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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Murukko Kai Murukku

From Oru Oothapoo Kan Simittukiradhu · 1976

Lyricist
Kumaradevan
Singer
T. K. Kala
Music director
V. Dakshinamurthy
Details
Oru Oothapoo Kan Simittukiradhu1976

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Murukkoo….kai murukkuMurukku! Hand-made murukku!
Muruukko….nei murukku….Murukku! Ghee murukku!
Yaezhai eliyavanga vaazh vazhi vaguththuCrafted as a livelihood for the poor and humble,
Naalum seithu vikkum murukko murukku…..Here is the murukku made and sold every day!
Female
Murukkoo….kai murukkuMurukku! Hand-made murukku!
Female
Aiyyaavum ammaavumIf the master and lady,
Aalukkonnu vaangi thinnaaBuy one each and eat,
Andraadam en pozhappu nadakkumMy daily life will keep running.
Aiyyaavum ammaavumIf the master and lady,
Aalukkonnu vaangi thinnaaBuy one each and eat,
Andraadam en pozhappu nadakkumMy daily life will keep running.
Female
Kaithozhilai aadharingaSupport manual trades,
Kashtappadum yezhaikellaamFor all the struggling poor people,
Kaal vayiththu kanjithanni kidaikkumIt will fetch at least a quarter-belly of porridge water.
Female
Meithaanae ponnai nampingaBelieve me, it is as true as gold,
Poiyaedhum idhil illeengaThere is no falsehood in this, dear folks.
Inikkira manakkira murukkugal irukungaThere are sweet and fragrant murukkus here,
Kanivudan vaangungaPlease buy them with kindness.
Female
Yaezhai eliyavanga vaazh vazhi vaguththuCrafted as a livelihood for the poor and humble,
Naalum seithu vikkum murukko murukku…..Here is the murukku made and sold every day!
Female
Murukkoo….kai murukku…..Murukku! Hand-made murukku!
Female
Paal vizhuntha thaathaavumEven a toothless grandfather,
Pakkuvamaai thinnudalaamCan eat it with ease and care,
Paagaai karaiyum intha murukkuThis murukku will melt like sweet syrup.
Paal vizhuntha thaathaavumEven a toothless grandfather,
Pakkuvamaai thinnudalaamCan eat it with ease and care,
Paagaai karaiyum intha murukkuThis murukku will melt like sweet syrup.
Female
Thallaadum pillaigalumToddling little children,
Thambi thangai ellorumYounger brothers and sisters, everyone,
Thedi vanthu vaangikira murukkuThis is the murukku they come searching for.
Female
Meithaanae ponnai nampungaBelieve me, it is as true as gold,
Poiyaethum idhil illeengaThere is no falsehood in this, dear folks.
Inikkira manakkira murukkugal irukungaThere are sweet and fragrant murukkus here,
Kanivudan vaangungaPlease buy them with kindness.
Female
Yaezhai eliyavanga vaazh vazhi vaguththuCrafted as a livelihood for the poor and humble,
Naalum seithu vikkum murukko murukku…..Here is the murukku made and sold every day!
Female
Murukkoo….kai murukku…..Murukku! Hand-made murukku!
Female
Uzhaippil murukirunthaa osanthu vaazhalaamIf there is strength and resolve in work, one can rise high in life,
Unmaiyil murukirunthaaIf there is firmness in truth,
Nanmaiyai kaanalaamOne will surely see good fortune.
Uzhaippil murukirunthaa osanthu vaazhalaamIf there is strength and resolve in work, one can rise high in life,
Unmaiyil murukirunthaaIf there is firmness in truth,
Nanmaiyai kaanalaamOne will surely see good fortune.
Female
Vazhi thavarum perkku vantha murukkuA twist that comes upon those who go astray,
Thuni mudinju poga potta surukkuA tight knot tied to bundle up and leave,
Potta surukkuA tied knot!
Female
Murukkoo….kai murukku…..Murukku! Hand-made murukku!
Muruukko….nei murukku….Murukku! Ghee murukku!
Muruukko….Murukku!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This street-vendor song from 'Oru Oothapoo Kan Simittukiradhu' presents a humble vendor advertising hand-rolled murukkus (crispy fried Tamil snacks). The vendor appeals to the compassion of buyers, highlighting how purchasing small cottage-industry goods sustains the basic daily needs of poor workers. She describes the delicious texture of the snacks, noting that they are tender enough for toothless elders and loved by children of all ages. Beyond selling snacks, the song evolves into a moral lesson using clever wordplay on the word 'murukku' (which literally means a twisted snack, but figuratively implies firmness, strength, or a turn of fate). The lyrics assert that dedication to hard work and truthfulness brings dignity and elevation in life, while misdeeds bring strict reckoning.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Pun / Double Entendre (Sleshhai)

Uzhaippil murukirunthaa osanthu vaazhalaam

The word 'Murukku' is used literally to describe the twisted crisp snack and metaphorically to signify firmness/sturdiness in work ('uzhaippil murukku') as well as strict correction or twist of fate ('vantha murukku').

Monaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Paal vizhuntha thaathaavum

Repetition of the 'Pa' sound at the beginning of consecutive lines ('Paal', 'Pakkuvamaai', 'Paagaai').

Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Uzhaippil murukirunthaa osanthu vaazhalaam

Rhyming of the second consonant 'zh' across 'Uzhaippil' and 'Unmaiyil'.

Simile (Uvamai)

Paagaai karaiyum intha murukku

Comparing the melting texture of the crisp snack in the mouth to sweet sugar syrup ('paagaai karaiyum').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by legendary Malayalam music director V. Dakshinamurthy, who made rare but memorable contributions to Tamil cinema. The film 'Oru Oothapoo Kan Simittukiradhu' starred Kamal Haasan and Sujatha and was directed by S. P. Muthuraman, based on Maharishi's novel.

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