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Lyrics & meaning

Naanum Oru Rakkozhithan

From Penmani Aval Kanmani · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Penmani Aval Kanmani1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Naanum oru raakkozhithaanI am a night owl too
Neeyum oru raakkozhithaanYou are a night owl too
Appan pulla pantham illa thanniyadichchaaThere is no father-son bond once alcohol is consumed
Kuppan suppan polathaandaa milliyadichchaaOnce we drink a shot, we are just like any random Kuppan and Suppan
Male : Oo…..nainaa…Male: Oh... father...
Male :Oo…..rasaMale: Oh... my dear son
Male
Naanum oru raakkozhithaanI am a night owl too
Neeyum oru raakkozhithaanYou are a night owl too
Male :Appan pulla pantham illa thanniyadichchaaMale: There is no father-son bond once alcohol is consumed
Kuppan suppan polathaandaa milliyadichchaaOnce we drink a shot, we are just like any random Kuppan and Suppan
Male :Oo…..nainaa…nainaaMale: Oh... father... father
Male :Oo…..rasa….mavanae…Male: Oh... dear king... my son...
Male
Oorukkulla thanni panjamThere is a water scarcity in the town
Antha panjam ingae illaiThat scarcity is not present here
Male :Kettavuan kidaikkuthappaaMale: Whatever you ask for, you get it right away, man
Kadaa mark oorukkullaeThe 'Kadaa' brand liquor in the town
Male
Seesaavaththaan kaiyil yaenthuHold the bottle in your hand
Rasa neethaan devadaas-suMy dear king, you are Devadas himself
Male :Nainaa neenga naalaang glass-suMale: Father, you are on your fourth glass
Naanum ippo aaraang glass-suAnd I am on my sixth glass now
Male
Nammaattamaa oru appan pullaA father and son like us
Male :Adada daei naan paaththuttaenMale: Oh boy, I have seen it all
Intha naattil illavae illappaaThere is none like us in this entire country, man
Male :Natta nadu veedhiyilae kottamadippomWe shall make merry right in the middle of the street
Male
Naanum oru raakkozhithaanI am a night owl too
Neeyum oru kokkarakkoAnd you are a rooster crowing 'kokkarakko'
Appan pulla pantham illa thanniyadichchaaThere is no father-son bond once alcohol is consumed
Kuppan suppan polathaandaa milliyadichchaaOnce we drink a shot, we are just like any random Kuppan and Suppan
Male :Oo…..nainaa…Male: Oh... father...
Male :Naan peththa oo…..rasa….Male: Oh my dear king born to me...
Male :EngappaaMale: My father
Male
Aagaayaththil natchaththiramThe stars in the sky
Onnaa rendaa ennikkooruCount them, is it one or two?
Male :Naanarinja natchaththiramMale: The only star I know
Rajinikanth super star-ruIs Superstar Rajinikanth
Male
Raaththiriyil minnurathu sooriyanaa ChanthiranaaIs it the Sun or Moon shining at night?
Male :Pattapagal neram idhu haangMale: Hey, it is broad daylight right now!
Kettaa bathil solluvenaaWill I answer if you ask such things?
Male
Ammaadiyov nee arivaalithaan kannuOh my goodness, you are a clever one, dear
Male :Om pillaiyum nainaa umpolaththaan appidiyaeMale: Your son is just like you, father, exactly the same
Male :En udambu pullarikkum unna nenaichchaaMy body gets goosebumps thinking about you
Male :AiyayyayoMale: Oh dear me!
Male
Naanum oru raakkozhithaanI am a night owl too
Neeyum oru kokkarakkoAnd you are a rooster crowing 'kokkarakko'
Appan pulla pantham illa thanniyadichchaaThere is no father-son bond once alcohol is consumed
Kuppan suppan polathaandaa milliyadichchaaOnce we drink a shot, we are just like any random Kuppan and Suppan
Male :Right-tuMale: Right-turn
Male :Oo…..nainaa…Male: Oh... father...
Male :Left-tuMale: Left-turn
Male :Oo…..rasa….Male: Oh... my dear son...
Male :Aiyo oo….nainaa nainaa nainaaMale: Oh no, oh... father, father, father
Male :Oo….rasa en rasa…aaa…Male: Oh... dear king, my king... ah...
Male :Polaam right-tu…Male: Let's go right...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the film 'Penmani Aval Kanmani' (1988) is a humorous, lighthearted drunk duet between a father and his son. In a state of total intoxication, the social hierarchy and traditional father-son bond dissolve into equal camaraderie, where they playfully call each other night owls and address each other as equals like common bystanders ('Kuppan Suppan'). Throughout the song, Vaali's lyrics depict their comedic banters, references to alcohol glass counts, pop-culture nods like Rajinikanth being the only star they recognize, and their clumsy wanderings down the street. It emphasizes a lighthearted, comedic bonding moment filled with affection, satire, and drunken cheer.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhyme (Edhukai / Monai)

Naanum oru raakkozhithaan / Neeyum oru raakkozhithaan

Matching sound patterns between lines ('Raakkozhithaan' and 'Raakkozhithaan', or 'Pantham' and 'Thanniyadichchaa') creating a rhythmic street-singing feel.

Idiom / Colloquial Alliteration

Kuppan suppan polathaandaa milliyadichchaa

Use of 'Kuppan Suppan' as a colloquial Tamil rhyming pair representing ordinary, anonymous people.

Metaphor

Rasa neethaan devadaas-su

Comparing the drunken, love-lorn state to 'Devadas', a classic pop-culture symbol of tragic drinking lovers.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Penmani Aval Kanmani' is a 1988 Indian Tamil-language drama film directed by Visu. Visu is known for portraying family dynamics and intergenerational relationships with signature comedic banter and colloquial dialogues, as showcased in this father-son drunken duet.

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