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Rubaai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Dukkum Dukkum

From Rubaai · 2017

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singer
Anita Venkat
Music director
D. Imman
Movie name
Rubaai
Movie release year
2017
Lyrics added on
3 Sept 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Malakkaatu boomiyila
Malli vaasam neranjirukkum
Panja boothangala kaaththu vandha
Panjamae paranthirukkum
Maanamae aaniveraa
Manasula pothanjirukkum
Makkaloda othuma thaan
Manthirama olichirukkum
Aagayam karamkodukkum
Athanaiyum varamkodukkum
Dukkum dukkum dukkum
Dukkum dukkum dukkum dukkum
Dukkum dukkum dukkum
Dukkum dukkum dukkum dukkum
Vaanam mazhaiyadikkum
Vayalvelithaan velanji nikkum
Dukkum dukkum dukkum
Dukkum dukkum dukkum dukkum
Oorae olachirukkum
Onnaa serndhu sirichirukkum
Dukkum dukkum dukkum
Dukkum dukkum dukkum dukkum
Yeru kalapaiyila yekkam theerumae
Verva navamaniyaa vandhu serumae
Dukum dumukku dukum
Yei dukum dukum dumukku dukum
Dukum dumukku dukum
Dukum dukum dumukku dukum
Paarva kadhapadikkum
Pazhagidathaan adampidikkum
Dukkum dukkum dukkum
Dukkum dukkum dukkum dukkum
Aasai valavirikkum
Avathiyathaan athu kodukkum
Dukkum dukkum dukkum
Dukkum dukkum dukkum dukkum
Paavi manasa neethaan
Paadaa paduthura
Joraa sirichi yenna thookki adikkira
Dukum dumukku dukum
Yei dukum dukum dumukku dukum
Yei dukum dumukku dukum
Dukum dukum dumukku dukum
Paasam kalanthirukkum
Parambaraiya somanthirukkum
Soodhu sugamkodukkum
Maranjirundhu kolaiyarukkum
Yaarum uravunnuthaan
Enna venumae
Veeram thunaiyirundhaa illa sogamae
Dukum dumukku dukum
Yei dukum dukum dumukku dukum
Yei dukum dumukku dukum
Dukum dukum dumukku dukum
In this mountain forest land,
The fragrance of jasmine fills the air.
If we protect the five elements of nature,
Famine will fly away.
Self-respect is the deep taproot
Buried firmly in our hearts.
The unity of the people
Rings out like a sacred chant.
The sky will lend a helping hand,
And shower every kind of blessing.
Dukkam dukkam dukkam
Dukkam dukkam dukkam dukkam
Dukkam dukkam dukkam
Dukkam dukkam dukkam dukkam
The sky will pour down rain,
And the fields will stand rich with harvest.
Dukkam dukkam dukkam
Dukkam dukkam dukkam dukkam
The whole village will work hard,
And laugh together as one.
Dukkam dukkam dukkam
Dukkam dukkam dukkam dukkam
With the plow in the soil, all longing fades away.
Sweat gathers and shines like precious gems.
Dukkam dumukku dukkam
Hey, dukkam dukkam dumukku dukkam
Dukkam dumukku dukkam
Dukkam dukkam dumukku dukkam
A glance tells a whole story,
And once it grows fond, it turns stubborn.
Dukkam dukkam dukkam
Dukkam dukkam dukkam dukkam
Desire spreads its net,
And brings endless trouble along.
Dukkam dukkam dukkam
Dukkam dukkam dukkam dukkam
You test this poor heart of mine,
Giving it such a hard time!
With your bright smile, you knock me off my feet!
Dukkam dumukku dukkam
Hey, dukkam dukkam dumukku dukkam
Hey, dukkam dumukku dukkam
Dukkam dukkam dumukku dukkam
Affection is woven into our lives,
Carried across generations.
Deceit might bring sweet pleasure,
But it strikes from hiding and takes your life.
We must look at everyone
As our very own kin.
When courage stands by our side, there is no sorrow.
Dukkam dumukku dukkam
Hey, dukkam dukkam dumukku dukkam
Hey, dukkam dumukku dukkam
Dukkam dukkam dumukku dukkam
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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