Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Columbus Columbus

From Jeans · 1998

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
A. R. Rahman
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Jeans
Movie release year
1998
Lyrics added on
23 Apr 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Columbus columbus
Vitaachu leaveu kondaada
Kandupidithu konda oru theevu } (2) mamae
{ Leaveu leaveu leaveu
Vendum puthiya theevu theevu } (2)
Columbus columbus
Vitaachu leaveu kondaada
Kandupidithu konda oru theevu
Columbus columbus
Vitaachu leaveu mamae kondaada
Kandupidithu konda oru theevu
{ Leaveu leaveu leaveu
Vendum puthiya theevu theevu } (2)
Sani nyayiru
Kaadhil sonnathu ennathu oh hoo
Machine ellam manithargalaaga solluthu
Kollum raanuvam
Anu aayutham pasi pattini
Kari politics pollution ethum
Pugunthuvidatha theevu
Vendum tharuvaya columbus
Vaaram ainthu naal
Viyarvaiyil uzhaika vaaram
Iru naal iyarkaiyai rasika
Veesum kaatrai maari
Malargalai kollaiyadi
Manasukul vellaiyadi
Meendum pillaiyavom
Alaiyodu aadi paravaiyin siragu
Vaadagaiku kidaithaal udalukul
Poruthi paranthuvidu
Paravaigal etharkum
Passport illai kandangalai
Thaandi kadanthuvidu
Indru oivuthaanae velai
Aanaal ointhu povathillai
Ingu nirvaana meengal polae
Neenthalaam columbus
Ailasa ailasa
Ailasa ailasa ailasa ailasa
Yae yae ailasa yae yae ailasa
Yae yae ailasa yae yae ailasa
Yae yae ailasa yae yae ailasa
Yae yae ailasa yae yae ailasa mamae
Irattai kaal pookal
Konjam paaru indrenum
Avasaramaga loveraaga maaru
Alainuraiyai alli aval
Aadaiyai seiyalaagatha
Vinmeengalai killi adhil
Kokki vaikalaagatha
Weekendil kaadhali
Okkenna kaadhali timepassing
Kaadhala piriyumvarai kaadhali
Vaaram irunaal vaazhiyavae columbus
Columbus columbus
Vitaachu leaveu kondaada
Kandupidithu konda oru theevu columbus
Leaveu leaveu leaveu
Vendum puthiya theevu theevu columbus
Leaveu leaveu leaveu
Vendum puthiya theevu theevu
Columbus
{ Columbus, Columbus,
the holidays are here! To celebrate,
here is an island we discovered! } (2) Buddy!
{ Holiday, holiday, holiday!
We need a new island, island! } (2)
Columbus, Columbus,
the holidays are here! To celebrate,
here is an island we discovered!
Columbus, Columbus,
the holidays are here, buddy! To celebrate,
here is an island we discovered!
{ Holiday, holiday, holiday!
We need a new island, island! } (2)
What did Saturday and Sunday
whisper in our ears? Oh ho!
They tell all the machines to become humans!
Deadly armies,
nuclear weapons, hunger, starvation,
dirty politics, pollution—an island
where none of these can ever enter,
we need one, will you give it to us, Columbus?
Five days a week,
we work and sweat;
two days a week, we enjoy nature!
Turn into the blowing breeze,
steal the sweetness of the flowers,
paint your heart clean and bright,
and let us become children again!
Dance with the waves; if you can rent
a bird's wings, strap them on
and fly away!
No bird in the world
needs a passport; cross right over
all the continents!
Today, relaxing is our only job,
but we will never run out of energy!
Like naked fish,
let us swim around here, Columbus!
Ailasa, ailasa! (Rowers' cheer)
Ailasa ailasa, ailasa ailasa!
Hey hey ailasa, hey hey ailasa!
Hey hey ailasa, hey hey ailasa!
Hey hey ailasa, hey hey ailasa!
Hey hey ailasa, hey hey ailasa, buddy!
Take a look at those two-legged flowers (pretty girls),
at least for today,
hurry up and become a lover!
Can't you scoop up the sea foam
and make a dress for her?
Can't you pluck the stars
and use them as clasps for it?
Fall in love on the weekend!
If she says okay, love her! If it's just passing time,
love her until it's time to part!
Long live these two days of the week, Columbus!
Columbus, Columbus,
the holidays are here! To celebrate,
here is an island we discovered, Columbus!
Holiday, holiday, holiday!
We need a new island, island, Columbus!
Holiday, holiday, holiday!
We need a new island, island!
Columbus!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Columbus Columbus' is a vibrant, youthful anthem from the 1998 Tamil movie 'Jeans', composed by A. R. Rahman and written by Vairamuthu. The song celebrates the arrival of the weekend and vacation, invoking the historic explorer Christopher Columbus to discover a brand-new, untainted island free from modern stresses like corporate drudgery, politics, pollution, and warfare. The lyrics express a desire to break away from machine-like daily routines and return to nature, innocence, and carefree fun. Using imaginative imagery—such as renting bird wings to fly without passports, tailoring dresses out of sea foam, and using stars as garment hooks—the song captures the spirit of late-90s youth seeking temporary escapism and weekend romance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

“Machine ellam manithargalaaga solluthu”

'Machine ellam manithargalaaga' metaphorically compares overworked human beings to machines coming back to life as humans on weekends. 'Irattai kaal pookal' compares young women to two-legged flowers.

Simile (உவமை)

“Ingu nirvaana meengal polae”

'Veesum kaatrai maari' (like the blowing wind) and 'nirvaana meengal polae' (like naked fish) compare human freedom directly to elements of nature.

Hyperbole & Surreal Imagery (உயர்நவிற்சி)

“Alainuraiyai alli aval aadaiyai seiyalaagatha”

Extravagant imagery of making a dress out of ocean foam and pinning stars onto it as buttons/hooks to woo a lover.

Rhyme & Alliteration (எதுகை / மோனை)

“Malargalai kollaiyadi / Manasukul vellaiyadi”

Rhyming of 'kollaiyadi' and 'vellaiyadi' with matching second letters (ll) creates a rhythmic, musical flow in Tamil poetic convention.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song was composed and sung by A. R. Rahman for S. Shankar's blockbuster film 'Jeans' (1998). Shot in Venice Beach and coastal Los Angeles, USA, featuring lead actor Prashanth, the song became an iconic youth weekend anthem in Tamil pop culture.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Pettai Rap1994
KadhalanYouthCheerful
Thattungada Melatha2013
Pattathu YaanaiFreedomCelebratory
No Money No Honey2011
VaanamCasualColloquial
Bombai Party Shilpa Shetty1996
Coimbatore MappillaiCelebratoryYouth
Paadu Pattu1983
Urangatha NinaivugalCelebratoryYouth
Theeppori Parakkum2006
EFreedomEnergetic

From the same album

More songs from Jeans

View album
Vaaraayo Thozhi1998
JeansCelebratory
Kannodu Kanbathellam1998
JeansRomantic
Poovukkul Olinthirukkum1998
JeansAwe Struck
Enake Enaka1998
JeansRomantic
Anbe Anbe Kollathe1998
JeansRomantic

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.