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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Jigu Jigu

From Kathavarayan · 1958

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
Jikki, J. P. Chandrababu
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Kathavarayan1958

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Jigujigu jigujgu jiyaalakari jiyarloJigujigu jigujgu jiyaalakari jiyarlo (Rhythmic folk refrain)
Seemai ellaam thedi paarththuSearching through all the lands,
Pudichchuputtaen aayaaloI finally caught her, my dear!
Jigujigu…ooo….jigujigu….aa…jigujigu…Jigujigu...ooo...jigujigu...aa...jigujigu...
Male
Jigujigu jigujgu jiyaalakari jiyarloJigujigu jigujgu jiyaalakari jiyarlo (Rhythmic folk refrain)
Seemai ellaam thedi paarththuSearching through all the lands,
Pudichchuputtaen aayaaloI finally caught her, my dear!
Male
Jigujigu jigujgu jiyaalakari jiyarloJigujigu jigujgu jiyaalakari jiyarlo (Rhythmic folk refrain)
Seemai ellaam thedi paarththuSearching through all the lands,
Pudichchuputtaen aayaaloI finally caught her, my dear!
Jigujigu jigujigu jigujiguJigujigu jigujigu jigujigu
Male
Naan ……………….. kaattukkullaaeI... deep inside the forest,
Kuruvi pudikka ponaenWent to catch birds.
Angu aalaa vattam pottukittuCircling around like a banyan tree,
Akkaa magalum vanthaaMy cousin arrived.
Naan ……………….. kaattukkullaaeI... deep inside the forest,
Kuruvi pudikka ponaenWent to catch birds.
Angu aalaa vattam pottukittuCircling around like a banyan tree,
Akkaa magalum vanthaaMy cousin arrived.
Male
Intha aalai kandathum verichchaaSeeing this man, she stared,
Aval azhagai kaatti muzhichchaaShe blinked, showing off her beauty.
Male
Appadi poracchaa ippadi sirichchenShe looked that way, and I smiled this way,
Apparam nelinjaa naanum kelicchenThen she squirmed, and I laughed out loud.
Antha ammaakkannu kummalaagiThat lovely girl blossomed joyously,
Aiyyaa kooda vanthaalaeAnd came along with the master!
Antha ammaakkannu kummalaagiThat lovely girl blossomed joyously,
Aiyyaa kooda vanthaalaeAnd came along with the master!
Male
Naan paasimani pavalamaniI, selling glass beads, coral beads,
Oosi vikkaa ponaenAnd needles, went on my way.
Naan paasimani pavalamaniI, selling glass beads, coral beads,
Oosi vikkaa ponaenAnd needles, went on my way.
Oru raasa mavan kaasillaamaA prince-like boy without money,
Osiyilae kettaanAsked for them for free.
Oru raasa mavan kaasillaamaA prince-like boy without money,
Osiyilae kettaanAsked for them for free.
Female
Ennai kanakku panna paaththaanHe tried to flirt with me,
Naan karadi pola paanjaenI pounced at him like a bear!
Payanthu ninnaan pathilum sonnaanHe stood scared and answered back,
Nerungi vanthaan mayangi ponaenHe came close, and I swooned.
Female
Appuram kannaalanum ennoduthaanAnd then my beloved, right with me,
Kaadai vikka vanthaanaeCame along to sell quails!
Male :VanthaanaaMale: Did he come?
Female :HmmFemale: Hmm
Male
Kaadai vikka vanthavanaiTell me strictly about the one who came to sell quails,
Kattaayamaa solluTell me for sure!
Avanai kaattaamae ponneennaaIf you leave without showing him,
Udanju pogum palluYour teeth will get broken!
Female
Onnae jaadai kaattiWho is that rival woman who winked at you,
Kannadichcha sakkalaththi yaaruMaking gestures at you?
Antha sakkalaththi yaaruWho is that rival woman?
Antha sakkalaththi yaaruWho is that rival woman?
Sandiyai nee kaattalaennaaIf you don't reveal her secret,
Kodukka poren paaruLook, I am going to teach you a lesson!
Male
Kannu sollidarenMy sweet, I will tell you.
Female :Hoom solluFemale: Hoom, tell me!
Male :Ava kaattu poonai kannuMale: She has eyes like a wild cat,
Konjam kattaiyaana ponnuShe is a slightly short girl,
Male
Thaattu paththiri selaiWearing a saree with bold patterns,
Thalukku kaattuvathae velaiShowing off glamour is her job,
Pottiruppaa vangi ava peru kooda singiShe wears an armlet, and her name is Singi!
Female :Adhu naanthaanFemale: That is me!
Male :Unnai thoondi podaMale: Who is that mischievous fellow who came to hook you?
Vantha antha pondi baya yaaruWho is that belly-dancing guy?
Female
Adhu…oththanaadi aalu aasaiThat single-minded lover,
Thuruthuruththa vaaluA restless naughty tail,
Adhu kokku pola kaaluHe has legs like a crane,
Ennai kotta vantha theluA scorpion that came to sting me,
Female
Ooru suththi mangan avan peru kooda singanA roaming fool, and his name is Singan!
Male :Adhu naanthaanMale: That is me!
Both :AppoBoth: Then!
Oorugaayum sorum polaLike pickle and rice,
Jodi saernthom aayaaloWe paired up together, my dear!
Oorugaayum sorum polaLike pickle and rice,
Jodi saernthom aayaaloWe paired up together, my dear!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic folk duet from the 1958 movie 'Kathavarayan' portrays a playful romantic dialogue between the two lead characters performing in the traditional Kuravan-Kurathi folk style. Singan and Singi share exaggerated, comedic tales of how they met their respective lovers in the forest and marketplace, teasing each other with mock jealousy and suspicion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Oorugaayum sorum pola

Compares their perfect romantic match to the classic culinary combination of pickle and rice.

Upamai (Simile)

Naan karadi pola paanjaen

Compares the aggressive reaction to a pouncing bear.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Naan paasimani pavalamani

Repetition of the initial 'P' sound creates a rhythmic, musical flow.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Ava kaattu poonai kannu / Konjam kattaiyaana ponnu

Harmonious rhyme of the second consonant 'tt' between 'kaattu' and 'kattaiyaana'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by G. Ramanathan and sung by J. P. Chandrababu along with Jikki, this song is one of the most celebrated Kuravan-Kurathi folk compositions in Tamil cinema history, showcasing Chandrababu's unique rhythmic vocal delivery and comic flair.

Keep listening

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