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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Laila Laila

From Kaathala Kaathala · 1998

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Hariharan, Bhavatharani
Music director
Karthik Raja
Details
Kaathala Kaathala1998

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Laila laila light-aa dhaanLaila, Laila, lightly
Adippaa sight-uShe glances at me
Lappu tappu high speed-ilWith a fast beat (lub-dub)
Alarum en heart-uMy heart screams out
Left-u right-u kannaalaeLeft and right with her eyes
Koduppaa heat-uShe gives heat
Love-u love-u endrae dhaanSaying 'love, love'
Alarum en paattu…My song screams out...
Female
Unadhu paattu enakkum hit-uYour song is a hit with me too
Dhinamum kettu ilamanamaeHearing it daily, my young heart
Kodi katti dhaan parakkumaeeee…. ohoo…Flies high triumphantly... ohoo...
Male
Laila laila light-aa dhaanLaila, Laila, lightly
Adippaa sight-uShe glances at me
Lappu tappu high speed-ilWith a fast beat (lub-dub)
Alarum en heart-uMy heart screams out
Left-u right-u kannaalaeLeft and right with her eyes
Koduppaa heat-uShe gives heat
Love-u love-u endrae dhaanSaying 'love, love'
Alarum en paattu…My song screams out...
Female
Oh…hoo..hooo..hooo..hoooOh...hoo..hooo..hooo..hooo
Oh…hoo..hooo..hooo..hooo….Oh...hoo..hooo..hooo..hooo....
Male
Viralin nagam varudum endruThinking finger nails will stroke it
String string guitar vaadaadhaaWon't the guitar strings wither?
Female
Iravil dhinam madiyil indhaEvery night on the lap
Dolphin inam aadaadhaaWon't this dolphin breed dance?
Male
Ilamaan malaraaIs it a young deer or a flower?
Kannam sepia tone color-ah..Are her cheeks sepia tone in color?
Female
Marriage aayachi villangal poyaachiMarriage is done, troubles are gone
Meththai mel love duet thaan..Now it is a love duet on the bed...
Male
Laila laila light-aa dhaanLaila, Laila, lightly
Adippaa sight-uShe glances at me
Lappu tappu high speed-ilWith a fast beat (lub-dub)
Alarum en heart-uMy heart screams out
Male
Eh…laelaelaelo…eh…laelaelaelo…Eh...laelaelaelo...eh...laelaelaelo...
Eh…laelaelaelo…eh…laelaelaelo…Eh...laelaelaelo...eh...laelaelaelo...
Female :Nanananaa…naanaanaanaaa…Female: Nanananaa...naanaanaanaaa...
Nanananaa…naanaanaanaaa…Nanananaa...naanaanaanaaa...
Male
Nilavil vandhu nadanam seiyumDancing under the moonlight
Nilavin xerox needhaanaaAre you a xerox copy of the moon?
Female
Nilavin chinna iduppil ullaOn the moon's tiny waist
Madippai killum aal dhaanaaAre you the one who pinches the fold?
Male
Valaippen gushiyaaI will bend with joy
Vittuvida naan enna rishiyaaAm I a sage to leave you and walk away?
Female :Lesaa naan theenda laser pol nee theendaFemale: When I touch lightly, you touch like a laser
Nenjikkul dance aadinenI danced inside my heart
Male
Aaahaaaaaa…Aaahaaaaaa...
Female :Love love la la la laFemale: Love love la la la la
Lala lala la la la la la…Lala lala la la la la la...
Male
Laila laila light-aa dhaanLaila, Laila, lightly
Adippaa sight-uShe glances at me
Lappu tappu high speed-ilWith a fast beat (lub-dub)
Alarum en heart-uMy heart screams out
Left-u right-u kannaalaeLeft and right with her eyes
Koduppaa heat-uShe gives heat
Love-u love-u endrae dhaanSaying 'love, love'
Alarum en paattu…My song screams out...
Female
Unadhu paattu enakkum hit-uYour song is a hit with me too
Dhinamum kettu ilamanamaeHearing it daily, my young heart
Kodi katti dhaan parakkumaeeee…. ohoo…Flies high triumphantly... ohoo...
Male
Laila laila light-aa dhaanLaila, Laila, lightly
Adippaa sight-uShe glances at me
Lappu tappu high speed-ilWith a fast beat (lub-dub)
Alarum en heart-uMy heart screams out
Left-u right-u kannaalaeLeft and right with her eyes
Koduppaa heat-uShe gives heat
Love-u love-u endrae dhaanSaying 'love, love'
Alarum en paattu…My song screams out...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and energetic duet from Kaathala Kaathala (1998) expresses the excitement and romantic thrill experienced by two lovers. The male protagonist sings about how his heart races whenever his beloved glances at him, comparing her beauty to a picture-perfect 'xerox copy' of the moon and her touch to a laser beam. The female lead playfully responds, matching his romantic enthusiasm and celebrating their togetherness after overcoming obstacles. Written by Vaali, the lyrics feature a heavy blend of trendy English loanwords and urban Tamil slang typical of late-1990s Tamil cinema, perfectly complementing the comedic and lively tone of the movie starring Kamal Haasan and Prabhu Deva.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia (ஒலிகுறிப்பு)

Lappu tappu high speed-il

'Lappu tappu' mimics the rapid sound of a beating heart.

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

Nilavin xerox needhaanaa

Compares the beloved's radiant skin and beauty directly to a 'xerox copy' of the moon.

Simile (உவமை)

Lesaa naan theenda laser pol nee theenda

Contrasts a soft touch ('lesaa') with an intense, focused touch like a 'laser'.

Edukai (Ethukai / Rhyming)

Lappu tappu high speed-il / Alarum en heart-u

Assonance/Rhyming of second letters across adjacent lines ('Lappu' / 'Alarum', 'Left-u' / 'Koduppaa').

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed as Unknown in the context prompt, Kaathala Kaathala (1998) was composed by Deva and directed by Singeetam Srinivasa Rao. The film starred Kamal Haasan, Prabhu Deva, Soundarya, and Rambha, and was famous for its chaotic comedy and fast-paced musical tracks written by Vaali.

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