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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Akadanu Naanga Udai Potta

From Indian · 1996

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Swarnalatha
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Indian1996

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
………………………
Female
Akkadaannu naangha udai pottaaIf we wear clothes casually and freely,
Thukkadaannu neengha edai pottaaYou weigh us down considering us trivial!
Chorus :Thadaa unakku thadaaChorus: Ban on you, ban!
Female
Adamant aaa naangha nadai pottaaIf we walk with an adamant stance,
Thadaipoda neengha government aaaAre you the government to put a ban on us?
Chorus :Thadaa unakku thadaaChorus: Ban on you, ban!
Female
Medai yeridum pendhaanaeThe woman stepping onto the stage,
Chorus :Naatin sensation…Chorus: Is the sensation of the nation!
Jaadai pesidum kandhaanaeThe handsome guy flirting with expressions,
Chorus :Yaarkkum temptationChorus: Is a temptation to everyone!
Female
Orangattu orangattuvomLet's push aside, let's push aside,
Chorus :OhoooChorus: Ohooo
Female :Oldai ellaam orangattuvomFemale: Let's push aside everything old!
Chorus :OhooChorus: Ohoo
Female :Thaiya thakkaa thaiyathakkaa thomFemale: Thaiya thakkaa thaiyathakkaa thom (rhythmic dance beats)
Chorus :OhooChorus: Ohoo
Female :Thaiyanukku kaiya thookkuvomFemale: Let us raise hands in praise for the tailor!
Female
Akkadaannu naangha udai pottaaIf we wear clothes casually and freely,
Thukkadaannu neengha edai pottaaYou weigh us down considering us trivial!
Chorus :Thadaa unakku thadaaChorus: Ban on you, ban!
Female
Adamant aaa naangha nadai pottaaIf we walk with an adamant stance,
Thadaipoda neengha government aaaAre you the government to put a ban on us?
Chorus :Thadaa unakku thadaaChorus: Ban on you, ban!
Female
Thirumbiya dhisaiyilaWhichever direction you turn,
Chorus :Engeyum glamour dhaanChorus: It's all glamour everywhere!
Female :Arumbiya vayasulaAt this blossoming young age,
Chorus :Ellaamae humour dhaanChorus: Everything is just humor!
Female
Naan ketta jokkugala censor-um kettadhillaEven the Censor Board hasn't heard the jokes I've heard!
Naan potta dress-u-gala film star-um pottadhillaEven film stars haven't worn the dresses I've worn!
Female
Madisarum chudidhaarumTraditional saree folds and chudidars,
Chorus :Poyaachu…Chorus: Are all gone...
Female :Hollywood-um bollywood-umFemale: Hollywood and Bollywood,
Chorus :Poyae pochaeChorus: Are completely gone!
Female :Adhapottu idhapottuFemale: Wearing this and wearing that,
Chorus :OnnjaachaeChorus: Everything became one!
Female :Aagamotham panjakachamFemale: Overall, the traditional five-fold garment,
Chorus :Onnjae pochaeChorus: Is gone and lost!
Female
Orangattu orangattuvomLet's push aside, let's push aside,
Chorus :OhoooChorus: Ohooo
Female :Oldai ellaam orangattuvomFemale: Let's push aside everything old!
Chorus :OhooChorus: Ohoo
Female :Thaiya thakkaa thaiyathakkaa thomFemale: Thaiya thakkaa thaiyathakkaa thom (rhythmic dance beats)
Chorus :OhooChorus: Ohoo
Female :Thaiyanukku kaiya thookkuvomFemale: Let us raise hands in praise for the tailor!
Female
Akkadaannu naangha udai pottaaIf we wear clothes casually and freely,
Thukkadaannu neengha edai pottaaYou weigh us down considering us trivial!
Chorus :Thadaa unakku thadaaChorus: Ban on you, ban!
Female
Adamant aaa naangha nadai pottaaIf we walk with an adamant stance,
Thadaipoda neengha government aaaAre you the government to put a ban on us?
Chorus :Thadaa unakku thadaaChorus: Ban on you, ban!
Chorus
……………………………………….
Female
:Idupila tyre illa chinna idai noodle dhaanThere is no spare tire on my waist, my slim waist is like a noodle!
