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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Adi Dhool Kelappu

From Dravidan · 1989

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Dravidan1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Adi thool kelappuHey, make a bang!
Adhukku naan poruppuI take responsibility for that!
Adi thool kelappuHey, make a bang!
Adhukku naan poruppuI take responsibility for that!
Female
Thaalaththathaan naan sonnathuI am the one who set the rhythm,
Tattungalaen sugamaaTap along rhythmically and enjoy!
Thaalaattaththaan naan vanthathuI came here to lull you,
Ponnoonjal naan tharavaaShall I offer you a golden swing?
Female
Adi thool kelappuHey, make a bang!
Adhukku naan poruppuI take responsibility for that!
Female
One to three four ennodu aadu misterOne to three four, dance with me mister,
I love you sir idho un aasai loverI love you sir, here is your beloved lover,
Kiss me once more kannangal lilly flowerKiss me once more, cheeks like lily flowers,
Engaengum thaen oorumaeHoney will ooze everywhere!
Female
Naatharathinna naatharathinna naatharathinnaNaatharathinna naatharathinna naatharathinna
Panisanisaka sagama kamapaPa-ni-sa-ni-sa-ga sa-ga-ma ka-ma-pa
Naatharathinna naatharathinna naatharathinnaNaatharathinna naatharathinna naatharathinna
Naatharathinna naatharathinna naatharathinnaNaatharathinna naatharathinna naatharathinna
Rigama kamapa mapatha pathani….aaa…..Ri-ga-ma ka-ma-pa ma-pa-tha pa-tha-ni... aaa...
Female
One to three four ennodu aadu misterOne to three four, dance with me mister,
I love you sir idho un aasai loverI love you sir, here is your beloved lover,
Kiss me once more kannangal lilly flowerKiss me once more, cheeks like lily flowers,
Engaengum thaen oorumaeHoney will ooze everywhere!
Female
Aadai kattum minnal ondruA lightning bolt wearing clothes,
Medaiyittu aadum ingu vaa ingu vaa vaaDances on the stage, come here, come, come!
Maanu eppaddi ponnu appadiJust as a deer is, so is this girl,
Meenu eppadi kannuJust as a fish is, so are her eyes,
Appadi kankatchi saalaiyithuLike that, this place is a grand exhibition of beauty,
Female
Poovu eppadi thaegam appadiJust as a flower is, so is her body,
Bothai eppadi mogam appadiJust as intoxication is, so is her passion,
Ennenna leelai idhuOh, what playful antics these are!
Female
Adi thool kelappuHey, make a bang!
Adhukku naan poruppuI take responsibility for that!
Female
Angam engum ammaadi thanganmaagaOh my, every part of her body shines like gold,
Angum ingum kandaalae aasai yaeraCatching a glimpse here and there makes desire rise,
Konjum nejam un kadhal manjamaagaThe fond heart becomes your love bed,
En paarvai bothai tharumMy glance will intoxicate you,
Female
Entha kaiyum thottathillaiNo hand has ever touched me before,
Thotta kaiyai vittathillai vaa ingu vaa vaaOnce touched, the hand won't let go, come here, come, come!
Female
Kamasundhari devasundhari aatti vaikkiraA beauty of desire, a celestial beauty who sways everyone,
Moga sundhari ennaattam paaththeengalaaDid you see my dance, oh beauty of passion?
Chinnanjiriusu pooththu nikkira enna ippadiThe young girl stands blooming, why are you staring like this?
Paaththu nikkira kai poda vaareengalaaStaring like this, won't you come put your arm around me?
Female
Adi thool kelappuHey, make a bang!
Adhukku naan poruppuI take responsibility for that!
Female
Thaalaththathaan naan sonnathuI am the one who set the rhythm,
Tattungalaen sugamaaTap along rhythmically and enjoy!
Thaalaattaththaan naan vanthathuI came here to lull you,
Ponnoonjal naan tharavaaShall I offer you a golden swing?
Female
Adi thool kelappuHey, make a bang!
Adhukku naan poruppu….I take responsibility for that!...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Adi thool kelappu from the film Dravidan (1989) is an upbeat, high-energy dance track where the dancer invites her lover and audience to celebrate and join in the rhythm. Expressing confidence and allure, she promises to take charge of setting the dance floor ablaze with energy, blending English catchphrases, classical swaras, and traditional Tamil rhythmic vocables. Throughout the song, the lyricist Pulamaipithan weaves classic Tamil poetic imagery—comparing the dancer's grace to a deer, her eyes to fish, and her presence to a clothed bolt of lightning. The song balances playfulness, romantic teasing, and seductive rhythm to create an entertaining cabaret-style dance performance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Maanu eppaddi ponnu appadi / Meenu eppadi kannu

Compares the girl's nature to a deer and her eyes to fish using explicit comparative markers ('eppadi... appadi').

Uruvagamm (Metaphor)

Aadai kattum minnal ondru

Directly identifies the dancer as a lightning bolt dressed in clothes, highlighting her dazzling presence.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Adi thool kelappu / Adhukku naan poruppu

Rhyming line endings 'kelappu' and 'poruppu' to create an energetic, catchy rhythm.

Sollukattu / Scatting

Naatharathinna naatharathinna naatharathinna / Panisanisaka sagama kamapa

Use of non-lexical rhythmic vocal sounds ('Naatharathinna') combined with classical Carnatic swaras to enhance the musicality.

Did you know?

Trivia

Dravidan (1989) is an action film starring Sathyaraj and Suparna Anand, directed by R. Krishnamoorthy. The music for the film was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, and the lyrics were penned by veteran poet Pulamaipithan.

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