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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kelappu Kelappu

From MGR Magan · 2020

Lyricist
Kadal Vendhan
Singer
Anthony Daasan
Music director
Anthony Daasan
Details
MGR Magan2020

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kelappu kelappu kela kelappuStir it up, stir it up, stir it up bottom up
Kelappu kelappu kela kelappuStir it up, stir it up, stir it up bottom up
Kelappu kelappu kela kelappuStir it up, stir it up, stir it up bottom up
Kelappu kelappu kela kelappuStir it up, stir it up, stir it up bottom up
Male
Thaeni periyakulamTheni, Periyakulam,
Bodi madura kambamBodi, Madurai, Cumbum,
Pera osathi pugazh kelappuExalt our name and stir up the fame!
Male
Yeh vaadipatti vaiyampattiHey Vadipatti, Vaiyampatti,
Aandipatti usilampattiAandipatti, Usilampatti,
Puzhuthi parakka makka kelappuRaise the dust, people, and stir it up!
Male
Kelappu kelappu kela kelappuStir it up, stir it up, stir it up bottom up
Kelappu kelappu kela kelappuStir it up, stir it up, stir it up bottom up
Kelappu kelappu kela kelappuStir it up, stir it up, stir it up bottom up
Kelappu kelappu kela kelappuStir it up, stir it up, stir it up bottom up
Male
Adiyei…Hey girl...
Naangalam pala soli karaingaWe are people of many versatile talents,
Inaikku yeh-hennu iruppomToday we might be living simply,
Naalaikku oh oh-nnu iruppomTomorrow we will be rising high and shining!
(Dialogue)(Dialogue)
Chorus
……………………....................
Male
Bennicuik-ku vanthathaalaBecause Pennycuick came here,
Chorus :Ponga paanai ponguthungaThe sweet Pongal pot boils over with joy!
Male :Nandri solli vaazhthiduvomLet us express our gratitude and offer our blessings,
Chorus :Mullai aara thanthavangaTo the one who gave us the Mullai Periyar river!
Male
Perusoda panchayathuThe village elders' council,
Chorus :Madhichom naanga kattupattuWe respected and abided by its word!
Male :Yelangala thullikittuLeaping bulls with young men,
Chorus :Adakkum veeram jallikattuTaming them with bravery in Jallikattu!
Male
Soththu paththa viththu vanthuSelling off properties and assets,
Dharmam kaththa ella saamiiTo protect righteousness, he is our guardian god!
Vaanam paaathu vaazhum bhoomiA land that looks up to the sky to survive,
Vaazha vachaaru vella saamiiThe white deity made us thrive and live!
Male
Adida kottu mozhangaBeat the drum and let it resonate!
Namma amudha iduppu kulungaAs our Amudha's waist sways to the beat!
Chorus :Yei…adida kottu mozhangaHey... beat the drum and let it resonate!
Namma amudha iduppu kulungaAs our Amudha's waist sways to the beat!
Male
Kelappu kelappu kela kelappuStir it up, stir it up, stir it up bottom up
Kelappu kelappu kela kelappuStir it up, stir it up, stir it up bottom up
Female
Yow…Hey mister...
Naangalam vaadi pattiWe are women from Vadipatti,
Sandhaiyila vambuluthuWho pick banter in the local market,
Vaththala kundu sandhaiyilaAnd in the Vattalagundu market,
Yelam vuttu poravalugaWe win the auctions and walk away!
Enga kittayevaaAre you trying to pick a fight with us?
(Dialogue)(Dialogue)
Chorus
Kummi kulavaClapping hands and ululating,
Naanga kottum azhagaWith the charm that we pour out,
Ilavattamellaam vattamidumAll the young men circle around,
Enga azhagaCaptivated by our beauty!
Amman edhiraStanding before the Goddess,
Bhoomi thantha kathiraWith the harvested crops given by mother earth,
Ponga vachi poosa pannomWe cook Pongal and perform rituals,
Vamsam valaraSo our lineage flourishes!
Male
Oororam kaaval yaaruWho stands guard at the village border?
Chorus :Aruva yendhi nikkiraaruHe stands tall holding a sharp machete!
Male :Kalavaada yaarum illaThere is no one who can steal,
Chorus :Kaaval kaappaan ayyanaaruWhen God Ayyanaar stands as our protector!
Male
Azhiyaadha veeramungaOurs is an imperishable bravery,
Chorus :Usura uzhaikkum koottamungaWe are a hard-working community giving our lives to labor!
Male :Pasiyodu yaarum vandhaIf anyone comes to us hungry,
Chorus :Virunthae vaikkum vamsam naangaWe belong to a lineage that serves them a grand feast!
Male
Neeyum naanum veru illaYou and I are no different,
Vaada pangaali koothaadalaamCome on, partner, let's dance and celebrate!
Veesum kaathum baedham illaEven the blowing wind makes no discrimination,
Oorae onnaaga kondaadalaamLet the whole town unite as one to celebrate!
Male
Adida kottu mozhangaBeat the drum and let it resonate!
Namma amudha iduppu kulungaAs our Amudha's waist sways to the beat!
Chorus :Yei…adida kottu mozhangaHey... beat the drum and let it resonate!
Namma amudha iduppu kulungaAs our Amudha's waist sways to the beat!
Male
Yeh thaeni periyakulamHey Theni, Periyakulam,
Bodi madura kambamBodi, Madurai, Cumbum,
Pera osathi pugazh kelappuExalt our name and stir up the fame!
Male
Yeh vaadipatti vaiyampattiHey Vadipatti, Vaiyampatti,
Aandipatti usilampattiAandipatti, Usilampatti,
Puzhuthi parakka makka kelappuRaise the dust, people, and stir it up!
Chorus
Kelappu kelappu kela kelappuStir it up, stir it up, stir it up bottom up
Kelappu kelappu kela kelappuStir it up, stir it up, stir it up bottom up
Kelappu kelappu kela kelappuStir it up, stir it up, stir it up bottom up
Kelappu kelappu kela kelappuStir it up, stir it up, stir it up bottom up
Male
Pongaloo pongalHail Pongal! Pongal!
Paal paanai pongaMay the milk pot boil over,
Paththum perugaMay all tenfold riches multiply,
Paasangal vedikkaMay affection burst forth,
Noiyum nodiyum theru ooram pogaMay diseases and ailments flee to the roadside,
Pongaloo pongalHail Pongal! Pongal!
Pongaloo pongalHail Pongal! Pongal!
Pongaloo pongalHail Pongal! Pongal!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic folk song celebrates the rich cultural heritage, bravery, and agrarian tradition of Southern Tamil Nadu, specifically regions surrounding Madurai, Theni, Vadipatti, and Usilampatti. It pays homage to John Pennycuick, the British engineer who constructed the Mullaiperiyar Dam, highlighting the immense gratitude of the local farmers for bringing water to their dry lands and enabling their livelihoods.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Kelappu kelappu kela kelappu

The word 'Kelappu' is repeated consecutively to build rhythm and excitement.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Yeh vaadipatti vaiyampatti / Aandipatti usilampatti

Rhyming of the second letter 'di' across town names creating a rhythmic cadence.

Alliteration (Monaai)

Pongaloo pongal / Paal paanai ponga

Repetition of the 'P' sound at the beginning of words in the line.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song pays homage to Colonel John Pennycuick, a British engineer revered as a deity in the Theni-Madurai region of Tamil Nadu for spending his personal wealth to build the Mullaiperiyar Dam, which transformed dry farming lands into fertile grounds.

Keep listening

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