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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mera Naam Abdullah

From Sattam En Kaiyil · 1978

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Sattam En Kaiyil1978

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Hae….aavoo…Hey... come on...
Male
Meraa naam abdhullaaMy name is Abdulla.
Aavo piyaa rasagullaaCome, my sweet rasagulla.
Chorus
Aavo aavo aavoCome, come, come.
Aavo aavo aavoCome, come, come.
Male
Meraa naam abdhullaaMy name is Abdulla.
Aavo piyaa rasagullaaCome, my sweet rasagulla.
Male
Amar akbar anthonyAmar Akbar Anthony
Chorus
Ham kisi sae kam nahi kam nahiWe are second to none, second to none.
Male
Amar akbar anthonyAmar Akbar Anthony
Chorus
Ham kisi sae kam nahi kam nahiWe are second to none, second to none.
Male
Aa…aaa… aaa…aa…Ah... ah... ah... ah...
Meraa naam abdhullaaMy name is Abdulla.
Aavo piyaa rasagullaaCome, my sweet rasagulla.
Chorus
Aavo aavo aavoCome, come, come.
Aavo aavo aavoCome, come, come.
Male
Azhaga vechaan ariva vechaanHe created beauty and created wisdom.
Avaravarkkum alandhu vechaanHe measured and assigned them to each person.
Male
Azhaga vechaan ariva vechaanHe created beauty and created wisdom.
Avaravarkkum alandhu vechaanHe measured and assigned them to each person.
Avalai enakku ezhudhi vechaanHe destined her for me.
Adhaiyum oruthan pirichu vechaanAnd someone separated her from me as well.
Padhiraanu vayadhinilaeAt sixteen years of age,
Indha sappaani naan vandhenaeI came as this disabled/foolish persona.
Male
Aattukkaara alamaeluGoat-herd Alamelu!
Chorus :Ham kisi sae kam nahi kam nahiChorus: We are second to none, second to none.
Male :Aa… aattukkaara alamaeluMale: Ah... Goat-herd Alamelu!
Chorus :Ham kisi sae kam nahi kam nahiChorus: We are second to none, second to none.
Male
Meraa naam abdhullaaMy name is Abdulla.
Aavo piyaa rasagullaaCome, my sweet rasagulla.
Chorus
Aavo aavo aavoCome, come, come.
Aavo aavo aavoCome, come, come.
Male
Aa… aa… aa… ha… aa… aa…Ah... ah... ah... ha... ah... ah...
Male :Aa… aa… aa…Male: Ah... ah... ah...
Male :Aa… aa… aa… ha… aa… aa…Male: Ah... ah... ah... ha... ah... ah...
Male
Sendhurukka pottu vechenI put on a bindi made of red sindhoor.
Saeval konda katti vechenI styled my hair like a rooster's crest.
Hae aiya inga paaruHey sir, look over here!
Sendhurukka pottu vechenI put on a bindi made of red sindhoor.
Saeval konda katti vechenI styled my hair like a rooster's crest.
Porandha thaedhi ombodhuThe date of birth is nine.
Nee purinjukittaa vambaedhuIf you understand, why would there be trouble?
Thirunaal koottam koodaiyilaeWhen the festival crowd gathers,
Thaniyaa naanum pogaiyilaeWhen I walk all alone,
Ennai suthi ombodhu peruNine people surround me.
Chorus :Ham kisi sae kam nahi kam nahiChorus: We are second to none, second to none.
Male
Meraa naam abdhullaaMy name is Abdulla.
Aavo piyaa rasagullaaCome, my sweet rasagulla.
Chorus
Aavo aavo aavoCome, come, come.
Aavo aavo aavoCome, come, come.
Male
Marudha marikkozhundhaeO sweet marjoram herb!
Velanja adi karumbaeO fully grown sugarcane!
Thamakku dappaan daiyaan dappaanThamakku dappaan daiyaan dappaan
Kumukkuraalae aiyo dappaaOh, she pounds rhythmically, aiyo dappaa!
Male
Manja kulichen budhan kezhamaI took a turmeric bath on Wednesday.
Ellaarukkum naan podhu odamaAm I a public boat for everyone?
Enga thalaivar mohammadh aliOur leader is Muhammad Ali!
Chorus :Ham kisi sae kam nahi kam nahiChorus: We are second to none, second to none.
Male
Meraa naam abdhullaaMy name is Abdulla.
Aavo piyaa rasagullaaCome, my sweet rasagulla.
Male :Amar akbar anthonyMale: Amar Akbar Anthony
Chorus :Ham kisi sae kam nahi kam nahiChorus: We are second to none, second to none.
Male
Meraa naam abdhullaaMy name is Abdulla.
Aavo piyaa rasagullaaCome, my sweet rasagulla.
Chorus
Aavo bhaiyaa aavoCome, brother, come.
Bhaiyaa aavo bhaiyaaBrother, come, brother.
Aavo bhaiyaa bhaiyaa aavoCome, brother, brother, come.
Aavo bhaiyaa bhaiyaa aavoCome, brother, brother, come.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Mera Naam Abdulla' is a lively disguise song from the 1978 Tamil film 'Sattam En Kaiyil', starring Kamal Haasan. In this song, the protagonist dons a persona and performs a comical, eclectic street act to distract or entertain people while carrying out an undercover mission. Lyricist Kannadasan brilliantly blends Hindi pop-culture references of the late 1970s with Tamil contemporary film allusions. The lyrics combine Hindi hit titles like 'Amar Akbar Anthony' and 'Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin' with popular Tamil films of the time such as '16 Vayathinile' ('Sappani') and 'Aattukkara Alamelu'. The playful composition mixes street-folk rhythms with humor and theatricality.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Azhaga vechaan ariva vechaan / Avaravarkkum alandhu vechaan

Repetition of the line-ending suffix 'vechaan' creates a strong rhythmic cadence across consecutive lines.

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Sendhurukka pottu vechen / Saeval konda katti vechen

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'S' ('Sendhurukka' and 'Saeval') establishes internal rhythm.

Code-Switching / Macaronic Verse

Meraa naam abdhullaa / Aavo piyaa rasagullaa

Seamless alternation between Hindi catchphrases and Tamil folk lyrics for theatrical comedic effect.

Did you know?

Trivia

The music for 'Sattam En Kaiyil' was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. The song playfully meta-references several top hit movies released around 1977-1978, including Hindi blockbusters 'Amar Akbar Anthony' and 'Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin', alongside Kamal Haasan's iconic character 'Sappani' from '16 Vayathinile'.

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