- Lyricist
- Na. Muthu Kumar
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Movie name
- Sivaji
- Movie release year
- 2007
- Lyrics added on
- 20 Apr 2018
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sooriyano chandirano
Yaarivano sattunnu sollu
Chera paandiya sooranum ivano
Sollu sollu sattunnu sollu
Sooriyano chandirano
Yaarivano sattunnu sollu
Chera paandiya sooranum ivano
Sollu sollu sattunnu sollu
Paaradi paaradi yaaradi ivano
Paaigira siruthayin kaaladi ivano
Kooradi kooradi yaaradi ivano
Kettathai pattena suttidum sivano
Ye balleilakka balleilakka
Selathukka maduraikka
Madrasukka thiruchikka thiruthanikka
Ae balleilakka balleilakka
Ottu motha makkalukka
Annan vantha tamil nadum america
Kaaveri aarum kai kuthal arisiyum
Maranthu poguma
Oh thavani pengalum thoothu vidum kangalum
Tholainthu poguma
Chorus :Hahahahahahaha….
Namma kalathu medu
Chorus :Ah ah ha ha
Male :Kamma karai karisa kaadu
Chorus :Oh oh oh oh
Male :Semmann alli thelikkum roadu
Chorus :Hmm…mm….mmm…..
Ye ye sadugudu sadugudu
Sadugudu sadugudu
Sadugudu sadugudu sadugudu sadugudu
Sadugudu sadugudu aadiya marathadi
Padu padu paduvena porthiya pulveli
Thoda thoda thoda thoda udaikira pani thuli
Suda suda suda suda kidaikkira idli
Thada thada thada thadavena athirgira rayiladi
Kada kada kadavena kadakkira kaaviri
Viru viru viruvena madikkira vetrilai
Muru muru murnuvena murukkiya meesaigal
Manathil irukkuthu mei mei mei mei mei mei mei
Mei mei mei mei……………………….
{Sooriyano chandirano
Yaarivano sattunnu sollu
Chera paandiya sooranum ivano
Sollu sollu sattunnu sollu} (2)
Hey le le lalala
Ye balleilakka balleilakka
Selathukka maduraikka
Madrasukka thiruchikka thiruthanikka
Thiruthanikkaa………
Ae balleilakka balleilakka
Ottu motha makkalukka
Annan vantha tamil nadum america
Sattena sollu satenna sollu
Elae elae gramathu kudisayila
Konja kaalam thangi paarulae
Koorayin ottai virisal vali
Natchathiram enni paarulae
Yelae yelae yelae
Koovum cell phonenin
Nacharippai anaithu
Konjam sil vandin ucharippai ketpom
Verum kaalil seruppindri nadanthu
Mannodu pesikkondu povom
Mazhalaigal aavom
Aala marathukku
Jadaikal pinni thaan
Pookkal vaikkalaamae
Male :Oororam ayyanaaridam
Kathi vaangithan pencil seevalaamae
Ye balleilakka balleilakka
Selathukka maduraikka
Madrasukka thiruchikka thiruthanikka
Ae balleilakka balleilakka
Ottu motha makkalukka
Annan vantha tamil nadum america
………………………………………
Sattena sollu satenna sollu
Elae elae anjara pettiyila
Aathavoda rusiyirukkum
Yelae yelae yelae
Ammiyil arachu aakkivacha
Naattu kozhi patta kelappum
Yelae yelae yelae
Elae aadu maadu mela ulla paasam
Veetu ration card-il serkka solli ketkum
Verum thanni ketta mooru tharum nesam
Vellanthi manithargal vaasam
Mannu engum veesum
Paampada kilaviyin
Pachilai marunthukku
Peyum odi pogum
Male :Pangaali pakkathu veettukkum
Serthu samaikkira
Anbu ingu vaalum
Ye balleilakka balleilakka
Selathukka maduraikka
Madrasukka thiruchikka thiruthanikka
Ae balleilakka balleilakka
Ottu motha makkalukka
Annan vantha tamil nadum america
Kaaveri aarum kai kuthal arisiyum
Maranthu poguma
Chorus :Maranthu poguma
Male :Oh thavani pengalum
Namma kalathu medu
Chorus :Ah ah ha ha
Male :Kamma karai karisa kaadu
Chorus :Oh oh oh oh
Female :Semmann alli thelikkum roadu
Chorus :Hmm…mm….mmm…..
