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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Makkamishi

From Brother · 2024

Lyricist
Paal Dabba
Singer
Paal Dabba
Music director
Harris Jayaraj
Details
Brother2024

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Unn side-la fault vechinnuKeeping the fault on your side,
Enna parthu muraikkiraWhy are you glaring at me?
Naan full speed-la peasa vandhaWhen I come to speak at full speed,
Yeanda oodi oliyuraWhy are you running and hiding?
Male
Podey…Go away man...
Male
Adhey dhaan adhey dhaanThat is it, that is it,
Male
Appdiyeaa pudichikooHold onto it just like that.
Male
Unn side-la fault vechinnuKeeping the fault on your side,
Enna parthu muraikkiraWhy are you glaring at me?
Naan full speed-la peasa vandhaWhen I come to speak at full speed,
Yeanda oodi oliyuraWhy are you running and hiding?
Male
4-wallskulla mattum rules pesi nadikiraYou act and talk about rules only within four walls,
Naan adhey rule-ah roadla pesina yean da vanthu kolaikiraIf I talk about the same rules on the road, why do you come barking at me?
Chorus
Chikkan chikkan aachikku chakkan chakkan chakkan chakkan..(2)Rhythmic beat vocals (Chikkan chikkan aachikku chakkan...)
Male
Naan mutta oothiyaDid I pour an egg?
Enakku ratham vandha unakku innaIf I bleed, what is it to you?
Thakkali chattuniyaaIs it tomato chutney?
Ennoda rhyms scheme parthu inna kindal panriyaaAre you making fun of my rhyme scheme?
Innada sundal thariyaaWhat man, are you offering chickpea snacks?
Male
Eyy..aaatu thottiyula road mukkulaHey, near the slaughterhouse at the corner of the road,
Olinju nikkura white guyThe fair guy standing in hiding,
Jobula vechiruntha time limitilaWithin the time limit set at work,
Kaasu adichathu nice tryStealing the money was a nice try.
Nice try nice tryNice try, nice try!
Chorus
{Makkamishi..{Makkamishi..
Pirachaniya left handla handle panra michealsiMichaels who handles problems effortlessly with his left hand,
Namma ooru bommer talksOur local boomer talks,
Yenna siru rombha busyWhat sir, are you very busy?
Bus-stopila balmain t shirt potta kooda asiEven wearing a Balmain t-shirt at the bus stop looks cool,
Ippo rombha kushi} – (2)Now feeling very happy}
Male
Installment headphone vangaEven to buy headphones on EMI,
Kooda unakku kaasu illaYou do not even have money.
Instagramla excitment parkkaTo see excitement on Instagram,
Oodi varan mapplaThe groom comes running!
Male
Naan summer timelaIn the summer time,
Wollen coat pottu suthura puliI am a tiger roaming around wearing a woolen coat,
Yabba..late nightla walking poiGosh, going for a late night walk,
Naai kadichu valiBitten by a dog, pain!
Male
Veetla rombha conditionLots of strict rules at home,
En perula neriya pettitionMany petitions filed under my name,
Naan rules ah mathikkum manishanI am a man who respects rules,
Nee pannra thappellam manichenI forgave all the mistakes you made.
Namma citty fulla pollutionOur whole city is filled with pollution,
Seiyura velaiku yeathuku commisionWhy demand a commission for doing your job?
Naan keppen yenna citizenI will ask, because I am a citizen,
Namma viral la irukku solutionThe solution lies right in our fingers!
Chorus
Makkamishi..Makkamishi..
Pirachaniya left handla handle panra michealsiMichaels who handles problems effortlessly with his left hand,
Namma ooru bommer talksOur local boomer talks,
Yenna siru rombha busyWhat sir, are you very busy?
Bus-stopila balmain t shirt potta kooda asiEven wearing a Balmain t-shirt at the bus stop looks cool,
Ippo rombha kushiNow feeling very happy.
Male
Haiyoo haiyooOh no, oh no!
Male
Adicha mazhaila city fulla vellam aara goingWhen it rained, the city flooded and turned into a river,
Adha save pannama appo vittu makkal ippo painWithout saving that water back then, people are suffering now.
Match ticket vanga nippom kovil line la nikka yosipomWe queue up for match tickets, but hesitate to stand in line at the temple,
Ground veliyila adi pottu dhoni jersy pottupomWe fight outside the ground while wearing Dhoni jerseys!
Male
Ullur veiyil oorgaiaya nakkinuLicking pickle in the local heat,
Atom bombaa sernthu kudichinuDrinking atom bombs together,
Sharpu pullainga gaadiya pertinuSharp local boys revving up their bikes,
Vibeketha paatta paadinuSinging songs that match the vibe,
Daddy kaasula body vechunuMaintaining a physique using dad's money,
Maadi mela lailah majunuPlaying Laila and Majnu on the terrace,
Night fulla kosuva adichunuSwatting mosquitoes all night long,
Loopu mode la life oodinuLife running on a loop mode!
Male
Yeppaa da dai….kundhura yeppaOh man... sit down man!
Male
Machan its a long way to go…Dude, it is a long way to go...
Adichu thooku…Smash it and lift it up!
Chorus
Makkamishi..Makkamishi..
Pirachaniya left handla handle panra michealsiMichaels who handles problems effortlessly with his left hand,
Namma ooru bommer talksOur local boomer talks,
Yenna siru rombha busyWhat sir, are you very busy?
Bus-stopila balmain t shirt potta kooda asiEven wearing a Balmain t-shirt at the bus stop looks cool,
Ippo rombha kushiNow feeling very happy.
Male
Makkamishi..Makkamishi..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Makkamishi' from the movie 'Brother' (2024), composed by Harris Jayaraj and written/performed by indie artist Paal Dabba, is a fast-paced, high-energy North Chennai gaana-hip hop fusion track. The song delivers a satirical, quirky critique of modern urban lifestyle, social hypocrisies, civic issues like city flooding and corruption, social media obsession, and youth culture in Chennai. With clever internal rhymes and street slang, the track ridicules double standards—such as people who act rule-abiding indoors while breaking rules outside, youth living off their parents' money, and public apathy towards rainwater conservation versus enthusiasm for cricket matches. It combines playful swagger with relatable social commentary, celebrating the vibrant energy of local Chennai youth while poking fun at daily urban struggles.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

