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Karaiyai Thodatha Alaigal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Jikku Jikkuchaang Kannadi

From Karaiyai Thodatha Alaigal · 1985

Lyricist
Karaikudi Narayanan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Karaiyai Thodatha Alaigal
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
14 Mar 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Jikku jikkuchaang jikku jikkuchaang
Kannaadi singaara kannaadi
Thennang keeththu thendral kaaththu
Jillunguthu munnaadi
Jikku jikkuchaang kannaadi
Singaara kannaadi
Thennang keeththu thendral kaaththu
Jillunguthu munnaadi
Jikku jikkuchaang kannaadi
Singaara kannaadi
Thennang keeththu thendral kaaththu
Jillunguthu munnaadi
Therthalla nikka poren chella rani
Theruvellaam vaanga poren lanjam vaangi
Ilavarasi thangam melae abhishegamthaan
Inimelae sanyaasikku santhosamthaan
Ambunnaa ambu raman vitta ambu
Male :Aa…aa….aa….aaa….aa….aa….
Female :Appan peru jambu aiyyaanara nambu
Male :Aa…aa….aa….aaa….aa….aa….
Jikku jikkuchaang kannaadi
Singaara kannaadi
Thennang keeththu thendral kaaththu
Jillunguthu munnaadi
Um puththi kuppa lorry naaruthaiyaa
Odhappaanga podhu jananga lanjam kettaa
Kedukkaatha namma naatta ozhaichchikkalaam
Edhirkaalam yaezhi pakkam saeththukkalaam
Ambunnaa ambu raman vitta ambu
Female :Aa…aa….aa….aaa….aa….aa….
Male :Appan peru jambu aiyyaanara nambu
Female :Aa…aa….aa….aaa….aa….aa….
Jikku jikkuchaang kannaadi
Singaara kannaadi
Thennang keeththu thendral kaaththu
Jillunguthu munnaadi
Jikku jikkuchaang kannaadi
Female :Aa….
Male :Singaara kannaadi
Female :Aa….
Male :Thennang keeththu thendral kaaththu
Jillunguthu munnaadi
Jikku jikkuchaang, jikku jikkuchaang!
A mirror, a pretty mirror!
Coconut fronds and a gentle breeze,
It feels so cool right before us!
Jikku jikkuchaang mirror,
A pretty mirror!
Coconut fronds and a gentle breeze,
It feels so cool right before us!
Jikku jikkuchaang mirror,
A pretty mirror!
Coconut fronds and a gentle breeze,
It feels so cool right before us!
I am going to contest the elections, my darling queen!
I will take bribes and buy up the whole street!
I will shower gold upon my princess,
From now on, even this hermit will find only joy!
Talk of an arrow, and it's sharp like Rama's arrow!
Male: Aa... aa... aa... aaaa... aa... aa...
Female: My father's name is Jambu, put your faith in Ayyanar (guardian deity)!
Male: Aa... aa... aa... aaaa... aa... aa...
Jikku jikkuchaang mirror,
A pretty mirror!
Coconut fronds and a gentle breeze,
It feels so cool right before us!
Your mind is like a garbage truck, it stinks, mister!
The public will thrash you if you demand bribes!
Don't ruin our country, let us earn by honest work,
And bring a bright future to the poor!
Talk of an arrow, and it's sharp like Rama's arrow!
Female: Aa... aa... aa... aaaa... aa... aa...
Male: My father's name is Jambu, put your faith in Ayyanar (guardian deity)!
Female: Aa... aa... aa... aaaa... aa... aa...
Jikku jikkuchaang mirror,
A pretty mirror!
Coconut fronds and a gentle breeze,
It feels so cool right before us!
Jikku jikkuchaang mirror,
Female: Aa...
Male: A pretty mirror!
Female: Aa...
Male: Coconut fronds and a gentle breeze,
It feels so cool right before us!
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This energetic duet from 'Karaiyai Thodatha Alaigal' (1985) combines lively rural folk rhythms with satirical political commentary. The male character lightheartedly expresses his plan to enter politics and gather bribes to achieve personal pleasure and prosperity. In response, the female character delivers a sharp rebuke, comparing his corrupt thoughts to a foul garbage truck and warning him that people will revolt against systemic dishonesty. She encourages hard work, national integrity, and standing by the underprivileged. Interspersed with traditional rhythmic refrains about cool breezes and coconut fronds, the song creates a dynamic dialogue between selfish ambition and social responsibility.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Alliteration (Monaai)

Thennang keeththu thendral kaaththu

Repetition of the 'Th' consonant sound across the words creates a gentle, breeze-like rhythm.

Metaphor

Um puththi kuppa lorry naaruthaiyaa

Compares corrupt and greedy thinking directly to a foul-smelling garbage lorry.

Second-letter Rhyme (Edhukai)

Therthalla nikka poren chella rani

Agreement of the second consonant 'r' across consecutive lines (Therthalla / Theruvellaam).

Onomatopoeia (Chanda Sol)

Jikku jikkuchaang jikku jikkuchaang

Use of rhythmic acoustic syllables 'Jikku jikkuchaang' to set a catchy folk dance tempo.

Did you know?

Trivia

Music director Chandrabose was known in the 1980s for combining energetic Tamil folk rhythm patterns with contemporary orchestral arrangements. Sung by Malaysia Vasudevan and S. P. Sailaja, this track serves as a classic example of social commentary embedded inside a commercial folk song.

Keep listening

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