Gubu Gubu Gubu
From Magalir Mattum · 2017
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Gubu gubu gubu | Gubu gubu gubu (chug-chug sound of an engine) |
| Kada kada kada | Clatter, clatter, clatter |
| Para para para | Flutter, flutter, flutter |
| Poolam rai rai | Let's go, right right! |
| Male | |
| Sittukuruvinga | Little sparrows, |
| Vitta kurai thottakurai | Unfinished ties and loose ends, |
| Otta ottamaraiyidhu | Are vanishing as we run! |
| Polaam rai | Let's go, right! |
| Male | |
| Pottapulla nee | "You are a girl," |
| Unakkidhu edhukkunnu | "Why do you need all this?" |
| Olarrura sanangalai | People who babble like this, |
| Oarangatti | Pushing them aside, |
| Male | |
| Color kanavula | Into colorful dreams, |
| Rendu petti eduthukka | Pack two suitcases, |
| Kilambudhu namma vandi | Our vehicle is setting off! |
| Polaam rai | Let's go, right! |
| Male | |
| Ulagam gundu | The world is round, |
| Unakkum undu | There is a share for you too, |
| Sammamaa pangu | An equal share! |
| Kadavul seatula kerchief pottu | By putting a handkerchief on God's seat to reserve it, |
| Aambala pudichaana | Did men claim it first? |
| Male | |
| Vegathai eduppom…ooommm | We will pick up speed... ooommm |
| Megathai pudippom …ooommm | We will catch the clouds... ooommm |
| Vegathai eduppom…ooommm | We will pick up speed... ooommm |
| Megathai pudippom …ooommm | We will catch the clouds... ooommm |
| Male | |
| Naaya peiyaa velai senjum | Working like dogs and ghosts, |
| Naya paisa kooli illa | Without getting a single penny's fair wage, |
| Maasam pooraa odaa thenjum | Wearing ourselves out running all month long, |
| Moonu naalu leave-um illa | Without even three or four days of leave, |
| Male | |
| Sogam mattum sorakkura | Yielding nothing but sorrow, |
| Endhira mandhaiya..aaa…. | Oh mechanical herd... ah! |
| Male | |
| Vegathai eduppom…ooommm | We will pick up speed... ooommm |
| Megathai pudippom …ooommm | We will catch the clouds... ooommm |
| Vegathai eduppom…ooommm | We will pick up speed... ooommm |
| Megathai pudippom …ooommm | We will catch the clouds... ooommm |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………………… | |
| Male | |
| Pallanguzhi …paatu pechu | Pallanguzhi game, songs and chatter, |
| Kalla manna …kannambuchi | Hopscotch, hide-and-seek, |
| Onna vitta rail coach-u | Linked together like train coaches, |
| Ellam ippo kai vandhaachu | Everything is now within our reach! |
| Male | |
| Suvarellam udaiyidhu | All the walls are breaking down, |
| Suvadonnu theriyudhu..aaa…. | A clear path is becoming visible... ah! |
| Male | |
| Vegathai eduppom…ooommm | We will pick up speed... ooommm |
| Megathai pudippom …ooommm | We will catch the clouds... ooommm |
| Vegathai eduppom…ooommm | We will pick up speed... ooommm |
| Megathai pudippom …ooommm | We will catch the clouds... ooommm |
| Male | |
| Gubu gubu gubu | Gubu gubu gubu |
| Kada kada kada | Clatter, clatter, clatter |
| Para para para | Flutter, flutter, flutter |
| Poolam rai rai | Let's go, right right! |
| Male | |
| Sittukuruvinga | Little sparrows, |
| Vitta kurai thottakurai | Unfinished ties and loose ends, |
| Otta ottamaraiyidhu | Are vanishing as we run! |
| Polaam rai | Let's go, right! |
| Male | |
| Pottapulla nee | "You are a girl," |
| Unakkidhu edhukkunnu | "Why do you need all this?" |
| Olarrura sanangalai | People who babble like this, |
| Oarangatti | Pushing them aside, |
| Male | |
| Color kanavula | Into colorful dreams, |
| Rendu petti eduthukka | Pack two suitcases, |
| Kilambudhu namma vandi | Our vehicle is setting off! |
| Polaam rai | Let's go, right! |
| Male | |
| Ulagam gundu | The world is round, |
| Unakkum undu | There is a share for you too, |
| Sammamaa pangu | An equal share! |
| Kadavul seatula kerchief pottu | By putting a handkerchief on God's seat to reserve it, |
| Aambala pudichaana | Did men claim it first? |
| Chorus | |
| Thaanana nananaaaaa.. | Thaanana nananaaaaa.. |
| Thaanana nananaaaaa.. | Thaanana nananaaaaa.. |
| Thaanana nananaaaaa….aaa | Thaanana nananaaaaa....aaa |
குபு குபு குபு
கட கட கட பற பற பற
போலாம் ரை ரை
Gubu gubu gubu (chug-chug sound of an engine)
Clatter, clatter, clatter
Flutter, flutter, flutter
Let's go, right right!
