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Rani Lalithangi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Bulbul Jodi

From Rani Lalithangi · 1957

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
S. C. Krishnan, T. V. Rathnam
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Rani Lalithangi
Movie release year
1957
Lyrics added on
9 Dec 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oo….naanga yaarungo neega yaaruno
Nallaa nenaichi paarunga
Nampalkki padachavan intha pombalkki padachavan
Ellaam avan thaanungo
Bulbul jodi maja jiljil jodi maja
Nampal thabalaamae taekaa kumkum raja
Chorus :Bulbul jodi maja jiljil jodi maja
Female :Oo…raja….oo….raja….
Both :Oo….oo….oo….raja….
Bulbul jodi maja jiljil jodi maja
Nampal thabalaamae taekaa kumkum raja
Oo…raja….oo….raja…..oo….raja….
Jamkimae jillaana jalsaamae thillaanaa
Female :Hae aanaa
Female :Namkimae kushiyaana nampaathae dhivaanaa
Male :Vaaraevaah
Female :Namkimae kushiyaana nampaathae dhivaanaa
Both :Nallaa irukaan antha kullaa potta nanaa
Bulbul jodi maja jiljil jodi maja
Female :Oo…raja….oo….raja….
Both :Oo….oo….oo….raja….
Joraana thaaththaadi suttraatha kaattraadi
Female :Adi ammaadi
Male :Joraana thaaththaadi suttraatha kaattraadi
Female :Thullaathae aaththaadi pollaatha kooththaadi
Male :Aahaahaa
Female :Thullaathae aaththaadi pollaatha kooththaadi
Numparmae nampi vanthaan sokkidum naadodi
Chorus :Bulbul jodi maja jiljil jodi maja
Female :Oo…raja….oo….raja….
Both :Oo….oo….oo….raja….
Pattaadai rajavae pagattaana rojavae
Pattaadai rajavae pagattaana rojavae
Female :Paakkaathae koojaavae pannaathae thaajavae
Paakkaathae koojaavae pannaathae thaajavae
Both :Bhagavaangi munnae jambam saayaathu saayaathu
Chorus :Bulbul jodi maja jiljil jodi maja
Female :Oo…raja….oo….raja….
Both :Oo….oo….oo….raja….
Oh, who are we, and who are you?
Just think about it carefully!
The One who created us, and created these women,
He is the master of it all!
A lively pair of songbirds, a dazzling, fun pair!
Watch the beat on our tabla, oh King!
Chorus: A lively pair of songbirds, a dazzling, fun pair!
Female: Oh... King... oh... King...
Both: Oh... oh... oh... King...
A lively pair of songbirds, a dazzling, fun pair!
Watch the beat on our tabla, oh King!
Oh... King... oh... King... oh... King...
Sparkling in sequins, making merry in joy!
Female: Hey brother!
Female: Charmed by teasing spice, don't be fooled, you crazy one!
Male: Bravo!
Female: Charmed by teasing spice, don't be fooled, you crazy one!
Both: Look how grand he looks, that old man wearing a cap!
A lively pair of songbirds, a dazzling, fun pair!
Female: Oh... King... oh... King...
Both: Oh... oh... oh... King...
A flashy old man, a pinwheel that won't spin!
Female: Oh goodness me!
Male: A flashy old man, a pinwheel that won't spin!
Female: Don't jump around, oh my, you wicked dancer!
Male: Ahaha!
Female: Don't jump around, oh my, you wicked dancer!
Trusting in his luck, he came along, an entranced wanderer!
Chorus: A lively pair of songbirds, a dazzling, fun pair!
Female: Oh... King... oh... King...
Both: Oh... oh... oh... King...
Oh King dressed in silk, oh flashy rose!
Oh King dressed in silk, oh flashy rose!
Female: Don't look for yes-men, don't try to butter me up!
Don't look for yes-men, don't try to butter me up!
Both: Before God, your boastful pride will never hold up, never!
Chorus: A lively pair of songbirds, a dazzling, fun pair!
Female: Oh... King... oh... King...
Both: Oh... oh... oh... King...
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Bulbul Jodi Maja from Rani Lalithangi (1957) is a lively, humorous duet featuring street-performer style banter. Through energetic vocalizations and colloquial Tamil mixed with Hindustani loanwords, the singers address the audience, poke fun at each other, and celebrate the joyful art of street music and dance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhyme & Rhythm (Edukai / Monai)

Bulbul jodi maja jiljil jodi maja

Playful internal rhyming and rhythmic repetition using words like 'Bulbul', 'jiljil', and 'maja'.

Alliterative Onomatopoeia

Jamkimae jillaana jalsaamae thillaanaa

Rhythmic, musical phrasing that mimics dance beats and celebratory music.

Metaphor

Pattaadai rajavae pagattaana rojavae

Comparing a flamboyant person to a silk-clad king and a showy rose.

Moral Statement / Couplet

Bhagavaangi munnae jambam saayaathu saayaathu

A grounded philosophical observation concluding that human vanity holds no value before the divine.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track highlights the unique signature of lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, who popularized colloquial urban street jargon and Urdu/Hindustani loanwords (like 'jalsa', 'dhivaanaa', 'nanaa') in 1950s Tamil cinema music to create authentic folk and street-performer numbers.

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