Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

En Jodi Manja Kuruvi

From Vikram · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Vikram1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Bishkathoori…. mishkathooriyaa…Bishkathoori… mishkathooriyaa… (gibberish/rhythmic chants)
Haspotomi… maspatomiaa….Haspotomi… maspatomiaa…
Plimpachoomiyaa…ho hoPlimpachoomiyaa… ho ho
Dhukkachaamiyaa….ho hoDhukkachaamiyaa… ho ho
Plimpachoomiyaa…ho ho hoPlimpachoomiyaa… ho ho ho
Dhukkachaamiyaa…ho hoDhukkachaamiyaa… ho ho
Booparu… zuppapaaru…Booparu… zuppapaaru…
Hooliyaayi…. kaarakkaaru….Hooliyaayi… kaarakkaaru…
Hukkattomi… hukkattomi ..Hukkattomi… hukkattomi..
Show me baami binkattomi…Show me baami binkattomi…
Bishkathoori…. mishkathooriyaa…Bishkathoori… mishkathooriyaa…
Haspotomi… maspatomiaa….Haspotomi… maspatomiaa…
Male
En jodi manja kuruviMy paired yellow sparrow,
Saanjaadu nenja thazhuviLean and embrace my heart,
Aataam podadi…Chorus :Ho.. ho..Dance along… Chorus: Ho.. ho..
Male :Paattu paadadi…Male: Sing a song…
Chorus :Ho.. ho…Chorus: Ho.. ho…
Male :Aataam podadi…Male: Dance along…
Chorus :Ho.. ho..hoChorus: Ho.. ho..ho
Male :Paattu paadadi…Male: Sing a song…
Chorus :Ho.. ho…hoChorus: Ho.. ho…ho
Male
Soodaana pottal kaaduIn this hot, dry wasteland,
Joraaga kaththi paadu….Sing out loud with energy…
Onna paaru manna paaruLook at yourself, look at the land,
Ponna pola minnum paaru…..Look at how it shines like gold…
En jodi manja kuruviMy paired yellow sparrow,
Saanjaadu nenja thazhuvi…Lean and embrace my heart…
Female
Karagaattam kalla paattuKaragaattam dance, folk songs,
Jadhi pottu villu paattuRhythmic beats and Villu Paattu,
Sudhi pottu paattu padippen….I will sing in perfect pitch…
Male
Sathiraattam jalli kattuSathiraattam dance, Jallikattu bull taming,
Jadha paathu mallu kattuObserving the opponent and wrestling,
Edam paathu solli thattuven……Finding the right spot, I will strike…
Female
Poo potta meththa poduLay down a bed adorned with flowers,
Nee podu sakka poduPut on a grand performance,
Male :Kaayaadha vaikkaporuMale: Unseasoned dry hay,
Un poru akkapporu…Your dispute is a messy argument…
Female :Enna paaru… kanna paaruFemale: Look at me… look into my eyes,
Ponna pola chinna thaeru….Like a small chariot shining like gold…
Male
En jodi manja kuruviMy paired yellow sparrow,
Saanjaadu nenja thazhuviLean and embrace my heart,
Aataam podadi…Chorus :Ho.. ho..Dance along… Chorus: Ho.. ho..
Male :Paattu paadadi…Male: Sing a song…
Chorus :Ho.. ho…Chorus: Ho.. ho…
Male :Aataam podadi…Male: Dance along…
Chorus :Ho.. ho..hoChorus: Ho.. ho..ho
Male :Paattu paadadi…Male: Sing a song…
Chorus :Ho.. ho…hoChorus: Ho.. ho…ho
Male
Soodaana pottal kaaduIn this hot, dry wasteland,
Joraaga kaththi paadu….Sing out loud with energy…
Onna paaru manna paaruLook at yourself, look at the land,
Ponna pola minnum paaru…..Look at how it shines like gold…
En jodi manja kuruviMy paired yellow sparrow,
Saanjaadu nenja thazhuvi…Lean and embrace my heart…
Male
Hoeeeeyyy…yaaa….Hoeeeeyyy… yaaa…
Chorus
Bali bali bali bali bali baliBali bali bali bali bali bali (Rhythmic chanting)
Male :Hey bali bali bali bali bali baliMale: Hey bali bali bali bali bali bali
Chorus :Bali bali bali bali bali baliChorus: Bali bali bali bali bali bali
Male :Laabam bali baliMale: Profit bali bali
Bali bali bali baliBali bali bali bali
Chorus
Thaalam bali baliRhythm bali bali
Male :Laabam bali baliMale: Profit bali bali
Chorus :Thaalam bali baliChorus: Rhythm bali bali
Male :Bali bali bali baliMale: Bali bali bali bali
Male
Yeru pudichchaHolding the plow,
Soru kodukkum ooru adhuThat village feeds you food;
Neeru pudikkaFetching water,
Kaasu kodukkum ooru idhuThis city demands money.
Female
Ding ding dingDing ding ding
Diditi dingDiditi ding
Ding ding dingDing ding ding
Diditi dingDiditi ding
Male
Haan yeru pudichchaAh, holding the plow,
Soru kodukkum ooru adhuThat village feeds you food;
Neeru pudikkaFetching water,
Kaasu kodukkum ooru idhuThis city demands money.
Female
Poovae ponnaara poovae po poOh golden flower, go on,
Poovae ullaadum thaenaeOh flower, nectar playing inside,
Thaenum sevvaayil thaanae ho hoNectar resides in those red lips, ho ho,
Kettaal thanthenae naanaeWhen asked, I gave it myself.
Male
Muththathaal korthuStrung like a necklace of kisses,
Moththamaai serthuGathered together completely,
Tharavaa varavaa….Shall I give it, shall I come?…
Female
Thusiyaa hoi hoiThusiyaa hoi hoi (Chant)
Bashiyaa hoi hoiBashiyaa hoi hoi
Thasiyaa bashiyaa mashiyaaThasiyaa bashiyaa mashiyaa
Ho ho ho hoHo ho ho ho
Male
Dhaagam irundhaaIf you feel thirsty,
Nerula vandhu neeru koduCome directly and give me water;
Adi aasai irundhaaHey girl, if you have desire,
Thaerula vandhu maalaiyiduCome on a chariot and garland me.
Male
Dhaagam irundhaaIf you feel thirsty,
Nerula vandhu neeru koduCome directly and give me water;
Adi aasai irundhaaHey girl, if you have desire,
Thaerula vandhu maalaiyiduCome on a chariot and garland me.
Maalaiyidu maalaiyidu maalaiyiduGarland me, garland me, garland me.
Male
En jodi manja kuruviMy paired yellow sparrow,
Saanjaadu nenja thazhuviLean and embrace my heart,
Heyyy heiii….Heyyy heiii…
Male
En jodi manja kuruviMy paired yellow sparrow,
Saanjaadu nenja thazhuviLean and embrace my heart,
Aataam podadi…Chorus :Ho.. ho..Dance along… Chorus: Ho.. ho..
Male :Paattu paadadi…Male: Sing a song…
Chorus :Ho.. ho…Chorus: Ho.. ho…
Male :Aataam podadi…Male: Dance along…
Chorus :Ho.. ho..hoChorus: Ho.. ho..ho
Male :Paattu paadadi…Male: Sing a song…
Chorus :Ho.. ho…hoChorus: Ho.. ho…ho
Male
Soodaana pottal kaaduIn this hot, dry wasteland,
Joraaga kaththi paadu….Sing out loud with energy…
Onna paaru manna paaruLook at yourself, look at the land,
Ponna pola minnum paaru…..Look at how it shines like gold…
Male
En jodi manja kuruviMy paired yellow sparrow,
Chorus :Laa laala lal lal lal lal laaChorus: Laa laala lal lal lal lal laa
Male :Saanjaadu nenja thazhuvi…Male: Lean and embrace my heart…
Chorus :Laa laala lal lal lal lal laaChorus: Laa laala lal lal lal lal laa
Male :Laa laala lal lal lal lal laaMale: Laa laala lal lal lal lal laa
Chorus :Laa laala lal lal lal lal laaChorus: Laa laala lal lal lal lal laa
Male :Laa laala lal lal lal lal laaMale: Laa laala lal lal lal lal laa
Chorus :Laa laala lal lal lal lal laaChorus: Laa laala lal lal lal lal laa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

