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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannukkul Sikki Konda

From Naanum Oru Penn · 1963

Lyricist
V. Seetharaman
Singers
P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Naanum Oru Penn1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Maalu…….Maalu...
Male
Kannukkul sikki kondaShall I tell the name of the girl
Pennin perai sollavaaWho got caught in my eyes?
Scooter-in pinnae vaiththuShall I give her a ride
Yetri kondu sellavaaOn the back of my scooter?
Mannukkullae maattikkondaShall I give a push to this vehicle
Vandiyai naan thallividavaa..haa..haaThat is stuck in the mud? Haa..haa..
Female
Baalu………..Baalu...
Female
Kalloori naadagaththilHe is a clever hero
Gettikkaara herodhaanIn college plays,
College paadathilaeBut in college subjects
Vaanguvadhu zerodhaanHe scores a big zero!
Ellaam valla ivarukkuFor this man who knows everything,
Illaadhadhu vaalu onnudhaan..haan..haan…The only thing missing is a tail! Haan..haan...
Male
{Mary stylai paarththu vittuthaanaa{Is it after seeing Mary's style
Marlin monroe mel ulagam ponaa} (2)That Marilyn Monroe passed away to the upper world?} (2)
Kanchanaavin gettup-puKanchana's getup,
Kaagidha poo settappuIs like a paper flower setup,
Karman grand-aa type-u….A grand Karmann-type...
Male
Kannukkul sikki kondaShall I tell the name of the girl
Pennin perai sollavaaWho got caught in my eyes?
Scooter-in pinnae vaiththuShall I give her a ride
Yetri kondu sellavaaOn the back of my scooter?
Mannukkullae maattikkondaShall I give a push to this vehicle
Vandiyai naan thallividavaa..haa..haaThat is stuck in the mud? Haa..haa..
Female
{Cricket aadum veeran indha baalu{This Baalu is a cricketer hero,
Engilish mark-ku nooththukku naalu} (2)But his English score is four out of a hundred!} (2)
Soda bottle kannaadiSoda-bottle thick glasses,
Somu oru killaadiSomu is a clever trickster,
Charlie chaplin ..dhaanadi…Just like Charlie Chaplin!
Female
Kalloori naadagaththilHe is a clever hero
Gettikkaara herodhaanIn college plays,
College paadathilaeBut in college subjects
Vaanguvadhu zerodhaanHe scores a big zero!
Ellaam valla ivarukkuFor this man who knows everything,
Illaadhadhu vaalu onnudhaan..haan..haan…The only thing missing is a tail! Haan..haan...
Male
{Sonpapdi sonaa switzerland-u ponaa{Sonpapdi Sona went to Switzerland,
Sogusaai england sendru vandha jaanaa} (2)Luxuriously Jaana visited England and returned!} (2)
Vaangi vandha diplomaWill the diploma you earned
Samaiyalukku aagumaaBe useful for cooking?
Aemmaa bhaama..sollammaaaa…..Hey Bhama, tell me...
Male
Kannukkul sikki kondaShall I tell the name of the girl
Pennin perai sollavaaWho got caught in my eyes?
Scooter-in pinnae vaiththuShall I give her a ride
Yetri kondu sellavaaOn the back of my scooter?
Mannukkullae maattikkondaShall I give a push to this vehicle
Vandiyai naan thallividavaa..haaiyaaThat is stuck in the mud? Haaiyaa...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Kannukkul Sikki Konda' from Naanum Oru Penn (1963) is a playful, lively duet featuring lighthearted teasing and banter between modern college youths. The male character playfully asks if he should reveal the name of the girl caught in his gaze and offer her a scooter ride, humorously offering to push her stuck vehicle. In response, the female character roasts his academic failings, mocking how he acts as a clever hero in college dramas while scoring zeroes in actual subjects, jokingly remarking that he only lacks a tail to be a full monkey. The song is packed with trendy 1960s western and Indian pop-culture references, mentioning Marilyn Monroe, paper flowers, Volkswagen Karmann Ghia cars, soda-bottle glasses, Charlie Chaplin, and travels to Switzerland and England. It culminates in playful jabs about whether academic degrees and diplomas hold any practical value in cooking, portraying the vibrant youth culture of 1960s Tamil cinema.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Satire / Humorous Irony

Kalloori naadagaththil gettikkaara herodhaan / College paadathilae vaanguvadhu zerodhaan

Playfully contrasting dramatic talent with poor academic performance to tease the hero.

Simile / Pop Culture Metaphor

Soda bottle kannaadi somu oru killaadi / Charlie chaplin ..dhaanadi…

Comparing glasses to soda-bottle bottoms and personality to Charlie Chaplin.

Alliteration (Mona)

Sonpapdi sonaa switzerland-u ponaa / Sogusaai england sendru vandha jaanaa

Repetition of 'S' sounds creating a rhythmic, tongue-twister effect.

Did you know?

Trivia

Naanum Oru Penn (1963), directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar and starring S. V. Sahasranamam, A. V. M. Rajan, and Vijayakumari, featured music composed by R. Sudarsanam. The lyrics by V. Seetharaman reflected the rapid modernization and Western pop-culture influences on Tamil college youth in the early 1960s.

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