Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oh Mama Mama

From Minnale · 2001

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Shankar Mahadevan, Tippu
Music director
Harris Jayaraj
Movie name
Minnale
Movie release year
2001
Lyrics added on
21 Apr 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kukkukoo…kukkukoo…kukkukoo….koo
Therukkooththu
Kukkukoo…kukkukoo…kukkukoo….koo
Rhythm pottu….
Kukkukoo…kukkukoo…kukkukoo….koo
Vidu joottu
Kukkukoo…kukkukoo…kukkukoo….koo
Gaanaa paattu
Oo maamaa maamaa maamaa
Maama maama maamoamiyaa
Oo sunday..monday..tuesday…
Ezhu naalum keep it free yaa
Oo maamaa maamaa maamaa
Maama maama maamoamiyaa
Oo sunday..monday..tuesday…
Ezhu naalum keep it free yaa
Bismillaa bismillaa
Nam vaazhvai vaazhvom playful-aa
Oo laallaa oo laallaa
Idhu western gaanaa gopaalaa
Ulagaththai idhu kalakkidum kalakkidum
Minsaara paadalaa
Oo maamaa maamaa maamaa
Maama maama maamoamiyaa
Oo sunday..monday..tuesday…
Ezhu naalum keep it free yaa
Bismillaa bismillaa
Nam vaazhvai vaazhvom playful-aa
Oo laallaa oo laallaa
Idhu western gaanaa gopaalaa
Ulagaththai idhu kalakkidum kalakkidum
Minsaara…. paadalaaa
Kukkukoo…kukkukoo…kukkukoo….koo
Therukkooththu
Kukkukoo…kukkukoo…kukkukoo….koo
Rhythm pottu….
Kukkukoo…kukkukoo…kukkukoo….koo
Vidu joottu
Kukkukoo…kukkukoo…kukkukoo….koo
Gaanaa paattu
Vaazhadhae maamoolaa
Nee podu new rule-aa
Life enna naam padikkum high school-aa
Yellow linw-aa.. ee.pee.koo
Ishtam pola neeyum go
Inbaththukku kodi roottu engengoo
Thamizh paattaaladi
Indha world-ai pidi
Engum yetrukkodi
Aamaa naanga ready..eeeee
Oo maamaa maamaa maamaa
Maama maama maamoamiyaa
Oo sunday..monday..tuesday…
Ezhu naalum keep it free yaa
Bismillaa bismillaa
Nam vaazhvai vaazhvom playful-aa
Oo laallaa oo laallaa
Idhu western gaanaa gopaalaa
Ulagaththai idhu kalakkidum kalakkidum
Minsaara…. paadalaaa
Nana tara tara na na na
Nana tara tara na na na
Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na….
Venum venum vae vae venum
Venum venum vae vae venum
Kangalil telescope varam venum
Kaalgalil rocket speed venum…venumm
Film-u kaata jeans venum..
Figure-a theththa benz venum..venummm..
Bill gates koodaththaan
Mangaaththaa aadiththaan
Banku kadai baaki ellaam theerpomaa
Veerappan koodaththaan
Snow balling aadiththaan
Hostages ellaaraiyum meetpomaa
Engal vaazhkkaiyilae
Oru full stop illae
Engum irangi yera
Adhu bus stop illae…ehhh……
Oo maamaa…oo maamaa…oo maamaa
Oo maamaa maamaa maamaa
Maama maama maamoamiyaa
Oo sunday..monday..tuesday…
Ezhu naalum keep it free yaa
Bismillaa bismillaa
Nam vaazhvai vaazhvom playful-aa
Oo laallaa oo laallaa
Idhu western gaanaa gopaalaa
Ulagaththai idhu kalakkidum kalakkidum
Minsaara…. paadalaaa
Kukukkoo… kukukkoo… kukukkoo… koo
Street theatre!
Kukukkoo… kukukkoo… kukukkoo… koo
Dropping the beat...
Kukukkoo… kukukkoo… kukukkoo… koo
Make a run for it!
Kukukkoo… kukukkoo… kukukkoo… koo
A Gaana song!
Oh Mama Mama Mama!
Mama Mama Mamma Mia!
Oh Sunday... Monday... Tuesday...
Keep all seven days free!
Oh Mama Mama Mama!
Mama Mama Mamma Mia!
Oh Sunday... Monday... Tuesday...
Keep all seven days free!
Bismillah, Bismillah!
Let's live our life playfully!
Oh la la, Oh la la!
This is a Western Gaana, Gopala!
This will rock and shake the whole world,
an electric song!
Oh Mama Mama Mama!
Mama Mama Mamma Mia!
Oh Sunday... Monday... Tuesday...
Keep all seven days free!
Bismillah, Bismillah!
Let's live our life playfully!
Oh la la, Oh la la!
This is a Western Gaana, Gopala!
This will rock and shake the whole world,
an electric... song!
Kukukkoo… kukukkoo… kukukkoo… koo
Street theatre!
Kukukkoo… kukukkoo… kukukkoo… koo
Dropping the beat...