Ye ye sadugudu sadugudu
Sadugudu sadugudu
Sadugudu sadugudu sadugudu sadugudu
Sadugudu sadugudu aadiya marathadi
Padu padu paduvena porthiya pulveli
Thoda thoda thoda thoda udaikira pani thuli
Suda suda suda suda kidaikkira idli
Thada thada thada thadavena athirgira rayiladi
Kada kada kadavena kadakkira kaaviri
Viru viru viruvena madikkira vetrilai
Muru muru murnuvena murukkiya meesaigal
Manathil irukkuthu mei mei mei mei mei mei mei
Mei mei mei mei……………………….
Ye balleilakka balleilakka
Selathukka maduraikka
Madrasukka thiruchikka thiruthanikka
Thiruthanikkaa………
Ae balleilakka balleilakka
Ottu motha makkalukka
Annan vantha tamil nadum america
Male :Cool…….
Is he the sun or the moon?
Tell me quickly, who is he?
Is he a brave warrior of the Chera or Pandya kings?
Tell me, tell me, tell me quickly!
Is he the sun or the moon?
Tell me quickly, who is he?
Is he a brave warrior of the Chera or Pandya kings?
Tell me, tell me, tell me quickly!
Look, girl, look, who is he?
Is he the swift footstep of a leaping leopard?
Tell me, girl, tell me, who is he?
Is he Lord Shiva, who strikes evil down in a flash?
Hey, Ballelakka, Ballelakka!
Is it for Salem? Is it for Madurai?
For Madras? For Trichy? For Tiruttani?
Hey, Ballelakka, Ballelakka!
Is it for all the people?
When our brother arrives, even Tamil Nadu will become like America!
The Kaveri river and hand-pounded rice,
can we ever forget them?
Oh, girls in half-saris and their flirting eyes,
will they ever be lost?
Chorus: Hahahahahaha...
Our village threshing floor,
Chorus: Aa aa ha ha
Male: The lake bund and the black-soil fields,
Chorus: Oh oh oh oh
Male: The roads scattered with red soil,
Chorus: Mmm... mmm... mmm...
Hey hey, sadugudu, sadugudu (kabaddi chants),
Sadugudu, sadugudu,
Sadugudu sadugudu, sadugudu sadugudu!
Under the tree shade where we played kabaddi,
The green meadows spread out like a soft blanket,
The dew drops that break the moment you touch them,
The piping hot idlis served fresh,
The railway tracks that rattle and rumble,
The Kaveri river flowing swiftly past,
The betel leaves folded with swift hands,
The upright, twirled-up mustaches,
They live in my heart, truly, truly, truly, truly, truly, truly, truly!
Truly, truly, truly, truly...
{Is he the sun or the moon?
Tell me quickly, who is he?
Is he a brave warrior of the Chera or Pandya kings?
Tell me, tell me, tell me quickly!} (2)
Hey ley ley lalalaa
Hey, Ballelakka, Ballelakka!
Is it for Salem? Is it for Madurai?
For Madras? For Trichy? For Tiruttani?
For Tiruttani...
Hey, Ballelakka, Ballelakka!
Is it for all the people?
When our brother arrives, even Tamil Nadu will become like America!
Tell me quickly, tell me quickly!
Hey friend, inside a simple village hut,
try staying for a little while!
Through the cracks and holes in the thatched roof,
try counting the stars at night!
Hey, hey, hey!
Turning off the constant nagging
of the ringing mobile phone,
let us listen to the gentle hum of crickets.
Walking barefoot without slippers,
let us wander, talking with the earth.
Let us become little children again!
For the great banyan tree,
let us braid its hanging roots
and tuck fresh flowers into them!
Male: From the guardian deity Ayyanar at the village border,
let's borrow his sword to sharpen our pencils!
Hey, Ballelakka, Ballelakka!
Is it for Salem? Is it for Madurai?
