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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Irukana Idupirukana

From Nanban · 2012

Lyricist
Pa. Vijay
Singers
Vijay Prakash, Javed Ali, Sunidhi Chauhan
Music director
Harris Jayaraj
Details
Nanban2012

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Kukkuu kukoo kukku kukooo…Cuckoo cuckoo cuckoo cuckoo...
Kukkuu kukoo kukku kukooo…Cuckoo cuckoo cuckoo cuckoo...
Chorus
Labakku raani..Oh greedy queen..
Labakku raani ..Oh greedy queen..
Kalappiyaane kalappiyaane …Oh dynamic mix-maker, oh dynamic one...
Male
Irukkaana idupirukkaanaIs it there? Does a waist exist?
Illaiyaanaa illieanaOr is it absent? Is it not there?
Un idai thaana inbaa kadaithaanaIs your waist a storehouse of delight?
Mellidai thaandi udai thaana ..Does it cross the slender waist into a garment?
Female
Ada ikkani mukkani mugaduOh, the peak of sweetness of the three fruits!
Naan thutha naga thaguduI am a pure snake-like metallic foil.
Un udhatukul ethana udhaduHow many lips are hidden inside your lips?
Onnu kudu kuduGive me one, give it to me!
Male
Adi anjana manjana mayiluHey kohl-adorned yellow peacock!
Nee kanjan janga rail-uYou are like the Kanchenjunga express train!
Un iduppae aaram viraluYour waist itself is like an extra sixth finger!
Nee gilu gilu..You are jingling and delightfully thrilling..
Male
Olli bellySlim belly,
Jelly belly malliJelly belly, jasmine,
Vaasam malliFragrant jasmine,
Un meni vengala velliYour body is like shiny bronze-silver,
Solli solliRepeatedly saying,
Unna alli killiScooping and pinching you,
Kannam killi vizhayaadaTo pinch cheeks and play,
Vandhavan gilli…The master player has arrived...
Female
Olli bellySlim belly,
Jelly belly malliJelly belly, jasmine,
Vaasam malliFragrant jasmine,
En meni vengala velliMy body is like shiny bronze-silver,
Solli solliRepeatedly saying,
Enna alli killiScooping and pinching me,
Kannam killi vizhayaadaTo pinch cheeks and play,
Vandhavan gilli…The master player has arrived...
Chorus
…………………………..
Male
Oruvaati idupaatiOnce upon a time, my waist-dweller,
Malai eraka erakathila thallaaPushing downwards like a mountain slope,
Edangaati thadangaatiShowing obstacles and finding paths,
Ena araka paraka vanthu kolla..Coming in a rush to overwhelm me..
Female
Adangaati madangaatiUncontrollable and unbending,
Vaai uraika uraika mutham veiyen..As the mouth spices up, lay down a kiss..
Padankaati bayam kaatiDisplaying drama and inducing fear,
Nenju eraika eraika thapu seiyen..As the heart heaves heavily, make a sweet mistake..
Male
Naan chinna paiyen..Female :PaiyenI am a small boy.. Female: Boy,
Nee kanna veiyen..Female :VeiyenKeep your eyes on me.. Female: Keep,
Naan sonna seiyenI will do whatever you say,
Va vayil vazhai vaayen…Come, enter my mouth like a sweet banana...
Chorus
Labakku raani…Oh greedy queen...
Labakku raani… kumbathu maganeeOh greedy queen... son born under Aquarius,
Kalappiyaane kalappiyaaneOh dynamic mix-maker, dynamic one,
Rakshalube beRakshalube be,
Male
Olli bellySlim belly,
Jelly belly malliJelly belly, jasmine,
Vaasam malliFragrant jasmine,
Un meni vengala velliYour body is like shiny bronze-silver,
Female :Solli solliFemale: Repeatedly saying,
Enna alli killiScooping and pinching me,
Kannam killi vizhayaadaTo pinch cheeks and play,
Vandhavan gilli…The master player has arrived...
Chorus
…………………………..
Female
Laichaana laichaanaIndulging deeply, indulging deeply,
Idha lavangam lavangam kadichaanaDid he bite into this fragrant clove?
Inichaana inichaanaIs it sweet, is it sweet?
Vaai manalil kadala thinichaanaDid he stuff peanuts into the sandy mouth?
Male
Kozhukkaana molukkaanaPlump and rounded,
Nalla pazhuthu pazhuthu thalukkaanaWell ripened and glowing brightly,
Ilaichaana kozhachaanaDid he trim it and slim it down?
Romba sedhukki sedhuki ozhachaanaDid he toil hard, sculpting it intricately?
Female
Nee chengisthaana..Male :HmmmAre you Genghis Khan? Male: Hmmm,
Ini un kiss thaana…Male :HmmmIs it your kiss from now on? Male: Hmmm,
Naan mangose thaana…Am I a mango fruit?
Un kaiyil kajakasthaanaIs Kazakhstan inside your palm?
Chorus
Labakku raani…Oh greedy queen...
Labakku raani… kumbathu maganeeOh greedy queen... son born under Aquarius,
Kalappiyaane kalappiyaaneOh dynamic mix-maker, dynamic one,
Rakshalube beRakshalube be,
Male
Irukkaana idupirukkaanaIs it there? Does a waist exist?
Illaiyaanaa illieanaOr is it absent? Is it not there?
Un idai thaana inbaa kadaithaanaIs your waist a storehouse of delight?
Mellidai thaandi udai thaana ..Does it cross the slender waist into a garment?
Female
Ada ikkani mukkani mugaduOh, the peak of sweetness of the three fruits!
Naan thutha naga thaguduI am a pure snake-like metallic foil.
Un udhatukul ethana udhaduHow many lips are hidden inside your lips?
Onnu kudu kuduGive me one, give it to me!
Male
Adi anjana manjana mayiluHey kohl-adorned yellow peacock!
Nee kanjan janga rail-uYou are like the Kanchenjunga express train!
Un iduppae aaram viraluYour waist itself is like an extra sixth finger!
Nee gilu gilu….uuuuu……You are jingling and delightfully thrilling....
Male
Olli bellySlim belly,
Jelly belly malliJelly belly, jasmine,
Vaasam malliFragrant jasmine,
Un meni vengala velliYour body is like shiny bronze-silver,
Female :Solli solliFemale: Repeatedly saying,
Enna alli killiScooping and pinching me,
Kannam killi vizhayaadaTo pinch cheeks and play,
Vandhavan gilli…The master player has arrived...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Irukkaana' (also popular as 'Olli Belly') from the film Nanban (2012) is an upbeat, playful, and sensorially rich romantic duet featuring high energy and quirky wordplay. The lovers engage in teasing exchanges, complimenting each other's beauty, waistlines, and charm using colorful metaphors ranging from fruits, spices, and trains to geographic references like Kanchenjunga and Kazakhstan.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming / Assonance)

Irukkaana idupirukkaana

Matching second consonant sounds across consecutive lines ('Irukkaana' / 'Illaiyaanaa').

Simile (Uvamaani)

Nee kanjan janga rail-u

Comparing the heroine's grace and speed to the Kanchenjunga express train.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Un meni vengala velli

Describing the physical form using bronze and silver imagery ('vengala velli').

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)

Solli solli

Repetition of words like 'Solli solli' and 'Killi killi' to accentuate rhythm and emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Irukkaana' was composed by Harris Jayaraj for Shankar's remake of '3 Idiots' titled 'Nanban' (2012). The song features Vijay and Ileana D'Cruz, shot against vibrant set pieces with choreography emphasizing high-energy rhythmic syncopation.

Keep listening

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