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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

China Jappan Rangon

From Karumaiyil Orr Azhahu · 1980

Lyricist
Gnaaniyaar
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Agasthiyar
Details
Karumaiyil Orr Azhahu1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
China japan rangoon burmaChina, Japan, Rangoon, Burma,
Salam silkukariyeGreetings, silk-clad dark beauty,
Naan salam silkukariyeI am the silk-clad dark beauty.
Female
China japan rangoon burmaChina, Japan, Rangoon, Burma,
Salam silkukariyeGreetings, silk-clad dark beauty,
Naan salam silkukariyeI am the silk-clad dark beauty.
Female
Kurudan sevidan muradan madaiyanThe blind, the deaf, the rough, the foolish,
Ellam namadhu aalungaThey are all our people.
China japan rangoon burmaChina, Japan, Rangoon, Burma,
Salam silkukariyeGreetings, silk-clad dark beauty,
Naan salam silkukariye ye ye yeI am the silk-clad dark beauty, ye ye ye.
Female
Maambazhathukkaaran pondaattiThe mango seller's wife,
Oru marakka pulla pethaalaamIs said to have given birth to a Marakkar child.
Adhu thookka pona seemaattiThe rich lady who went to carry that child,
Thulli vizhundhu sethaalaamFell down bouncing and died, so they say.
Paarkka pona seemaattiThe rich lady who went to see,
Palodanju sethaalaamBroke her teeth and died, so they say.
Female
China japan rangoon burmaChina, Japan, Rangoon, Burma,
Salam silkukariyeGreetings, silk-clad dark beauty,
Naan salam silkukariyeI am the silk-clad dark beauty.
Female
Sethavaellam edhukkaWhy lift the dead body?
Ninnu kummiyadichaalaamShe stood and danced the Kummi, so they say.
Adha paathu paathu chettiyaaruWatching that again and again, the Chettiyar,
Pallu izhichaaraamGrinned widely showing his teeth.
Female
Kobam konda marakkaa pullaEnraged by this, the Marakkar child,
Appalam aakkiduchaamCrushed him into a papadum,
Chettiyaara appalam aakkiduchaamCrushed the Chettiyar into a papadum!
Female
En kannilae kalai veechuArtistic glance in my eyes,
En udhattilae mukkani pechuSpeech sweet as the three royal fruits on my lips,
En kannilae kalai veechuArtistic glance in my eyes,
En udhattilae mukkani pechuSpeech sweet as the three royal fruits on my lips,
En nenjilae veera moochuHeroic breath in my chest,
En karathilae kaalam aachuTime itself rests in my hands,
En nenjilae veera moochuHeroic breath in my chest,
En karathilae kaalam aachu hoiTime itself rests in my hands, hoi!
Female
China japan rangoon burmaChina, Japan, Rangoon, Burma,
Salam silkukariyeGreetings, silk-clad dark beauty,
Naan salam silkukariye…aa…aa…aa…I am the silk-clad dark beauty... aa... aa... aa...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a lively and playful folk-style track sung from the perspective of a bold, self-assured woman who addresses her audience with charm and confidence. She introduces herself across international locations ('China, Japan, Rangoon, Burma') while embracing all ordinary people from different walks of life as her own. The song weaves a humorous and hyperbolic folk story about a feisty child and absurd mishaps, showcasing Tamil street-theatre humor.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhyme / Monai (Initial Alliteration)

En kannilae kalai veechu / En udhattilae mukkani pechu

Matching starting sounds in adjacent phrases or lines, such as 'En kannilae' and 'En udhattilae', or 'China japan rangoon burma'.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

En kannilae kalai veechu / En nenjilae veera moochu

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'kannilae' and 'nenjilae' or 'marakka' and 'appalam'.

Hyperbole (Uruvagaimai / Adukku)

Chettiyaara appalam aakkiduchaam

Exaggerated folk storytelling describing a child flattening a Chettiyar like a papadum.

Metaphor (Uruvagom)

En udhattilae mukkani pechu

Comparing pleasant speech to 'Mukkani' (the three sacred fruits of Tamil tradition: Mango, Banana, Jackfruit).

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics blend traditional Tamil folk narrative structures ('Kummi' rhythms, humorous folk tales) with global city names popular in pre-independence and post-war South Indian migration culture (Rangoon, Burma, Japan).

Keep listening

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