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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Dukkum Dukkum

From Rubaai · 2017

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singer
Anita Venkat
Music director
D. Imman
Details
Rubaai2017

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Malakkaatu boomiyilaIn the mountain-forest land
Malli vaasam neranjirukkumThe scent of jasmine fills the air
Panja boothangala kaaththu vandhaIf we protect the five elements
Panjamae paranthirukkumPoverty will fly away
Chorus
Maanamae aaniveraaSelf-respect is the root
Manasula pothanjirukkumBuried deep within the heart
Makkaloda othuma thaanThe unity of the people
Manthirama olichirukkumResonates like a sacred chant
Chorus
Aagayam karamkodukkumThe sky will extend a helping hand
Athanaiyum varamkodukkumGranting everything as a blessing
Male
Dukkum dukkum dukkumDukkum dukkum dukkum (Rhythmic beat)
Dukkum dukkum dukkum dukkumDukkum dukkum dukkum dukkum (Rhythmic beat)
Dukkum dukkum dukkumDukkum dukkum dukkum (Rhythmic beat)
Dukkum dukkum dukkum dukkumDukkum dukkum dukkum dukkum (Rhythmic beat)
Female
Vaanam mazhaiyadikkumThe sky will pour down rain
Vayalvelithaan velanji nikkumThe fields will stand lush with crops
Male
Dukkum dukkum dukkumDukkum dukkum dukkum (Rhythmic beat)
Dukkum dukkum dukkum dukkumDukkum dukkum dukkum dukkum (Rhythmic beat)
Female
Oorae olachirukkumThe whole village will toil hard
Onnaa serndhu sirichirukkumAnd laugh together as one
Male
Dukkum dukkum dukkumDukkum dukkum dukkum (Rhythmic beat)
Dukkum dukkum dukkum dukkumDukkum dukkum dukkum dukkum (Rhythmic beat)
Female
Yeru kalapaiyila yekkam theerumaeLonging ends with the plow handle
Verva navamaniyaa vandhu serumaeSweat turns into precious gems
Chorus
Dukum dumukku dukumDukum dumukku dukum (Rhythmic sound)
Yei dukum dukum dumukku dukumYei dukum dukum dumukku dukum (Rhythmic sound)
Dukum dumukku dukumDukum dumukku dukum (Rhythmic sound)
Dukum dukum dumukku dukumDukum dukum dumukku dukum (Rhythmic sound)
Female
Paarva kadhapadikkumA glance tells a whole story
Pazhagidathaan adampidikkumInsisting on getting acquainted
Chorus
Dukkum dukkum dukkumDukkum dukkum dukkum (Rhythmic beat)
Dukkum dukkum dukkum dukkumDukkum dukkum dukkum dukkum (Rhythmic beat)
Female
Aasai valavirikkumDesire spreads its net wide
Avathiyathaan athu kodukkumBringing trouble and distress
Chorus
Dukkum dukkum dukkumDukkum dukkum dukkum (Rhythmic beat)
Dukkum dukkum dukkum dukkumDukkum dukkum dukkum dukkum (Rhythmic beat)
Female
Paavi manasa neethaanYou torment my helpless heart
Paadaa paduthuraTormenting it endlessly
Joraa sirichi yenna thookki adikkiraLaughing heartily, you knock me off my feet
Chorus
Dukum dumukku dukumDukum dumukku dukum (Rhythmic sound)
Yei dukum dukum dumukku dukumYei dukum dukum dumukku dukum (Rhythmic sound)
Yei dukum dumukku dukumYei dukum dumukku dukum (Rhythmic sound)
Dukum dukum dumukku dukumDukum dukum dumukku dukum (Rhythmic sound)
Female
Paasam kalanthirukkumAffection is blended into life
Parambaraiya somanthirukkumCarrying generations of tradition
Soodhu sugamkodukkumDeceit might offer temporary pleasure
Maranjirundhu kolaiyarukkumBut it lurks to strike you down
Female
Yaarum uravunnuthaanOne should consider everyone as kin
Enna venumaeWith all heart and soul
Veeram thunaiyirundhaa illa sogamaeIf valor is by your side, there is no sorrow
Chorus
Dukum dumukku dukumDukum dumukku dukum (Rhythmic sound)
Yei dukum dukum dumukku dukumYei dukum dukum dumukku dukum (Rhythmic sound)
Yei dukum dumukku dukumYei dukum dumukku dukum (Rhythmic sound)
Dukum dukum dumukku dukumDukum dukum dumukku dukum (Rhythmic sound)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Malakkaatu boomiyila from the movie Rubaai (2017) is an upbeat Tamil folk song celebrating rural life, hard work, village unity, and traditional morality. The song highlights how protecting nature and working hard in the fields turns sweat into metaphorical precious gems, bringing prosperity and joy to the entire community. Alongside celebrating communal unity and love, the lyrics offer moral wisdom warning against the traps of desire and deceit, reminding listeners that self-respect, courage, and treating everyone as family lead to a sorrow-free life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Verva navamaniyaa vandhu serumae

Compares sweat earned through hard labor in agriculture to precious nine gems (navamani).

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Aasai valavirikkum

Desire is personified as a fisherman or hunter casting a net to trap a person.

Onomatopoeia (Oliyakkuurippu)

Dukkum dukkum dukkum / Dukum dumukku dukum

Use of folk percussion vocables mimicking traditional village drumbeats to evoke high energy.

Etukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Maanamae aaniveraa / Manasula pothanjirukkum

Repetition of the second consonant sound 'na' in consecutive lines (Maanamae / Manasula / Makkaloda / Manthirama).

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by D. Imman for the film Rubaai (2017), produced by Prabhu Solomon. Lyricist Yugabharathi used traditional rustic Tamil imagery and rhythmic vocables (solkattu) to capture the essence of native village celebrations.

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