Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Jaathi Illai

From Kadhal Parisu · 1987

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kadhal Parisu1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Annaatha gammunu kadaHey brother, stay quiet.
Male
Paathiyaa paathiyaaDid you see that? Did you see?
Gammunu kadannu sollinaekirenI keep telling you to stay quiet.
Baejaaru panriyae neeYet you keep annoying me!
Male
Jaadhi illae baedham illaeThere is no caste and no discrimination,
Thanni pottuttaaOnce alcohol is consumed!
Ada melum illae keezhum illaeAh, there is no high or low status,
Bodhai yerittaaOnce the intoxication kicks in!
Yaarum onnu thaanEveryone becomes one and equal.
Appuramaa rummum jinnum thaanAfter that, it is all rum and gin!
Yaarum onnu thaanEveryone becomes one and equal.
Appuramaa rummum jinnum thaanAfter that, it is all rum and gin!
Salaam podu guruvaePay your respects, master!
Naan salt kottaa siluvaI am the cross of the salt box!
Ae salaam podu guruvaeHey, pay your respects, master!
Naan salt kottaa siluvaI am the cross of the salt box!
Male
Ae jaadhi illae baedham illaeHey, there is no caste and no discrimination,
Thanni pottuttaaOnce alcohol is consumed!
Ada melum illae keezhum illaeAh, there is no high or low status,
Bodhai yerittaaOnce the intoxication kicks in!
Male
{Ellaarum potta pola{Unlike how everyone drinks,
Naan poda maattaen daaI won't drink casually, man.
Pottaakkaa keezh irangaOnce I get drunk, to come back down,
Maatten daa} (2)I won't agree, man!}
Male
Edukka poren paattuI am going to sing a song.
Romba irukkudhadaa pantuThe pants are feeling too tight, man.
Avuthu udu beltuLoosen up the belt!
Naan kudukka poren rightI am going to give you my approval!
Male
Naan sonnadhu sonnadhu thaanWhat I said stands as said.
Indha sothunga unnadhu thaanThese properties are yours.
Nee thinnadhu thinnadhu thaanWhat you ate remains eaten.
Indha bottle-u ennadhu thaanThis bottle belongs solely to me!
Ada vandhanam vandhanamAh, greetings and respects!
Poosanum sandhanamSandalwood paste should be applied.
Pathiya vaikkanum pinjadha thekkanumIncense must be lit, and tender teakwood rubbed.
Male
Salaam podu guruvaePay your respects, master!
Naan salt kottaa siluvaI am the cross of the salt box!
Ae salaam podu guruvaeHey, pay your respects, master!
Naan salt kottaa siluvaI am the cross of the salt box!
Male
Ae jaadhi illae baedham illaeHey, there is no caste and no discrimination,
Thanni pottuttaaOnce alcohol is consumed!
Ada melum illae keezhum illaeAh, there is no high or low status,
Bodhai yerittaaOnce the intoxication kicks in!
Male
Yaarum onnu thaanEveryone becomes one and equal.
Appuramaa rummum jinnum thaanAfter that, it is all rum and gin!
Yaarum onnu thaanEveryone becomes one and equal.
Appuramaa rummum jinnum thaanAfter that, it is all rum and gin!
Salaam podu guruvaePay your respects, master!
Naan salt kottaa siluvaI am the cross of the salt box!
Ae salaam podu guruvaeHey, pay your respects, master!
Naan salt kottaa siluva…haeiI am the cross of the salt box... hey!
Male
{Paettaiyilae pisthavukku{For the big shot in the locality,
Pottu vitta buskottuA total dud attempt was made,
Pottiyida vandhadhellaamEveryone who came to compete,
Bisukothu} (2)Is just a cheap biscuit!}
Male
Maela naattu sarakkuForeign liquor,
Oru maadhiriyaa irukkuFeels and tastes somewhat unique.
Vizhundhadhellaam porukkuWhatever fell was picked up,
Ippo yerudhadaa kirukkuNow the madness is rising, man!
Male
Naan uthama puthiran thaanI am indeed a virtuous son.
Naan ulladhu sathiram thaanWhat I own is like an open inn.
Ada nithamum pathiyam thaanAh, strict daily dietary discipline!
Naan sonnadhu sathiyam thaanWhat I spoke is the absolute truth.
Male
Ae jivvunu pathudhuHey, it sparks up with a surge!
Kattadam suthudhuThe entire building is spinning!
Vittudu vittudu vittudu vittuduLet go, let go, let go, let go!
Salaam podu guruvaePay your respects, master!
Naan salt kottaa siluvaI am the cross of the salt box!
Haei salaam podu guruvaeHey, pay your respects, master!
Naan salt kottaa siluvaI am the cross of the salt box!
Male
Ae jaadhi illae baedham illaeHey, there is no caste and no discrimination,
Thanni pottuttaaOnce alcohol is consumed!
Ada melum illae keezhum illaeAh, there is no high or low status,
Bodhai yerittaaOnce the intoxication kicks in!
Male
Yaarum onnu thaanEveryone becomes one and equal.
Appuramaa rummum jinnum thaanAfter that, it is all rum and gin!
Yaarum onnu thaanEveryone becomes one and equal.
Appuramaa rummum jinnum thaanAfter that, it is all rum and gin!
Salaam podu guruvaePay your respects, master!
Naan salt kottaa siluvaI am the cross of the salt box!
Ae salaam podu guruvaeHey, pay your respects, master!
Naan salt kottaa siluva…I am the cross of the salt box...
Male
Aiyoo salaam podu guruvaeOh my, pay your respects, master!
Naan salt kottaa siluvaI am the cross of the salt box!
Salaam podu guruvaePay your respects, master!
Naan salt kottaa siluvaI am the cross of the salt box!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a fun, lighthearted Madras bashai (North Chennai dialect) track centered around a protagonist who is drinking and reflecting on life with a humorous philosophy. He declares that alcohol acts as a great equalizer where social divisions like caste, creed, and class disappear once everyone gets intoxicated together. Through quirky local slang, he sings about his antics, bragging about his dominance in his locality ('Salt kottaa siluva') while poking fun at pretenders and describing the head-spinning sensation of alcohol.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Annaatha gammunu kada

The second letters 'daa' in 'kada' and 'thiyaa' share rhyming rhythmic cadence in early Madras dialect folk songs.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Jaadhi illae baedham illae

The lines end with matching sounds 'illae' ('jaadhi illae', 'baedham illae').

Madras Slang Metaphor

Naan salt kottaa siluva

Using colloquial terminology like 'Salt kottaa siluva' (Salt box cross) and 'bisukothu' (cheap/insignificant person) to construct local imagery.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song uses authentic Madras Bashai (Chennai slang) penned by Gangai Amaran, who was famous for integrating local folk dialect seamlessly into mainstream Tamil cinema music during the 1980s.

Keep listening

More from Kadhal Parisu