சிட்டுக் குருவிங்க
விட்டக் குற தொட்டக் குற
ஒட்ட ஒட்ட மறையிது
போலாம் ரை
Little sparrows,
Unfinished ties and loose ends,
Are vanishing as we run!
Let's go, right!
பொட்டப் புள்ள
நீ உனக்கிது எதுக்குன்னு
ஒளறுற சனங்கலை
ஓரங்கட்டி
"You are a girl,"
"Why do you need all this?"
People who babble like this,
Pushing them aside,
கலர் கனவுல
ரெண்டு பெட்டி எடுத்துக்க
கிளம்புது நம்ம வண்டி
போலாம் ரை
Into colorful dreams,
Pack two suitcases,
Our vehicle is setting off!
Let's go, right!
உலகம் குண்டு
உனக்கும் உண்டு சமமா
பங்கு கடவுள் சீட்டுல
கர்ச்சிப் போட்டு ஆம்பள
புடிச்சானா
The world is round,
There is a share for you too,
An equal share!
By putting a handkerchief on God's seat to reserve it,
Did men claim it first?
வேகத்த
எடுப்போம்..... மேகத்தப்
புடிப்போம்.... வேகத்த
எடுப்போம்..... மேகத்தப்
புடிப்போம்.....
We will pick up speed... ooommm
We will catch the clouds... ooommm
We will pick up speed... ooommm
We will catch the clouds... ooommm
நாயா பேயா
வேல செஞ்சும் நையா
பைசா கூலி இல்ல மாசம்
பூரா ஓடா தேஞ்சும் மூனு
நாளு லீவும் இல்ல சோகம்
மட்டும் சொரக்குற
எந்திர மந்தையா
Working like dogs and ghosts,
Without getting a single penny's fair wage,
Wearing ourselves out running all month long,
Without even three or four days of leave,
வேகத்த
எடுப்போம்..... மேகத்தப்
புடிப்போம்.... வேகத்த
எடுப்போம்..... மேகத்தப்
புடிப்போம்.....
Yielding nothing but sorrow,
Oh mechanical herd... ah!
..........................................
We will pick up speed... ooommm
We will catch the clouds... ooommm
We will pick up speed... ooommm
We will catch the clouds... ooommm
பல்லாங்குழி
பாட்டு பேச்சு கல்லா
மண்ணா கண்ணா மூச்சு
ஒன்னா விட்ட ரெயில்
கோச்சு எல்லாம் இப்போ
கை வந்தாச்சு
சுவரெல்லாம்
உடையிது சுவடொன்னு
தெரியிது
Pallanguzhi game, songs and chatter,
Hopscotch, hide-and-seek,
Linked together like train coaches,
Everything is now within our reach!
வேகத்த
எடுப்போம்..... மேகத்தப்
புடிப்போம்.... வேகத்த
எடுப்போம்..... மேகத்தப்
புடிப்போம்.....
