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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kokkara Kozhi

From Saivam · 2014

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singers
Chinna Ponnu, Gaana Bala
Music director
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Details
Saivam2014

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vazhi maari poyiduchaeIt has lost its way and gone
Enga kooda vilayaadum veda kozhiThe young chicken that plays with us
Oru vilaasamum theriyalaiyaeNo address or whereabouts are known
Naan theduven atha enga poyiWhere will I go to search for it?
Chorus
Ko ko ko ko ko ko ko koCluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck
Kokkara kozhiCrowing rooster
Bak bak bak bak bak bak bak bakCluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck
Vaaromae thediWe are coming in search of you
Female
Vayakaattilae irukkiyaAre you in the paddy field?
Vaikkaporil irukkiyaAre you in the haystack?
Koora mela yeriClimbing up on the roof
Neeyum vera ooru poniyaDid you go to another town?
Female
Konda vecha sevalaeOh crested rooster
Sandai poda poniyaDid you go to fight?
Manja kaattu kozhiyaOh chicken of the yellow fields
Konji pesa poniyaDid you go to talk lovingly?
Female
Oduren odurenI am running, running
Theduren thedurenI am searching, searching
Veettukku vaayen paapaCome back home, little child
Oru naal illa ovvoru naalumNot just one day, every single day
Thookkam pogudhu poppaSleep is lost, little one
Chorus
Ko ko ko ko ko ko ko koCluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck
Kokkara kozhiCrowing rooster
Bak bak bak bak bak bak bak bakCluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck
Vaaromae thediWe are coming in search of you
Male
Kammaangaraiyil irukkiyaAre you on the banks of the pond?
Kalaththumettil irukkiyaAre you at the threshing floor?
Enga neeyum irukkiyaWhere on earth are you?
Thanthi onnu adippiyaWill you send me a telegram?
Male
Thappu thappa theduromWe are searching in all the wrong places
Thuppu onnu kuduppiyaWill you give us a clue?
Kuppa mettil poyi neeyumDid you go to the garbage mound
Kuppura paduthu kedakkiyaAnd lie down face down?
Female
Thikkinnu thikkinnuWith an anxious thumping sound
Idhayam thudikkudhuMy heart is beating fast
Odaatha nee paapaDo not run away, little child
Sattunnu kittunu maattikkaporaYou might suddenly get trapped nearby
Podanum unna thaappaI must lock you up safely
Chorus
Ko ko ko ko ko ko ko koCluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck
Kokkara kozhiCrowing rooster
Bak bak bak bak bak bak bak bakCluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck
Vaaromae thediWe are coming in search of you
Male
Karumbu kaattil irukkiyaAre you in the sugarcane field?
Kammangkollaiyil irukkiyaAre you in the millet field?
Female
Kozhi thirudan konaiyanHas Konaiyan the chicken thief caught you
Kuzhambu sattiyil mithappiyaAnd are you floating in a curry pot?
Male
Kaiyula neeyum kedappiyaWill you fall into my hands?
Kedaicha thirumba parappiyaIf found, will you fly away again?
Female
Koyilukku nernthathaWhat was pledged to the temple
Koodairundhae parappiyaWill you fly away right from the coop?
Female
Saththam kiththam podaamaWithout making any sound at all
Nee paduththu thoongu paapaYou lie down and sleep, little child
Athai kithai paarthaangannaIf aunts or others see you
Appuram unnai keppaThen they will ask for you

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song expressively captures a young girl's frantic yet innocent search for her pet rooster ('Paapa') which has strayed away in a rural village setting. Written from the pure perspective of a child, the lyrics explore various rustic locations where the bird might be wandering—such as paddy fields, haystacks, pond banks, and sugarcane fields—while humorously and anxiously wondering if it went to fight, court another chicken, or worse, got caught by a thief for a curry pot. The song highlights deep childhood empathy and affection towards domestic animals, portraying the rooster not as livestock, but as a beloved playmate and family member whose disappearance causes sleepless nights and worry.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia (Anukaranam)

Ko ko ko ko ko ko ko ko

The lyrics imitate the natural sounds of a chicken clucking ('Ko ko ko...', 'Bak bak bak...'), evoking an authentic rural atmosphere.

Personification

Thanthi onnu adippiya

The child addresses the pet rooster as 'paapa' (baby/child) and playfully asks if it will send a 'thanthi' (telegram) or talk lovingly.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Karumbu kaattil irukkiya

Repetition of the initial letter 'Ka'/'Ko' across successive lines creating rhythmic alliteration.

Edugai (Second Letter Agreement)

Thappu thappa thedurom / Thuppu onnu kuduppiya

The second consonant 'p' matches across consecutive lines ('Thappu' and 'Thuppu').

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed as unknown in the prompt context, the soundtrack for the film Saivam (2014) was composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar, and the child singer Uthara Unnikrishnan won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for another track ('Azhagu') in the same movie. The film prominently centers on the theme of vegetarianism and animal compassion, with the entire plot revolving around saving the pet rooster from being sacrificed.

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