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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Erani Kuradhani

From Kadhalan · 1994

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Kadhalan1994

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Chorus
Huraahpoo…Huraahpoo…
Huraahpoo…Huraahpoo…
Huraahpoo…Huraahpoo…
Female
Ei erani kuradhani gopalaHey Gopala, the fair young maiden!
Aha surru mandi nee soopu na kelaAha, my look burned with spice, didn't you ask?
Erani kuradhani gopalaThe fair young maiden, O Gopala!
Aha surru mandi nee soopu na kelaAha, my look burned with spice, didn't you ask?
Female
Kozhi kunja thedi vantha gopalaO Gopala who came searching for the chick,
Atha kooda kulla vechiruken gopalaI have kept it inside the basket, Gopala.
Mosa kutti thedi vantha gopalaO Gopala who came searching for the baby rabbit,
Atha moodi pottu vechiruken gopalaI have kept it covered up, Gopala.
Chorus
Gopala gopala mala yeru gopalaGopala, Gopala, climb the mountain, Gopala!
Gopala gopala mala yeru gopalaGopala, Gopala, climb the mountain, Gopala!
Female
Pazham kanda pinnalumEven after seeing the fruit,
Thinnatha vavvalaLike a bat that doesn't eat it,
Male :Mala yeru gopalaMale: Climb the mountain, Gopala!
Female
Kozhi kunja thedi vantha gopalaO Gopala who came searching for the chick,
Atha kooda kulla vechiruken gopalaI have kept it inside the basket, Gopala.
Mosa kutti thedi vantha gopalaO Gopala who came searching for the baby rabbit,
Atha moodi pottu vechiruken gopalaI have kept it covered up, Gopala.
Male
Intha oru poovukku thanJust for this single flower,
Ammulu ezhu mala thandi vanthenMy dear, I crossed seven hills and came.
Female :Kaman vandhu sanda pidikaFemale: When Lord Cupid comes to pick a fight,
Mothathil karam puli korachukitenI reduced the overall spice and sourness.
Male
Acharam podathanJust to give an advance of love,
500 kilometer vanthenaeI traveled 500 kilometers!
Chorus :Thaenae thaenae thaenaeChorus: O honey, honey, honey!
Senthaenae thaenae naePure honey, O honey!
Female
Atharam kattathanJust to offer my support,
Athu konjam ithu konjam thandhenaeI gave a little of that and a little of this.
Male
Adiyae undhegam ratha ottamHey girl, the blood circulation in your body,
Paaigira thanthamIs like flowing ivory!
Female :Ada da un nenjilFemale: Oh my, inside your heart,
Pudhu pudhu kavithaigal pongumBrand new poems overflow!
Female
Kozhi kunja thedi vantha gopalaO Gopala who came searching for the chick,
Atha kooda kulla vechiruken gopalaI have kept it inside the basket, Gopala.
Mosa kutti thedi vantha gopalaO Gopala who came searching for the baby rabbit,
Atha moodi pottu vechiruken gopalaI have kept it covered up, Gopala.
Chorus
Gopala gopala mala yeru gopalaGopala, Gopala, climb the mountain, Gopala!
Gopala gopala mala yeru gopalaGopala, Gopala, climb the mountain, Gopala!
Female
Pazham kanda pinnalumEven after seeing the fruit,
Thinnatha vavvalaLike a bat that doesn't eat it,
Chorus :Mala yeru gopalaChorus: Climb the mountain, Gopala!
Female
Aha erani kuradhani gopalaAha, the fair young maiden, O Gopala!
Aha surru mandi nee soopu na kelaAha, my look burned with spice, didn't you ask?
Sathani sukkanenu gopalaI am a smart person, Gopala!
Nenu sikuthanu cheiante eiyalaIf I get caught, won't you extend your hand?
Chorus
Huraahbooi…huraahbooi…Huraahbooi…huraahbooi…
Huraahbooi…huraahbooiHuraahbooi…huraahbooi
Female
Nethiyilae mutham koduthaIf you kiss on the forehead,
Nenjukkulae pattampoochi pada padakkumButterflies flutter inside the heart!
Male :Kathukullae mutham koduthaMale: If you kiss inside the ear,
Yememma kannukkulae vedi vedikkumOh my, crackers explode inside the eyes!
Female
Machanae machanaeOh dear lover, oh dear lover,
Acham vittu poonathu thannalaeFear has vanished all on its own!
Chorus
Lae lae lae lae lae laeLae lae lae lae lae lae
Thannalae lae lae laeAll on its own, lae lae lae
Male
Achacho achachachoOh dear, oh dear,
Achu vellam kasakuthu unnalaeEven raw jaggery tastes bitter compared to you!
Female
Adada ippothu olagathaOh my, right now, the whole world
Maranthathu ullamHas been forgotten by my heart.
Male :Ithu than pen poovaeMale: This is it, my flower-like woman,
Uyir varai paaigira vellamA flood that rushes right to the soul!
Female
Kozhi kunja thedi vantha gopalaO Gopala who came searching for the chick,
Atha kooda kulla vechiruken gopalaI have kept it inside the basket, Gopala.
Mosa kutti thedi vantha gopalaO Gopala who came searching for the baby rabbit,
Atha moodi pottu vechiruken gopalaI have kept it covered up, Gopala.
Chorus
Gopala gopala mala yeru gopalaGopala, Gopala, climb the mountain, Gopala!
Gopala gopala mala yeru gopalaGopala, Gopala, climb the mountain, Gopala!
Female
Pazham kanda pinnalumEven after seeing the fruit,
Thinnatha vavvalaLike a bat that doesn't eat it,
Chorus :Mala yeru gopalaChorus: Climb the mountain, Gopala!
Female
Aha erani kuradhani gopalaAha, the fair young maiden, O Gopala!
Aha surru mandi nee soopu na kelaAha, my look burned with spice, didn't you ask?
Sathani sukkanenu gopalaI am a smart person, Gopala!
Nenu sikuthanu cheiante eiyalaIf I get caught, won't you extend your hand?
Chorus
Aha erani kuradhani gopalaAha, the fair young maiden, O Gopala!
Aha surru mandi nee soopu na kelaAha, my look burned with spice, didn't you ask?
Sathani sukkanenu gopalaI am a smart person, Gopala!
Nenu sikuthanu cheiante eiyalaIf I get caught, won't you extend your hand?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