For Madras? For Trichy? For Tiruttani?
Hey, Ballelakka, Ballelakka!
Is it for all the people?
When our brother arrives, even Tamil Nadu will become like America!
...
Tell me quickly, tell me quickly!
Hey friend, inside the traditional spice box (ancharai petti),
lives mother's delicious cooking!
Hey, hey, hey!
Ground on the traditional flat stone and cooked,
the country chicken curry is simply incredible!
Hey, hey, hey!
Hey, the love they have for their cattle and goats
makes them want to add them to the family ration card!
Ask for plain water and they offer seasoned buttermilk with affection;
the goodness of such innocent folks
spreads like a sweet fragrance across this land!
Before the herbal remedy
of the old granny wearing heavy ear ornaments (paambadam),
even ghosts will run away!
Male: Cooking extra food
to share with the cousins and neighbours next door,
such pure love thrives here!
Hey, Ballelakka, Ballelakka!
Is it for Salem? Is it for Madurai?
For Madras? For Trichy? For Tiruttani?
Hey, Ballelakka, Ballelakka!
Is it for all the people?
When our brother arrives, even Tamil Nadu will become like America!
The Kaveri river and hand-pounded rice,
can we ever forget them?
Chorus: Can we ever forget them?
Male: Oh, the girls in half-saris...
Our village threshing floor,
Chorus: Aa aa ha ha
Male: The lake bund and the black-soil fields,
Chorus: Oh oh oh oh
Female: The roads scattered with red soil,
Chorus: Mmm... mmm... mmm...
Hey hey, sadugudu, sadugudu,
Sadugudu, sadugudu,
Sadugudu sadugudu, sadugudu sadugudu!
Under the tree shade where we played kabaddi,
The green meadows spread out like a soft blanket,
The dew drops that break the moment you touch them,
The piping hot idlis served fresh,
The railway tracks that rattle and rumble,
The Kaveri river flowing swiftly past,
The betel leaves folded with swift hands,
The upright, twirled-up mustaches,
They live in my heart, truly, truly, truly, truly, truly, truly, truly!
Truly, truly, truly, truly...
Hey, Ballelakka, Ballelakka!
Is it for Salem? Is it for Madurai?
For Madras? For Trichy? For Tiruttani?
For Tiruttani...
Hey, Ballelakka, Ballelakka!
Is it for all the people?
When our brother arrives, even Tamil Nadu will become like America!
Male: Cool...
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Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Balleilakka is a high-energy anthem celebrating the heroic return of the protagonist (Sivaji) to his native land while painting a grand, romanticized, and nostalgic picture of rural Tamil Nadu. Lyricist Na. Muthu Kumar weaves together images of natural beauty, traditional village life, culinary culture, rustic warmth, and deep community bonds, contrasting them with modern electronic distractions. The song conveys a strong sense of cultural pride, suggesting that no matter how far one travels or how developed Tamil Nadu becomes, its rich roots and human warmth remain irreplaceable.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question (Uvama / Vinavu)
“Sooriyano chandirano / Yaarivano sattunnu sollu”
The lyrics begin with rhetorical questions asking whether the hero is the sun, moon, or ancient Tamil kings, heightening his mythical hero stature.
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Paaigira siruthayin kaaladi ivano”
Comparing the movement/stance of the protagonist to a pouncing leopard.
Onomatopoeia (Irattai Kilavi / Anukaranai)
“Suda suda suda suda kidaikkira idli”
Use of rhythmic sensory sound words like 'padu padu', 'suda suda', 'thada thada', and 'kada kada' to evoke rural textures and motions.
Hyperbole (Adukkuthodar & Uyarkavu)
“Annan vantha tamil nadum america”
Whimsical exaggeration comparing Tamil Nadu's potential under the protagonist to America, and borrowing a village deity's sword to sharpen a pencil.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by A. R. Rahman with iconic vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Reena Bhardwaj, and D. A. V. Prashanth, 'Balleilakka' served as the opening song for Rajinikanth's blockbuster film 'Sivaji: The Boss' (2007). The grand visual sequence was filmed with hundreds of folk dancers set against lavishly constructed village backdrops.
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