot arrives, the rice pot starts yearning.
Kalluppaanai Vanthathumae Soththu Paanai YaenguthuAs soon as the ‘toddy’ pot arrives, the rice pot starts yearning.
Kaalamellaam Erinja Anuppula Poonai Kedanthu ThoonguthuThe cat’s sleeping in the hearth that used to burn all day long.
Kaalamellaam Erinja Anuppula Poonai Kedanthu ThoonguthuThe cat’s sleeping in the hearth that used to burn all day long.
Kedachatha Nee Kudikkirae Ketta AdikkiraeYou drink whatever you find, and you hit me if I ask.
Kedachatha Nee Kudikkirae Ketta AdikkiraeYou drink whatever you find, and you hit me if I ask.
Nee Oru Purushanaa Roshamulla ManushanaaAre you even a husband? Are you a man with any self-respect?
Ada Nee Oru Purushanaa Roshamulla ManushanaaOh, are you even a husband? Are you a man with any self-respect?
Devanaagi PonaenI’ve become a god.
Ippa Naan Devanaagi PonaenNow, I’ve become a god.
Aamaam Devanaagi PonnaenYes, I’ve become a god.
Kudikkira Pazhakkam Vanthatharkku PinnaeSince I’ve picked up this ‘habit of drinking’.
Naan Adikkadi Thanni Kudikkira Pazhakkam Vanthatharkku PinnaeSince I’ve picked up this ‘habit of drinking’ frequently.
Andraadam Antha Moondru Logamum Poe Vaaraen KannaeEvery day, I visit all three worlds and come back, my dear.
Andraadam Antha Moondru Logamum Poe Vaaraen KannaeEvery day, I visit all three worlds and come back, my dear.
Kudi Kedukkira KudiyinaalaeBecause of this drinking that ruins the home.
Kozhantha Kutty PasiyinaalaeBecause the children are suffering from hunger.
Kodal Karugi Yaengalaachchuthu En MachchaanMy insides are scorched and yearning, my dear husband.
Kudumpa Perum Kettu PochchuthuThe family’s reputation has been dragged through the mud.
En Machchaan Kudumpa Perum Kettu PochchuthuMy dear husband, the family’s reputation has been dragged through the mud.
Maadaaga Ozhaichchaalum Odaaga ThaeinjaalumEven if I work like an ox and wear myself out to the bone.
Novellaam Theerppathu ThanniIt’s the ‘liquor’ that cures all my pain.
Odambu Novellaam Theerppathu ThanniIt’s the ‘liquor’ that cures all my body aches.
Idhu Udhavaathena Thadukkaatahe Ubathesamum KodukkaathaeDon’t try to stop me saying it’s useless, and don’t give me advice.
Vaiyaatahe Vaiyaathae SollittaenDon’t scold me, I’m telling you, don’t scold me.
Yaarum Seiyyaathadi Enna SenjuttaenI haven’t done anything that no one else does.
Ennathaan Seiyyala Nee Edhaiththaan VaikkalaWhat haven’t you done? What haven’t you pawned?
Adagu Edhaiththaan VaikkalaWhat haven’t you put in the pawn shop?
Ennai Thavira Unnai ThaviraExcept for me, and except for you.
Irukkira Intha Oru Kozhanthaiya ThaviraExcept for this one child we have.
Enna Vaikkala Adagu Edhaithaan VaikkalaWhat didn’t you pawn? What didn’t you put in the pawn shop?
Adaguthaan Vacha EnnaSo what if I pawned them?
Aththanaiyum PonaalennaSo what if everything is gone?
Aampala Naan SampaathippaenI’m a man, and I’ll earn it all back.
Adi Pompala Adha Ketkka Nee YaaradiHey woman, who are you to even ask about that?
Adi Pompala Adha Ketkka Nee YaaradiHey woman, who are you to even ask about that?
Kanji Thanniya Kudichchukitt Vaayavayaththa KattiDrinking only rice water and tightening my belt.
Kastappattu Kaasu Panaththa Mudichchu Pottu SaerththuWorking hard to save every penny and knotting it away.
Kadhu Kammal Mookkuththiyum Kai Valaiyum PottaenI bought earrings, a nose-ring, and bangles for my hands.
Adhoda Vittaenaa IllaiyaeDid I stop with just that? No, I didn’t.
Paavi Manasu Ketkkala Aambala Nee PodattumunnuMy poor heart didn’t listen, wanting you to wear fine things too.
Azhagazhagaa Seyinnu Thaenkinnaththa KetkattumunnuTo make you look handsome, listening to the ‘Thenkinnam’ radio show.
Transister Pottu Rist Watch MothiramI bought a transistor radio, a wristwatch, and a ring.
List Pottaa Aayiram Iththanai Iththanai Vaangi ThanthaenThe list goes on to a thousand; I bought you so many things.
Kudippatharkku Munnae Nee Kudiyaa Kudippatharkku MunnaeBefore you started drinking, before you became an addict.
Ellaam Irunthum Naan AandiDespite having everything, I’m now a beggar.
Ippa Irukkuthaa Vootula Oru ThondiIs there even a single small pot left in the house?
Adikkadi Nee Ennai VendiYou used to beg me frequently.
Vaangiya Aththanaiyum Ennaachchu Neeyae SollendiYou tell me, what happened to everything you got from me?
Ellaam Irunthum Naan AandiDespite having everything, I’m now a beggar.
Ippa Irukkuthaa Vootula Oru ThondiIs there even a single small pot left in the house?
Aththanaiyum Aththanaiyum Adagu KadaiyilaeEverything, all of it, is in the pawn shop.
Niththirai PoguthaiyyaaIt’s ‘sleeping’ there, mister.
Ippa Niththirai PoguthaiyyaaNow, it’s ‘sleeping’ there, mister.
Adha Adagu Kadaikku Anuppi VachchathinthaWhat sent them all to that pawn shop was this…
Kudikkira PazhakkamaiyaaThis ‘habit of drinking’, mister.
Intha Kudikkira PazhakkamaiyaaThis ‘habit of drinking’, mister.
Varusha Kanakkil SaernthaenI saved for years.
Ellaam Vaara Kanakkil PochchuIt all disappeared in a matter of weeks.
Varusha Kanakkil SaernthaenI saved for years.
Ellaam Vaara Kanakkil PochchuIt all disappeared in a matter of weeks.
Onnonnaa PochuIt went piece by piece.
Orae Muttaa PochuAnd then it was all gone at once.
Onnonnaa PochuIt went piece by piece.
Orae Muttaa PochuAnd then it was all gone at once.
Paaththiram Irukkaa PandaamirukkaaIs there a vessel left? Is there any property left?
Kevalam Katta Oru Thuni IrukkaaIs there even a decent cloth left to wear?
Paaththiram Irukkaa PandaamirukkaaIs there a vessel left? Is there any property left?
Kevalam Katta Oru Thuni IrukkaaIs there even a decent cloth left to wear?
Aaththiram Varuthu AdakkikiraenRage is boiling up, but I’m holding it back.
Yaarai Sabikkirathu NiruththikkiraenI’m stopping myself from cursing anyone.
Yaarai Sabikkirathu NiruththikkiraenI’m stopping myself from cursing anyone.
Naan Yaarai Sabikkirathu NiruththikkiraenI’m stopping myself from cursing anyone.
Chinnakutti Ponnu Nee Music Video
Alcoholism’s irreversible damage anchors the Chinnakutti Ponnu Nee lyrics translation. T. M. Soundarajan’s delivery shows denial hardening as K. Jamunarani documents their destitution.