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Gentleman album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Chikku Bukku Rayile

From Gentleman · 1993

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Suresh Peters, G. V. Prakash Kumar
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Gentleman
Movie release year
1993
Lyrics added on
28 Jul 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{Chikku bukku rayilae
Ada kalakkuthu paar iva stylu
Sikkuvaala sikkuvaala mayilu
Iva ok na adi thoolu} (2)
Chinna ponniva padippathu
Ethiraajaa
Manasai ellaam salavai seiyum
Sottu neelam iva paarvaiyil
Uruvaachaa
Vayasu pasangala vizhiyila pudichaa
Chikku bukku rayilae
Ada kalakkuthu paar iva stylu
Sikkuvaala sikkuvaala mayilu
Iva ok na adi thoolu
Yeh yeh yeh yeh yeh yeh
Yeh yeh yeh yeh yeh oyeah
Yeh yeh yeh yeh yeh yeh
Yeh yeh yeh yeh yeh oyeah
Yeh yeh yeh yeh yeh yeh
Yeh yeh yeh yeh yeh yeh
Naanga cycle yeriyae vanthaaka
Neenga motaarbaikathaan paarpeenga
Naanga motaarbaikkilae vanthaaka
Neenga maaruthikku maaruveenga
Naanga jeans pantuthaan potaaka
Neenga baagi panttathaan paarpeenga
Naanga baagi pantathaan potaaka
Neenga vettiyathaan theduveenga
Onnumae vivarangal puriyallae
Ennathaan pudikkumo theriyallae
Ambugal aayiram adichaachu
Mothathil payithiyam pudichaachu
{Chikku bukku rayilae
Ada kalakkuthu paar iva stylu
Sikkuvaala sikkuvaala mayilu
Iva ok na adi thoolu} (2)
Naanga aadi paadithaan kalachaachu
Inga alanji thirinjithaan veruthaachu
Ippo kuzhambi kuzhambithaan mudi pochu
Vaalibanthaan thirumba varumaa
Unga appan theduvaan maappilla
Dowri athigam ketkalaam aan pilla
Atha vacha pinbuthaan poomaala
Appadiyoru avathi yemmaa
Ippovae kedachatha love pannaa
Nikkalaam selavindri mana pennaa
Appuram avasthaigal kidaiyaathu
Appanin semippum kuraiyaathu…uuuuuu…
Chikku bukku rayilae
Railae
Ada kalakkuthu paar iva stylu
Stylu
Sikkuvaala sikkuvaala mayilu
Iva ok na adi thoolu
Chinna ponniva padippathu
Ethiraajaa
Manasai ellaam salavai seiyum
Sottu neelam iva paarvaiyil
Uruvaachaa
Vayasu pasangala vizhiyila pudichaa
{Chikku bukku rayilae
Railae
Ada kalakkuthu paar iva stylu
Stylu
Sikkuvaala sikkuvaala mayilu
Iva ok na adi thoolu} (2)
Chikku bukku goes the train!
Look at her rocking style!
Will this gorgeous peacock fall for me?
If she says yes, it's going to be a blast!
This young girl studies at
Ethiraj College!
Washing everyone's heart clean—
was the liquid blue fabric brightener
made from her gaze?
She hooked all the young guys with her eyes!
Chikku bukku goes the train!
Look at her rocking style!
Will this gorgeous peacock fall for me?
If she says yes, it's going to be a blast!
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah oh yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah oh yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
If we come riding a bicycle,
you only look at guys on motorbikes.
If we come on a motorbike,
you turn your eyes toward a Maruti car.
If we put on a pair of jeans,
you look for guys in baggy pants.
If we put on baggy pants,
you go searching for a traditional dhoti (veshti).
We don't understand you at all!
We have no clue what you actually like.
A thousand love arrows have struck us,
and in the end, we've gone completely crazy!
Chikku bukku goes the train!
Look at her rocking style!
Will this gorgeous peacock fall for me?
If she says yes, it's going to be a blast!
We are exhausted from all the dancing and singing,
we are totally fed up with wandering around,
and our hair is falling out from all this confusion—
will our youth ever come back?
Your dad will look for a groom,
and that guy might demand a hefty dowry.
Only after paying it will the wedding garland be exchanged—
what an ordeal that is, oh girl!
If you just fall in love with the guy right here,
you can become a bride without any cost!
There won't be any hassles after that,
and your dad's savings won't shrink at all... ooh...
Chikku bukku goes the train!
The train!
Look at her rocking style!
Her style!
Will this gorgeous peacock fall for me?
If she says yes, it's going to be a blast!
This young girl studies at
Ethiraj College!
Washing everyone's heart clean—
was the liquid blue fabric brightener
made from her gaze?
She hooked all the young guys with her eyes!
Chikku bukku goes the train!
The train!
Look at her rocking style!
Her style!
Will this gorgeous peacock fall for me?
If she says yes, it's going to be a blast!
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Chikku Bukku Rayilae from Gentleman (1993) is a legendary Tamil dance track that celebrates youth culture, college life, and romance. The song captures playful exchanges between young men and women, lightheartedly poking fun at rapidly shifting fashion trends, vehicle preferences, and the confusing games of attraction.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia

Chikku bukku rayilae

The phrase 'Chikku bukku' phonetically mimics the rhythmic sound of a steam engine train moving along the tracks.

Metaphor

Sottu neelam iva paarvaiyil

Her sharp gaze is compared to a drop of blue laundry detergent ('Sottu neelam') that visually brightens and cleanses the mind.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Ippo kuzhambi kuzhambithaan mudi pochu

Repetitive rhyming endings such as 'kalachaachu', 'veruthaachu', and 'mudi pochu' create a catchy verbal rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A. R. Rahman for S. Shankar's directorial debut Gentleman (1993), this song featured a iconic dance performance by Prabhu Deva and Gautami that catapulted Prabhu Deva into nationwide fame. A young G. V. Prakash Kumar also sang as a child artist in this track alongside Suresh Peters.

Keep listening

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