Kukukkoo… kukukkoo… kukukkoo… koo
Make a run for it!
Kukukkoo… kukukkoo… kukukkoo… koo
A Gaana song!
Don't live an ordinary routine life,
write your own new rules!
Is life just a high school for us to keep studying?
Forget yellow traffic lines and penal codes,
just go wherever you please!
There are millions of paths to happiness everywhere!
With a Tamil song,
conquer this world!
Hoist your flag everywhere!
Yes, we are ready!
Oh Mama Mama Mama!
Mama Mama Mamma Mia!
Oh Sunday... Monday... Tuesday...
Keep all seven days free!
Bismillah, Bismillah!
Let's live our life playfully!
Oh la la, Oh la la!
This is a Western Gaana, Gopala!
This will rock and shake the whole world,
an electric... song!
Nana thara thara na na na
Nana thara thara na na na
Na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na...
We want, we want, we-we-want!
We want, we want, we-we-want!
We want the gift of telescopes in our eyes!
We want rocket speed in our feet... we want it!
We need jeans to show off our style...
We need a Benz to impress the girls... we want it!
Playing Mangatha (a card game)
with Bill Gates,
shall we pay off all our bank and store debts?
Having a snowball fight
with Veerappan,
shall we rescue all the hostages?
In our life,
there is no full stop!
To get down and climb back on,
it is not a bus stop!
Oh Mama... Oh Mama... Oh Mama!
Oh Mama Mama Mama!
Mama Mama Mamma Mia!
Oh Sunday... Monday... Tuesday...
Keep all seven days free!
Bismillah, Bismillah!
Let's live our life playfully!
Oh la la, Oh la la!
This is a Western Gaana, Gopala!
This will rock and shake the whole world,
an electric... song!
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Mama Mama (also known as Western Gaana / Bismillah) is a high-energy youth anthem from the movie Minnale (2001). The song expresses the rebellious, carefree, and vibrant spirit of college youth who refuse to live by conventional rules or rigid societal norms. Celebrating freedom, camaraderie, and boundless ambition, the lyrics encourage living life to the fullest every day of the week. With humorous pop-culture references ranging from Bill Gates and gambling to local folklore and high-speed ambitions, lyricist Vaali captures the imaginative, larger-than-life dreams of college students. The song blends traditional Chennai street Gaana rhythm with Western synth arrangements, symbolizing the fusion of local identity with global aspirations.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (Rhyming end words)

Vaazhadhae maamoolaa / Nee podu new rule-aa / Life enna naam padikkum high school-aa

The lines end with matching sounds ('maamoolaa', 'rule-aa', 'school-aa') creating a lively rhythmic flow.

Ethugai (Second-letter assonance)

Thamizh paattaaladi / Indha world-ai pidi

The second consonant sound ('m' in Thamizh / 'n' sound cluster matching) pairs rhythmically across the two imperative phrases.

Metaphor

Minsaara paadalaa

Describing the song as 'electric' (minsaaram) metaphorically emphasizes its shockwave energy and thrill.

Hyperbole / Juxtaposition

Bill gates koodaththaan / Mangaaththaa aadiththaan

An exaggerated and humorous image of playing local card games (Mangatha) with billionaire Bill Gates to clear bank debts.

Did you know?

Trivia

Minnale (2001) marked the sensationally successful debut of composer Harris Jayaraj in Tamil cinema. This song features a rare fusion of traditional Chennai Gaana folk rhythm with Western pop synthesizer arrangements, performed with explosive energy by Shankar Mahadevan, Tippu, and actor Vikram.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Minnale

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.