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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Bulbul Jodi

From Rani Lalithangi · 1957

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
S. C. Krishnan, T. V. Rathnam
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Rani Lalithangi1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oo….naanga yaarungo neega yaarunoOh, who are we and who are you?
Nallaa nenaichi paarungaThink about it carefully!
Nampalkki padachavan intha pombalkki padachavanThe One who created men created women too,
Ellaam avan thaanungoEverything is His doing, sir!
Male
Bulbul jodi maja jiljil jodi majaNightingales' fun pair, a cool fun pair!
Nampal thabalaamae taekaa kumkum rajaBeat the rhythm on our tabla, oh Kumkum king!
Chorus :Bulbul jodi maja jiljil jodi majaChorus: Nightingales' fun pair, a cool fun pair!
Female :Oo…raja….oo….raja….Female: Oh king... oh king...
Both :Oo….oo….oo….raja….Both: Oh... oh... oh king...
Chorus
Bulbul jodi maja jiljil jodi majaNightingales' fun pair, a cool fun pair!
Nampal thabalaamae taekaa kumkum rajaBeat the rhythm on our tabla, oh Kumkum king!
Oo…raja….oo….raja…..oo….raja….Oh king... oh king... oh king...
Male
Jamkimae jillaana jalsaamae thillaanaaGlittering and sparkling, a joyous dance celebration!
Female :Hae aanaaFemale: Hey brother!
Female :Namkimae kushiyaana nampaathae dhivaanaaFemale: We are joyful, but don't trust this crazy lover!
Male :VaaraevaahMale: Wow, wonderful!
Female :Namkimae kushiyaana nampaathae dhivaanaaFemale: We are joyful, but don't trust this crazy lover!
Both :Nallaa irukaan antha kullaa potta nanaaBoth: He looks good, that cap-wearing gentleman!
Bulbul jodi maja jiljil jodi majaNightingales' fun pair, a cool fun pair!
Female :Oo…raja….oo….raja….Female: Oh king... oh king...
Both :Oo….oo….oo….raja….Both: Oh... oh... oh king...
Male
Joraana thaaththaadi suttraatha kaattraadiGrand old man, spinning like a windmill!
Female :Adi ammaadiFemale: Oh my goodness!
Male :Joraana thaaththaadi suttraatha kaattraadiMale: Grand old man, spinning like a windmill!
Female :Thullaathae aaththaadi pollaatha kooththaadiFemale: Don't jump around, oh my, you mischievous performer!
Male :AahaahaaMale: Aha ha!
Female :Thullaathae aaththaadi pollaatha kooththaadiFemale: Don't jump around, oh my, you mischievous performer!
Numparmae nampi vanthaan sokkidum naadodiHaving trusted us, this enchanting nomad came along!
Chorus :Bulbul jodi maja jiljil jodi majaChorus: Nightingales' fun pair, a cool fun pair!
Female :Oo…raja….oo….raja….Female: Oh king... oh king...
Both :Oo….oo….oo….raja….Both: Oh... oh... oh king...
Male
Pattaadai rajavae pagattaana rojavaeOh king in silk attire, oh flashy rose!
Pattaadai rajavae pagattaana rojavaeOh king in silk attire, oh flashy rose!
Female :Paakkaathae koojaavae pannaathae thaajavaeFemale: Don't look at sycophants, don't bow down in plea!
Paakkaathae koojaavae pannaathae thaajavaeFemale: Don't look at sycophants, don't bow down in plea!
Both :Bhagavaangi munnae jambam saayaathu saayaathuBoth: Before God, human pride will never prevail!
Chorus :Bulbul jodi maja jiljil jodi majaChorus: Nightingales' fun pair, a cool fun pair!
Female :Oo…raja….oo….raja….Female: Oh king... oh king...
Both :Oo….oo….oo….raja….Both: Oh... oh... oh king...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

Keep listening

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