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Thalai Magan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Jallikattu Kaala

From Thalai Magan · 1983

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Thalai Magan
Movie release year
1983
Lyrics added on
26 Jan 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Jallikattu kaala thulikittu aala
Mutta vanthaa pudipean
Kombu renda odipean
Naanthaan unnai vidamaaten
Haa pudicha udumbuthaan
Podi podi elumbuthaan….
…………….
Jalikattu kalai thullikitu aala
Mutta varum velai thottuputtae vaala
Naanthaan pudipada maaten
Pudichchaa thimiruvaen vaala
Valaichcha nimiruvaen…haei haei
………………..
Paasam vaithaal naan kati thangam
Paayumpothu oru kutti singam
Male :Etti ponaal nan petti paambu
Thotu paarthaal varum veti veembu
Naana nadunguven
Idipol muzhanguven
Male :Naana adanguven
Pulipol padhunguven
Endhapakkam ponaal enna
Andhapakkam valaipen
Aiyo paavam chinna thambi
Unnai kandu siripen
………………..
Jalikattu kalai thullikitu aala
Mutta vantha pudipen
Kombu renda odipen
Nanthan unnai vidamaten
Male :Pudicha thimirven vaala
Valaicha nimiruven….hahahaa
………………..
Unnai paartha oru annan polae
Kallathanathil nee kannan polae
Thati ketka oru aalumilla
Katti poda oru noolumila
Unnai naan adukkuvaen
Male :Haah udanae madukkuven
Male :Poda podiyan nee
Male :Puriya siruvan nee
Chinna uli ennam veithaal
Kundrai kuda saaikumae
Male :Vettu pataal vaazhaimaram
Meendum meendum kaaikume….
……………..
Jalikattu kaala ha thulikkitu aala
Mutta vanthaa pudipen
Kombu rendu odipen
Naanthan unnai vidamaten
Male :Pudicha thimirven vaala
Valaicha nimiruven….dei dei
Like a Jallikattu bull prancing around,
If it comes to gore me, I will catch it,
I will break both its horns!
I will never let you go!
Ah, my grip is tight like a monitor lizard!
Bones will be crushed to powder...
...
Like a Jallikattu bull leaping about,
When it comes to charge, you touched its tail!
I am the one who will not be caught!
If caught, I will thrash my tail with pride!
If bent, I will stand tall... hey hey!
...
If you shower love, I am solid gold,
When I pounce, I am a young lion!
Male: If kept at a distance, I am a boxed serpent,
If touched, vain defiance flares up!
Will I tremble?
I will roar like thunder!
Male: Will I be subdued?
I lie in wait like a tiger!
No matter which direction you take,
I will corner you from that side!
Oh poor thing, little brother,
I will laugh looking at you!
...
Like a Jallikattu bull leaping about,
If it comes to charge, I will catch it,
I will break both its horns!
I will never let you go!
Male: If caught, I will thrash my tail!
If bent, I will stand tall... hahaha!
...
To look at you, you seem like an elder brother,
In cunningness, you are like Lord Krishna!
There is no one to question you,
There is no rope strong enough to bind you!
I will put you in your place!
Male: Ha, I will immediately counter you!
Male: Go away, you are just a kid!
Male: You are an inexperienced youngster!
If a tiny chisel resolves,
It can even bring down a mountain!
Male: Even if a plantain tree is cut down,
It will bear fruit again and again...
...
Like a Jallikattu bull prancing around,
If it comes to gore, I will catch it,
I will break both its horns!
I will never let you go!
Male: If caught, I will thrash my tail!
If bent, I will stand tall... hey, hey!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from Thalai Magan (1983) is a spirited duet depicting a battle of wits, strength, and playful banter between two men. Using traditional metaphors of bull-taming (Jallikattu), lions, tigers, and solid gold, the characters exchange boasts about their tenacity and resilience. One singer asserts his dominant authority and physical prowess, while the other counters with youthfulness, agility, and unyielding determination. Written by Vaali and composed by Shankar Ganesh, the track highlights the dynamic vocal chemistry of S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Malaysia Vasudevan. The overall narrative balances fierce competitive bravado with underlying affection and mutual respect, framed through rich Tamil folk imagery.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

“Paayumpothu oru kutti singam / Idipol muzhanguven”

Comparing aggressiveness to a lion cub (' Paayumpothu oru kutti singam') and voice/energy to thunder ('Idipol muzhanguven').

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Paasam vaithaal naan kati thangam”

Directly identifying oneself as solid gold when treated with love ('Paasam vaithaal naan kati thangam').

Iyaiybu (End Rhyme)

“Mutta vanthaa pudipean / Kombu renda odipean”

Rhyming endings in consecutive lines to build dynamic rhythm ('pudipean', 'odipean', 'vidamaaten').

Idiomatic Folk Imagery

“Haa pudicha udumbuthaan”

Use of 'Udumbu pidi' (monitor lizard's grip) to symbolize an unbreakable physical grasp.

Did you know?

Trivia

The track features the iconic singing duo S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Malaysia Vasudevan, who were widely renowned in 1980s Tamil cinema for their high-energy playful rivalry songs. Shankar Ganesh's music blends traditional folk percussion suited for bull-taming themes with modern brass arrangements.

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