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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kokku Saiva Kokku

From Muthu · 1995

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Theni Kunjarammal
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Muthu1995

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
{Kokku saiva kokkuA vegetarian heron,
Oru kenda meena kanduSeeing a carp fish,
Veratham mudichirucham} (2)Broke its fast!
Male
{Meenu mela kannuIts eyes fixed on the fish,
Athu oththa kalil ninnuStanding on a single leg,
Koththithan pudichirucham} (2)It pecked and caught it!
Male
Bhrammachari yarumThere is no true bachelor,
Ingae kedaiyathuTo be found here;
Oru kaadhal illamalWithout love in life,
Suga vazhkkaiyum yethuWhat good is a blissful life?
Male
Agayatha pothiBundling up the sky,
Vekka mudiyathuIs impossible to do;
Un kannil un kaadhalIn your eyes, your love,
Ada thulluthae paaruLook, it leaps out!
Chorus
Kokku saiva kokkuA vegetarian heron,
Oru kenda meena kanduSeeing a carp fish,
Veratham mudichiruchamBroke its fast!
Chorus
Meenu mela kannuIts eyes fixed on the fish,
Athu oththa kalil ninnuStanding on a single leg,
Koththithan pudichiruchamIt pecked and caught it!
Chorus
Bhrammachari yarumThere is no true bachelor,
Ingae kedaiyathuTo be found here;
Oru kaadhal illamalWithout love in life,
Suga vazhkkaiyum yethuWhat good is a blissful life?
Chorus
Agayatha pothiBundling up the sky,
Vekka mudiyathuIs impossible to do;
Un kannil un kaadhalIn your eyes, your love,
Ada thulluthae paaruLook, it leaps out!
Chorus
Kokku saiva kokkuA vegetarian heron,
Oru kenda meena kanduSeeing a carp fish,
Veratham mudichiruchamBroke its fast!
Female
Panthadum vayasuppaiyaO young boy playing with a ball,
Chorus :PaiyyaBoy!
Female :Patti sol kettukkaiyaaListen to grandmother's words, boy,
Chorus :KaiyaaHey boy!
Female
Thambathya vazhkkaiyilaeIn married life,
Chorus :Lae…lae ..laeLife... life... life...
Female :Sattangal irukkuthaiyaaThere are rules, my dear sir,
Chorus :AiyaaSir!
Female
Pendattiyoda ovvoru nalumWith your wife every day,
Chorus :I love you i love youI love you, I love you,
Nee twelve times solluSay it twelve times!
Female
Nitham nee aru muraDaily, six times,
Chorus :MuraTimes!
Female :Muthangal pottuviduPlant sweet kisses!
Chorus :ViduPlant!
Female
Nalukku moonu muraThree times a day,
Chorus :Ra…aaahhh…Ah...
Female :Kattilil sernthuviduJoin her in bed!
Chorus :ViduJoin!
Female
Nan sonna kanakkuIf the advice I gave,
Nalthorum nadanthaHappens every single day,
Chorus :Pendatti eppothumYour wife will always,
Un kaala katti kedappaLie holding your feet!
Female
Kokku saiva kokkuA vegetarian heron,
Oru kenda meena kanduSeeing a carp fish,
Chorus :Veratham mudichiruchamBroke its fast!
Female
Meenu mela kannuIts eyes fixed on the fish,
Athu oththa kalil ninnuStanding on a single leg,
Chorus :Koththithan pudichiruchamIt pecked and caught it!
Chorus
Yelalae yelakadi ye lalaeYelalae yelakadi ye lalae
Yelalae yelakadi ye lalaeYelalae yelakadi ye lalae
Yelalae yelakadi ye lalaeYelalae yelakadi ye lalae
Yelalae yelakadi ye lalaeYelalae yelakadi ye lalae
Yelakadi yelakadi yelakadi yelakadiYelakadi yelakadi yelakadi yelakadi
Yelakadi yelakadi yelakadi yelakadiYelakadi yelakadi yelakadi yelakadi
Thanukku thanukku thanukkuThanukku thanukku thanukku
than than than thanThan than than than
Male
Vayasana sunthariyaeO aged beauty,
Chorus :YaeYeah!
Male :Manmathan manthiriyaeO minister of Cupid,
Chorus :YaeYeah!
Male
Thambathya padathilaeIn the lesson of marital life,
Chorus :Lae..ae….Lesson...
Male :Ph.d mudichchavalaeO lady who completed a Ph.D!
Male
Annalil nattilIn those days in the country,
Matham mummariRain poured thrice a month,
Chorus :Undachu onnachuIt happened, it united,
Sugam ondruthan pechuBliss was the only talk!
Male
Innalil manithanukkuNowadays for a man,
Chorus :KkuuMan!
Male :Sothukku vazhiyillaiyaeThere is no way even for food,
Chorus :Ye yaeYeah yeah!
Male
Okarnthu kaatdhalikkaTo sit and romance,
Chorus :Yae..ae…ae…Yeah...
Male :Yarukkum pozhuthillaiyaeNo one has any time!
Female
Oorkkathai pesaTo gossip about the town,
Nerangal irukkuThere is plenty of time;
Chorus :Pendatti seramaWithout uniting with one's wife,
Oru vazhkkaiyum ethukkuWhat is the point of life?
Male
Kokku saiva kokkuA vegetarian heron,
Oru kenda meena kanduSeeing a carp fish,
Chorus :Veratham mudichiruchamBroke its fast!
Male
Meenu mela kannuIts eyes fixed on the fish,
Athu oththa kalil ninnuStanding on a single leg,
Chorus :Koththithan pudichiruchamIt pecked and caught it!
Chorus
…………………………………(Rhythmic refrain sound)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kokku Saiva Kokku from the film Muthu (1995), composed by A.R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu, is a playful folk-pop song exploring romance, matrimony, and human desire. Using the metaphor of a supposedly vegetarian heron that instantly breaks its fast upon spotting a tasty carp fish, the song humorously mocks professed celibacy and asserts that love is a natural, irresistible impulse. The song features a lively banter between an elder woman dispensing practical (and funny) guidelines for maintaining marital affection and a younger man contrasting old-fashioned idyllic lifestyle with modern struggles. Ultimately, it emphasizes that loving relationship and companionship are essential components of a fulfilling human life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allegory / Metaphor (உவமை)

Kokku saiva kokku / Oru kenda meena kandu / Veratham mudichirucham

The 'saiva kokku' (vegetarian heron) pretending to fast until temptation arrives is an extended allegory for people who claim disinterest in romance until they meet their ideal partner.

Hyperbole (உயர்வு நவிற்சி அணி)

Nee twelve times sollu / Nitham nee aru mura muthangal pottuvidu

Exaggerated humorous prescriptions for a happy marriage, such as saying 'I love you' 12 times a day and kissing 6 times a day.

Rhyme & Alliteration (எதுகை / மோனை)

Meenu mela kannu / Athu oththa kalil ninnu

Traditional Tamil poetic repetition of second-letter consonants (Ethukai) and rhythmic sound play ('meenu mela' / 'oththa kalil ninnu').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A. R. Rahman for Rajinikanth's 1995 blockbuster 'Muthu', directed by K. S. Ravikumar. The soundtrack was a massive hit across India, and later gained iconic status in Japan when 'Muthu' was released there in 1998, sparking a major wave of Japanese appreciation for Indian film music and Rajinikanth.

Keep listening

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