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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mercury Pookkal

From Ratchagan · 1997

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Anupama, Swarnalatha
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Ratchagan1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Mercury pookalMercury flowers
Model nilaakalModel moons
Varumbothu jolikkum bhoomiWhen they come, the earth shines
Female
Rainbow meengalRainbow fish
Rangeela maangalColorful deer
Valaiveesi thotraargal vaalibargalThe young men cast their nets and lost
Female
Minalae minalaeOh lightning, oh lightning
Eh jannalae jannalaeHey window, hey window
Vizhi rendum minnalaeBoth eyes are like lightning
Vilaketrum jannalaeWindow that lights up
Oru kan paarvaithaan pattaalIf just one glance touches
Ini ellamae maarumEverything will change from now on
Female
We want powerWe want power
Vendum vendum vendum powerWe want, we want, we want power
We want powerWe want power
Vendum vendum vendum powerWe want, we want, we want power
Female
Mercury pookalMercury flowers
Model nilaakalModel moons
Varumbothu jolikkum bhoomiWhen they come, the earth shines
Female
Autograph naangal pottaEven a paper on which we put
Paper koodathaan USA dollaraai maarumAn autograph will turn into US dollars
Bill clinton white house koodaEven Bill Clinton's White House
Naangal sendraalae azhagae vaavena koorumIf we go there, beauty will invite us in
Female
Naangal thotta rickshawthaanThe rickshaw touched by us
Gypsy aagumae heyWill turn into a Gypsy, hey
Kaigal pattaal koovam neerIf our hands touch, the water of Cooum
Pepsi aagumaeWill turn into Pepsi
Female
Sivandhaal candy tin polaeIf blushed, like a candy tin
Sirithaal playwatson polaeIf smiled, like Watson
Nangal sellum pakkamthaanWhichever side we go
Desam thirumbumThe nation will turn
Ingae thaan natta nadu iravil koodaRight here, even in the middle of the night
Veiyil adikkumThe sun will shine
Female
We want powerWe want power
Vendum vendum vendum powerWe want, we want, we want power
We want powerWe want power
Vendum vendum vendum powerWe want, we want, we want power
Female
Mercury pookalMercury flowers
Model nilaakalModel moons
Varumbothu jolikkum bhoomiWhen they come, the earth shines
Chorus
……………………………....
Female
Washington stonewash maattiWearing Washington stonewash jeans
Theruvil vandhaalaeIf coming on the street
Adadaa traffic jam thaanOh my, there is a traffic jam
Eve teasing seiyum yaarumAnyone who does eve-teasing
Pakkam vandhaalaeIf they come near
Vedikkum nuclear bombthaanA nuclear bomb will explode
Female
Ennai paathu veesaathaeDo not throw at me
Paper arrow thaan..haanA paper arrow
Unnai polae oor engumEverywhere in town, like you
Public hero thaanIs a public hero
Female
Unnakku diana naan allaI am not Diana to you
Ennakku charles nee allaYou are not Charles to me
Love endru sonnalae romba allergyIf love is mentioned, it is a huge allergy
Aiyayo love panna waste aagumOh no, loving will waste
Namma energyOur energy
Female
We want powerWe want power
Vendum vendum vendum powerWe want, we want, we want power
We want powerWe want power
Vendum vendum vendum powerWe want, we want, we want power
Female
Mercury pookalMercury flowers
Model nilaakalModel moons
Varumbothu jolikkum bhoomiWhen they come, the earth shines
Female
Rainbow meengalRainbow fish
Rangeela maangalColorful deer
Valaiveesi thotraargal vaalibargalThe young men cast their nets and lost
Female
Minalae minalaeOh lightning, oh lightning
Eh jannalae jannalaeHey window, hey window
Vizhi rendum minnalaeBoth eyes are like lightning
Vilaketrum jannalaeWindow that lights up
Oru kan paarvai thaan pattaalIf just one glance touches
Ini ellamae maarumEverything will change from now on

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Mercury Pookal from the 1997 Tamil film Ratchagan is a vibrant, upbeat pop track celebrating modern fashion, youthful energy, and female empowerment. The song depicts high-fashion women who exude immense glamour and confidence, captivating everyone around them and turning ordinary everyday scenes into stylish spectacles. Through playful exaggerations, the lyrics illustrate their extraordinary impact, from turning paper into US dollars to transforming city river water into Pepsi. The song rejects traditional romantic entanglements, preferring independence, high energy, and unstoppable charm over romance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole

Paper koodathaan USA dollaraai maarum

Exaggerates the influence and glamour of the women by claiming their autograph turns paper into US currency.

Simile

Sivandhaal candy tin polae

Compares the blushing of a face to a brightly colored candy tin using the explicit comparison word polae.

Metaphor

Vizhi rendum minnalae

Directly equates bright eyes to flashes of lightning without using explicit comparison words.

Iyaibu (Rhyme)

Mercury pookal / Model nilaakal

End-rhyme pairing of pookal and nilaakal to create a bouncy, rhythmic lyrical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman for the big-budget action film Ratchagan (1997) starring Nagarjuna and former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen. The song's ultra-modern fashion theme perfectly complimented Sushmita Sen's iconic glamour on screen.

Keep listening

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