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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaiyil Oru Key Boardum

From Ajantha · 2012

Lyricist
Mu. Metha
Singer
Tippu
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ajantha2012

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaiyil oru key boardumWith a keyboard in hand,
Kaadhil oru walk manumAnd a Walkman in ear,
Irundhaal naamumIf we have these,
Light music troop thodangidalaamWe too can start a light music troupe!
Male
Kaiyil oru key boardumWith a keyboard in hand,
Kaadhil oru walk manumAnd a Walkman in ear,
Irundhaal naamumIf we have these,
Light music troop thodangidalaamWe too can start a light music troupe!
Male
Ahaa oorengum maedai yeri paadidalaamAha, we can get on stage all over town and sing,
Ahaa urchaaga thaalam pottu aadidalaamAha, we can dance setting an energetic beat!
Nee paadum paattellaamEvery song you sing will be...
Chorus
HittuA hit!
Male
Nee podum mettellaamEvery tune you set will be...
Chorus
LadduSweet as a laddu!
Male
Ada edhilum edhilum neeAh, in everything, everything you are...
Chorus
FirstuFirst!
Male
Namma dheivam kodukkumaeOur God will surely give us...
Chorus
GifttuA gift!
Kaiyil oru key boardumWith a keyboard in hand,
Kaadhil oru walk manumAnd a Walkman in ear,
Irundhaal naamumIf we have these,
Light music troop thodangidalaamWe too can start a light music troupe!
Male
Paattukkingae panjamaaIs there any shortage of songs here?
Pop song irukku irukkuThere are pop songs, indeed there are!
Male
Paasathukkor paattu thaanFor a song filled with deep love,
M S V ah kaeluAsk M. S. Viswanathan!
Male
Endrum inikka venumaaIf you want everlasting sweetness,
Chorus
Ilaiya raajaavai paaduSing Ilaiyaraaja!
Male
Innikku latest vendumaaIf you want today's latest trend,
Chorus
Yuvan shankara poduPlay Yuvan Shankar Raja!
Male
Kaalangal ponaalum…Even as time passes...
Kaalangal ponaalumEven as time passes,
Nelachu nikkira paattunduThere are songs that endure forever!
Chorus
Thaanaanaa naanaanaaThaanaanaa naanaanaa
Thaana naananaa naanaanaaThaana naananaa naanaanaa
Male
Ellaarum ellaamaeEveryone can,
Paadi pozhaikkalaam vaazhvunduSing and make a living, there is a livelihood!
Male
PaattellaamaeAll the songs,
Chorus
AvangaludhuBelong to them,
Male
PerellaamaeAll the name and fame,
Chorus
NammaludhuBelongs to us!
Male
Paadum paattellaamEvery song sung is...
Chorus
HittuA hit!
Male
Nee kaiyl vaangikkoTake in your hand,
Chorus
DhuttuThe cash!
Male
Yaethi vechukkoTurn up the volume,
Chorus
SounduSound!
Male
Ada innum ethanaAh, how many more,
Chorus
RounduRounds!
Kaiyil oru key boardumWith a keyboard in hand,
Kaadhil oru walk manumAnd a Walkman in ear,
Irundhaal naamumIf we have these,
Light music troop thodangidalaamWe too can start a light music troupe!
Male
Five star hotel paarykkuFor a party in a five-star hotel,
Chorus
Pop song paadik kaattalaamWe can perform a pop song,
Male
Sashtiyaptha poorthikkuFor a sixtieth birthday celebration,
Chorus
Sangeedhatha neettalaamWe can stretch out classical music!
Aa… aa… aa…Aa... aa... aa...
Male
Pattanathula kalyaanamFor a wedding in the city,
Chorus
Hindhiya thappaa paadalaamWe can sing Hindi songs (even with wrong words!),
Male
Pattikkaattu saamikkuFor a deity in the rural village,
Chorus
Folk song dhoolu kelappalaamWe can rock with a lively folk song!
Haei haei haehaei hehhaeiHaei haei haehaei hehhaei
Male
Engengae ponaalumWherever we go,
Angae angae oru medai unduThere is a stage waiting there,
Chorus
Angae angae oru medai unduThere is a stage waiting there!
Male
Endrendrum oyaadhaNever ceasing forever,
Namakku namakku oru velai unduWe have work cut out for us,
Chorus
Namakku namakku oru velai unduWe have work cut out for us!
Male
Porakkum podhaeWhat was written,
Chorus
EzhudhiyadhuAt the time of birth,
Male
Irukkum podhaeWhile we are alive,
Chorus
AzhinjidumaaWill it ever fade away?
Male
Paadum paattellaamEvery song sung is...
Chorus
HittuA hit!
Male
Nee kaiyl vaangikkoTake in your hand,
Chorus
DhuttuThe cash!
Male
Ada yaethi vechukkoAh, turn up the volume,
Chorus
SounduSound!
Male
Ada innum ethanaAh, how many more,
Chorus
RounduRounds!
Kaiyil oru key boardumWith a keyboard in hand,
Kaadhil oru walk manumAnd a Walkman in ear,
Irundhaal naamumIf we have these,
Light music troop thodangidalaamWe too can start a light music troupe!
Male
Ahaa oorengum medai yeri paadidalaamAha, we can get on stage all over town and sing,
Ahaa urchaaga thaalam pottu aadidalaamAha, we can dance setting an energetic beat!
Nee paadum paattellaamEvery song you sing will be...
Chorus
HittuA hit!
Male
Nee podum mettellaamEvery tune you set will be...
Chorus
LadduSweet as a laddu!
Male
Ada edhilum edhilum neeAh, in everything, everything you are...
Chorus
FirstuFirst!
Male
Namma dheivam kodukkumaeOur God will surely give us...
Chorus
GifttuA gift!
Kaiyil oru key boardumWith a keyboard in hand,
Kaadhil oru walk manumAnd a Walkman in ear,
Irundhaal naamumIf we have these,
Light music troop thodangidalaamWe too can start a light music troupe!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic song captures the spirit and humor of aspiring musicians establishing a light music troupe. It lightheartedly lists the basic equipment needed to start a band—a keyboard and a Walkman—and highlights how music can bring joy, entertainment, and a steady livelihood across different social gatherings, from five-star hotels to rural temple festivals.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhukai (Second letter rhyming)

Kaiyil oru key boardum / Kaadhil oru walk manum

The second consonant 'ii' in 'Kaiyil' rhymes with 'Kaadhil' across consecutive lines.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Hittu / Laddu / Firstu / Gifttu

English loanwords are used at the end of short phrases to create snappy rhyming punchlines (Hittu, Laddu, Firstu, Gifttu, Dhuttu, Soundu, Roundu).

Alliteration & Name Dropping

M S V ah kaelu / Ilaiya raajaavai paadu / Yuvan shankara podu

The lyricist creatively references three generations of iconic Tamil music composers (MSV, Ilaiyaraaja, Yuvan Shankar) to represent different musical eras.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song paying homage to MSV, Ilaiyaraaja, and Yuvan Shankar Raja was actually composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja himself for the movie Ajantha (2012), which featured songs rendered in multiple South Indian languages.

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