Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Kadhalan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Mukkabla

From Kadhalan · 1994

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
A. R. Rahman, Swarnalatha, Mano
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Kadhalan
Movie release year
1994
Lyrics added on
17 Sept 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oyae oyae ohoo
Oyae oyae oh..hooo
Oyae oyae ohoo
Oyae oyae oh..hooo
Mukkala mukkabula
Laila oh laila
Mukkabula chokkamala
Laila oh laila
Love-ukku kaavala
Badhil nee sollu kaadhala
Pollatha kaavala
Sendhora poovila
Chorus :Villangalai veelthum vennila
Mukkala mukkabula
Laila oh laila
Mukkabula chokkamala
Laila oh laila
Jurassic parkkil indru
Sugamana jodigal
Jazz music padi varudhu
Picasso oviyandhan
Piriyamal ennodu
Texasil nadi varudhu
Cowboyin kan pattadhum
Playboyin kai thottadhum
Undana sexanadhu
Onraga mixanadhu
Jazz music pennanadhu
Strawberry kannanadha
Love story kondadutha
Kickkeri thalladutha
Nam kaadhal yarumae
Ezhudhadha paadala…aaa….
Mukkala mukkabula
Laila oh laila
Mukkabula chokkamala
Laila oh laila
Thuppakki thookki vandhu
Kuri vaitthu thakkkinal
Thottavil kaadhal vizhuma
Semmeengal mattugindra
Valai kondu veesinal
Penmeengal kaiyil varuma
Boogambam vandhal enna
Boologam vendhal enna
Agayam thundaguma
Ennalum rendaguma
Vadi en vannakkili
Meenaippol thullikkudhi
Seivom nam kaadhal vidhi
Kalam nam aanaippadi
Sandhosham endrumae
Salikkadha paadala…aaa…
Mukkala mukkabula
Laila oh laila
Mukkabula chokkamala
Laila oh laila
Oyae oyae ohoo
Oyae oyae oh..hooo
Oyae oyae ohoo
Oyae oyae oh..hooo
{Oooraraa oiyaarara
Oooraraa oiyaarara
Oooraraa oiyaarara
Oooraraa oiyaarara} (2)
Oyae oyae ohoo
Oyae oyae oh..hooo
Oye oye oho
Oye oye o...ho
Oye oye oho
Oye oye o...ho
Mukkala muqabla,
Laila, oh Laila!
Muqabla, pure as gold,
Laila, oh Laila!
Can there be a guard against love?
Tell me your answer, my lover!
Is it a wicked guard,
or is it in a bright red flower?
Chorus: The bright moon that overcomes every obstacle!
Mukkala muqabla,
Laila, oh Laila!
Muqabla, pure as gold,
Laila, oh Laila!
In Jurassic Park today,
cheerful couples
dance along to jazz music!
Like a painting by Picasso,
never parting from me,
she comes seeking me in Texas!
When the cowboy's eyes meet hers,
when the playboy's hands touch her,
the chemistry that sparked
blended into one!
Did jazz music turn into a girl?
Did strawberries turn into her eyes?
Is our love story celebrating?
Is it tipsy and swaying with excitement?
Is our love a song
that no one has ever written before?
Mukkala muqabla,
Laila, oh Laila!
Muqabla, pure as gold,
Laila, oh Laila!
If they bring a gun
and take aim to strike,
will love ever fall to a bullet?
If you cast a net
meant for catching red fish,
will a lady fish fall into your hands?
What if an earthquake comes?
What if the whole world burns?
Will the sky ever shatter into pieces?
Will it ever split in two?
Come on, my colorful parrot,
leap and dance like a fish!
Let us write our own rules of love,
and time will follow our command!
Is happiness a song
that never grows old?
Mukkala muqabla,
Laila, oh Laila!
Muqabla, pure as gold,
Laila, oh Laila!
Oye oye oho
Oye oye o...ho
Oye oye oho
Oye oye o...ho
Oorara oyyaarara
Oorara oyyaarara
Oorara oyyaarara
Oorara oyyaarara
Oye oye oho
Oye oye o...ho
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Mukkala Mukkabula is a wildly imaginative, upbeat anthem of youth, modern romance, and irresistible passion. Set against pop-cultural motifs of the 1990s—such as Jurassic Park, Texas cowboys, jazz rhythms, and Picasso art—the song depicts love as an electric, unstoppable force that defies all worldly boundaries, threats, and conventions. The lovers declare that no bullet or disaster can destroy their love, which operates as an unwritten, timeless song of pure joy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Jazz music pennanadhu

Compares jazz music directly to a beautiful woman ('Jazz music pennanadhu').

Rhyme / Monorhyme (Iyaibu)

Undana sexanadhu

Rhyming endings in '-anadhu' across consecutive lines (sexanadhu / mixanadhu / pennanadhu / kannanadha).

Alliteration (Mona)

Thuppakki thookki vandhu

Repetition of 'Th' sound at the start of words: 'Thuppakki thookki'.

Simile (Uwamai)

Meenaippol thullikkudhi

Comparing the playful lover jumping joyfully to a leaping fish ('Meenaippol thullikkudhi').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman with lyrics by Vaali, 'Mukkala Mukkabula' became a pan-Indian cultural phenomenon in 1994. Directed by Shankar and starring Prabhu Deva and Nagma, the song's revolutionary CGI, cowboy theme, and signature dance steps catapulted Prabhu Deva to national fame as 'India's Michael Jackson'.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Kadhalan

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.