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Isaimozhi
Kattumarakaran album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Banana Banana

From Kattumarakaran · 1995

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Kattumarakaran
Movie release year
1995
Lyrics added on
25 Feb 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Banana banana banana hae…
Thinaanaa thinaanaa thinaanaa
Thannaanaa thannaanaa thannaanaa hae…
Sonnaanaa sonnaanaa sonnaanaa
You touch me touch me touch me
O latchumi latchumi latchumi
You kichu me kichu me kichu me
O latchumi latchumi latchumi
………………………………
Nalla thamizh irukku
Thaen polavae namakku
Nammaathaa thandha sothu
Ingae innum unakku
English ellaam edhukku
Venaamunnu odhukku
Kattu pattu kedandhaa
Potta pulla
Thattu kettu thirinjaa nalladhillae
Hae anbu panbum irundhaa
Ooru thozhum
Rendum kettu nadandhaa peru kedum
Pollaadha vellaadaa thullaadhae
Munnaalae vandhaalae muttaadhae
Banana banana banana hae…
Thinaanaa thinaanaa thinaanaa
Thannaanaa thannaanaa thannaanaa hae…
Sonnaanaa sonnaanaa sonnaanaa
You touch me touch me touch me
O latchumi latchumi latchumi
You kichu me kichu me kichu me
O latchumi latchumi latchumi
Yahhoo…
Enga makkal nenachaa
Eera vala virichaa
Sikkaadha meenum illae
Thappu thandaa purinjaa
Thaavi ingae kudhichaa
Thappaadhammaa pudichaa
Uppu thanni kudichu
Vandhavan di
Minnal mazhai idiyil
Ninnavan di
Hae vambu thumbu valarthaa
Kettavan di
Othukkittu odhungu kuppa vandi
Ennodu ennaalum muttaadhae
Mullaaven munnaalae thattaadhae
You touch me touch me touch me
O latchumi latchumi latchumi
You kichu me kichu me kichu me
O latchumi latchumi latchumi
Hae
Banana banana banana hey…
Thinaanaa thinaanaa thinaanaa
Thannaanaa thannaanaa thannaanaa hey…
Sonnaanaa sonnaanaa sonnaanaa
You touch me, touch me, touch me!
Oh Latchumi, Latchumi, Latchumi!
You tickle me, tickle me, tickle me!
Oh Latchumi, Latchumi, Latchumi!
………………………………
We have fine Tamil,
Which is like sweet honey to us.
It is the wealth granted by our mother,
Still available here for you.
Why do you need all this English?
Discard it, saying you don't need it!
If she stays modest and restrained,
A young girl blossoms,
Wandering astray without order is not good.
Hey, if love and virtue are present,
The whole town will honor you.
If you lose both and misbehave, your reputation is ruined!
You mischievous white goat, do not leap around!
If you come near me, do not butt heads!
Banana banana banana hey…
Thinaanaa thinaanaa thinaanaa
Thannaanaa thannaanaa thannaanaa hey…
Sonnaanaa sonnaanaa sonnaanaa
You touch me, touch me, touch me!
Oh Latchumi, Latchumi, Latchumi!
You tickle me, tickle me, tickle me!
Oh Latchumi, Latchumi, Latchumi!
Yahoo…
If our people resolve to do something,
And cast out a wet net,
There is no fish that can escape it!
If you commit wrongs and misdeeds,
And leap and jump over here,
Once caught, you won't escape, girl!
Having drunk the salt water of the sea,
I am a man who came up, girl!
Amidst lightning, rain, and thunder,
I am a man who stood strong, girl!
Hey, if someone picks fights and creates trouble,
I am a bad guy to them, girl!
Move aside and clear the way, you garbage cart!
Never clash with me!
I will turn into a thorn, don't tap before me!
You touch me, touch me, touch me!
Oh Latchumi, Latchumi, Latchumi!
You tickle me, tickle me, tickle me!
Oh Latchumi, Latchumi, Latchumi!
Hey!
Male
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Chorus
Male
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Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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