"Gopala Gopala" is a highly energetic and playful folk-style duet from the iconic 1994 film Kadhalan. The song showcases a spirited exchange of romantic banter between the leads. Using colorful folk imagery—such as searching for a chick or a baby rabbit—the song metaphorically portrays playful games of love, hiding, and seeking affection. The lovers exchange hyperbolic professions of passion, with the hero claiming he crossed seven hills and traveled 500 kilometers for his love, while the heroine teasingly matches his energy. The emotional progression moves from lighthearted, rhythmic teasing into intimate expressions of passion. Kisses on the forehead and ears trigger vivid sensations like fluttering butterflies and exploding fireworks in the mind. Blending colloquial Tamil with Telugu phrases, the track celebrates youthful desire and romantic surrender, depicting love as a sweet, overwhelming surge that reaches deep into the soul.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Kozhi kunja thedi vantha gopala / Mosa kutti thedi vantha gopala”

Comparing the heroine or her affection to a 'chick' (kozhi kunju) and a 'baby rabbit' (mosa kutti) hiding under a basket.

Simile (Uwamai)

“Pazham kanda pinnalum / Thinnatha vavvala”

Comparing a hesitant lover to a bat that locates a fruit but hesitates to eat it.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

“Ammulu ezhu mala thandi vanthen / 500 kilometer vanthenae”

Exaggerating the journey traveled ('crossed seven hills', 'traveled 500 kilometers') to emphasize romantic dedication.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Nenjukkulae pattampoochi pada padakkum / yememma kannukkulae vedi vedikkum”

Matching end-rhyming verbs ('pada padakkum' and 'vedi vedikkum') to create a rhythmic poetic flow.

Hyperbole & Sensory Imagery

“Kathukullae mutham kodutha / Yememma kannukkulae vedi vedikkum”

Vivid sensory imagery describing a kiss in the ear causing fireworks to burst inside the eyes.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the context leaves the composer and singers unlisted, 'Gopala Gopala' was composed by A.R. Rahman for the blockbuster film 'Kadhalan' (1994), directed by Shankar. The song was sung by legendary vocalists S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki, with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu. The song famously incorporates colloquial Telugu lines ('Erani kuradhani...', 'Nenu sikuthanu...'), reflecting the cross-cultural appeal and border-town settings typical in contemporary South Indian cinema tracks.

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