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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oh Balu

From 100% Kadhal · 2018

Lyricist
Mohan Rajan
Singers
Sudharshan Ashok, Suchith Suresan
Music director
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Details
100% Kadhal2018

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Para para-nuAt an age full of restless energy,
Irukkura age-laAt this age we are in,
PadikanumnuThat we must study,
Evan kandupudichaanWho on earth discovered it?
Love plus loveAt a stage where we want
Pannugira stage-laTo do love plus love,
Chaos theoryChaos theory,
Evan padikka vachaanWho made us study that?
Chorus
Oh god…Oh god...
Naanga paranthida nenachomWe wished to fly,
Too bad…Too bad...
Oru rekka illaiyaeWe do not have wings!
Chorus
Oh god…Oh god...
Idhu rainbow vayasuThis is a colorful rainbow age,
Too bad…Too bad...
Adha valachittiyaeYou have bent and twisted it!
Chorus
Ellaam seriya seivaanaeHe will do everything perfectly,
Avan thaan balu oh balu…That is Balu, oh Balu...
Avan pola vera yaarumae illa keluThere is no one else like him, listen,
Nee kelu…You listen...
Chorus
Oscar adhathaanWe thought of winning
Vangaalanu nenachomThe Oscar award,
Rahman mundhi adhaBut A. R. Rahman got ahead
VangittaarungoAnd won it first!
First rank adhaiyaachumThinking we could at least get
Vangaalanu padichaaThe first rank by studying,
Balu paiyan irukkiraanThis boy Balu is already sitting there,
MudiyalangoWe just cannot beat him!
Male
Bathroom-il cinemaInstead of singing film songs
Paattukku thaan bathilaInside the bathroom,
Formula-va paatta paadidadaaSing formulas like a song!
Syllabus-a ellaamTreat the entire syllabus
Nee virumbi padikkumLike a colorful film screen
Vannathirai puthagamaa padichidadaaBook that you love to read!
Chorus
Ahaa…Ahaa...
Romba sariyaga sonnanHe said it so rightly,
Balu…oh oh hoo balu…Balu... oh oh hoo Balu...
Oho…oo ada avan pol ingaOho... who else here
Yaaru…ada yaaruIs like him... ah who?
Chorus
Ellaam seriya seivaanaeHe will do everything perfectly,
Avan thaan balu oh balu…That is Balu, oh Balu...
Avan pola vera yaarumae illa keluThere is no one else like him, listen,
Nee kelu…You listen...
Chorus
Edison mattumIf only Thomas Edison
Porakkaama irundhaHad not been born,
Bulb-a kandu pudichiruppomWe would have invented the bulb ourselves!
Grahambel mattum illaama irundhaIf Alexander Graham Bell hadn't been around,
Telephone adha uruvaakki iruppomWe would have created the telephone!
Male
Telephone mattumIf people thought telephone alone
Podhuminnu irundhaWas enough,
Cellphone kaiyil vandhirukkumaWould the cellphone have reached our hands?
Cycle-um bike-um life-innu irundhaIf bicycle and bike were considered the peak of life,
Benz gethu kaattirukkumaWould the Benz show off its swag?
Chorus
Ahaa…Ahaa...
Romba sariyaga sonnanHe said it so rightly,
Balu…oh oh hoo balu…Balu... oh oh hoo Balu...
Oho…oo ada avan pol ingaOho... who else here
Yaaru…ada yaaruIs like him... ah who?
Chorus
Ellaam seriya seivaanaeHe will do everything perfectly,
Avan thaan balu oh balu…That is Balu, oh Balu...
Avan pola vera yaarumae illa keluThere is no one else like him, listen,
Nee kelu…You listen...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This upbeat youth track captures the hilarious frustrations and academic pressures faced by college students. The lyrics contrast the natural desires of youth—romance, fun, and freedom—with demanding subjects like chaos theory. Amidst this, the character Balu shines as an effortless perfectionist who dominates academic ranks, inspiring equal parts awe and lighthearted jealousy among his peers. The song mixes youthful humor with clever arguments about human progress and learning, celebrating Balu's unique problem-solving perspective.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Vannathirai puthagamaa padichidadaa

Comparing standard textbooks to a colorful silver screen movie to make studying sound enjoyable.

Hyperbole / Irony

Edison mattum Porakkaama irundha Bulb-a kandu pudichiruppom

Exaggerated humorous claim that the students themselves would have invented the lightbulb had Edison not been born.

Iyaipu (Rhyming end words)

Avan thaan balu oh balu... / Avan pola vera yaarumae illa kelu

The usage of matching ending sounds ('balu' and 'kelu') creates a rhythmic end rhyme.

Did you know?

Trivia

100% Kadhal (2019) is the official Tamil remake of the blockbuster 2011 Telugu film '100% Love'. GV Prakash Kumar played the lead role of Balu and also composed the film's musical score, portraying a top-ranking college student obsessed with perfection.

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