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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kammangkoozhu Karuvadu

From Sembi · 2022

Lyricist
Ilayakamban
Singers
Velmurugan, MK Balaji
Music director
Nivas K. Prasanna
Details
Sembi2022

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aaaaaa…. aaaaaa…. aaaaaa….Vocalizing vocal chant
Aaaaaa…. aaaaaa….aaaaaa….Vocalizing vocal chant
Male
Kammangkoozhu karuvaduMillet porridge and dried fish
Kaada mutta thean kooduQuail eggs and honeycombs
Thena maavu varach soruHoneyed flour mixture and cooked rice
Pulicha keera kollu charuSour spinach and horse-gram soup
Male
Nandu natha eliyoduCrab and snail along with field mouse
Sutta kozhi kariyoduRoasted chicken meat
Inda kaatu mosaloduAlong with this wild hare
Uppu kanda rusiyoduWith the delicious taste of salted cured meat
Male
Kaadu mazha suthiduvomWe will roam the forest and rain
Kallu manna kothiduvomWe will dig up the stones and soil
Raa vaana vettai aadaTo hunt under the night sky
Raanthala tha yeanthiduvomWe will hold up the lanterns
Male
Kolli mazha mottu adiStrike like the Kolli mountain hills
Sooriyana thottu adiTouch the sun with your strike
Ettu dhesa aathura adiShake all eight directions with your strike
Kaatu yaana sethara adiScatter the wild elephants with your strike
Male
EleyHey call
Ey elei jakka dEy elei jakka d (folk rhythmic chant)
Ey ajuku jakka dEy ajuku jakka d (folk rhythmic chant)
Ey jamuku lakka diEy jamuku lakka di (folk rhythmic chant)
Male
Ey vaaleEy friend
Ey vaale makka diEy folk people
Ne jinuku jikka dYou shiny people
Ne jilla makka diYou district people
Male
EleyHey call
Ey elei jakka dEy elei jakka d
Ey ajuku jakka dEy ajuku jakka d
Ey jamuku lakka diEy jamuku lakka di
Male
Ey vaaleEy friend
Ey vaale makka diEy folk people
Ne jinuku jikka dYou shiny people
Ne jilla makka diYou district people
Male
Aaaaaa…. aaaaaa…. aaaaaa….Vocalizing vocal chant
Aaaaaa…. aaaaaa…. aaaaaa….Vocalizing vocal chant
Male
Konda oosi marudhaniHairpin and henna
Thanga thodu thiruganiGold earring screw-backs
Sangu maala lolakuConch necklace and hanging ear pendants
Nethi sutti pullakuForehead ornament and nose stud
Male
Otha kallu mookuthiSingle-stone nose ring
Otti yaana oosi maniBeaded chain with an elephant pendant
Retta sada savuri mudiDouble-braided false hair extension
Saandhu pottu kannu maiSandalwood mark and eye liner
Male
Katti vacha malli kodiTied garland of jasmine vines
Suthi vacha alli kodiWrapped wreath of lily vines
Pattu sela katti vanthaArrived wearing a silk saree
Paasi mani pavala kodiString of beads and coral vine
Male
Sendhu vaazhum mootha kudiAn ancient tribe living together
Kodi sanam paatha kudiA tribe that has witnessed millions of people
Thevai illa mettu kudiUpper class elite status is not needed
Vaazha oru paatu padiSing a song to live life happily
Male
EleyHey call
Ey elei jakka dEy elei jakka d
Ey ajuku jakka dEy ajuku jakka d
Ey jamuku lakka diEy jamuku lakka di
Male
Ey vaaleEy friend
Ey vaale makka diEy folk people
Ne jinuku jikka dYou shiny people
Ne jilla makka diYou district people
Male
Athiri… puthiri…Tremble... burst...
Sithari… sithari…Scatter... scatter...
Kathari… kathari…Cry out... cry out...
Uthari…uthari…Shake off... shake off...
Kathari… kathari…Cry out... cry out...
Male
Musical chairMusical chairs
Musical chairMusical chairs
Suthuravan ellarumEveryone who spins around
Very very badAre very very bad
Male
Yaru inga jeichalumWhoever wins here
Romba romba sadIs very very sad
Pera pulla paati thaathaGrandchildren, grandmother, grandfather
Mummy and dadMummy and dad
Male
Mummy mummy mummyMummy mummy mummy
Mummy mummy mummyMummy mummy mummy
Naanga ella dummyWe are all dummies
Ada moola konjam kammi…Ah, slightly lacking in brains...
Male
Full set uh erunthaalumEven if we have a full set
Adika maattom rummy…We will not play rummy...
Male
Aaaaaa…. aaaaaa…. aaaaaa….Vocalizing vocal chant
Male
Haan..Haan..
Kuchi meesa kona meesaThin mustache, crooked mustache
Kurumbu kaara poona meesaMischievous cat-like mustache
Vandi mai uh kona meesaCart-grease black crooked mustache
Varanja vacha vettu meesaSharply drawn neat mustache
Male
Katta meesa kutta meesaThick mustache, short mustache
Vettaruva kathi meesaSickle blade mustache
Kaala maatu kombu meesaBull horn-shaped mustache
Katta bomman kokki meesaKattabomman hooked mustache
Male
Singa meesa kongu meesaLion mustache, Kongu region mustache
Sillu vandu koombu meesaCricket insect pointed mustache
Sirutha meesa parutha meesaLeopard mustache, bulky mustache
Seekrama velutha meesaMustache that turned white quickly
Male
Nalla meesa vella meesaGood mustache, white mustache
Color adicha kalla meesaArtificially dyed fake mustache
Lollu meesa mullu meesaPlayful mustache, thorny mustache
Kotti pona koruva meesaFallen sparse mustache
Male
Aaaaaa…. aaaaaa…. aaaaaa….Vocalizing vocal chant
Aaaaaa…. aaaaaa…. aaaaaa….Vocalizing vocal chant

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic folk track celebrates the raw, grounded, and self-sufficient lifestyle of indigenous tribal communities living in hill forests. The lyrics paint a rich tapestry of their culinary choices, traditional ornaments, communal harmony, and deep connection with nature, emphasizing that true happiness comes from simple living rather than elite status or urban materialism. In the latter half, the song cleverly critiques modern rat-race culture using humor, metaphorizing societal greed as a rigged game of musical chairs while humorously categorizing various types of facial hair to add regional color and wit.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Kammangkoozhu karuvadu / Kaada mutta thean koodu

Repetition of the initial 'K' sound across consecutive lines creates rhythmic energy.

Ethukai (Second Syllable Rhyme)

Kolli mazha mottu adi / Sooriyana thottu adi

The second consonant sound 'tt' rhymes across lines, enhancing the song's beat.

Imagery (Sensory listing)

Konda oosi marudhani / Thanga thodu thirugani

Extensive use of vivid traditional culinary items and tribal ornaments to build a clear visual and tactile environment.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song from the movie Sembi (2022), composed by Nivas K Prasanna, showcases traditional folk rhythms combined with modern satire. Lyricist Ilayakamban used authentic tribal food names and cultural references to establish the movie's forest-dwelling characters.

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