Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naaka Mukka (Female)

From Kadhalil Vizhunthen · 2008

Lyricist
P. V. Prasath
Singers
Chinna Ponnu, Nakul
Music director
Vijay Antony
Details
Kadhalil Vizhunthen2008

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
{Yeh adra adraa naaku mookaHey beat it, rhythm line!
Naaku mookaa naaku mookaNaaku mooka, naaku mooka
Naaku mookaa naaku mookaNaaku mooka, naaku mooka
Naaku mookaa naaku mooka} (3)Naaku mooka, naaku mooka
Female
Maadu seththaa manushan thinnaanWhen the bull dies, man eats it
Thola vachu melangattiMaking a drum out of its hide
Adra adrraa naakka mookkaBeat it, play the rhythm
Naakka mookka naakka mookka…Naakka mookka, naakka mookka…
Naakka mookka naakka mookka…Naakka mookka, naakka mookka…
Naakka mookka naakka mookka…Naakka mookka, naakka mookka…
Naakka mookka naakka mookka..Naakka mookka, naakka mookka..
Naakka mookka naakka mookka..Naakka mookka, naakka mookka..
Female
{Adra adrraa naakka mookkaBeat it, play the rhythm
Naakka mookka naakka mookka…Naakka mookka, naakka mookka…
Naakka mookka naakka mookka…Naakka mookka, naakka mookka…
Naakka mookka naakka mookka..} (2)Naakka mookka, naakka mookka..
Female
Yeh kunjaramma veetulaHey, in Kunjaramma's house
Kozhi kuzhambu kothikkuthuChicken curry is boiling
Elephant gate-ulaNear Elephant Gate
Kikku matter vikkuthuIntoxicating stuff is selling
Female
Elly-su rotulaOn Ellis Road
Pulli maanu nikkithuA spotted deer stands
Vettai aadi pudingaadaHunt it down and catch it, guys!
Vegha vachu thinnungadaCook it and eat it up, guys!
Engadaa ingadaa aala vidunga devudaWhere are you guys? Oh God, let me be!
Female
{Adra adrraa naakka mookkaBeat it, play the rhythm
Naakka mookka naakka mookka…Naakka mookka, naakka mookka…
Naakka mookka naakka mookka…Naakka mookka, naakka mookka…
Female
{Adra adrraa naakka mookkaBeat it, play the rhythm
Naakka mookka naakka mookka…Naakka mookka, naakka mookka…
Naakka mookka naakka mookka…Naakka mookka, naakka mookka…
Naakka mookka naakka mookka…} (2)Naakka mookka, naakka mookka…
Female
Ye haan…Yeah haan…
Ye appadi podu…..Yeah, play it like that…
Ada amaaaa….Ah yes…
Female
Yeh kuthankallu pottu vachuPlaced with cornerstones
Olakudisa nikkuthuThe palm-thatch hut stands
Nattankallu pottu vachuSet with boundary stones
Naathaangaalu irukkuthuThe nursery field exists
Female
Achacho moonu pohamOh no, three harvest seasons
Oru poham aachudaaHave turned into just one!
Kaaya vacha nellu ippaThe paddy put out to dry
Kadai therivae pochudaHas blown away down the street
Female
Nattu vacha naathu ippaThe transplanted saplings
Karuvaada aachudaHave withered dry like dried fish
Arai vayiru kaa vayiruHalf stomach, quarter stomach
Pasithaan pattini saavuthan ethiniHunger, starvation, so many deaths!
Engada ingada adingada adingadaWhere are you? Beat it, beat it!
Rajavukku kekkattumLet the king hear it!
Female
Adra adrraa naakka mookkaBeat it, play the rhythm
Naakka mookka naakka mookka…Naakka mookka, naakka mookka…
Naakka mookka naakka mookka…Naakka mookka, naakka mookka…
Naakka mookka naakka mookka…Naakka mookka, naakka mookka…
Haan…yee..hooo…haan haaaan…..ye ohooooHaan…yee..hooo…haan haaaan…..ye ohoooo
Female
Giru giru nnu ratinamSpinning round and round like a Ferris wheel
Thalaiya suthi oduthuHead spins and runs
Para para para pattinamFast-paced, restless city
Aanthai pola vizhikuthuStares wide open like an owl
Female
Velli kaasu venundaIf you want silver coins
Kanna kaatu devudaShow me the trick, oh Lord!
Adingadaa adingadaaBeat it, beat it!
Female
{Adra adrraa naakka mookkaBeat it, play the rhythm
Naakka mookka naakka mookka…Naakka mookka, naakka mookka…
Naakka mookka naakka mookka…Naakka mookka, naakka mookka…
Ahaaan …ye appadi thaanAhaaan… yeah, like that!
Ye oho hoo..ye ippadi thaanYeah oho hoo.. yeah, this way!
Female
Viru viru meetaruFast-running meter
Engilishu matteruEnglish matter
Raathirukku quarteruQuarter liquor for the night
Vidinchiruchu enthiruIt's morning now, wake up!
Female
Adra adrraa adra adrraaBeat it, beat it!
Adra adrraa naakka mookkaBeat it, play the rhythm
Naakka mookka naakka mookka…Naakka mookka, naakka mookka…
Naakka mookka naakka mookka…Naakka mookka, naakka mookka…
Female
{Adra adrraa naakka mookkaBeat it, play the rhythm
Naakka mookka naakka mookka…Naakka mookka, naakka mookka…
Naakka mookka naakka mookka…} (2)Naakka mookka, naakka mookka…
Whistling :…………………………[Whistling]
Chorus :Haan haan yeh yeh (2)Chorus: Haan haan yeah yeah
Chorus
{Naakka mookka naakka mookka…Naakka mookka, naakka mookka…
Naakka mookka naakka} (3)Naakka mookka, naakka

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Nakka Mukka is a iconic, high-energy Tamil 'Gaana' and 'Kuthu' street track that combines vibrant, foot-tapping rhythms with raw, unfiltered observations of urban and rural life in Tamil Nadu. The song references iconic locations in Chennai like Elephant Gate and Ellis Road, touching upon local street culture, food, daily struggles, drought, hunger, and fast-paced city life. Beneath its wildly energetic rhythm and infectious folk refrain lies a subtle commentary on social conditions, agrarian distress, and urban survival, urging people to dance through hardships.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Irattai Kilavi (Onomatopoeia)

Giru giru nnu ratinam / Para para para pattinam

Use of doubled rhythm words like 'Giru giru', 'Para para', and 'Viru viru' to vividly evoke rapid spinning, urban hurry, and fast motion.

Upamai (Simile)

Aanthai pola vizhikuthu

Comparing the sleepless, restless city staring at night to an owl using 'pola' (like).

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Yeh kuthankallu pottu vachu / Nattankallu pottu vachu

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines for rhythmic flow (e.g., Kuthankallu / Nattankallu).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed and sung by Vijay Antony (along with Tamil folk singer Madhumitha), 'Nakka Mukka' became a massive cultural phenomenon across India. It was famously featured in the Times of India 'A Day in the Life of India' campaign, which won two Gold Lions at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival in 2009.

Keep listening

More from Kadhalil Vizhunthen