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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chennai Enga Ooru

From Pattinapakkam · 2018

Lyricist
Murugan Manthiram
Singers
Ishaan Dev, Chorus
Music director
Ishaan Dev
Details
Pattinapakkam2018

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
ChennaiChennai
Male :Enga ooru enga ooruMale: Our town, our town
Chorus :ChennaiChorus: Chennai
Male :Idhu namma ooru namma ooruMale: This is our town, our town
Vandhu paaru vandhu paaruCome and see, come and see
Vazhavaikkum nalla oorae yeiIt is the great town that gives life to all, hey!
Male
Singaara chennaiBeautiful Chennai
Child :Enga ooru enga ooruChild: Our town, our town
Male :ChennaiMale: Chennai
Child :Ada namma ooru namma ooruChild: Hey, our town, our town
Male :Vandhu paaru vandhu paaruMale: Come and see, come and see
Vazhavaikkum nalla oorae yeiIt is the great town that gives life to all, hey!
Chorus
Hei hei hei heiHei hei hei hei
Male
Vellakaaran kattivechaBuilt by the Britishers
Kattivecha kottai unduThere stands the historic fort
Ottasuvar otti ottiClinging close to the mud walls
Odugundra koovam unduFlows the river Cooum
Male
Ekkachakka mozhigalaSpeaking a multitude of languages
Pesugira makkal unduThere live diverse people
Yegapatta kadavulumCountless gods and deities
Saamigalum ingu unduAre worshipped right here
Male
Oh vanga kadal karaiyilaOh, on the shores of the Bay of Bengal
MGR-u thoonguraaruMGR rests eternally
Japan naadum kaithattudhuEven the country of Japan applauds
Enga aalu super staruOur beloved Superstar (Rajinikanth)!
Male
MarinavumThe Marina Beach too
Chorus:HeyyChorus: Heyy
Male :Enga perumaiMale: Is our pride
Chorus :HeyyChorus: Heyy
Male :Tamil cinemaavumMale: Tamil cinema too
Enga perumaiIs our pride
Chorus :HeyyChorus: Heyy
Male :RaajavumMale: Maestro Ilaiyaraaja too
Chorus :HeyyChorus: Heyy
Male :RahumanumMale: A. R. Rahman too
Chorus :HeyyChorus: Heyy
Male :Enga perumaiMale: Is our pride
Male
Ada enga ooru enga ooruHey, our town, our town
Idhu namma ooru namma ooruThis is our town, our town
Ada enga ooru enga ooruHey, our town, our town
Ada namma ooru namma ooruHey, our town, our town
Chorus
Hei hei hei heiHei hei hei hei
Heihei heiheiHei hei hei hei
He he ha he he haHe he ha he he ha
He he ha he he haHe he ha he he ha
Hehaaha he haaha he haahaHehaaha he haaha he haaha
Male
Roatukada kai yenthiAt roadside food stalls and Kaiyendhi bhavans
Bavanula idly vadaServing hot idlis and vadas
Reddy kada annachiAt Reddy stores and elder brother's shops
Kadaiyila pongal vadaServing delicious pongal and vadas
Male
Hei mela paaru metrovilHey, look above, inside the Metro train
Parakkudhu ooru sanamThe city's people soar by
Ooru sanamThe city's people
Keela paaru share autoLook below, inside the share autos
Pidhungudhu dhinam dhinamIt's crowded and packed every single day
Male
IIT-um tidalparkkumIIT and Tidel Park
Valarkkudhu technologyNurture modern technology
OMR-um ECR-umOMR and ECR roads
Valarkkudhu loveologyNurture youthful romance
Male
Kolla mazhaithaanWhen heavy torrential rain poured
Kotti medhakkaOverflowing and flooding everywhere
Vellakadalil ooru medhakkaMaking the city float in an ocean of flood
Ethirthu ninnomWe stood up against it
Ezhunthu ninnomWe rose together in strength
Male
Naanga chennai tamilanWe are the Chennai Tamils
Chennai tamil…anChennai Tamils
Chennai singaara chennaiChennai, beautiful Chennai
Chennai singaara chennaiChennai, beautiful Chennai
Chorus
Hei hei hei heiHei hei hei hei
Hei hei hei heiHei hei hei hei
Hei hei hei heiHei hei hei hei
Hei hei hei heiHei hei hei hei

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Chennai' from the movie 'Pattinapakkam' (2018) is an energetic, high-spirited tribute to the spirit and culture of Chennai. It celebrates Chennai as a welcoming city ('Vazhavaikkum Ooru') that embraces people from all walks of life, cultures, and languages. The lyrics mention iconic landmarks like Fort St. George, Marina Beach, and the Bay of Bengal, along with cinema legends like MGR, Superstar Rajinikanth, Ilaiyaraaja, and A. R. Rahman.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodhar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Male :Enga ooru enga ooru

Words like 'enga ooru enga ooru' and 'vandhu paaru vandhu paaru' are repeated continuously to add rhythm and emotional emphasis.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Hei mela paaru metrovil / Keela paaru share auto

The second consonant sound matches across consecutive lines ('mela' / 'keela'), creating traditional Tamil musical harmony.

Metaphor / Contrast

OMR-um ECR-um Valarkkudhu loveology

Contrasts modern technological hubs like IIT and Tidel Park with scenic romantic spots like OMR and ECR using coined terms like 'loveology'.

Imagery and Social Realism

Ethirthu ninnom Ezhunthu ninnom

Captures the resilience of Chennai people who stood united during the massive Chennai floods ('vellakadalil ooru medhakka').

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyricist Murugan Manthiram explicitly references the infamous 2015 Chennai Floods in the second verse, highlighting the unity and spirit of 'Chennai Tamils' who rose up to help one another regardless of religion or background.

Keep listening

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