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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

It Athu But Aanaal

From Raavana Kottam · 2023

Lyricist
Ekadasi
Singers
Senthil Dass, Roshini, Priya Prakash
Music director
Justin Prabhakaran
Details
Raavana Kottam2023

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
It adhu but aanaal'It' means 'adhu', 'but' means 'aanaal'
What ena say solluTell me what 'what' means as 'say'
It adhu but aanaal'It' means 'adhu', 'but' means 'aanaal'
What ena say solluTell me what 'what' means as 'say'
Chorus
It adhu but aanaal'It' means 'adhu', 'but' means 'aanaal'
What ena say solluTell me what 'what' means as 'say'
It adhu but aanaal'It' means 'adhu', 'but' means 'aanaal'
What ena say solluTell me what 'what' means as 'say'
Chorus
It adhu but aanaal'It' means 'adhu', 'but' means 'aanaal'
What ena say solluTell me what 'what' means as 'say'
It adhu but aanaal'It' means 'adhu', 'but' means 'aanaal'
What ena say solluTell me what 'what' means as 'say'
Male
Englipish edhukkuWhy do we need English?
Female :YeFemale: Hey
Male :Annai thamizh irukkuMale: When we have our mother Tamil!
Pizza burger edhukkuWhy do we need pizza and burger?
Adhirasam murukkirukkuWhen we have adhirasam and murukku!
Sticker pottu peyudhukattuStick on a bindi and show off as a ghost
Sleeve less sattai ethana ottaHow many holes in a sleeveless shirt?
Male
Akkarakaari azhukku muthammaDirty Muthamma who cares about others
Female :YeFemale: Hey
Male :Unga sekku solladhuMale: Your modern style won't work here
Idhu raavana kottaiThis is Raavana Kottai!
Female
English pesadha naadu enga irukkuIs there any country that doesn't speak English?
Manasan ellathukkumFor every human being
Mother toongue is one u knowMother tongue is one, you know
Female
Mugathula pudharu vechiGrowing a bush on the face
Meesaiyinnu solluvingaYou call it a mustache
Vaetti yethithaanaJust folding up the vaetti
Veerathaiyum kattuvinghaYou show off bravery
Female
Mugathula pudhara vechiGrowing a bush on the face
Meesaiyinnu solluvingaYou call it a mustache
Vaetti yethithanaJust folding up the vaetti
Verathaiyum kattuvingaYou show off bravery
Male
Moonji poora paint adichuPainting the whole face
Make -upp nu sollura neengaYou call it makeup
Buttocks theriya pant pottuWearing pants that show the buttocks
Fashionunnu alaiyuringaYou wander around calling it fashion
Female
Ola potta cafe varumIf you book on Ola, a cafe comes
Uber potta noodles varumIf you book on Uber, noodles come
Icecream taste – il auto varumAn auto comes in the flavor of ice cream
Ac roomil dreamu varumIn an AC room, dreams come
Male
VeppangattrilIn the neem breeze
Veppangattril sorgam varumHeaven comes in the neem breeze
Palaiya soru devamirthamFermented rice water is divine nectar
Oo nnu sonna oorae varumIf you call out 'Oo', the whole village gathers
Uravukku onnunnaa edhukkum thuninjiIf something happens to a relative, daring everything
Usira kodukkumIt will give its very life
Chorus
It adhu but aanaal'It' means 'adhu', 'but' means 'aanaal'
What ena say solluTell me what 'what' means as 'say'
It adhu but aanaal'It' means 'adhu', 'but' means 'aanaal'
What ena say solluTell me what 'what' means as 'say'
Chorus
It adhu but aanaal'It' means 'adhu', 'but' means 'aanaal'
What ena say solluTell me what 'what' means as 'say'
It adhu but aanaal'It' means 'adhu', 'but' means 'aanaal'
What ena say solluTell me what 'what' means as 'say'
Female
Soodhu kazhuthu arukkumDeceit will slit your neck
Sedhubathi silaiyilaOn the statue of Sethupathi
Soap mudinju vandhaWhen the soap was finished
Pappa nattu aiyaanachiPappa Nattu Aiyaanachi
Female
Unna pakkayilaWhen I look at you
Olaiyaa kodhikkirenI boil like palm leaves
Kanna nondum munnaeBefore plucking out the eye
Kaana dhisaiya poyi vaaGo and come to an unseen direction
Female
Podiyamma podiyammaPodiyamma, Podiyamma
PodiyammaPodiyamma
Female
What is at theWhat is at the
End of a rainbowEnd of a rainbow
What is at theWhat is at the
End of a rainbowEnd of a rainbow
Female
Hey vanavillula kadaisiyaHey, at the end of the rainbow
Enna irukkum solluTell me what will be there
Vanavillula kadaisiyaAt the end of the rainbow
Enna irukkum solluTell me what will be there
Male
Rainbow endulaAt the end of 'rainbow'
W irukkumThere is a 'W'
Vanavillu kedaisiyilaAt the end of 'vanavillu'
L irukkumThere is an 'L'
EppudiHow about that?
Male
Raman valacha villathaanThe bow that Rama bent
Sinnamaaga kondavanHe who took it as an emblem
Kannagiya ezhuthinavanHe who wrote about Kannagi
Kooda pirandha annan ivanHe is a brother born together
Male
Raama naattu kaavakkaranThe protector of the Ramanathapuram land
Rathathoda ratham ivanHe is blood of our blood
Raama naattu kaavakkaranThe protector of the Ramanathapuram land
Rathathoda ratham ivanHe is blood of our blood
Male
Sedhubathi seemarasa vechirukkumHe is the sword held by King Sethupathi
Vaalu avanHe is the sword
Sedhubathi seemarasa vechirukkum vaaluWho is he?
Avan yaaru?Who is he?
Avan yaaru?Who is he?...
Avan yaaru?…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This lively folk-fusion track from Raavana Kottai playfully contrasts westernized modern culture with traditional Tamil heritage and village life. Through humorous banter and riddles, the lyrics compare English words, fast food, and western fashion against native Tamil language, traditional snacks like adhirasam, local attire, and rural solidarity. Beyond the lighthearted cultural satire, the song transitions into celebrating local pride, heroic lineage, and deep communal bonds native to the Ramanathapuram region. It underscores the spirit of regional identity, where native roots, loyalty, and traditional values reign supreme over modern superficialities.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Tanglish Code-Switching

It adhu but aanaal

Blends English words with Tamil grammar to create playful linguistic humor (e.g., 'It adhu but aanaal / What ena say sollu').

Iyaibu (Rhyme / Wordplay)

Rainbow endula W irukkum / Vanavillu kedaisiyila L irukkum

Clever wordplay and pun on English vs Tamil spellings (Rainbow ends with 'W', Vanavillu ends with 'L').

Contrast / Antithesis

Pizza burger edhukku / Adhirasam murukkirukku

Contrasts western fast food with traditional Tamil snacks to highlight native pride.

Metaphor

Palaiya soru devamirtham

Refers to old fermented rice as heavenly nectar, glorifying traditional rustic food.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song uses clever Tanglish wordplay and traditional riddle formats ('pudhir') popular in rural Tamil Nadu folk culture. Music composer Justin Prabhakaran incorporated vibrant local folk percussion alongside modern arrangements to match the film's backdrop set in Ramanathapuram.

Keep listening

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