End Rhyme / Rhyme Scheme

Veetla rombha condition / En perula neriya pettition / Naan rules ah mathikkum manishan / Nee pannra thappellam manichen

The lyricist uses sequential rhyming English loanwords and Tamilized endings ('condition', 'petition', 'manishan', 'manichen', 'pollution', 'commission', 'citizen', 'solution') to create a fast-paced rap cadence.

Irony / Hyperbole

Naan summer timela / Wollen coat pottu suthura puli

The imagery of wearing a heavy woolen coat in hot summer weather serves as a humorous hyperbole and irony to depict flex culture and dynamic street attitude.

Social Satire / Juxtaposition

Match ticket vanga nippom kovil line la nikka yosipom

Juxtaposes the eagerness of youth standing in long queues for sports match tickets with their reluctance to queue up at spiritual places.

Onomatopoeia & Scatting

Chikkan chikkan aachikku chakkan chakkan chakkan chakkan..(2)

Use of fast vocal percussive sounds ('Chikkan chikkan... chakkan chakkan...') to enhance the rhythmic tempo before the verse.

Slang & Colloquial Tamil Vernacular

Pirachaniya left handla handle panra michealsi

Extensive use of Madras Tamil street slang like 'Makkamishi', 'pullaiynga', 'mappla', and 'kundhura' to establish an authentic local persona.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Makkamishi' became an instant viral hit upon release, marking a popular collaboration between veteran film composer Harris Jayaraj and indie hip-hop sensation Paal Dabba. Paal Dabba brought his signature Madras street-rap aesthetic into a mainstream Harris Jayaraj soundtrack, combining modern electronic beats with traditional Chennai street sensibilities.

Keep listening

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