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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Hey Chaka Chakalathi

From Galatta Kalyaanam · 2021

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singer
Shreya Ghoshal
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Galatta Kalyaanam2021

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Hey chaka chakalathi nilavae vaaHey playful moon, come!
Aasaikkum vetkam illai therinjae vaaDesire knows no shame, come knowing this!
Hey chaka chakalathi mazhaiyae vaaHey playful rain, come!
Mogamtha selai kattil mudinjae vaaCome tying passion into the folds of a saree!
Female
Thada thada thadavenaWith a thumping step,
Tharayila nadanthavaYou who walked on the ground,
Kanavula mithanthida kaninjae vaaBecome ready to float in dreams and come!
Sada sada sadavenaRapidly and chatteringly,
Kadhaigala alanthavaYou who spun stories,
Thanimaiyil sirichida thuninjae vaaDare to laugh in solitude and come!
Female
Usuru palangi pol uruttida vaaCome to roll life around like a glass marble!
Ulagam urundaiya poratida vaaCome to tumble the round world upside down!
Thodatha aasa thiri thoondaTo stoke the unlit wick of desire,
Maaman manasa mirattidavaCome to tease your beloved's heart!
Female
Hey chaka chakalathi nilavae vaaHey playful moon, come!
Aasaikkum vetkam illai therinjae vaaDesire knows no shame, come knowing this!
Hey chaka chakalathi mazhaiyae vaa vaaHey playful rain, come, come!
Mogamtha selai kattil mudinjae vaaCome tying passion into the folds of a saree!
Female
Sengaandhal udhaduRed glory-lily lips,
Innumae innumae yengatho thean ooraWon't they yearn even more for honey to flow?
Singara valaiyilIn the alluring net,
Saththamae saththamae podatho eedu eraWon't it make sounds as the match grows intense?
Kanathathai kanduvidaTo catch a glimpse of the unseen,
Iru kangalum pesuvadhu edhoWhat are these two eyes conversing about?
Chellamena konjinaalumEven if coddled affectionally,
Konjam pola minjinalum koodatho kaadhalaeEven if it overflows a little, isn't it love?
Female
Hey chaka chakalathi kuyilae vaaHey playful cuckoo, come!
Naanamtha dhegathilla marachae vaaHiding your shyness within your body, come!
Hey chaka chakalathi mayilae vaaHey playful peacock, come!
Yeakkatha theerthu kolla nenachae vaaIntending to fulfill your longings, come!
Female
Veliyila theriyala vevaramum puriyalaIt's not visible outside, nor is the detail understood,
Posukkunu vidiyura kilakae vaaOh dawn breaking suddenly in the east, come!
Udaiyila nadaiyila urulura azhagulaIn attire, in gait, in rolling beauty,
Varavula perugura kanakke vaaLike an account growing in revenue, come!
Female
Uravu kairaiyum thirichevaaCome twisting the rope of relationship!
Ulagam marandhu nee siriche vaaCome laughing, forgetting the world!
Vidatha vetkam veliyeraAs persistent shyness exits,
Verva paadam padiche vaaCome learning the lesson of sweat!
Chorus
Hey hey hey……Hey hey hey……
Female
Hey chaka chakalathi nilavae vaaHey playful moon, come!
Aasaikkum vetkam illai therinjae vaaDesire knows no shame, come knowing this!
Hey chaka chakalathi mazhaiyae vaaHey playful rain, come!
Mogamtha selai kattil mudinjae vaaCome tying passion into the folds of a saree!
Female
Thada thada thadavenaWith a thumping step,
Tharayila nadanthavaYou who walked on the ground,
Kanavula mithanthida kaninjae vaaBecome ready to float in dreams and come!
Sada sada sadavenaRapidly and chatteringly,
Kadhaigala alanthavaYou who spun stories,
Thanimaiyil sirichida thuninjae vaaDare to laugh in solitude and come!
Female
Usuru palangi pol uruttida vaaCome to roll life around like a glass marble!
Ulagam urundaiya poratida vaaCome to tumble the round world upside down!
Thodatha aasa thiri thoondaTo stoke the unlit wick of desire,
Maaman manasa mirattidavaCome to tease your beloved's heart!
Female
Hey chaka chakalathi nilavae vaaHey playful moon, come!
Aasaikkum vetkam illai therinjae vaaDesire knows no shame, come knowing this!
Hey chaka chakalathi mazhaiyae vaa vaaHey playful rain, come, come!
Mogamtha selai kattil mudinjae vaaCome tying passion into the folds of a saree!
Female
Hey chaka chakalathi mazhaiyae vaaHey playful rain, come!
Mogamtha selai kattil mudinjae vaaCome tying passion into the folds of a saree!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song is an exuberant, high-energy celebration of love, passion, and uninhibited joy. The protagonist invites her beloved into a world of romance, shedding shyness and societal restraints. Addressing herself and the elements playfully using metaphors like the moon, rain, cuckoo, and peacock, she expresses a longing to turn her world upside down in the ecstasy of love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Usuru palangi pol uruttida vaa

Comparing life ('Usuru') to a smooth glass marble ('palangi pol') that can be rolled around freely.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Sengaandhal udhadu

Comparing the lips directly to 'Sengaandhal' (Glory Lily, the state flower of Tamil Nadu) to emphasize their vivid red color and delicacy.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Usuru palangi pol uruttida vaa / Ulagam urundaiya poratida vaa

Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'U' in 'Usuru' and 'Ulagam'.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Hey chaka chakalathi kuyilae vaa / Hey chaka chakalathi mayilae vaa

The matching end words 'vaa' across consecutive refrain lines creating rhythmic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is the Tamil version of the hit song 'Chaka Chak' from the 2021 film 'Galatta Kalyaanam' (dubbed from Hindi 'Atrangi Re'). Composed by A. R. Rahman and sung by Shreya Ghoshal, the original song gained widespread popularity on social media for its energetic folk beat and vibrant choreography featuring Sara Ali Khan.

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