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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kuchi Kuchi Rakkamma

From Bombay · 1995

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Hariharan, Swarnalatha, G. V. Prakash Kumar, Sharadha
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Bombay1995

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Kuchi kuchi raakammaa ponnuvenumKuchi kuchi Raakamma, I want a baby girl.
Koodasaali raakammaa ponnuvenumPlayful companion Raakamma, I want a baby girl.
Saadhisanam thoongayila saama kozhi koovayilaWhen all the relatives sleep and the midnight rooster crows,
Kuchi kuchi raakammaa …koodasaali raakammaa…Kuchi kuchi Raakamma... playful companion Raakamma...
Chorus
Haiyaa haiyaa haiyyaa haiyaa haiyaa haihaiyyaaHaiyaa haiyaa haiyyaa haiyaa haiyaa haihaiyyaa
Haiyaa haiyaa haiyyaa haiyaa haiyaa…Haiyaa haiyaa haiyyaa haiyaa haiyaa...
Male
Kuchi kuchi raakammaa ponnuvenumKuchi kuchi Raakamma, I want a baby girl.
Koodasaali raakammaa ponnuvenumPlayful companion Raakamma, I want a baby girl.
Saadhisanam thoongayila saama kozhi koovayilaWhen all the relatives sleep and the midnight rooster crows,
Chorus
Kuchi kuchi raakammaa …Kuchi kuchi Raakamma...
Koodasaali raakammaa…Playful companion Raakamma...
Female
Kuchi kuchi raakammaa varamaataaKuchi kuchi Raakamma will not come.
Nee konjipesa ponnu onnu tharamaataaShe will not give you a daughter to cuddle and pamper.
Saadhisanam thoongalayae saama kozhi koovalayaeThe relatives haven't slept yet, and the midnight rooster hasn't crowed yet.
Kuchi kuchi raakammaa varamaataaKuchi kuchi Raakamma will not come.
Nee konjipesa ponnu onnu tharamaataaShe will not give you a daughter to cuddle and pamper.
Chorus
…………………………………………….[Instrumental Interlude]
Male
Kaatu muyaluku pani pidikumA wild rabbit likes the cold dew.
Gaanakuyilukku veyil pidikumA singing cuckoo likes the bright sunshine.
Aaniverukku mann pidikumA taproot loves the rich soil.
Hey appanukku penn pidikumHey, a father loves to have a baby girl!
Female
Arasan maganuku vaal pidikumA prince loves his sharp sword.
Azhudha kuzhandhaiku paal pidikumA crying baby loves sweet milk.
Purushan jaamathil kanaikayilaeWhen the husband whinnies eagerly at midnight,
Pombalaikku gili pidikumThe woman gets terrified!
Male
Allum pagalumae nanaindhaalumEven if soaked day and night,
Aathu meenukaa kuliredukumDoes a river fish ever feel cold?
Alli alli naan koduthaalumEven if I give continuously,
Aanandha poovukkaa ponmeni valikumDoes the golden body of a flower feel pain?
Male
Ah potta pulla pethukodu..Ah, give birth to a baby girl for me...
Female :Podhum ennai vittuviduFemale: Enough, leave me alone!
Male
Ah ah ah potta pulla pethukodu..Ah ah ah, give birth to a baby girl for me...
Female :Podhum ennai vittuviduFemale: Enough, leave me alone!
Male
Velicham eriyavittu vetkathai anaithuviduLet the light burn and extinguish your shyness!
Female
Kuchi kuchi raakammaa varamaataaKuchi kuchi Raakamma will not come.
Nee konjipesa ponnu onnu tharamaataaShe will not give you a daughter to cuddle and pamper.
Saadhisanam thoongalayae saama kozhi koovalayaeThe relatives haven't slept yet, and the midnight rooster hasn't crowed yet.
Chorus
Kuchi kuchi raakammaa varamaataaKuchi kuchi Raakamma will not come.
Nee konjipesa ponnu onnu tharamaataaShe will not give you a daughter to cuddle and pamper.
Saadhisanam thoongalayae saama kozhi koovalayaeThe relatives haven't slept yet, and the midnight rooster hasn't crowed yet.
Chorus
Kuchi kuchi raakammaa …Kuchi kuchi Raakamma...
Koodasaali raakammaa…Playful companion Raakamma...
Chorus
Haiyaa haiyaa hai..haiyaa haiyaa haiyaa haiHaiyaa haiyaa hai..haiyaa haiyaa haiyaa hai
Haiyaa haiyaa hai..haiyaa haiyaa haiyaa haiHaiyaa haiyaa hai..haiyaa haiyaa haiyaa hai
Haiyaa haiyaa..haiyaa haiyaa.. haiyaa haiyaa..ooiiooiiiHaiyaa haiyaa..haiyaa haiyaa.. haiyaa haiyaa..ooiiooiii
Haiyaa haiyaa..haiyaa haiyaa.. haiyaa haiyaa..ooiiooiiiHaiyaa haiyaa..haiyaa haiyaa.. haiyaa haiyaa..ooiiooiii
Oh….oh….Oh....oh....
Female
Siraghai neenginaal paravaiyillaiWithout wings, there is no bird.
Thiriyai neenginaal deepamillaiWithout a wick, there is no lamp.
Unnai neenginaal naanillaiWithout you, I do not exist.
Unakkidhu puriyavillaiDon't you understand this?
Male
Udalai neenginaal uyirumillaiWithout the body, there is no soul.
Oliyai neenginaal oliyumillaiWithout sound/light, there is no resonance.
Unnai neenginaal naanillaiWithout you, I do not exist.
Unakkidhu theriyavillaiDon't you know this?
Female
Boomi sutruvadhu nindruvittaalIf the Earth stops revolving,
Puviyil endrumae maatramillaiThe world wouldn't change its core nature.
Purushan sutruvadhu nindruvittaalIf the husband stops revolving around his wife,
Ennaalum penvaazhvil yetrangal illaiThere is no joy or progress in a woman's life.
Female
Pothi vaitha aasa vandhuThe desire kept hidden deep inside
Male :Nethiyila thudikudhuMale: Is throbbing right on my forehead!
Female
Pothi vaitha aasa vandhuThe desire kept hidden deep inside
Male :Nethiyila thudikudhuMale: Is throbbing right on my forehead!
Female
Thotta idam pathikollumWherever touched will catch fire,
Dhoorathil odhungi nillu…So stand aside at a distance...
Chorus
Kuchi kuchi raakammaa …Kuchi kuchi Raakamma...
Koodasaali raakammaa…Playful companion Raakamma...
Chorus
{Kuchi kuchi raakammaa varamaataa{Kuchi kuchi Raakamma will not come,
Nee konjipesa ponnu onnu tharamaataaShe will not give you a daughter to cuddle and pamper,
Saadhisanam thoongalayae saama kozhi koovalayae} (2)The relatives haven't slept yet, and the midnight rooster hasn't crowed yet} (2)
Kuchi kuchi raakammaa……Kuchi kuchi Raakamma...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

