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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Achham

From Kullanari Koottam · 2011

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singers
Kalpana, Rashmi
Music director
V. Selvaganesh
Details
Kullanari Koottam2011

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
{Ada bayam onnum illai illaiHey, there is no fear at all, no
Enga settaikku ellai illaiThere is no limit to our mischief
Yeley yeley ingavaadaaHey, hey, come here man
En getha konjam paarththu podaa} (2)Just watch my mass/swag, man
Female
Achcham adhu engae virkkumHey, there is no fear at all, no
Vanakkam adhu engae virkkumThere is no limit to our mischief
Vetkam adhu engae virkkumHey, hey, come here man
Oru kilo enna vilaiJust watch my mass/swag, man
Chorus
Ho ho oooooWhere is fear sold?
Ho oooohoooWhere is politeness sold?
Ho ho oooooWhere is shyness sold?
Hoo hoo hoo ooooWhat is the price for a kilogram?
Female
Selai adhu engae virkkumHo ho ooooo
Pookkal adhu engae virkkumHo oooohooo
Sogam adhu engae virkkumHo ho ooooo
Avai ellaam enna vilaiHoo hoo hoo oooo
Chorus
Ho ho oooooWhere is a saree sold?
Ho oooohoooWhere are flowers sold?
Ho ho oooooWhere is sadness sold?
Hoo hoo hoo ooooWhat is the price of all those?
Female
Samayal araiyai paarthadhillaiHo ho ooooo
Chorus :PaarthadhillaiHo oooohooo
Female :Valaiyal oliyai kettadhillaiHo ho ooooo
Chorus :KettadhillaiHoo hoo hoo oooo
Female
Theruvil kolam pottadhillaiHave never seen a kitchen
Chorus :PottadhillaiChorus: Have never seen it
Female :Pazhaiya kaalam naangalillaiFemale: Have never heard the sound of bangles
Female
Iravu muzhukka iravu muzhukkaChorus: Have never heard it
Rondhu adippomHave never drawn rangoli on the street
Korainja patcham moonu beeruChorus: Have never drawn it
Vaangi kudippomFemale: We are not from the olden times
Ada pasangapola bus-sil yeriAll night long, all night long
Footboard adippomWe will go on night patrol
Hei theatter poyi dhammu adichiAt least three beers
Visilum adippomWe will buy and drink
Chorus
Ho ho oooooHey, climbing onto buses like boys
Ho ho oooohoooWe will ride on the footboard
Ho ho oooooHey, going to the theater and smoking cigarettes
Hoo hoo hoo ooooWe will whistle out loud
Ho ho ho hoHo ho ooooo
Female
Mugathodu meesai illaiHo ho oooohooo
Aanaal aangal naangaHo ho ooooo
Manadhodu bayamae illaiHoo hoo hoo oooo
Modhippaarppom vaangaHo ho ho ho
Female
Marriage aagaadhaThere is no mustache on our face
Pasanga veettukku povongaBut we are men in spirit
Bajji sojji thinnuttuThere is no fear in our hearts
Baradham aadida solvongaCome, let us clash and see
Female
Love letter yaarum thandhaalTo the houses of unmarried
Kindal seivom naangaGuys, we will go
puyalodu pottippottaaAfter eating bajji and sooji
Kudaiya vellum pongaWe will make them perform Bharatanatyam
Female
Aaradi koondhal ellaamIf anyone gives us a love letter
Andhakaalam aiyaiyoWe will mock and make fun of them
Aaru inchi kraappu vaikkumIf competing against a storm
Adhiradi naangaEven an umbrella will win, go on
Female
Iravu muzhukka iravu muzhukkaSix-feet long hair and all
Rondhu adippomIs old-fashioned, oh dear
Korainja patcham moonu beeruSporting a six-inch crop haircut
Vaangi kudippomWe are sensational and rebellious
Ada pasangapola bus-sil yeriAll night long, all night long
Footboard adippomWe will go on night patrol
Hei theatter poyi dhammu adichiAt least three beers
Visilum adippomWe will buy and drink
Female
Boys hostel ullaeppoyiHey, climbing onto buses like boys
Raging naanga seivomWe will ride on the footboard
Main roattil trafic jammilHey, going to the theater and smoking cigarettes
Jogging naanga povomWe will whistle out loud
Female
College-examilGoing inside the boys' hostel
Bittuthaan adichi velvomaeWe will perform ragging
Professorum paarthuttaaIn traffic jams on the main road
Kissuthaan thandhuttu chelvomaeWe will go jogging
Female
Pen endraal scootythaanaaIn college exams
Bullet yeri povomWe will win by copying with cheat sheets
Film kaatti yaarum vandhaalAnd if the professor catches us
Bulletaaga paaivomWe will give a kiss and leave
Female
Kaadhulathaan kammal ellaamDoes being a woman mean riding only a scooty?
Andha kaalam aiyaiyaiyaoWe will ride on a Bullet bike
Thoppul mela kammal podumIf anyone comes showing off
Adhiradi naangaWe will strike fast like a bullet
Female
Iravu muzhukka iravu muzhukkaEarrings worn only in ears
Rondhu adippomIs old-fashioned, oh dear
Korainja patcham moonu beeruWearing piercings over the belly button
Vaangi kudippomWe are sensational and rebellious
Hey pasangapola bus-sil yeriAll night long, all night long
Footboard adippomWe will go on night patrol
Hei theatter poyi dhammu adichiAt least three beers
Visilum adippomWe will buy and drink

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Ada Bayam Onnum Illai' from the film Kullanari Koottam (2011) is a high-energy, playful anthem celebrating female empowerment and subversion of traditional gender norms. Sung from the perspective of modern, bold young women, the lyrics mock conventional expectations placed on women—such as cooking, wearing sarees, showing shyness, or wearing traditional jewelry—and instead embrace activities stereotypically associated with young men, such as riding on bus footboards, drinking beer, riding heavy motorcycles, and whistling in cinema halls.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Rondhu adippom / Korainja patcham moonu beeru / Vaangi kudippom

The song extensively uses end-rhyming verbs ending with 'adippom' and 'kudippom' to create a rhythmic, conversational cadence.

Ethukai (Second-letter Assonance)

Achcham adhu engae virkkum / Vanakkam adhu engae virkkum / Vetkam adhu engae virkkum

Matching second consonants across lines, traditional to Tamil poetry ('ch' sound in Achcham, Vanakkam, Vetkam).

Hyperbole & Puns

Pen endraal scootythaanaa / Bullet yeri povom / Film kaatti yaarum vandhaal / Bulletaaga paaivom

Playful exaggeration and double meaning on 'Bullet' (the motorcycle brand versus an actual speeding bullet).

Irony and Subversion

Marriage aagaadha / Pasanga veettukku povonga / Bajji sojji thinnuttu / Baradham aadida solvonga

Reversing traditional gender expectations by claiming to rag boys, eat snacks at suitors' houses, and make them dance Bharatanatyam instead.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by V. Selvaganesh with lyrics by Na. Muthukumar, this track stands out as a rare Tamil cinema song where female characters playfully appropriate male college-trope antics, turning gender stereotypes on their head with humor and cheekiness.

Keep listening

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