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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kai Nalla Kaiyappa

From Savaal · 1981

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Manorama, Kovai Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Savaal1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aa…..laalaala….lalalala…..laalaala….lalalala…..Ah... laalaala... lalalala... laalaala... lalalala...
Chorus :Laalaala….lalalala…..laalaala….lalalala…..Chorus: Laalaala... lalalala... laalaala... lalalala...
Male
Kaiyum nalla kaiyappaaThis hand is a lucky hand, my friend!
Kaasu varum kaiyappaaIt is a hand that fetches money, my friend!
Pocket-la ullae vittaaIf you put it inside a pocket,
Panam izhukkum kaiyappaaIt attracts money like a magnet, my friend!
Male
Kaiyum nalla kaiyappaaThis hand is a lucky hand, my friend!
Kaasu varum kaiyappaaIt is a hand that fetches money, my friend!
Pocket-la ullae vittaaIf you put it inside a pocket,
Panam izhukkum kaiyappaaIt attracts money like a magnet, my friend!
Male
{Paeru vachchaen muththappaaI named him Muththappa,
Yaarumilla peththappaaHe has no parents, my friend,
Pillaikkoru appaa venumA child needs a father,
Naanthaan ippo chiththappaa} (2)So I am now his uncle! (2)
Female
Aththai undu ingaeppaaAn aunt is right here, my friend,
Ponnu peththu thaaraemppaaShe promises to bear a daughter for him.
Aththai undu ingaeppaaAn aunt is right here, my friend,
Ponnu peththu thaaraemppaaShe promises to bear a daughter for him.
Female
Aayiram paer sontham ingaeWe have a thousand relatives right here,
Yaarukkundu koorappaa…Tell me, who else possesses such kinfolk, my friend?
Aayiram paer sontham ingaeWe have a thousand relatives right here,
Yaarukkundu koorappaa…Tell me, who else possesses such kinfolk, my friend?
Female
Kaiyum nalla kaiyappaaThis hand is a lucky hand, my friend!
Kaasu varum kaiyappaaIt is a hand that fetches money, my friend!
Pocket-la ullae vittaaIf you put it inside a pocket,
Panam izhukkum kaiyappaaIt attracts money like a magnet, my friend!
Pocket-la ullae vittaaIf you put it inside a pocket,
Panam izhukkum kaiyappaaIt attracts money like a magnet, my friend!
Chorus
Thaththinathin thinathin thaththinathin thinathinRhythmic beats: Thaththinathin thinathin thaththinathin thinathin
Thaththinathin thinathin thaththinathin thinathinRhythmic beats: Thaththinathin thinathin thaththinathin thinathin
Thaagini thaagini thaa….Rhythmic sounds: Thaagini thaagini thaa...
Male
Saithaappettai sambangi rajaaSaidapet Sambangi Raja,
Thanaiyaa kuduththathu pathinaaru….Contributed sixteen as his share...
Chorus :Aamaa….Chorus: Yes...
Female :Thanni paanai sambanthamoorththiFemale: Water-pot Sambanthamoorthi,
Thatti vanthathu aaru….Knocked and brought six...
Chorus :Aamaa….Chorus: Yes...
Male
Pattaakkaththi bairavanLong-knife Bairavan,
Pocket adichchathu irupaththonnuPickpocketed twenty-one...
Chorus :Aamaa….Chorus: Yes...
Female :Pazhaiya soru selvarasuFemale: Cold-rice Selvarasu,
Ezhuthi vachchathu yaezhae mukkaalPledged seven and three-quarters...
Chorus :Aamaa….Chorus: Yes...
Male
Ini naalaellam kondaattamFrom now on, every day is a celebration,
Podappaa neeGo ahead and dance, my friend!
Ada naamaethaan raajaangam aadappaa neeHey, we are the kingdom itself, reign supreme, my friend!
Naama onnaaga ninnaakkaa potti illaeppaaIf we stand united, there is no competition, my friend!
Namma katchikkul eppothum koshti illaeppaaThere is never any factionalism inside our party, my friend!
Female
AamaaYes!
Female
Rottikkadai suppammaaSuppamma from the bakery shop,
Pettikkadai kittammaaKittamma from the petty shop,
Kattikitta purushanukkaeTo her wedded husband,
Kalthaa thanthaa pattammaaPattamma gave the boot!
Male
Naalukkoru kalyaanamA wedding for every day,
Aalukoru thaalaattuA lullaby for every person,
Naalu pillai peththu vitaaIf four children are born,
Velli vizhaa paaraattuIt calls for a silver jubilee celebration!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the 1981 film 'Savaal' is a street-smart, humorous, and satirical folk track penned by Kannadasan. Set in the vibrant locale of Chennai, it portrays a colorful group of local tricksters, pickpockets, and neighborhood shopkeepers sharing their daily earnings and celebrating their camaraderie. The lyrics playfully romanticize life on the streets, depicting pickpocketing with humorous flair and celebrating the tight-knit solidarity among marginalized city dwellers. Through lively Chennai street slang (Madras Bhashai), the song brings out a sense of joy and brotherhood amidst economic hardship. Characters like 'Saidapet Sambangi Raja' and 'Pattaakkaththi Bairavan' contribute their earnings to a common pool, demonstrating that unity and laughter transform their modest daily lives into a joyful royal reign.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Kaiyum nalla kaiyappaa / Kaasu varum kaiyappaa

The repetitive line ending 'kaiyappaa' creates a catchy, rhythmic folk cadence throughout the refrain.

Moonaai (Alliteration)

Pocket-la ullae vittaa / Panam izhukkum kaiyappaa

Repetition of the 'P' consonant sound in 'Pocket' and 'Panam' establishes a bouncy rhythm.

Madras Bhashai / Local Dialect

Pocket adichchathu irupaththonnu / Kalthaa thanthaa pattammaa

Use of authentic Chennai slang like 'Pocket adichchathu' (pickpocketed) and 'Kalthaa' (booted/kicked out) to ground the song in street realism.

Did you know?

Trivia

The 1981 film 'Savaal' starred Kamal Haasan, Jaishankar, Sripriya, and Lakshmi in lead roles. The music for the film was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, and the film was an action drama directed by R. Krishnamoorthy.

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