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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Appatha

From Naai Sekar Returns · 2022

Lyricist
Durai
Singer
Vaigaipuyal Vadivel
Music director
Santhosh Narayanan
Details
Naai Sekar Returns2022

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Haa..aaa…haa..aaann…Haa..aaa…haa..aaann…
Haan…aan…aaan..Haan…aan…aaan..
Enga appatha shy type nine babiesMy grandmother is a shy type with nine babies,
Young vayasula veedupoora vaayaadisIn her youth, the whole house was full of chatterboxes.
Kudumbathile naan thaan main kediIn the family, I am the main troublemaker,
Businessku vanthuten rayil yeriI boarded a train and arrived for business.
Rayil yeri rayil yeri rayil yeriBoarded the train, boarded the train, boarded the train.
Male
Appatha appatha… appathaGrandmother, grandmother... grandmother.
Male
Kaal vaikum idamellaamae kannivediEvery place I step on is a landmine,
Controversy-ah thaandunen plan panniI bypassed controversies by planning well.
Saraasari life vaazha i am not readyI am not ready to live an average life,
Survive panna thedikitten thani vazhiTo survive, I found my own unique path.
Male
{Enga appatha{My grandmother,
Male :Enga enga appatha} (3)Male: Where, where is my grandmother?} (x3)
Male :Enga appathaMale: My grandmother,
Male :Enga pona ungappathaMale: Where did your grandmother go?
Male
Naan undu en vela undinnirundhenI was minding my own business,
Taxaala andha jobaiyum izhandhenBecause of taxes, I lost that job too.
Area girls heart-ah win panna try pannenI tried to win the local girls' hearts,
Sila naayaala she calling now annanBecause of some dogs, she now calls me 'brother'.
Age aaguthunnu marriage plan pannenThinking I am getting older, I planned for marriage,
Dog vandhu adhaiyum damage pannaA dog came and damaged that plan too.
Male
Citykulla vov vov kalla kadichi pottenIn the city, I bit and killed fake dogs ('bow-bow'),
Naai kidaikala night shift panni paathenWhen I didn't find dogs, I tried working night shifts.
Male
Melodynu vanthuttaWhen it comes to melody,
Enakilla breakThere is no break for me.
Nee school rappu laYou are doing school-level rap,
Dindigul trapeDindigul trap music.
Male
Sondhakadha sogakadhaA personal story, a sad story,
Vettibandha oozhachadhaA story of wasted pomp and hard work.
Sondha kaalula nikka poyiTrying to stand on my own feet,
Kandhu vatti kadan vaangiTaking loans at usurious interest rates,
Plan pottu loan pottuMaking plans and applying for loans,
Business onnu start panniStarting a business,
Room pottu phone pottuRenting a room and making phone calls,
Mimicry ellaam try panniTrying out all kinds of mimicry,
Burn panna burn pannaBurning away, burning away,
Maatten energyMy energy won't reduce.
Male
Uzhaichi paadi sokku aanen allergyWorking hard and singing, I got tired, allergic to hardships.
Thanipada vachi theduraanga alanjiThey are searching for me with a task force, wandering around.
Harry potter-ah maranthu naForgetting Harry Potter, I...
Yerulayae karandhuDisappeared in the lake,
Bankula paarthana rangaanavanIf you look at the bank, I became colorfully prosperous.
Nee enna maari try pannaIf you try to copy me,
Swift pannuvenI will dodge swiftly.
Male
Naan raanuva velaikku no sonnavanI am the one who said 'no' to a military job,
Bin laden-tta phone-laye deal pannuvenI would deal with Bin Laden over the phone!
Male
{Enga appatha{My grandmother,
Male :Enga enga appatha} (3)Male: Where, where is my grandmother?} (x3)
Male :Enga appathaMale: My grandmother,
Male :Enga pona ungappathaMale: Where did your grandmother go?
Male
Erichalukki mor kudiDrink buttermilk for irritation,
Av AvArf Arf (dog barks)
Jinkari nammaWe are energetic and lively!
Enga enga appathaWhere, where is my grandmother?
Enga enga appatha shy type nine babiesWhere, where is my grandmother, shy type with nine babies,
Appatha….Grandmother….

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Appatha' is a eccentric rap-folk fusion track from Naai Sekar Returns (2022), composed by Santhosh Narayanan and sung by comedic icon Vadivelu (Vaigaipuyal). The song serves as a hilarious, fast-paced autobiographical inner monologue for the protagonist Naai Sekar, a dog kidnapper. He humorously rambles about his lineage, grand ambition, career misadventures, financial woes, failed love life ruined by dogs, and outlandish personal flexes. Blending self-deprecating humor with wild hyperbole, the song highlights Vadivelu's unmatched vocal modulation, catchphrases, and rhythmic improvised vocalizations. Santhosh Narayanan provides a modern trap beat layered with traditional Tamil folk vibes, making it a unique comedic hip-hop track.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Kaal vaikum idamellaamae kannivedi

Compares risky situations and life choices to stepping on active landmines.

Onomatopoeia

Av Av

Imitation of dog barks embedded rhythmically into the rap delivery.

Rhyming / Assonance (Ezhukai)

Sondhakadha sogakadha

Rhythmic rhyming of 'sondhakadha' and 'sogakadha' to create poetic meter.

Hyperbole

Bin laden-tta phone-laye deal pannuven

An outrageous exaggeration claiming to negotiate international deals with Bin Laden on the phone.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Appatha' marked the triumphant musical comeback of Vadivelu as a playback singer after a long hiatus from mainstream cinema. Santhosh Narayanan specially crafted the beat around Vadivelu's iconic comedic timing and spontaneous vocal improvisations.

Keep listening

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