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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Lappu Tappu

From Selva · 1996

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Suresh Peters, Swarnalatha, Deepika
Music director
Sirpy
Details
Selva1996

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ae lappu tappu lappu tappuHey, beat after beat, beat after beat
Female
Ae lappu tappu lappu tappu lappu tappunnuHey, making a fast racing sound,
Levellaa adikkuthu heart beattuThe heart beat is hitting high levels!
Male
Hae kappuchippu kappuchippu kappuchippunnuHey, staying dead silent, dead silent...
Quiettaa irukkuthu sweet heartThe sweetheart is remaining so quiet.
Female
Satellite-tu vinnil irukkuA satellite is up in the sky,
Multy channel intha pennil irukkuMultiple channels are inside this girl!
Male
Bejar unthan kannil irukkuThere is trouble/mischief in your eyes,
Adhil majaraana matter irukkuAnd inside them lies a fun secret!
Female
Intha selva konjam halwaThis Selva is sweet like halwa,
Kannil solvaaHe will express in his eyes
Kadhalai eastman colourlaLove in vibrant Eastman color!
Male
Hae kappuchippu kappuchippu kappuchippunnuHey, staying dead silent, dead silent...
Quiettaa irukkuthu sweet heartThe sweetheart is remaining quiet.
Female
Ae lappu tappu lappu tappu lappu tappunnuHey, making a fast racing sound,
Levellaa adikkuthu heart beattuThe heart beat is hitting high levels!
Male
Nee hollywood-u polywood-u top star-uYou are a top star of Hollywood and Polywood,
Kannu rendum golden eagle bear-uBoth eyes are intoxicating like Golden Eagle beer!
Male Chorus :Oh ho….Male Chorus: Oh ho....
Female
Aalazhagil tholazhagil arnold-uIn physical beauty and broad shoulders, you are Arnold,
Unna kandaa vanthu vidum mooduSeeing you instantly sets the romantic mood!
Female
Neethaan enthan boy friendYou alone are my boyfriend,
Unthan love-ye oru new trendYour love itself is a brand new trend!
Male
Intha selva konjam halwaThis Selva is sweet like halwa,
Kannil solvaaHe will express in his eyes
Kadhalai eastman colourlaLove in vibrant Eastman color!
Female
Ae lappu tappu lappu tappu lappu tappunnuHey, making a fast racing sound,
Levellaa adikkuthu heart beattuThe heart beat is hitting high levels!
Male
Hae kappuchippu kappuchippu kappuchippunnuHey, staying dead silent, dead silent...
Koyattaa irukkuthu sweet heartThe sweetheart is remaining quiet.
Female
Vidiya vidiya deepavali haaAll night long, it is a bright Diwali festival, ha!
Vidinji ponaa ammavasa haaOnce dawn breaks, it becomes a dark new moon night, ha!
Suttaakkaa paniyaaramIf fried, it becomes a sweet paniyaaram...
Chorus :Soi soi soiChorus: Soi soi soi
Soi soi soiSoi soi soi
Female
Yaei kaalai maalai vanthu serumHey, morning and evening, there arrives
Flying kissuA flying kiss!
Antha kiss-u thaanaeThat kiss itself
Marvinukku franceIs like France to Marvin!
Male
Oh munnazhagum pinnazhagum keyboardOh, the front and back curves are like a musical keyboard,
Kaiya vachchi podattumaa tune-uShall I place my hands and play a tune?
Chorus :OhhoChorus: Ohho
Male
Haei madippu vidum iduppuHey, the pleated slender waist
Antha pyramid pola irukkuIs shaped just like an Egyptian pyramid!
Female
Intha selva konjam halwaThis Selva is sweet like halwa,
Kannil solvaaHe will express in his eyes
Kadhalai eastman colourlaLove in vibrant Eastman color!
Male
Hae kappuchippu kappuchippu kappuchippunnuHey, staying dead silent, dead silent...
Quittaa irukkuthu sweet heartThe sweetheart is remaining quiet.
Female
Satellite-tu vinnil irukkuA satellite is up in the sky,
Multi channel intha pennil irukkuMultiple channels are inside this girl!
Male
Intha selva konjam halwaThis Selva is sweet like halwa,
Kannil solvaaHe will express in his eyes
Kadhalai eastman colourlaLove in vibrant Eastman color!
Male
Lappu tappu….Lappu tappu....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Ae Lappu Tappu' is a high-energy, fast-paced duetting dance track from the 1996 Tamil film 'Selva', composed by Sirpy and penned by Vaali. The lyrics express playful, youth-centric romantic banter between the lead protagonists using pop culture references, modern technological metaphors (satellites, multi-channels, keyboards), and western celebrity names like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Hollywood stars. The track showcases the protagonist Selva's charm alongside the heroine's lively responses, highlighting the excitement and heartbeat-racing sensation of modern love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia

Ae lappu tappu lappu tappu

Use of rhythmic gibberish and expressive sound words like 'Lappu tappu' to mimic rapid heartbeats and 'Kappuchippu' for absolute silence.

Simile / Metaphor

Aalazhagil tholazhagil arnold-u / Intha selva konjam halwa

Comparing the hero's physique to Arnold Schwarzenegger and his sweetness to traditional sweet halwa, framing dynamic pop culture comparisons.

Rhyme (Edhugai / Iyaibu)

Nee hollywood-u polywood-u top star-u

Playful rhyming of English-borrowed pop culture words like 'Hollywood-u', 'Polywood-u', and 'top star-u' to create an upbeat cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Selva' (1996) starred actor Vijay and Swathi. Composed by Sirpy with lyrics by legendary lyricist Vaali, this song prominently featured singer Suresh Peters, whose fast-tempo urban pop vocal style was extremely popular in mid-90s Tamil cinema following hits like 'Gopala Gopala' and 'Pettai Rap'.

Keep listening

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