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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Banana Banana

From Kattumarakaran · 1995

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kattumarakaran1995

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Banana banana banana hae…Banana banana banana hae...
Thinaanaa thinaanaa thinaanaaThinaanaa thinaanaa thinaanaa
Thannaanaa thannaanaa thannaanaa hae…Thannaanaa thannaanaa thannaanaa hae...
Sonnaanaa sonnaanaa sonnaanaaDid he say so, did he say so, did he say so
Male
You touch me touch me touch meYou touch me touch me touch me
O latchumi latchumi latchumiOh Latchumi, Latchumi, Latchumi
You kichu me kichu me kichu meYou tickle me, tickle me, tickle me
O latchumi latchumi latchumiOh Latchumi, Latchumi, Latchumi
Chorus
………………………………............................
Male
Nalla thamizh irukkuWe have good Tamil language
Thaen polavae namakkuLike sweet honey for us
Nammaathaa thandha sothuIt is the treasure given by our motherland
Ingae innum unakkuStill available here for you
English ellaam edhukkuWhy do we need English?
Venaamunnu odhukkuAvoid it saying we don't need it
Male
Kattu pattu kedandhaaIf you stay disciplined and modest
Potta pullaO young girl
Thattu kettu thirinjaa nalladhillaeIt is not good to wander around without restraint
Hae anbu panbum irundhaaHey, if you have love and good character
Ooru thozhumThe town will respect you
Rendum kettu nadandhaa peru kedumIf you lose both and behave badly, your reputation will be ruined
Male
Pollaadha vellaadaa thullaadhaeDon't leap like a mischievous white goat
Munnaalae vandhaalae muttaadhaeDon't clash if someone comes before you
Male
Banana banana banana hae…Banana banana banana hae...
Thinaanaa thinaanaa thinaanaaThinaanaa thinaanaa thinaanaa
Thannaanaa thannaanaa thannaanaa hae…Thannaanaa thannaanaa thannaanaa hae...
Sonnaanaa sonnaanaa sonnaanaaDid he say so, did he say so, did he say so
Male
You touch me touch me touch meYou touch me touch me touch me
O latchumi latchumi latchumiOh Latchumi, Latchumi, Latchumi
You kichu me kichu me kichu meYou tickle me, tickle me, tickle me
O latchumi latchumi latchumiOh Latchumi, Latchumi, Latchumi
Male
Yahhoo…Yahhoo...
Male
Enga makkal nenachaaIf our fishermen people decide
Eera vala virichaaAnd cast a wet fishing net
Sikkaadha meenum illaeThere is no fish that escapes getting caught
Thappu thandaa purinjaaIf someone does something wrong
Thaavi ingae kudhichaaAnd tries to leap and jump around here
Thappaadhammaa pudichaaThey won't escape, they will be caught
Male
Uppu thanni kudichuI am one who grew up drinking salt water
Vandhavan diO girl
Minnal mazhai idiyilI am one who stood firm through lightning, rain, and thunder
Ninnavan diO girl
Hae vambu thumbu valarthaaIf anyone picks trouble or fights
Kettavan diI can be a bad guy, O girl
Othukkittu odhungu kuppa vandiMove aside and clear out, you rubbish cart
Male
Ennodu ennaalum muttaadhaeNever clash with me
Mullaaven munnaalae thattaadhaeDon't knock against me, I will turn into a thorn
Male
You touch me touch me touch meYou touch me touch me touch me
O latchumi latchumi latchumiOh Latchumi, Latchumi, Latchumi
You kichu me kichu me kichu meYou tickle me, tickle me, tickle me
O latchumi latchumi latchumiOh Latchumi, Latchumi, Latchumi
Male
HaeHey!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and energetic song from the movie Kattumarakaran features a hero advising a girl (Latchumi) about culture, discipline, and respect for the Tamil language over westernized tendencies. He emphasizes that Tamil is sweet like honey and urges her to maintain her character and dignity instead of behaving recklessly.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Thaen polavae namakku

Compares the sweet Tamil language directly to honey ('Thaen polavae').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Pollaadha vellaadaa thullaadhae

Refers to the heroine or a reckless person metaphorically as a 'pollaadha vellaadu' (mischievous white goat).

Rhyme (Edhugai)

Kattu pattu kedandhaa

Second letter rhyming in consecutive lines ('kattu' and 'thattu').

Code-mixing (Tanglish)

You touch me touch me touch me

Blending English words like 'touch', 'kichu' (tickle), and 'English' with Tamil grammar and phonetics.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kattumarakaran (1995) stars Prabhu and Anusha, with music composed by Deva and lyrics penned by the veteran lyricist Vaali. The film revolves around the life and struggles of a fisherman on the Tamil Nadu coast.

Keep listening

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