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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chancey Illa

From Anirudh Album · 2017

Lyricist
Vignesh Shivan
Singer
Anirudh Ravichander
Music director
Anirudh Ravichander
Details
Anirudh Album2017

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nee endha oorodaWhichever town's
Uyira irundhaalumsoul or life you belong to,
Unna sondham aakkum daIt will make you its own, man!
Adhudhaan indha ooru daThat is what this town is, man!
Chorus :Indha ooru daChorus: This town, man!
Male
Enga beach kaaththuOnce our beach breeze
Mela patta podhum datouches upon you, that is enough, man!
Unakku nalla raasidaGood luck will shine upon you, man!
Ini nee chennai vaasi daFrom now on, you are a Chennai resident, man!
Chorus :Chennai vaasi daChorus: Chennai resident, man!
Male
Va va vaa vandhu autolaCome, come, come, get in an auto
Yeri paathiyaand check out the ride!
Annan solla namma oorodaDid you hear the history of our city
Varalaara kettiyaas told by your elder brother?
Male
Mylapore filter cofeeIsn't the aroma of Mylapore filter coffee
Vaasam thookkudhaawafting strongly?
Mount roadu traffic odaDo you hear the music
Isai thaan ketkkudhaaof Mount Road traffic?
Chorus
Machaan chancey illa illaFriend, there is no chance at all, no chance!
Chancey illaNo chance!
Namma chennai polaLike our Chennai,
Vera oorae illa…there is no other city...
Chorus
Maammu chancey illa illaPal, there is no chance at all, no chance!
Chancey illaNo chance!
Namma chennai polaLike our Chennai,
Vera oorae illa…there is no other city...
Male
Oh ho hoOh ho ho!
Kodambakkam ulla poiCome to go inside Kodambakkam
Shootinga thaan paakka vaato watch movie shoots!
Illa t-nagar ulla poiOr go inside T-Nagar
Pudichadha vaangavaato buy whatever you like!
Male
Andha bodyguard muneersvaranCome to ask for the blessings
Blessinga thaan ketkka vaaof that Bodyguard Muneeswaran!
Yettu ECR OMRTowards ECR and OMR,
Speeda vandi ottavashall we drive the vehicle fast?
(Speeda vandi ottava(Drive the vehicle fast,
Speeda vandi ottava)drive the vehicle fast)
Male
Super star odaTo Superstar's
First day first show vaafirst day first show, shall we go?
Illa chennai super kingukkuOr for Chennai Super Kings,
Whistle-ah podavaashall we blow the whistle?
Male
Namma love-ah valarththuNurturing our love
Vazha vaikkiraand keeping it alive,
Besent nagar beach-odashall I sing the praise
Pugala paadavaaof Besant Nagar beach?
Chorus
Machaan chancey illa illaFriend, there is no chance at all, no chance!
Chancey illa..chancey illaNo chance.. no chance!
Namma chennai polaLike our Chennai,
Vera oorae illa…there is no other city...
Chorus
Maammu chancey illa illaPal, there is no chance at all, no chance!
Chancey illaNo chance!
Namma chennai polaLike our Chennai,
Vera oorae illa…there is no other city...
Male
Vaa nanbaa vaaCome friend, come!
Vaa aada vaaCome, come to dance!
Chorus :Vaa vaaChorus: Come, come!
Male :Vaa onna serndhuMale: Come, together
Aada vaalet's dance!
Chorus :Vaada vaaChorus: Come on, come!
Male :Chennai life-ahMale: Chennai life,
Nalla kondaada vaacome celebrate it well!
Male
Idhu nammaThis is our
Oo ooru dacity, man!
Chorus :Vaa da vaaChorus: Come on, come!
Male :Innum kaththiMale: Shout it out even louder,
Kaththi solludashout and tell, man!
Chorus :Vaa da vaaChorus: Come on, come!
Male :Indha vazhkkaMale: A life like this
Engum amayaadhadaacannot be found anywhere else, man!
Male
Machaan chancey illa illaFriend, there is no chance at all, no chance!
Chancey illa..chancey illaChancey illa.. chancey illa!
Namma chennai polaLike our Chennai,
Vera oorae illa…there is no other city...
Chorus
Maammu chancey illa illaPal, there is no chance at all, no chance!
Chancey illaChancey illa!
Namma chennai polaLike our Chennai,
Vera oorae illa…there is no other city...
Chorus
{Lallaalaa lalalallaa{Lallaalaa lalalallaa
Lalaala laalaalallaaLalaala laalaalallaa
Lalaala laalaalallaaLalaala laalaalallaa
Lalaala laalaalallaa} (2)Lalaala laalaalallaa} (2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Chancey Illai is an energetic musical tribute celebrating the vibrant culture, spirit, and life of Chennai city. The lyrics warmly declare that regardless of where a person originates from, Chennai welcomes everyone with open arms and transforms them into true 'Chennai vaasis' (residents). The song takes the listener on a sensory tour of the city, highlighting iconic daily experiences and landmarks that define the quintessential Chennai experience. From sipping Mylapore filter coffee and navigating Mount Road traffic to shopping in T-Nagar, watching movie shoots in Kodambakkam, seeking blessings at Bodyguard Muneeswaran temple, and speeding down ECR/OMR roads, the track captures the city's pulse. It also honors Chennai's major passions—Superstar Rajinikanth's cinema, the Chennai Super Kings IPL cricket team, and relaxing evenings at Besant Nagar beach—declaring emphatically that no other city in the world can match Chennai.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Refrain / Catchphrase

Machaan chancey illa illa / Chancey illa / Namma chennai pola / Vera oorae illa…

The colloquial phrase 'Chancey illa' (Meaning 'Unmatched / No chance') is used repeatedly as a rhythmic chorus to emphasize Chennai's unmatched uniqueness.

Sensory Imagery (Olfactory & Auditory)

Mylapore filter cofee / Vaasam thookkudhaa / Mount roadu traffic oda / Isai thaan ketkkudhaa

Evokes smell through Mylapore filter coffee aroma and sound through Mount Road traffic music to create vivid sensory associations with Chennai.

Metaphor / Irony

Mount roadu traffic oda / Isai thaan ketkkudhaa

Describing chaotic traffic noises on Mount Road as 'music' (isai), affectionately recraming urban noise as urban harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Chancey Illai' was released as a promotional single in 2014 composed and sung by Anirudh Ravichander with lyrics by Vignesh Shivan, commissioned as part of a brand campaign celebrating Madras Day and the spirit of Chennai.

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