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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Bombayin Babu

From Paattaliyin Sabatham · 1958

Lyricist
Kambadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
O. P. Nayyar
Details
Paattaliyin Sabatham1958

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Naan bombayin babuI am Bombay's Babu
En perae thillanaMy name itself is Thillana
English tuneil paaduvenI will sing in an English tune
Hindustaani gaana yeiHindustani songs, hey!
Male
Naan bombayin babuI am Bombay's Babu
En perae thillanaMy name itself is Thillana
English tuneil paaduvenI will sing in an English tune
Hindustaani gaanaHindustani songs
Naan bombayin babuI am Bombay's Babu
Male
Ivvulagae thaan unadhaeThis world is entirely yours
Aadiduvaai ulagodaeDance along with the world
Sakthi kondoor naamaeWe are the ones endowed with strength
Ada nagaithae nagaithae selvomAh, let us march forward with laughter and joy
Ivvulagae thaan unadhaeThis world is entirely yours
Aadiduvaai ulagodaeDance along with the world
Sakthi kondoor naamaeWe are the ones endowed with strength
Ada nagaithae nagaithae selvomAh, let us march forward with laughter and joy
Solluvaen kael solluvaenI will tell you, listen, I will tell
Indha jaalavaan thandhaanaThis trickster/entertainer has brought this melody
Male
Naan bombayin babuI am Bombay's Babu
En perae thillanaMy name itself is Thillana
English tuneil paaduvenI will sing in an English tune
Hindustaani gaanaHindustani songs
Naan bombayin babuI am Bombay's Babu
Male
Silarae uzhaithiduvaaraeSome people toil and work hard
Silarae thazhaithiduvaraeSome people flourish and thrive
Arivai pettrae vaazhvirYou shall live life gaining wisdom
Ada thaazhvai maaithiduveeraeAh, you shall eradicate degradation and misery
Silarae uzhaithiduvaaraeSome people toil and work hard
Silarae thazhaithiduvaraeSome people flourish and thrive
Arivai pettrae vaazhvirYou shall live life gaining wisdom
Ada thaazhvai maaithiduveeraeAh, you shall eradicate degradation and misery
Solluvaen kael solluvaenI will tell you, listen, I will tell
Indha jaalavaan thandhaanaThis trickster/entertainer has brought this melody
Male
Naan bombayin babuI am Bombay's Babu
En perae thillanaMy name itself is Thillana
English tuneil paaduvenI will sing in an English tune
Hindustaani gaanaHindustani songs
Naan bombayin babuI am Bombay's Babu
Male
Vandhen ummin pandhuI came into your sphere
Russia chinamum sendrenI visited Russia and China as well
Sevai paangai pagirndhenI shared a spirit of service
Endhan comedy kanathalaeThrough my humorous presence
Vandhen ummin pandhuI came into your sphere
Russia chinamum sendrenI visited Russia and China as well
Sevai paangai pagirndhenI shared a spirit of service
Endhan comedy kanathalaeThrough my humorous presence
Solluvaen kael solluvaenI will tell you, listen, I will tell
Indha jaalavaan thandhaanaThis trickster/entertainer has brought this melody
Male
Haei naan bombayin babuHey, I am Bombay's Babu
En perae thillanaMy name itself is Thillana
English tuneil paaduvenI will sing in an English tune
Hindustaani gaanaHindustani songs
Naan bombayin babuI am Bombay's Babu

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Naan Bombayin Babu is a lively, upbeat song from the 1958 Tamil movie 'Paattaliyin Sabatham'. The protagonist presents himself as an entertaining global wanderer who brings laughter, music, and optimism. He blends Western rhythms with Hindustani musical style to deliver a message of unity, joy, and social awakening.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Silarae uzhaithiduvaarae / Silarae thazhaithiduvarae

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'uzhaithiduvaare' and 'thazhaithiduvarae'.

Monae (First letter alliteration)

Ada nagaithae nagaithae selvom

Repetition of initial consonant sounds within a line.

Repetition / Anaphora

Naan bombayin babu

Repeated line structures to emphasize the character's upbeat global persona.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track features music composed by famous Hindi film music composer O. P. Nayyar, bringing his signature jaunty Western-Hindustani fusion sound to Tamil cinema in 'Paattaliyin Sabatham' (1958).

Keep listening

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