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Isaimozhi
Pathi Bakthi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kokkara Kokkarako Sevale

From Pathi Bakthi · 1958

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Jikki
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Pathi Bakthi
Movie release year
1958
Lyrics added on
6 Mar 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kokkara kokkarakko saevalae
Kondhalikkum nenjilae
Kondirukkum anbilae
Akkarai kaattinaa thaevalae
Kokkara kokkarakko saevalae
Kondhalikkum nenjilae
Kondirukkum anbilae
Akkarai kaattinaa thaevalae
Kuppaiyyai kilari vidum kozhiyae
Kondirukkum anbilae
Rendum undu endru nee
Kandadhum illaiyo vaazhvilae
Kuppaiyyai kilari vidum kozhiyae
Kondirukkum anbilae
Rendum undu endru nee
Kandadhum illaiyo vaazhvilae
Kokkarakko… kokkarakko…
Kokkarakko… ko… ko…
Kokkara kokkarakko saevalae
Kondhalikkum nenjilae
Kondirukkum anbilae
Akkarai kaattinaa thaevalae
Kaalam naeram arindhu ulagai
Thatti ezhuppidum saevalae
Kaaththiruppavarai koththi virattidum
Kaaranam enna saevalae
Kaalam naeram arindhu ulagai
Thatti ezhuppidum saevalae
Kaaththiruppavarai koththi virattidum
Kaaranam enna saevalae
Koththavum illai virattavum illai
Kutram yaedhum nadandhidavillai
Konda ninaivugal kulaindhu pona pin
Inbam yaedhu kozhiyae
Andha ennam thavaru kozhiyae
Kokkarakko… kokkarakko…
Kokkarakko… ko… ko…
Kuppaiyyai kilari vidum kozhiyae
Kondirukkum anbilae
Rendum undu endru nee
Kandadhum illaiyo vaazhvilae
Naattukku mattum bodhanai solli
Nambiya pennin nilaiyai ariyaa
Gnyaaniyai neeyum paaru
Idhu nyaayamthaanaa kooru
Nambi iruppadhum
Natppai valarpadhum
Anbu mei anbu andha
Anbin karuthai vidha vidhamaaga
Artham seidhaal adhu vambu
Kokkarakko… kokkarakko…
Kokkarakko… ko… ko…
Kuppaiyyai kilari vidum kozhiyae
Kondirukkum anbilae
Rendum undu endru nee
Kandadhum illaiyo vaazhvilae
Kokkara kokkarakko saevalae
Kondhalikkum nenjilae
Kondirukkum anbilae
Akkarai kaattinaa thaevalae
O rooster crowing cock-a-doodle-doo,
For this restless heart of mine,
And for the love it holds inside,
It would be so good if you showed some care!
O rooster crowing cock-a-doodle-doo,
For this restless heart of mine,
And for the love it holds inside,
It would be so good if you showed some care!
O hen scratching through the dirt,
In the love that we hold,
That both joy and pain exist—
Haven't you seen that in life?
O hen scratching through the dirt,
In the love that we hold,
That both joy and pain exist—
Haven't you seen that in life?
Cock-a-doodle-doo... cock-a-doodle-doo...
Cock-a-doodle-doo... coo... coo...
O rooster crowing cock-a-doodle-doo,
For this restless heart of mine,
And for the love it holds inside,
It would be so good if you showed some care!
Knowing the right time and hour,
O rooster who wakes the world up,
Why do you peck and chase away the one waiting for you?
What is the reason, rooster?
Knowing the right time and hour,
O rooster who wakes the world up,
Why do you peck and chase away the one waiting for you?
What is the reason, rooster?
I did not peck, nor did I chase you away,
No wrong has been done here at all.
Once cherished memories are shattered,
Where is the happiness, little hen?
That thought of yours is wrong, little hen!
Cock-a-doodle-doo... cock-a-doodle-doo...
Cock-a-doodle-doo... coo... coo...
O hen scratching through the dirt,
In the love that we hold,
That both joy and pain exist—
Haven't you seen that in life?
Preaching wisdom only to the rest of the world,
Without understanding the plight of the woman who trusted him,
Just look at this wise sage!
Tell me, is this really fair?
Placing your trust,
And accepting life as it is—
That is true, genuine love!
If you twist the meaning of that love in all sorts of ways,
It will only end in trouble!
Cock-a-doodle-doo... cock-a-doodle-doo...
Cock-a-doodle-doo... coo... coo...
O hen scratching through the dirt,
In the love that we hold,
That both joy and pain exist—
Haven't you seen that in life?
O rooster crowing cock-a-doodle-doo,
For this restless heart of mine,
And for the love it holds inside,
It would be so good if you showed some care!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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