Nenjaiyae puncture aai cheiyum vizhi needle dhaanMy eyes are needles that puncture hearts!
Idhupondra seidhigala BBC sonnadhillaBBC has never reported news like this!
Enpondra azhagigala M TV paarthadhillaMTV has never seen beauties like me!
Female
Mukki mukki mutheduthenStruggling hard, I retrieved pearls,
Chorus :MukkaalaaChorus: Mukkaalaa!
Female :Mukku moolai mudukellaamFemale: In every nook, corner, and narrow lane,
Chorus :MukkaabalaaChorus: Mukkaabalaa!
Female :Sonnadhila kuthamundaaFemale: Is there any fault in what I said,
Chorus :GopaalaaChorus: Gopala?
Female :Kuthaminnaa oothi tharenFemale: If there is a fault, I'll pour you
Chorus :Coco colaChorus: Coca-Cola!
Female
Orangattu orangattuvomLet's push aside, let's push aside,
Chorus :OhoooChorus: Ohooo
Female :Oldai ellaam orangattuvomFemale: Let's push aside everything old!
Chorus :OhooChorus: Ohoo
Female :Thaiya thakkaa thaiyathakkaa thomFemale: Thaiya thakkaa thaiyathakkaa thom (rhythmic dance beats)
Chorus :OhooChorus: Ohoo
Female :Thaiyanukku kaiya thookkuvomFemale: Let us raise hands in praise for the tailor!
Female
Akkadaannu naangha udai pottaaIf we wear clothes casually and freely,
Thukkadaannu neengha edai pottaaYou weigh us down considering us trivial!
Chorus :Thadaa unakku thadaaChorus: Ban on you, ban!
Female
Adamant aaa naangha nadai pottaaIf we walk with an adamant stance,
Thadaipoda neengha government aaaAre you the government to put a ban on us?
Chorus :Thadaa unakku thadaaChorus: Ban on you, ban!
Female
Medai yeridum pendhaanaeThe woman stepping onto the stage,
Chorus :Naatin sensation…Chorus: Is the sensation of the nation!
Jaadai pesidum kandhaanaeThe handsome guy flirting with expressions,
Chorus :Yaarkkum temptationChorus: Is a temptation to everyone!
Female
Orangattu orangattuvomLet's push aside, let's push aside,
Chorus :OhoooChorus: Ohooo
Female :Oldai ellaam orangattuvomFemale: Let's push aside everything old!
Chorus :OhooChorus: Ohoo
Female :Thaiya thakkaa thaiyathakkaa thomFemale: Thaiya thakkaa thaiyathakkaa thom (rhythmic dance beats)
Chorus :OhooChorus: Ohoo
Female :Thaiyanukku kaiya thookkuvomFemale: Let us raise hands in praise for the tailor!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Akkadaannu Naangha is a upbeat, playful dance track from Shankar's 1996 vigilante drama film 'Indian', composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics by Vaali and vocals by Swarnalatha and chorus. The song celebrates youth culture, modern fashion choices, and female autonomy while rejecting traditional conservatism and moral policing.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Akkadaannu naangha udai pottaa / Thukkadaannu neengha edai pottaa

Repetition of the second consonant sound 'kk' in adjacent lines for rhyming rhythm.

Metaphor

Idupila tyre illa chinna idai noodle dhaan / Nenjaiyae puncture aai cheiyum vizhi needle dhaan

Comparing a slender waist to a noodle and eyes to sharp needles that puncture hearts.

Monaai (Initial Sound Alliteration)

Orangattu orangattuvom / Oldai ellaam orangattuvom

Repetition of initial vowel sound 'O' across phrases.

Intertextuality / Self-Reference

Mukki mukki mutheduthen Mukkaalaa / Mukku moolai mudukellaam Mukkaabalaa

Playful reference to A.R. Rahman's massive hit song 'Mukkabla' from the film Kadhalan (1994).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics by veteran poet Vaali and sung by Swarnalatha, this track picturized on Kasthuri and Manisha Koirala is famous for blending contemporary English loanwords (like noodle, puncture, BBC, MTV, Coca-Cola) into Tamil pop lyrics and cleverly referencing Rahman's iconic hit 'Muqabla'.

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