En Jodi Manja Kuruvi is a energetic, folk-infused track from the 1986 sci-fi action movie Vikram, composed by Ilaiyaraaja and written by Vaali. The song opens with playful sci-fi/fictional gibberish chants that reflect the futuristic fantasy realm setting of the film's fictional nation, Salamia. It transitions into a vibrant, romantic back-and-forth duet between the leads, featuring metaphors comparing love to traditional rural art forms like Karagaattam, Villu Paattu, and Jallikattu. Beyond romantic banter, the lyrics weave subtle socio-cultural commentary, contrasting the generous nature of village life (where farming feeds people) with the commercial nature of city life (where even water costs money). Rich with rhythmic wordplay, energetic choruses, and affectionate endearments, the song captures both celebration and romantic allure set against an arid background.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani (Simile)

En jodi manja kuruvi

Compares the lover to a golden sparrow ('manja kuruvi') and the female form to a golden chariot ('Ponna pola chinna thaeru').

Emona / Monai (Alliteration)

Karagaattam kalla paattu / Jadhi pottu villu paattu

Matching initial consonant sounds in consecutive words across lines ('Karagaattam', 'Jadhi', 'Sudhi', 'Sathiraattam').

Iyaibu (Rhyme)

En jodi manja kuruvi / Saanjaadu nenja thazhuvi

End-rhyme pairing words like 'kuruvi' and 'thazhuvi', or 'aataam podadi' and 'paattu paadadi'.

Antithesis / Contrast

Yeru pudichcha soru kodukkum ooru adhu / Neeru pudikka kaasu kodukkum ooru idhu

Juxtaposing rural generosity (plowing gives food) with urban commercialization (water requires money).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja for Kamal Haasan's ambitious sci-fi action film 'Vikram' (1986), this song features nonsensical chants in the introduction designed to mimic the fictional foreign language of the fictional kingdom 'Salamia' depicted in the movie.

Keep listening

More from Vikram