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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaikku Ettinadhu

From Album Songs 2023 · 2023

Lyricist
Super Subu
Singer
Vijay Narain
Music director
Vijay Narain
Details
Album Songs 20232023

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaikku ettunadhu vaaikku ettulaWhat reached the hand didn't reach the mouth
Kaathuvaakula kaadhalum sikkalaLove didn't catch on even in passing
Vathaalum thothalumWhether I dry up or lose
Oruthanm madhikalaNot a single person respected me
Male
Ponnenae ponnenaeI went away, I went away
Poram pokka ponnenaeI went away aimlessly
Ponnenae ponnenaeI went away, I went away
Poram pokka ponnenaeI went away aimlessly
Male
Perazhagae unnaiya paatha nodiOh great beauty, the moment I saw you
Oru pattu moolaiya thaakudhadiA song struck a corner of my mind
Adha naanum paadunaIf I sing that song
Oorae sirikaadhooWon't the whole town laugh?
Male
Aanenae aanaenaI became, I became
Verum jokka aanenaeI became just a joke
Aanenae aanaenaI became, I became
Verum jokka aanenaeI became just a joke
Male
Thaanae thaanaeThaanae thaanae
Thanae nooThanae noo
Male
VellakarangalumForeigners
Vadakathi pasangalumAnd guys from North India
Unna suthi pesi ninnaStand around talking to you
Utchi manda sulunnu soodagumThe top of my head gets boiling hot with jealousy
Male
Enna yaarum ungkittaIf anyone asks me to look into your eyes
Kanna paarthu pesa sonnaAnd talk to you directly
Bakku bakku bakkunnuMy heart goes thumping hard
Bayam vandhu thelaagumFear strikes me sharp like a scorpion
Male
Panpaadu kaduppa pochiCulture became annoying
Puzhapunna sirippa pochiEven smiling turned into a mockable scar
Oru vaartha pesum munnaeBefore I could speak a single word
Oorae kadupaachiThe whole town got irritated
Male
Sindhaamana sidharamaWithout spilling or scattering
Vazhinji paathen kolanji paathenI tried simpering and flattering
Sirichi paathen morachi paathenI tried smiling and glaring
Male
Oru tharam neeyum paatha podhumIf you look at me just once, that is enough
Marunodiyae usiru kara serumThe very next second my life will reach the shore
Male
Aambala buthi kalimannuA man's intellect is just soft clay
Pathodu padhinonnuJust one among a dozen
Aambala buthi kalimannuA man's intellect is just soft clay
Pathodu padhinonnuJust one among a dozen
Male
Pathodu padhinonnuJust one among a dozen
Pathodu padhinonnuJust one among a dozen
Male
Pathodu padhinonnuJust one among a dozen
Pathodu padhinonnuJust one among a dozen
Male
Kaikku ettunadhu vaaikku ettulaWhat reached the hand didn't reach the mouth
Kaathuvaakula kaadhalum sikkalaLove didn't catch on even in passing
Vathaalum thothalumWhether I dry up or lose
Oruthanm madhikalaNot a single person respected me
Male
Ponnenae ponnenaeI went away, I went away
Poram pokka ponnenaeI went away aimlessly
Ponnenae ponnenaeI went away, I went away
Poram pokka ponnenaeI went away aimlessly
Male
Aanenae aanaenaI became, I became
Verum jokka aanenaeI became just a joke
Aanenae aanaenaI became, I became
Verum jokka aanenaeI became just a joke
Male
Aambala buthi kalimannuA man's intellect is just soft clay
Pathodu padhinonnuJust one among a dozen
Male
Ponnenae ponnenaeI went away, I went away
Poram pokka ponnenaeI went away aimlessly
Aanenae aanaenaI became, I became
Verum jokka aanenaeI became just a joke
Male
Ponnenae ponnenaeI went away, I went away
Poram pokka ponnenaeI went away aimlessly
Aanenae aanaenaI became, I became
Verum jokka aanenaeI became just a joke
Male
Aambala buthi kalimannuA man's intellect is just soft clay
Pathodu padhinonnuJust one among a dozen

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This self-deprecating independent Tamil track expresses the humorous frustration of a hopeless romantic protagonist who feels entirely inadequate in love. He laments that fortune always slips out of his hands just when he gets close, and that he feels like a joke in society. Seeing stylish foreign and north-Indian guys flirting with his crush makes him furious, yet he is so shy that he freezes with fear if asked to speak to her directly.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Proverbial Metaphor (Pazhamozhi)

Kaikku ettunadhu vaaikku ettula

The line 'Kaikku ettunadhu vaaikku ettula' uses a famous Tamil proverb meaning 'so close yet so far', metaphorically describing missed opportunities.

Onomatopoeia (Erattai Kilavi)

Bakku bakku bakkunnu

'Bakku bakku bakkunnu' mimics the rapid pounding beat of a nervous heart.

Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Sirichi paathen morachi paathen / Marunodiyae usiru kara serum

Rhyming second letters in adjacent lines: 'Vathaalum' and 'Oruthanm' / 'Sirichi' and 'Marunodiyae'.

Metaphor

Aambala buthi kalimannu

'Aambala buthi kalimannu' compares a man's intelligence to pliable, weak clay.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed and sung by Vijaynarain with lyrics by Super Subu, this song captures modern urban indie Tamil sensibilities, combining colloquial slang with traditional Tamil proverbs.

Keep listening

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