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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maatna Gaali

From Gulu Gulu · 2022

Lyricist
Rathna Kumar
Singer
Santhosh Narayanan
Music director
Santhosh Narayanan
Details
Gulu Gulu2022

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Maatna gaali maatravara jollyIf caught you're gone, until then it's jolly!
Male
Maatna gaali maatravara jollyIf caught you're gone, until then it's jolly!
Maatna gaaliIf caught you're gone!
Male
Maatna gaali maatravara jollyIf caught you're gone, until then it's jolly!
Maatna gaaliIf caught you're gone!
Male
Ring ding dingRing ding ding
Ring ding dingRing ding ding
Male
Maatna gaali maatravara jollyIf caught you're gone, until then it's jolly!
Male
Oduya oduya oduyaRun away, run away, run away!
PothumEnough!
Oduya oduya oduyaRun away, run away, run away!
EnoughEnough!
Oduya oduya oduyaRun away, run away, run away!
Female :Stop itFemale: Stop it!
Male :Oduya oduya oduyaMale: Run away, run away, run away!
Male
Vithaiya thappu.. thappaLearning tricks incorrectly...
Kathunu kamba thaan suththatha daDon't spin the stick around after learning wrong!
Suththi puttu kanna kuththatha daDon't poke your own eye out while spinning it!
Male
Inga paaru..Look here...
Vaayilae vadai sutunu sutunuFrying 'vadais' verbally (talking big talk)...
Oora yemathatha daDon't fool the whole town!
Yemathi escape-u aagatha daDon't fool people and escape!
Male
Oduya oduya oduyaRun away, run away, run away!
Oduya oduya oduyaRun away, run away, run away!
Oduya oduya oduyaRun away, run away, run away!
Oduya oduya oduyaRun away, run away, run away!
Male
Anga paaru inga paaruLook there, look here!
Ye anga paaru ye inga paaruHey look there, hey look here!
Anga paarru inga paaruLook there, look here!
Anga paarru inga paaruLook there, look here!
Maatna gaali maatravaraIf caught you're gone, until then...
Male
Ring ding dingRing ding ding
Ring ding dingRing ding ding
Male
Thavalae kitta thattan seththanThe dragonfly died to the frog,
Paambu kitta thavalae seththanThe frog died to the snake,
Keerikitta paambu seththanThe snake died to the mongoose!
Maatna gaali maatravara jollyIf caught you're gone, until then it's jolly!
Male
Maanu kitta pullu seththanThe grass died to the deer,
Singam kitta maanu seththanThe deer died to the lion,
Vedan kitta singam seththanThe lion died to the hunter!
Male
Ring ding dingRing ding ding
Ring ding dingRing ding ding
Aahn aahn aahn aaahanAahn aahn aahn aaahan
Male
Achacho avaraOh my, him?
Achacho appapa aaahanOh my, appapa aaahan
Ayyayo adadaOh dear, adada!
Maatna gaali maatravara jollyIf caught you're gone, until then it's jolly!
Male
Achacho avaraOh my, him?
Ayyayo apdiyaOh dear, is that so?
Ayyayo avara ivaraOh dear, him or her?
Mass pannu maplaShow your mass, groom/buddy!
Male
Hey varan paarHey, look he is coming!
Hey hey ..heyanga paarHey hey... hey look there!
HeyHey!
Male
Thavalae kitta thattan seththanThe dragonfly died to the frog,
Paambu kitta thavalae seththanThe frog died to the snake,
Keerikitta paambu seththanThe snake died to the mongoose!
Maatna gaali maatravara jollyIf caught you're gone, until then it's jolly!
Male
Hey hey hey hey.. maatna gaaliHey hey hey hey... if caught you're gone!
Maata maaten thapchiruvenI won't get caught, I will escape!
Maata maaten thapchiruvenI won't get caught, I will escape!
Maata maaten thapchiruvenI won't get caught, I will escape!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Matna Gaali from Gulu Gulu (2022) is a quirky, upbeat, fast-paced track exploring the chaotic nature of life, karma, and survival. The central phrase 'Maatna gaali, maatravara jolly' conveys a carefree worldview: life is a fun party as long as you escape consequences, but the moment you get caught in a trap or mistake, you are finished. The song uses playful local Chennai slang alongside humorous narrative elements to deliver its lighthearted philosophy. Through vivid metaphors of ecological food chains—such as the dragonfly falling prey to the frog, the frog to the snake, the snake to the mongoose, and the lion to the hunter—the song highlights that everyone, no matter how powerful, has a predator or bigger problem waiting for them. It serves as a humorous cautionary advice to avoid boasting, stay sharp, and keep running ahead of trouble.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Ecological Allegory

Thavalae kitta thattan seththan / Paambu kitta thavalae seththan / Keerikitta paambu seththan

Uses the biological food chain (dragonfly -> frog -> snake -> mongoose and grass -> deer -> lion -> hunter) as a metaphor for human vulnerability and inescapable karma.

Internal Rhyme / Assonance

Maatna gaali maatravara jolly

Pairs 'Maatna' with 'Maatravara' and 'Gaali' with 'Jolly' for an energetic rhythmic bounce.

Idiom (Colloquial Metaphor)

Vaayilae vadai sutunu sutunu / Oora yemathatha da

'Vaayilae vadai sudadhu' is a classic Tamil slang idiom meaning to make grand empty claims or talk big without real action.

Onomatopoeia / Scat Singing

Ring ding ding

Uses rhythmic nonsense syllables like 'Ring ding ding' to enhance tempo and create a whimsical mood.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song was written by film director-lyricist Rathna Kumar (known for directing Meyaadha Maan and writing dialogues for Master and Vikram). Composed and sung by Santhosh Narayanan, the track combines traditional Gaana vocal nuances with modern synth-pop arrangement, perfectly complementing the chaotic comedy tone of the film starring Santhanam.

Keep listening

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