All the walls are breaking down,
A clear path is becoming visible... ah!
குபு குபு குபு
கட கட கட பற பற பற
போலாம் ரை ரை
We will pick up speed... ooommm
We will catch the clouds... ooommm
We will pick up speed... ooommm
We will catch the clouds... ooommm
சிட்டுக் குருவிங்க
விட்டக் குற தொட்டக் குற
ஒட்ட ஒட்ட மறையிது
போலாம் ரை
Gubu gubu gubu
Clatter, clatter, clatter
Flutter, flutter, flutter
Let's go, right right!
பொட்டப் புள்ள
நீ உனக்கிது எதுக்குன்னு
ஒளறுற சனங்கலை
ஓரங்கட்டி
Little sparrows,
Unfinished ties and loose ends,
Are vanishing as we run!
Let's go, right!
கலர் கனவுல
ரெண்டு பெட்டி எடுத்துக்க
கிளம்புது நம்ம வண்டி
போலாம் ரை
"You are a girl,"
"Why do you need all this?"
People who babble like this,
Pushing them aside,
உலகம் குண்டு
உனக்கும் உண்டு சமமா
பங்கு கடவுள் சீட்டுல
கர்ச்சிப் போட்டு ஆம்பள
புடிச்சானா
Into colorful dreams,
Pack two suitcases,
Our vehicle is setting off!
Let's go, right!
..........................................
The world is round,
There is a share for you too,
An equal share!
By putting a handkerchief on God's seat to reserve it,
Did men claim it first?
Thaanana nananaaaaa..
Thaanana nananaaaaa..
Thaanana nananaaaaa....aaa
Gubu gubu gubu
Gubu gubu gubu (chug-chug sound of an engine)
Kada kada kada
Clatter, clatter, clatter
Para para para
Flutter, flutter, flutter
Poolam rai rai
Let's go, right right!
Sittukuruvinga
Little sparrows,
Vitta kurai thottakurai
Unfinished ties and loose ends,
Otta ottamaraiyidhu
Are vanishing as we run!
Polaam rai
Let's go, right!
Pottapulla nee
"You are a girl,"
Unakkidhu edhukkunnu
"Why do you need all this?"
Olarrura sanangalai
People who babble like this,
Oarangatti
Pushing them aside,
Color kanavula
Into colorful dreams,
Rendu petti eduthukka
Pack two suitcases,
Kilambudhu namma vandi
Our vehicle is setting off!
Polaam rai
Let's go, right!
Ulagam gundu
The world is round,
Unakkum undu
There is a share for you too,
Sammamaa pangu
An equal share!
Kadavul seatula kerchief pottu
By putting a handkerchief on God's seat to reserve it,
Aambala pudichaana
Did men claim it first?
Vegathai eduppom…ooommm
We will pick up speed... ooommm
Megathai pudippom …ooommm
We will catch the clouds... ooommm
Vegathai eduppom…ooommm
We will pick up speed... ooommm
Megathai pudippom …ooommm
We will catch the clouds... ooommm
Naaya peiyaa velai senjum
Working like dogs and ghosts,
Naya paisa kooli illa
Without getting a single penny's fair wage,
Maasam pooraa odaa thenjum
Wearing ourselves out running all month long,
Moonu naalu leave-um illa
Without even three or four days of leave,
Sogam mattum sorakkura
Yielding nothing but sorrow,
Endhira mandhaiya..aaa….
Oh mechanical herd... ah!
Vegathai eduppom…ooommm
We will pick up speed... ooommm
Megathai pudippom …ooommm
We will catch the clouds... ooommm
Vegathai eduppom…ooommm
We will pick up speed... ooommm
Megathai pudippom …ooommm
We will catch the clouds... ooommm
………………………………
Pallanguzhi …paatu pechu
Pallanguzhi game, songs and chatter,
Kalla manna …kannambuchi
Hopscotch, hide-and-seek,
Onna vitta rail coach-u
Linked together like train coaches,
Ellam ippo kai vandhaachu
Everything is now within our reach!
