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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kokkara Kokkarako Sevale

From Pathi Bakthi · 1958

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Jikki
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Pathi Bakthi1958

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kokkara kokkarakko saevalaeO crowing rooster,
Kondhalikkum nenjilaeIn the churning heart,
Kondirukkum anbilaeIn the love held within,
Akkarai kaattinaa thaevalaeIt would be better if you showed some care.
Female
Kokkara kokkarakko saevalaeO crowing rooster,
Kondhalikkum nenjilaeIn the churning heart,
Kondirukkum anbilaeIn the love held within,
Akkarai kaattinaa thaevalaeIt would be better if you showed some care.
Male
Kuppaiyyai kilari vidum kozhiyaeO hen that scratches through garbage,
Kondirukkum anbilaeIn the love that exists,
Rendum undu endru neeHave you not realized in life
Kandadhum illaiyo vaazhvilaeThat both (ups and downs) exist?
Male
Kuppaiyyai kilari vidum kozhiyaeO hen that scratches through garbage,
Kondirukkum anbilaeIn the love that exists,
Rendum undu endru neeHave you not realized in life
Kandadhum illaiyo vaazhvilaeThat both (ups and downs) exist?
Female
Kokkarakko… kokkarakko…Cock-a-doodle-doo... cock-a-doodle-doo...
Kokkarakko… ko… ko…Cock-a-doodle-doo... cock... cock...
Female
Kokkara kokkarakko saevalaeO crowing rooster,
Kondhalikkum nenjilaeIn the churning heart,
Kondirukkum anbilaeIn the love held within,
Akkarai kaattinaa thaevalaeIt would be better if you showed some care.
Female
Kaalam naeram arindhu ulagaiKnowing the right time and hour,
Thatti ezhuppidum saevalaeO rooster who wakes up the world,
Kaaththiruppavarai koththi virattidumPecking and chasing away those who wait for you,
Kaaranam enna saevalaeWhat is the reason, O rooster?
Female
Kaalam naeram arindhu ulagaiKnowing the right time and hour,
Thatti ezhuppidum saevalaeO rooster who wakes up the world,
Kaaththiruppavarai koththi virattidumPecking and chasing away those who wait for you,
Kaaranam enna saevalaeWhat is the reason, O rooster?
Male
Koththavum illai virattavum illaiI did not peck, nor did I chase away,
Kutram yaedhum nadandhidavillaiNo fault or crime has occurred,
Konda ninaivugal kulaindhu pona pinOnce cherished memories break down,
Inbam yaedhu kozhiyaeWhere is the joy, O hen?
Andha ennam thavaru kozhiyaeThat thought is wrong, O hen.
Female
Kokkarakko… kokkarakko…Cock-a-doodle-doo... cock-a-doodle-doo...
Kokkarakko… ko… ko…Cock-a-doodle-doo... cock... cock...
Male
Kuppaiyyai kilari vidum kozhiyaeO hen that scratches through garbage,
Kondirukkum anbilaeIn the love that exists,
Rendum undu endru neeHave you not realized in life
Kandadhum illaiyo vaazhvilaeThat both (ups and downs) exist?
Female
Naattukku mattum bodhanai solliPreaching wisdom only to the world,
Nambiya pennin nilaiyai ariyaaIgnorant of the plight of the trusting woman,
Gnyaaniyai neeyum paaruLook at this wise man yourself,
Idhu nyaayamthaanaa kooruTell me, is this fair or just?
Male
Nambi iruppadhumTo place trust
Natppai valarpadhumAnd to nurture friendship,
Anbu mei anbu andhaIs true love; but if one
Anbin karuthai vidha vidhamaagaMisinterprets the meaning of love in various ways,
Artham seidhaal adhu vambuIt only leads to conflict.
Female
Kokkarakko… kokkarakko…Cock-a-doodle-doo... cock-a-doodle-doo...
Kokkarakko… ko… ko…Cock-a-doodle-doo... cock... cock...
Male
Kuppaiyyai kilari vidum kozhiyaeO hen that scratches through garbage,
Kondirukkum anbilaeIn the love that exists,
Rendum undu endru neeHave you not realized in life
Kandadhum illaiyo vaazhvilaeThat both (ups and downs) exist?
Female
Kokkara kokkarakko saevalaeO crowing rooster,
Kondhalikkum nenjilaeIn the churning heart,
Kondirukkum anbilaeIn the love held within,
Akkarai kaattinaa thaevalaeIt would be better if you showed some care.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song from Pathi Bakthi (1958) uses the playful metaphor of a rooster (saeval) and a hen (kozhi) to engage in a witty dialogue about love, domestic life, and societal hypocrisy. Through simple rustic imagery, lyricist Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram reflects on human emotions, miscommunication, and the dualities inherent in relationships.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia (Oli-kurippu)

Kokkara kokkarakko saevalae

Use of 'Kokkara kokkarakko' to phonetically mimic the sound of a rooster crowing.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kuppaiyyai kilari vidum kozhiyae

Addressing the lovers allegorically as a rooster and a hen to discuss human behavior and romantic squabbles.

Anaphora / Alliteration (Monaai & Etukai)

Kondhalikkum nenjilae / Kondirukkum anbilae

Rhyming initial and second letters ('Kondhalikkum' / 'Kondirukkum') creates rhythmic consistency in the stanza.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the iconic poet Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram for Pathi Bakthi (1958), this track highlights his signature ability to embed deep philosophical observations about trust and hypocrisy inside lighthearted, accessible folk tunes.

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