Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Keerai Keerai Keerai

From Neram Nalla Irukku · 1987

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Neram Nalla Irukku
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
24 Feb 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Keerai keerai keerai keerai
Keerai vaangalaiyoo keerai keerai
Keerai keerai keerai keerai
Arai keerai sirukeerai
Mulaikeerai pulikeerai
Killadha killukkeerai
Naan killadha killukkeerai
Keerai keerai keerai keerai
Arai keerai sirukeerai
Mulaikeerai pulikeerai
Killadha killukkeerai
Naan killadha killukkeerai
Idha ketkaama kaiya vecha
Yaaraacham kanna vecha
Engitta nee vaangi thinga pora
Odha engitta nee vaangi thinga pora
Keerai keerai keerai keerai
Arai keerai sirukeerai
Mulaikeerai pulikeerai
Killadha killukkeerai
Naan killadha killukkeerai
Koodakulla vechirukken
Naan kooru katti keeraigal
Vaadum munnae moodi vechen
Rombha vaatugira veyililae
Indha keeraiyai kadanji thinna
Noyi nodinga illa kannaa
Vaangunga samaichu thinnunga
Idha vippadhu samanju ponnunga
Keerai kai vali kaal vali
Mel vali keezh vali theerkum
Keerai…idhu ezhainga thinnura
Mooligai marundhu aagum
Keerai keerai keerai keerai
Arai keerai sirukeerai
Mulaikeerai pulikeerai
Killadha killukkeerai
Naan killadha killukkeerai
Ullirukku vaazhathandu
Micham ulladhippo rendae rendu
Keralathu kappakezhangu
Idha vega vechu thinnu muzhunga
Naan vaadipatti sandhaiyilae
Vaangi vandha pacha mocha
Serthu vechu aakki thinnunga
Idha thinnuputtaa maeni ponnunga
Kaasu en kaiyil vechittu
Koodaiya nee thottu pesu
Ada thoosu un ullathilumilla
Odambilumilla maasu
Keerai keerai keerai keerai
Arai keerai sirukeerai
Mulaikeerai pulikeerai
Killadha killukkeerai
Naan killadha killukkeerai
Idhai ketkaama kaiya vechaa
Yaarachum kanna vechaa
Enkitta nee vaangi thinga pora
Odha engitta nee vaangi thinga pora
Keerai keerai keerai keerai
Arai keerai sirukeerai
Mulaikeerai pulikeerai
Killadha killukkeerai
Naan killadha killukkeerai
Greens! Greens! Greens! Greens!
Won't you buy greens? Greens, greens...
Greens! Greens! Greens! Greens!
Arai greens, siru greens,
Sprouted greens, sorrel greens,
Untouched, tender greens,
I am untouched, tender greens!
Greens! Greens! Greens! Greens!
Arai greens, siru greens,
Sprouted greens, sorrel greens,
Untouched, tender greens,
I am untouched, tender greens!
If you lay a hand on this without asking,
Or if anyone casts an eager eye,
You are going to take a beating,
Yes, you'll take a beating from me!
Greens! Greens! Greens! Greens!
Arai greens, siru greens,
Sprouted greens, sorrel greens,
Untouched, tender greens,
I am untouched, tender greens!
I keep them inside my basket,
Sorted neatly into bunches.
I covered them before they could wilt,
In this scorching, harsh sun.
If you mash and eat these greens,
No illness will touch you, my dear!
Buy them, cook them, and eat well,
It is a blooming young woman who sells them!
Greens! For hand aches and leg aches,
It cures all pains, from head to toe!
Greens! This is what the poor eat,
It is a true herbal medicine!
Greens! Greens! Greens! Greens!
Arai greens, siru greens,
Sprouted greens, sorrel greens,
Untouched, tender greens,
I am untouched, tender greens!
Inside, I have plantain stems,
Only two of them are left now!
Tapioca from Kerala,
Boil it, eat it, and swallow it down!
At the Vadipatti market,
Fresh green field beans I bought!
Cook them all together and eat,
Eat this and your skin will glow like gold!
Place the money in my hand first,
Then touch the basket and bargain!
Ah, there is no deceit in my heart,
Nor any blemish on my body!
Greens! Greens! Greens! Greens!
Arai greens, siru greens,
Sprouted greens, sorrel greens,
Untouched, tender greens,
I am untouched, tender greens!
If you lay a hand on this without asking,
Or if anyone casts an eager eye,
You are going to take a beating,
Yes, you'll take a beating from me!
Greens! Greens! Greens! Greens!
Arai greens, siru greens,
Sprouted greens, sorrel greens,
Untouched, tender greens,
I am untouched, tender greens!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Keerai Keerai' is a lively, rhythmic street-vendor song sung by a young woman selling fresh leafy greens and vegetables. She calls out to passersby listing various varieties of greens—such as Arai keerai, Sirukeerai, and Mulaikeerai—praising their health benefits and herbal medicinal properties that cure all kinds of bodily aches and illnesses.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Arai keerai sirukeerai / Mulaikeerai pulikeerai

Rhyming of the second letter 'raa' across consecutive lines (Arai / Siru / Mulai / Puli).

Metaphor & Double Entendre

Naan killadha killukkeerai

The singer uses 'Killadha killukkeerai' (unplucked tender green) as a metaphor for herself, playfully asserting her modesty and self-respect while warning off harassers.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Keerai kai vali kaal vali / Mel vali keezh vali theerkum

Matching ending words 'vali' creating a rhythmic musical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by veteran maestro M. S. Vishwanathan with lyrics by Gangai Amaran, this track features playful vocals by S. Janaki. It showcases a typical folk vendor song genre (Santhai Pattu) popular in modern Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Neram Nalla Irukku

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.