Suvarellam udaiyidhu
All the walls are breaking down,
Suvadonnu theriyudhu..aaa….
A clear path is becoming visible... ah!
Vegathai eduppom…ooommm
We will pick up speed... ooommm
Megathai pudippom …ooommm
We will catch the clouds... ooommm
Vegathai eduppom…ooommm
We will pick up speed... ooommm
Megathai pudippom …ooommm
We will catch the clouds... ooommm
Gubu gubu gubu
Gubu gubu gubu
Kada kada kada
Clatter, clatter, clatter
Para para para
Flutter, flutter, flutter
Poolam rai rai
Let's go, right right!
Sittukuruvinga
Little sparrows,
Vitta kurai thottakurai
Unfinished ties and loose ends,
Otta ottamaraiyidhu
Are vanishing as we run!
Polaam rai
Let's go, right!
Pottapulla nee
"You are a girl,"
Unakkidhu edhukkunnu
"Why do you need all this?"
Olarrura sanangalai
People who babble like this,
Oarangatti
Pushing them aside,
Color kanavula
Into colorful dreams,
Rendu petti eduthukka
Pack two suitcases,
Kilambudhu namma vandi
Our vehicle is setting off!
Polaam rai
Let's go, right!
Ulagam gundu
The world is round,
Unakkum undu
There is a share for you too,
Sammamaa pangu
An equal share!
Kadavul seatula kerchief pottu
By putting a handkerchief on God's seat to reserve it,
Aambala pudichaana
Did men claim it first?
Thaanana nananaaaaa..
Thaanana nananaaaaa..
Thaanana nananaaaaa..
Thaanana nananaaaaa..
Thaanana nananaaaaa….aaa
Thaanana nananaaaaa....aaa
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Gubu Gubu' (or 'Polaam Rai') from the movie 'Magalir Mattum' (2017) is an energetic, liberation-themed anthem that captures the spirit of female empowerment, sisterhood, and break-out freedom. Metaphorically using train rhythm and journey motifs, the song represents women breaking free from patriarchal expectations and daily domestic routine. It encourages women to set aside societal judgment ("You are a girl, why do you need a road trip?"), pack their bags, and reclaim their right to live fully and colorfully. Narratively, the lyrics contrast the unpaid, tireless domestic labor women perform every day—working relentlessly without leave or proper recognition—with the pure joy of regaining their youthful freedom. Reconnecting with childhood memories, traditional games, and unbounded laughter, the women break down societal walls and chart a new path ahead. It serves as an uplifting call to equality, reminding women that they deserve an equal share of happiness and freedom in this world.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Onomatopoeia (Irattai Kilavi / Adukku Thodaru)
“Gubu gubu gubu / Kada kada kada / Para para para”
Uses rhythmic Tamil sound words mimicking a moving train engine and the fluttering excitement of a new journey.
Metaphor
“Sittukuruvinga”
Compares the middle-aged female friends taking a road trip to free, energetic little sparrows escaping their cages.
Muran (Contrast)
“Naaya peiyaa velai senjum / Naya paisa kooli illa”
Juxtaposes working extremely hard ('like dogs and ghosts') with receiving zero compensation or financial reward.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Vegathai eduppom…ooommm / Megathai pudippom …ooommm”
The matching line endings ('eduppom' and 'pudippom') create a driving, catchy rhythm emphasizing speed and loftiness.
Cultural Idiom / Metaphor
“Kadavul seatula kerchief pottu”
Uses the common South Indian cultural habit of placing a handkerchief on a bus seat to reserve it as a witty metaphor for gender inequality.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by lyricist Vivek for the 2017 female-centric film *Magalir Mattum* (directed by Bramma and produced by Suriya), the song is composed by Ghibran. In the film, the song underscores a pivotal, liberating road trip taken by three old school friends (played by Urvashi, Bhanupriya, and Saranya Ponvannan) alongside a modern independent documentary filmmaker (played by Jyothika).
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