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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nama Singaari Saraku

From Kaakki Sattai · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kaakki Sattai1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vaazhaippazham tholurichchiPeeling the banana skin,
Paanaiyila ooravachchiSoaking it in a pot,
Vaanaliyil raappagalaaDay and night in the pan,
Kaachchi inga vachchirukkuBoiled and kept right here,
Paaththaalae thanni varum…ishhh… appa..Just looking at it makes one's mouth water... ishhh... oh father..
Paakkuravan naakkulathaanIn the tongue of anyone who sees it,
Paalaattum ayyo thenaattam ayyayyayyoLike milk, oh dear, like honey, oh my goodness!
Vaadaivarum mookkulathaanThe aroma reaches the nose,
Male
{Namma singaari sarakku{Our Singaari's liquor
Nalla sarakkuIs good quality liquor,
Summa gummunnu yeruthuIt hits strongly and wonderfully,
Kicku enakku} (2)Giving me a great kick!} (2)
Male
Naan vitterinjen salliyaI threw away small change,
Ada ooththikkitten milliyaHey, I poured myself a peg,
Naan vitterinjen salliyaI threw away small change,
Ooththikkitten milliyaPoured myself a peg,
Kuthirai mela yeri poyiRiding high on a horse,
Vaangga poren dilliyaiI am going to conquer Delhi!
Male
Namma singaari sarakkuOur Singaari's liquor,
Nalla sarakkuIs good quality liquor,
Summa gummunnu yeruthuIt hits strongly and wonderfully,
Kicku enakkuGiving me a great kick!
Male
Saaraayam kudichchaakkaaIf you drink arrack,
Ada sangeetham thaenaa varum..Hey, music flows sweetly like honey..
Mmm…aaahaaaa…aaaa…aah aaa..aaa..aaaMmm…aaahaaaa…aaaa…aah aaa..aaa..aaa
Saaraayam kudichchaakkaaIf you drink arrack,
Ada sangeetham thaenaa varumHey, music flows sweetly like honey,
Sangeetham thaenaa vanthaaWhen music comes sweetly like honey,
Kooda ingitham thaanaa varumEtiquette comes along naturally with it!
Male
Ada thavakkalaiHey frog,
Saththam sagikkalaiI can't tolerate your noise,
Kuttai kulaththulaeIn the muddy pond,
Kaththi pazhagalaeYou haven't practiced shouting proper tunes,
Male
Nammakitta kaththukkoLearn from me,
Vaaththiyara oththukkoAccept me as the master,
Eththanaiyo vithaiyaiSo many tricks and skills,
Vachchirukken paaththukkoI have stored up, look here!
Male
Uchchanthalai keezhurukkaWith crown of head facing down,
Ullangaal melirukkaAnd soles of feet facing up,
Nikkattumaa nadakkattumaa…..hooiyaaShall I stand or shall I walk?..... hooiyaa!
Male
Namma singaari sarakku …sarakkuOur Singaari's liquor... liquor,
Summa gummunnu yeruthuIt hits strongly and wonderfully,
Kicku enakkuGiving me a great kick!
Male
Naan vitterinjen salliyaI threw away small change,
Ada ooththikkitten milliyaHey, I poured myself a peg,
Naan vitterinjen salliyaI threw away small change,
Ooththikkitten milliyaPoured myself a peg,
Kuthirai mela yeri poyiRiding high on a horse,
Vaangga poren dilliyaiI am going to conquer Delhi!
Male
Namma singaari sarakkuOur Singaari's liquor,
Nalla sarakkuIs good quality liquor,
Summa gummunnu yeruthuIt hits strongly and wonderfully,
Kicku enakkuGiving me a great kick!
Male
Munnaadi irukkuthadaaRight in front stands,
Namma mookkaayi idly kadaiOur Mookkaayi's idli shop,
Pinnaalae rusikkumadaaBehind it lies taste,
Iva soodaana keeravadaiHer hot spinach vada!
Male
Idhu manakkudhuIt smells delicious,
Ennai mayakkudhuIt intoxicates me,
Pasi edukkudhuHunger strikes,
Pakkam izhukkudhuIt pulls me closer,
Male
Puththam pudhu aapamaBrand new appam,
Thottu konjam paapomaShall we touch and taste a little?
Thinnuputtu moththamaaAfter eating it all up,
Dhuttu enna keppomaaWill we ask for the bill or pay money?
Male
Sutta karuvaadirukkuThere is roasted dry fish,
Vaaththumuttai varuththirukkuFried duck eggs are there,
Adikkadi naan kadichchikkathaan…hooiyaaFor me to munch on frequently... hooiyaa!
Male
Namma singaari sarakkuOur Singaari's liquor,
Nalla sarakkuIs good quality liquor,
Summa gummunnu yeruthuIt hits strongly and wonderfully,
Kicku enakkuGiving me a great kick!
Male
Naan vitterinjen salliyaI threw away small change,
Ada ooththikkitten milliyaHey, I poured myself a peg,
Naan vitterinjen salliyaI threw away small change,
Ooththikkitten milliyaPoured myself a peg,
Kuthirai mela yeri poyiRiding high on a horse,
Vaangga poren dilliyaiI am going to conquer Delhi!
Male
Singaari sarakkuSingaari's liquor,
Summa gummunnu yeruthuIt hits strongly and wonderfully,
Namma singaari sarakkuOur Singaari's liquor,
Summa gummunnu yeruthuIt hits strongly and wonderfully,
Pipipipipee pipipee…Pipipipipee pipipee…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Namma Singaari Sarakku is an iconic Tamil folk-style liquor-dance song from the 1985 blockbuster Kaakki Sattai. The song captures the lively, lighthearted antics of a high-spirited protagonist enjoying local brew ('sarakku') while boasting about his musical talent, street food delicacies, and fearless grand ambitions of riding a horse to conquer Delhi. Vaali uses humorous, highly colloquial Tamil slang to paint a sensory picture of sensory delights—from hot spinach vadas and appams to fried duck eggs—intertwined with comedic drunk philosophy. Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung dynamic vocal improvisations by Kamal Haasan himself, the song is famed for its high energy and unique choreography. Kamal Haasan performs complex dance acrobatic feats, including performing steps upside down, perfectly matching the ecstatic and wild spirit of the track.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Etugai (Second-Letter Rhyme)

Naan vitterinjen salliya / Ada ooththikkitten milliya

Rhyming of the second consonant sound across consecutive lines ('salliya' and 'milliya').

Upamai (Simile)

Paalaattum ayyo thenaattam ayyayyayyo

Direct comparison using 'aattam' (like), comparing the taste and experience to milk and honey.

Uruvagam & Utpreksai (Hyperbole & Imagery)

Kuthirai mela yeri poyi / Vaangga poren dilliyai

Exaggerated imagery reflecting intoxicated confidence—claiming he will ride a horse to conquer Delhi after a single peg.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Namma Singaari Sarakku' from Kaakki Sattai (1985) was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and famously rendered by Kamal Haasan himself. The song became a landmark dance number in Tamil cinema due to Kamal Haasan's energetic performance and physical agility, where he literally sings and dances upside down (on his head/hands) as described in the line 'Uchchanthalai keezhurukka, ullangaal melirukka'.

Keep listening

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