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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aalai Ethikinu Ooru Suthum Pallavan

From Love Today · 1997

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Mano, Kalpana
Music director
Shiva
Details
Love Today1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Machi come on come onBuddy, come on, come on!
Hey hey hey pudra deiHey hey hey, catch him man!
Chorus
Haa haa haa haaHaa haa haa haa
Male
Hey aala yethikinnuHey, picking up people
Oora suthum pallavanThe Pallava bus that roams the town
Roattu mela joraagathaanGrandly on the road
Roundu varum vallavanThe capable one making its rounds
Male
Naama nenacha idamAt the place we desire
Irakki vidum nallavanThe good one that drops us off
Sudden break aduchiHitting a sudden brake
Orasa help seibavanHelping us brush against someone
Male
Pala kaadhalarukkuFor many lovers
Kaalai maalai aandavanThe god of morning and evening
Engha manasa vattumTormenting our hearts
Pengal kootam pogumWhere crowds of women travel
Bus jannalil naanga vavaazhuWe hang on the bus windows like bats
Male
……………………………....
Male
Specs potta karuvaaduA dried fish wearing glasses
Powder poosu oru loaduApply a whole load of face powder
Female :Pothikinnu po machiFemale: Wrap up and go, buddy
Naan kiran bedi thangachiI am Kiran Bedi's younger sister
Male
Hey un lover naan thanaeHey, aren't I your lover?
Heart killer nee thaanaeAren't you the heart killer?
Female :Unakku inimel thaadi thaanFemale: For you, from now on it's a beard of grief
Enakku vera jodi thaanFor me, it's another partner
Male
Adiyae gilmaa aadharimaaHey attractive girl, support me
Isthukinnu odattumaaShall I pull you along and run?
Male
Yelae paarty machaanHey party guy, buddy
Kujaala keedhudaaHe is having pure fun!
Male :Ticket vaangum saakilMale: On the pretext of buying a ticket
Ticketta veezhthudaDrop the ticket!
Male
Aala yethikinnuPicking up people
Oora suthum pallavanThe Pallava bus roaming the town
Roattu mela joraagathaanGrandly on the road
Roundu varum vallavanThe capable one making its rounds
Vallavan vallavan vallavanCapable, capable, capable one
Chorus
……………………….....
{Set me free{Set me free
Here we goo…} (2)Here we go…} (x2)
Male
Altoppu maharaniAll-top queen
Aaru vaati fail-ah neeDid you fail six times?
Female :Padippil konjam weak aiyaaFemale: A bit weak in studies, sir
Iduppu madippa nokkaiyaaLook at the curves of my waist, sir
Male
En vote-u sushmithaMy vote goes to Sushmita
Win pannum vinnai thaanWho will win the sky itself
Female :Bodhai moota vandhiraaFemale: Here comes a bundle of intoxication
Un paarvai enna cheater-ahIs your gaze that of a cheater?
Male
Pehle pyaar kaaOf first love...
Pehle humFirst, us...
Bhoomiyellam pudhusaagumThe whole earth becomes new
Kaivalai break adichaIf the hand-bracket breaks
Manasil orr theladaThere is clarity in the mind
Lover aapadichaIf your lover dumps you
Innonnu thedudaaSearch for another one!
Male
Naama nenacha idamAt the place we desire
Irakki vidum nallavanThe good one that drops us off
Sudden break aduchiHitting a sudden brake
Orasa help seibavanHelping us brush against someone
Male
Pala kaadhalarukkuFor many lovers
Kaalai maalai aandavanThe god of morning and evening
Engha manasa vattumTormenting our hearts
Pengal kootam pogumWhere crowds of women travel
Bus jannalil naanga vavaazhuWe hang on the bus windows like bats

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic youth anthem celebrates Chennai's bus culture, college life, and youthful romance. The lyrics treat the city bus (Pallavan Transport Corporation) as a divine matchmaker that facilitates romantic encounters, casual flirting, and daily adventures for young lovers. Through witty back-and-forth exchanges featuring popular Madras slang, the song playfully touches upon themes of college crushes, exam failures, moving on from heartbreak, and living life lightheartedly.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Bus jannalil naanga vavaazhu

Compares youth hanging onto bus footboards and windows to bats clinging to trees.

Rhyme / Assonance (Iyaibu)

Roundu varum vallavan

Use of matching rhythmic sound endings across consecutive lines (Pallavan / vallavan / nallavan).

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Specs potta karuvaadu

A humorous metaphor comparing someone wearing spectacles to dried fish.

Code-Mixing & Slang (Madras Baashai)

Pehle pyaar kaa / Pehle hum

Blend of local Chennai street slang (pudra, gilmaa, kujaala, aapadicha) with English and Hindi expressions.

Did you know?

Trivia

Music for 'Love Today' (1997) was composed by 'Gaana King' Deva. The movie starred Vijay and Suvalakshmi and became a massive blockbuster, cementing Vijay's popularity among youth and college students during the late 90s.

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