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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mukkabla

From Kadhalan · 1994

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
A. R. Rahman, Swarnalatha, Mano
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Kadhalan1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Oyae oyae ohooOyae oyae ohoo
Oyae oyae oh..hoooOyae oyae oh..hooo
Oyae oyae ohooOyae oyae ohoo
Oyae oyae oh..hoooOyae oyae oh..hooo
Male
Mukkala mukkabulaMukkala mukkabula
Laila oh lailaLaila oh Laila
Mukkabula chokkamalaMukkabula pure gold
Laila oh lailaLaila oh Laila
Female
Love-ukku kaavalaAre you a guard for love?
Badhil nee sollu kaadhalaAnswer me, my lover!
Pollatha kaavalaAre you a tough guardian,
Sendhora poovilaIn a red flower?
Chorus :Villangalai veelthum vennilaChorus: The moon that destroys obstacles!
Male
Mukkala mukkabulaMukkala mukkabula
Laila oh lailaLaila oh Laila
Mukkabula chokkamalaMukkabula pure gold
Laila oh lailaLaila oh Laila
Female
Jurassic parkkil indruToday in Jurassic Park,
Sugamana jodigalA pleasant pair of lovers,
Jazz music padi varudhuSings along to jazz music,
Male
Picasso oviyandhanJust like a Picasso painting,
Piriyamal ennoduWithout parting from me,
Texasil nadi varudhuFlows like a river in Texas!
Female
Cowboyin kan pattadhumWhen caught by the cowboy's eye,
Playboyin kai thottadhumWhen touched by the playboy's hand,
Undana sexanadhuSensuality was born,
Onraga mixanadhuAnd blended together as one!
Male
Jazz music pennanadhuJazz music turned into a girl,
Strawberry kannanadhaAnd her cheek turned like a strawberry!
Love story kondaduthaIs this love story celebrating,
Kickkeri thalladuthaGetting high and staggering with joy?
Female
Nam kaadhal yarumaeOur love is a song...
Ezhudhadha paadala…aaa….That no one else has ever written!
Male
Mukkala mukkabulaMukkala mukkabula
Laila oh lailaLaila oh Laila
Mukkabula chokkamalaMukkabula pure gold
Laila oh lailaLaila oh Laila
Female
Thuppakki thookki vandhuIf someone comes with a gun,
Kuri vaitthu thakkkinalAims carefully and shoots,
Thottavil kaadhal vizhumaWill love fall by a bullet?
Male
Semmeengal mattugindraIf someone casts a net,
Valai kondu veesinalMeant to catch giant red fish,
Penmeengal kaiyil varumaWill female fish fall into their hands?
Female
Boogambam vandhal ennaWhat if an earthquake comes?
Boologam vendhal ennaWhat if the earth burns?
Agayam thundagumaWill the sky break into pieces?
Ennalum rendagumaCan our unified bond ever be split in two?
Male
Vadi en vannakkiliCome, my colorful parrot,
Meenaippol thullikkudhiLeap and jump like a fish,
Seivom nam kaadhal vidhiWe shall write our own fate of love,
Kalam nam aanaippadiTime shall move according to our command!
Female
Sandhosham endrumaeHappiness is forever...
Salikkadha paadala…aaa…A song that never gets tiresome!
Male
Mukkala mukkabulaMukkala mukkabula
Laila oh lailaLaila oh Laila
Mukkabula chokkamalaMukkabula chokkamala
Laila oh lailaLaila oh Laila
Chorus
Oyae oyae ohooOyae oyae ohoo
Oyae oyae oh..hoooOyae oyae oh..hooo
Oyae oyae ohooOyae oyae ohoo
Oyae oyae oh..hoooOyae oyae oh..hooo
Chorus
{Oooraraa oiyaarara{Oooraraa oiyaarara
Oooraraa oiyaararaOooraraa oiyaarara
Oooraraa oiyaararaOooraraa oiyaarara
Oooraraa oiyaarara} (2)Oooraraa oiyaarara} (2)
Chorus
Oyae oyae ohooOyae oyae ohoo
Oyae oyae oh..hoooOyae oyae oh..hooo

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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'.

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