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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Cycle Varudhu Cycle Varudhu

From Neelavukku Neranja Manasu · 1958

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
Thiruchi Loganathan, L. R. Eswari
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Neelavukku Neranja Manasu1958

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Cycle varuthu cycle varuthuThe bicycle is coming, the bicycle is coming!
Thalli pongaMove aside!
Cycle varuthu cycle varuthuThe bicycle is coming, the bicycle is coming!
Thalli pongaMove aside!
Male
Danaalnnu adikkira bellumEven the bell that rings 'ding-dong'
Sariyaa illeengaIs not working properly!
Danaal danaalnnu adikkira bellumThe bell that rings 'ding-dong, ding-dong'
Sariyaa illeengaIs not working properly!
Male
Cycle varuthu cycle varuthuThe bicycle is coming, the bicycle is coming!
Thalli pongaMove aside!
Female
Nadakka theriyaatha kuzhanthaigal povathuWhat toddlers who cannot walk yet ride on is
Naalu sakkara vandiA four-wheeled walker,
Nadakka theriyaatha kuzhanthaigal povathuWhat toddlers who cannot walk yet ride on is
Naalu sakkara vandi naalu sakkara vandiA four-wheeled walker, a four-wheeled walker.
Female
Naalanju vayasu aanathum povathuWhat children ride when they turn four or five is
Moonu sakkara vandiA three-wheeled tricycle,
Naalanju vayasu aanathum povathuWhat children ride when they turn four or five is
Moonu sakkara vandi moonu sakkara vandiA three-wheeled tricycle, a three-wheeled tricycle.
Male
Thudikkum vaalipa vayasil povathuWhat one rides during energetic youth is
Irandu sakkara vandiA two-wheeled bicycle,
Thudikkum vaalipa vayasil povathuWhat one rides during energetic youth is
Irandu sakkara vandiA two-wheeled bicycle.
Male
Enakku sonthamaagiya intha vandiyoAs for this bicycle that belongs to me,
Break illaatha vandiIt is a vehicle without brakes!
Enakku sonthamaagiya intha vandiyoAs for this bicycle that belongs to me,
Break illaatha vandi break illaatha vandiIt is a vehicle without brakes, a vehicle without brakes!
Male
Cycle varuthu cycle varuthuThe bicycle is coming, the bicycle is coming!
Thalli pongaMove aside!
Male
Danaalnnu adikkira bellumEven the bell that rings 'ding-dong'
Sariyaa illeengaIs not working properly!
Male
Cycle varuthu cycle varuthuThe bicycle is coming, the bicycle is coming!
Thalli pongaMove aside!
Female
Tharaiyil thavazhnthu thallaadiCrawling on the floor and wobbling,
Thottilin meedhu thuvandaadiSwaying gently in the cradle,
Tharaiyil thavazhnthu thallaadiCrawling on the floor and wobbling,
Thottilin meedhu thuvandaadiSwaying gently in the cradle,
Female
Mara kudhirai mael saanjaadiRocking back and forth on a wooden horse,
Vandiyil porom aadippaadiWe travel in the cart singing and dancing!
Mara kudhirai mael saanjaadiRocking back and forth on a wooden horse,
Vandiyil porom aadippaadiWe travel in the cart singing and dancing!
Cycle vandiyil porom aadippaadiWe ride along on the bicycle singing and dancing!
Male
Panthu edukka urundodiRolling and running around to chase a ball,
Palinj sadukudu paanjaadiPouncing and playing the lively game of Kabaddi,
Panthu edukka urundodiRolling and running around to chase a ball,
Palinj sadukudu paanjaadiPouncing and playing the lively game of Kabaddi,
Male
Pattam vittom munnodiFlying kites as trail-blazers,
Paadhaiyil porom aadippaadiWe travel along the road, singing and dancing!
Pattam vittom munnodiFlying kites as trail-blazers,
Paadhaiyil porom aadippaadiWe travel along the road, singing and dancing!
Male
Cycle varuthu cycle varuthuThe bicycle is coming, the bicycle is coming!
Thalli pongaMove aside!
Male
Danaalnnu adikkira bellumEven the bell that rings 'ding-dong'
Sariyaa illeengaIs not working properly!
Male
Cycle varuthu cycle varuthuThe bicycle is coming, the bicycle is coming!
Thalli pongaMove aside!
Female
………………[Instrumental music]
Whistle :………………[Whistling sound / Outro]

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Cycle Varuthu' is a joyful, humorous song from the 1958 Tamil film 'Neelavukku Neranja Manasu', penned by lyricist A. Maruthakasi. The song creatively traces the journey of human growth through the metaphor of wheels: a four-wheeled walker in babyhood, a three-wheeled tricycle in early childhood, and a two-wheeled bicycle during youth. The singer lightheartedly warns pedestrians to clear the path because his bicycle lacks working brakes and a functional bell.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia (ஒலிக்குறிப்பு)

Danaalnnu adikkira bellum

The term 'Danaalnnu' mimics the distinct, ringing sound of a bicycle bell.

End Rhyme / Iyaibu (இயைபுத் தொடை)

Tharaiyil thavazhnthu thallaadi

The lines end with rhythmic, rhyming verbal participles (-aadi) such as thallaadi, thuvandaadi, saanjaadi, and paanjaadi.

Anaphora / Repetition (அடுக்குத் தொடர்)

Cycle varuthu cycle varuthu

The repetition of 'Cycle varuthu cycle varuthu' creates rhythmic urgency and emphasis suitable for a moving vehicle scene.

Metaphor (உவமை / உருவகம்)

Nadakka theriyaatha kuzhanthaigal povathu naalu sakkara vandi

Life stages are metaphorically linked to vehicles with decreasing numbers of wheels (4-wheeled walker, 3-wheeled tricycle, 2-wheeled bicycle).

Did you know?

Trivia

'Neelavukku Neranja Manasu' (1958) was directed by K. Somu and starred T. R. Ramachandran alongside Pandari Bai. Lyricist A. Maruthakasi was known for writing accessible, rhythmic songs grounded in everyday life and folk sensibilities.

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