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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Berikkai Berikkai

From Thanga Pappa · 1993

Lyricist
Aravind Raj
Singer
Sabitha Selvam
Music director
Deva
Details
Thanga Pappa1993

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Baerikkaai baerikkaai small baerikkaaiPear, pear, small pear
Chinna kaayi chinna kaayi seepaana kaayiSmall fruit, small fruit, comb-shaped fruit
Paaradi neeyum vaangi paaradiLook girl, buy and see, girl
Paaradi neeyum vaangi paaradiLook girl, buy and see, girl
Female
Baerikkaai baerikkaai small baerikkaaiPear, pear, small pear
Baerikkaai baerikkaai small baerikkaaiPear, pear, small pear
Female
Mala melae baerikka baerikkaPear up on the hill, pear
Maram melae yerikka yerikkaClimbing up the tree, climbing
Female
Mala melae baerikka maram melae yerikkaPear up on the hill, climbing up the tree
Parichi podu parichu podu maerikkaaPluck and drop it, pluck and trample it
Azhagaana baerikka aruthaakkaa sothakkaaBeautiful pear, when sliced open, turns out to be mushy rotten
Naanga yemaandhutom naanga yemaandhutomWe got tricked, we got tricked
Female
Mala melae baerikka maram melae yerikkaPear up on the hill, climbing up the tree
Parichi podu parichu podu maerikkaaPluck and drop it, pluck and trample it
Azhagaana baerikka aruthaakkaa sothakkaaBeautiful pear, when sliced open, turns out to be mushy rotten
Naanga yemaandhutom naanga yemaandhutomWe got tricked, we got tricked
Female
Ottagathila poguraaru sheakku shaekkuThe Sheikh is riding on a camel, Sheikh Sheikh
Kaiyilathaan emmaam periya kekku kekkuIn his hand is such a giant cake, cake
Thinna thinna kekku rombha shoku shokkuAs you eat and eat, the cake tastes so delightful, delightful
Thaagathula thavikkudhadi naakku naakkuThe tongue is agonizing with thirst, tongue tongue
Female
Paalaivana solathaan paathuputtaa shaekkuthaanThe Sheikh spotted a desert oasis
Solaikkulla aaruthaan thulli varum neeru thaanInside the grove, there is a river, with leaping spring water
Poga poga thalli pogum aaru kaanal andha neerAs he moves closer, the river recedes, for that water is a mirage
Kalaichutaaru…papppppaaHe grew completely exhausted... papppppaa
Shaekku yemaandhutaar serndhadhu uttkaandhutaarThe Sheikh got tricked, he slumped down in dismay
Female
Mala melae baerikka maram melae yerikkaPear up on the hill, climbing up the tree
Parichi podu parichu podu maerikkaaPluck and drop it, pluck and trample it
Azhagaana baerikka aruthaakkaa sothakkaaBeautiful pear, when sliced open, turns out to be mushy rotten
Naanga yemaandhutom naanga yemaandhutomWe got tricked, we got tricked
Female
Thagara dappa pola unga caaru caaruYour car is just like a tin container, car car
Ootturadhu engalodu saaru saaruThe one driving it is our sir, sir
Pottiduvaar naalavadhu keeru keeruHe will shift right into fourth gear, gear
Potti pottu jeyikkiradhu yaaru yaaruWho will compete and win, who who
Female
Medu palla roadu thaan kudhira pola aadunthaanOn the bumpy uneven road, it prances like a horse
Pogum ooru nooruthaan poyi serum neranthaanThe town to reach is a hundred miles away, it is time to arrive
Kurunji malar poothirukkum kaadu kudagumala roaduThe forest where Kurunji flowers bloom, the winding Kudagu hill road
Nee thaalam thatti papapappapapapaYou clap along to the rhythm, papapappapapapa
Naanga yemaandhittom nalla yemaandhittomWe got tricked, thoroughly tricked
Female
Mala melae baerikka maram melae yerikkaPear up on the hill, climbing up the tree
Parichi podu parichu podu maerikkaaPluck and drop it, pluck and trample it
Azhagaana baerikka aruthaakkaa sothakkaaBeautiful pear, when sliced open, turns out to be mushy rotten
Naanga yemaandhutom naanga yemaandhutomWe got tricked, we got tricked
Female
Baerikkaai baerikkaai small baerikkaaiPear, pear, small pear
Chinna kaayi chinna kaayi seepaana kaayiSmall fruit, small fruit, comb-shaped fruit
Paaradi neeyum vaangi paaradiLook girl, buy and see, girl
Paaradi neeyum vaangi paaradiLook girl, buy and see, girl
Lalalalalalalalala lalalalalalalalalalaLalalalalalalalala lalalalalalalalalala

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful, high-energy song from 'Thanga Pappa' (1993) uses lively rhymes, metaphors, and fun fables to convey themes of high expectations ending in funny disappointments. The central chorus uses the metaphor of picking a seemingly beautiful pear from a high hill, only to slice it open and discover it is mushy and rotten inside, leaving everyone shouting 'we got tricked!' The verses narrate humorous short anecdotes to reinforce this theme: first, a Sheikh in a desert following a mirage expecting an oasis with cool water only to sit down disappointed, and second, a chaotic car race on bumpy Kudagu mountain roads driving an old tin-can car. Rendered with Deva's signature rhythmic folk style, the track is a catchy, lighthearted children's-style song filled with vocal percussion and expressive rhymes.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukku Thodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Baerikkaai baerikkaai small baerikkaai

Words like 'baerikkaai baerikkaai', 'chinna kaayi chinna kaayi', and 'kekku kekku' are doubled sequentially to create rhythm and playful emphasis typical of folk songs.

Emona / Etukai (Monai and Ethirai Rhyme Scheme)

Mala melae baerikka maram melae yerikka

Matching consonants and vowel sounds across line pairs like 'baerikka' / 'yerikka' and 'caaru' / 'saaru' create internal rhythm and musical flow.

Simile (Uwamai)

Thagara dappa pola unga caaru caaru

The song compares the rickety car to a tin can ('Thagara dappa pola') and its bumpy ride to a galloping horse ('kudhira pola aadunthaan').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Deva, known as the 'Thenisai Thendral' of Tamil cinema, this track showcases his characteristic blend of Gaana-influenced rhythms and playful nursery-style melodic structures that became immensely popular in early 1990s Tamil film soundtracks.

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