‘Kuchi Kuchi Raakamma’ is a playful, romantic duet from the acclaimed 1995 Tamil movie Bombay, composed by A. R. Rahman and penned by Vairamuthu. The song captures a lighthearted intimate banter between a young husband and wife. The husband playfully demands a daughter to love and pamper, expressing his deep affection and longing, while the wife coyly dodges his advances by bringing up timid excuses such as awake relatives and late hours. Through clever rural metaphors—comparing desires to natural affinities like fish in water, taproots in soil, and birds with wings—the lyricist builds a poetic narrative of conjugal love and togetherness. The dialogue-like structure emphasizes deep passion blended with domestic humor and affection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Arasan maganuku vaal pidikum / Azhudha kuzhandhaiku paal pidikum

The second consonant 'ru' repeats across adjacent lines, creating a classical Tamil rhythmic flow.

Metaphor & Analogy (Upamani / Uvamai)

Siraghai neenginaal paravaiyillai / Thiriyai neenginaal deepamillai

Uses nature elements (wings to bird, wick to lamp, body to soul) as metaphors for marital interdependence.

Anaphora / Parallelism

Unnai neenginaal naanillai / Udalai neenginaal uyirumillai

Repetition of conditional clauses ('neenginaal') across consecutive lines for poetic emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the prompt provided 'Music: Unknown', 'Kuchi Kuchi Raakamma' is one of A. R. Rahman's iconic tracks from Mani Ratnam's blockbuster 'Bombay' (1995), sung by Hariharan, Swarnalatha, G. V. Prakash Kumar (as a child vocalist), and Sharadha.

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