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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kokkarakko Kokkarakko

From Oru Thalai Ragam · 1980

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Oru Thalai Ragam1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kokkarakko kokkarakko kokkarakkoCock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo!
Podu kokkarakko kokkarakko kokkarakkoHit it! Cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo!
Male
Olagaththa suththi suththiAround the world, going round and round,
Salaam podu ompothuSalute it, it is nine!
Odambaththaan uththu uththuStare closely at the body,
Nallaa paaru ompothuLook well, it has nine openings!
Male
Olagaththa suththi suththiAround the world, going round and round,
Salaam podu ompothuSalute it, it is nine!
Odambaththaan uththu uththuStare closely at the body,
Nallaa paaru ompothuLook well, it has nine openings!
Chorus
Kokkarakko kokkarakko kokkarakkoCock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo!
Kokkarakko kokkarakko kokkarakkoCock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo!
Male
Thaadi thongikittaa pudichchikka pudichchikka ompothuIf your beard hangs long, grab it and hold on, it's nine!
Meesa neendukittaa thadavikka thadavikka ompothuIf your moustache grows long, stroke it and style it, it's nine!
Thaadi thongikittaa pudichchikka pudichchikka ompothuIf your beard hangs long, grab it and hold on, it's nine!
Meesa neendukittaa thadavikka thadavikka ompothuIf your moustache grows long, stroke it and style it, it's nine!
Male
Pondaatti silirththukkittaaWhen the wife shivers with affection,
Orasikka orasikka ompothuSnuggle up and rub close, it's nine!
Ada kottaampuliya thinganumnnaaHey, if you want to eat tamarind fruit,
Kadichchikka kadichchikka ompothuBite into it and chew, it's nine!
Male
Saalimaar jimkkaana shajakaan kumkkaanaaShalimar, Gymkhana, Shah Jahan, Kumkhana!
Saalimaar jimkkaana shajakan kumkkaanaaShalimar, Gymkhana, Shah Jahan, Kumkhana!
Noorjahan isthaanaa ada sayaangsakkadi kumthaanaaIs Noorjahan here? Oh, my darling, beat the drum!
Male
KokkarakkoCock-a-doodle-doo!
Chorus :Kokkarakko kokkarakko kokkarakkoChorus: Cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo!
Kokkarakko kokkarakko kokkarakkoCock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo!
Male
Navaraththiri ompothu navathaaniyam ompothuNine days of Navarathri, nine types of grains (Navadhanyam)!
Navaraththinam ompothu navarasangalum ompothu….aa…Nine sacred gems (Navarathinam), nine expressions of emotion (Navarasam)!
Yaendaa naanga mattumaa ompothuWhy, are we the only ones associated with 'nine'?
Yaendaa naanga mattumaa ompothuWhy, are we the only ones associated with 'nine'?
Male
Idhu pandibajar kiththaappu idhu bharmaabajaar maththaappuThis is the fame of Pondy Bazaar, this is the sparkle of Burma Bazaar!
Idhu china bajaar tiptaappu oru dandanakkaa nikkaappuThis is the style of China Bazaar, a grand stopping halt!
Dandanakkaa nikkaappuA grand stopping halt!
Male
KokkarakkoCock-a-doodle-doo!
Chorus :Kokkarakko kokkarakko kokkarakkoChorus: Cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo!
Kokkarakko kokkarakko kokkarakkoCock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo!
Male
……………….....
Male
Paaththaakka kodeeshwaran pazhakkaththila kedishwwaranIf you look at him, he seems like a billionaire, but in habit, a crook!
Pottukittaan savaalu maattikittaan vavvaaluHe issued a challenge and got caught upside down like a bat!
Un jambam ellaam poiyaachchuAll your pride turned out to be false!
Un jabarutharsum poyaacchuAll your arrogance has gone away!
Un saagasangal ennaachchuWhat happened to all your brave antics?
Naan sonnathuthaan ninnaachchu aahaa haa….Only what I predicted ended up standing true, aha ha!
Male
Nee jaangiri thinnaa jahangir-uIf you eat Jaangri sweet, you become Jahangir!
Ada angry vantha badam kheerHey, if you get angry, drink badam kheer!
Ada mundhiri mundhiri thonthiya paaru thonthiya paaruHey, look at that cashew-shaped pot belly, look at the belly!
Ada enthiri enthiri velakkumaar velakkumaaruHey, stand up, stand up, you broomstick!
Male
Aadu kokkarakko aadu kokkarakkoDance, cock-a-doodle-doo, dance, cock-a-doodle-doo!
Odu kokkarakko kokkarakko kokkarakkoRun, cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo!
Kokkarakko kokkarakko kokkarakkoCock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo!
Male
KokkarakkoCock-a-doodle-doo!
Chorus :Kokkarakko kokkarakko kokkarakkoChorus: Cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo!
Kokkarakko kokkarakko kokkarakkoCock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo!
Male
Olagaththa suththi suththiAround the world, going round and round,
Salaam poduPay your respects,
Chorus :OmpothuChorus: Nine!
Male :Odambaththaan uththu uththuMale: Stare closely at the body,
Nallaa paaruLook really well,
Chorus :OmpothuChorus: Nine!
Male
Olagaththa suththi suththiAround the world, going round and round,
Salaam poduPay your respects,
Chorus :OmpothuChorus: Nine!
Male :Odambaththaan uththu uththuMale: Stare closely at the body,
Nallaa paaruLook really well,
Chorus :OmpothuChorus: Nine!
Male
KokkarakkoCock-a-doodle-doo!
Chorus :Kokkarakko kokkarakko kokkarakkoChorus: Cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo, cock-a-doodle-doo!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful, high-energy song revolves around wordplay and cultural associations surrounding the number nine ('ompothu'). Sung in an upbeat street-performer style, the singer uses quirky metaphors, humorous observations, and rhymes referencing Chennai's famous markets like Pondy Bazaar, Burma Bazaar, and China Bazaar. The song weaves spiritual and traditional concepts like Navarathri, Navadhanyam, and Navarasam alongside funny personal jabs about ego, money, and bodily traits. Beneath the comedic surface, the lyrics deliver a satirical take on human pride, showing how someone's boasting falls apart when reality hits.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Olagaththa suththi suththi / Odambaththaan uththu uththu

Rhyming of the second letter across consecutive lines, such as 'Olagaththa' and 'Odambaththaan'.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Un jambam ellaam poiyaachchu / Un jabarutharsum poyaacchu / Un saagasangal ennaachchu / Naan sonnathuthaan ninnaachchu

Repetition of the rhyming suffix '-aachchu' across multiple lines to build comic rhythm.

Onomatopoeia

Kokkarakko kokkarakko kokkarakko

Use of imitative rooster sound 'Kokkarakko' and rhythmic beats like 'Dandanakkaa'.

Pun / Internal Rhyme

Nee jaangiri thinnaa jahangir-u

Play on sweet name 'jaangiri' with Mughal emperor name 'Jahangir'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Oru Thalai Ragam' (1980) was a pathbreaking blockbuster in Tamil cinema that ran for over 365 days. Though Shankar-Ganesh are officially credited as the music directors, T. Rajendar composed all the songs and wrote the screenplay for the movie, marking his major debut in Tamil cinema.

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