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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kazhuthai Ketta

From Vesham · 1985

Lyricist
Poonguyilan
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Vesham1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Jinchanakkaa tiyaa pottukichchaamIt burst out with a Jinchanakkaa rhythm
Jinchanakkaa tiyaa pottukichchaamIt burst out with a Jinchanakkaa rhythm
Kummaa kummaa kummaa kummaalaeCelebration and joy, oh joy
Kummaa kummaa kummaa JammaalaeCelebration and joy, oh grand celebration
Kummaa kummaa kummaa kummaalaeCelebration and joy, oh joy
Kummaa kummaa kummaa JammaalaeCelebration and joy, oh grand celebration
Ae hae kummaa kummaa kummaa JammaalaeHey hey, celebration and grand joy
Male
Kazhuthai kettaa kutti suvaruthaanIf a donkey gets spoiled, it seeks a short broken wall
Oru muttu suvaruthaanJust a dead-end wall
Antha kadavum senja chinna thavaruthaanEven God made a small mistake in creating it
Male
Kazhuthai kettaa kutti suvaruthaanIf a donkey gets spoiled, it seeks a short broken wall
Oru muttu suvaruthaanJust a dead-end wall
Antha kadavum senja chinna thavaruthaanEven God made a small mistake in creating it
Hae Kadha osaththinaa kaambothi raagamthaanHey, if the story escalates, it sounds like Kambhoji raaga
Kadha osaththinaa kaambothi raagamthaanIf the story escalates, it sounds like Kambhoji raaga
Male
Kazhuthai kettaaIf the donkey gets spoiled
Kazhuthai kettaa kutti suvaruthaanIf a donkey gets spoiled, it seeks a short broken wall
Oru muttu suvaruthaanJust a dead-end wall
Antha kadavum senja chinna thavaruthaanEven God made a small mistake in creating it
Hae Kadha osaththinaa kaambothi raagamthaanHey, if the story escalates, it sounds like Kambhoji raaga
Kadha osaththinaa kaambothi raagamthaanIf the story escalates, it sounds like Kambhoji raaga
Male
Car-ru kettu poyittaa workshop-pu irukkuthuIf the car breaks down, there is a workshop
Ooru kettu poyittaa enna vaazhi irukkuthuIf the town goes bad, what way is left?
Male
Steering pola irukanum illaattiOne must lead like a steering wheel, otherwise
Stepniyaa veettil kedakkanumOne has to lie at home like a spare tire
Haei Steering pola irukanum illaattiHey, one must lead like a steering wheel, otherwise
Stepniyaa veettil kedakkanumOne has to lie at home like a spare tire
Haei Steering pola irukanum illaattiHey, one must lead like a steering wheel, otherwise
Stepniyaa veettil kedakkanumOne has to lie at home like a spare tire
Male
Vedilater kodhikkuthuThe radiator is boiling over
Male :Thanni lady thavikkithuThe water lady is yearning
Male :Naerththu paarththa tyrelaIn the tire checked yesterday
Kaaththu moochchu vaakuthu shhhshshThe air breath is escaping shhhshsh
Male
Kazhuthai kettaa kutti suvaruthaanIf a donkey gets spoiled, it seeks a short broken wall
Oru muttu suvaruthaanJust a dead-end wall
Antha kadavum senja chinna thavaruthaanEven God made a small mistake in creating it
Kadha osaththinaa kaambothi raagamthaanIf the story escalates, it sounds like Kambhoji raaga
Kadha osaththinaa kaambothi raagamthaanIf the story escalates, it sounds like Kambhoji raaga
Chorus
Aavo aavo aavoCome, come, come
Aiyyo aavo aavo aavoOh my, come, come, come
Aa hh aavo aavov vovAh hh come, come
Aavo aavo aavov vovCome, come, come
Male
Horn saththam face-sudaaThe horn sound is loud and direct
Nattu ellaam loosudaaAll the nuts are loose, buddy
Screw potta mudukkunaaIf you put a screw and tighten it
Shruthi Suththama irukkumdaaThe pitch and harmony will be perfect, buddy
Madguard thalaiya paarudaa kullamaniLook at the mudguard head, shorty
Mandaiyil greece illadaaThere is no grease in the brain, buddy
Haei madguard thalaiya paarudaa kullamaniHey look at the mudguard head, shorty
Mandaiyil greece illadaaThere is no grease in the brain, buddy
Male
Skeladge konjam paaththukkoWatch out a bit for the clutch
Male :Geara maaththi pottukkaChange the gear and put it in
Male :Vantha vandiyum oodanumThe vehicle that arrived must run
Male :Namma vandiyum oodanumOur vehicle must run too
Male
Kazhuthai kettaaIf the donkey gets spoiled
Male :Kazhuthai kettaaIf the donkey gets spoiled
Male :Kazhuthai kettaaIf the donkey gets spoiled
Male :Kazhuthai kettaaIf the donkey gets spoiled
Male
Kazhuthai kettaa kutti suvaruthaanIf a donkey gets spoiled, it seeks a short broken wall
Oru muttu suvaruthaanJust a dead-end wall
Antha kadavum senja chinna thavaruthaanEven God made a small mistake in creating it
Hae Kadha osaththinaa kaambothi raagamthaanHey, if the story escalates, it sounds like Kambhoji raaga
Kadha osaththinaa kaambothi raagamthaanIf the story escalates, it sounds like Kambhoji raaga
Chorus
Jinchanakkaa tiyaa pottukichchaamIt burst out with a Jinchanakkaa rhythm
Jinchanakkaa tiyaa pottukichchaamIt burst out with a Jinchanakkaa rhythm
Kummaa kummaa kummaa kummaalaeCelebration and joy, oh joy
Kummaa kummaa kummaa JammaalaeCelebration and joy, oh grand celebration
Kummaa kummaa kummaa kummaalaeCelebration and joy, oh joy
Kummaa kummaa kummaa JammaalaeCelebration and joy, oh grand celebration
Ae hae kummaa kummaa kummaa JammaalaeHey hey, celebration and grand joy
Podu kummaa kummaa kummaa JammaalaePlay it out, celebration and grand joy

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a satirical, lighthearted, and upbeat folk-style track that draws metaphors between automobile repair work and societal or human flaws. Utilizing popular Tamil proverbs like 'Kazhuthai kettaa kutti suvaru' (If a donkey strays/spoils, it leans on a ruined wall), the lyrics comment on foolishness, bad leadership, and life's breakdowns using mechanical terms like steering, spare tires, nuts, bolts, and gear shifts.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Automobile Allegory

Steering pola irukanum illaatti / Stepniyaa veettil kedakkanum

Human attributes and societal issues are humorously compared to car parts (Steering wheel as a leader, spare wheel as a useless person, grease in the brain as intelligence).

Proverb usage (Pazhamozhi)

Kazhuthai kettaa kutti suvaruthaan

Incorporates traditional folk proverbs directly into the verse to evoke familiarity and humor.

Rhyme and Assonance (Ethukai / Monai)

Nattu ellaam loosudaa / Screw potta mudukkunaa / Shruthi Suththama irukkumdaa

Internal and line-ending rhyming using colloquial Tamil slang (e.g., loosudaa, mudukkunaa, irukkumdaa).

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyricist Poonguyilan was known for writing colorful, conversational, and energetic folk songs in 1980s Tamil cinema. The proverb 'Kazhuthai kettaa kutti suvaru' is a famous rural Tamil saying often used colloquially to tease someone who retreats to a useless comfort zone when they fail.

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