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Isaimozhi
Ilamai Kaalangal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Padippula Zero

From Ilamai Kaalangal · 1983

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
S. P. Sailaja, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ilamai Kaalangal
Movie release year
1983
Lyrics added on
18 Nov 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Padippula zero…
Nadippula hero…
Padippula zero
Nadippula hero
Roattilae romeo
Padippula zero
Nadippula hero
Roattilae romeo
Pattikkaattu maamaa
Padippa marakkalaamaa aa aa aa
Vettip pechu pesi
Suthi thiriyalaamaa
Adippom sight
Adhu thaan right
Endru irukkalaamaa
Alaiyoo alanju odambum melinju
Veyilil karukkalaamaa
Padippula zero
Nadippula hero
Roattilae romeo…oo…
Padippula zero
Nadippula hero
Roattilae romeo…oo…
College pengal pakkam
Teenage kangal moikkum
Ver yedhum vela illa
Vela senjaa jolly illa hoo
Kalloori pennai enni
Kaal valikka thavamum panni
Dhinam thorum yengalaamaa
Semathiyaaga vaangalaamaa
Eppodhu thaan
Ungal ennam neraagum
Mm hm idhu
Ingu maara naalaagum
Padippadhu avasiyam
Kidaippadhu anubavam
Idhu oru pudhu vidha thirukkural hae…
Padippula zero
Nadippula hero
Roattilae romeo…oo..
Padippula zero
Nadippula hero
Roattilae romeo…
Pattikkaattu maamaa
Padippa marakkalaamaa aa aa aa
Vettip pechu pesi
Suthi thiriyalaamaa
Adippom sight
Adhu thaan right
Endru irukkalaamaa
Alaiyoo alanju odambum melinju
Veyilil karukkalaamaa
Unnoda padippai nambi
Nam naadu irukku thambi
Neeyaaga thirundhalaamaa
Thiramai undu varundhalaamaa hoo
Unnoda appan paattan
Ozhungaaga saetha panatha
Veenaaga azhikkalaamaa
Yeduthu sonnaal moraikkalaamaa
Sonnaaldhinam varum
Kovam theeraadhaa
Pinnaal varum edhir kaalam
Thondraadhaa
Thiramaiyai valarthidu
dhinam dhinam padithidu
Pala vidha ninaivinil alaigira manamae
Padippula zero
Nadippula hero
Roattilae romeo…oo..hoo oo hoo
Padippula zero
Nadippula hero
Roattilae romeo…
Pattikkaattu maamaa
Padippa marakkalaamaa aa aa aa
Vettip pechu pesi
Suthi thiriyalaamaa
Adippom sight
Adhu thaan right
Endru irukkalaamaa
Alaiyoo alanju odambum melinju
Veyilil karukkalaamaa
Padippula zero
Nadippula hero
Roattilae romeo…
Padippula zero
Nadippula hero
Roattilae romeo…huuu…
Zero in studies...
A hero in acting...
Zero in studies,
a hero in acting,
a Romeo on the streets!
Zero in studies,
a hero in acting,
a Romeo on the streets!
Hey rustic fellow,
should you forget your studies? Ah...
Talking idle nonsense,
should you wander aimlessly?
"Let's check out girls,
that is the right thing to do!"
Should you really live like that?
Roaming around until you grow thin,
should you bake in the scorching sun?
Zero in studies,
a hero in acting,
a Romeo on the streets... ooh...
Zero in studies,
a hero in acting,
a Romeo on the streets... ooh...
Toward the college girls,
teenage eyes swarm around!
You have no other work to do,
and doing real work isn't fun, huh!
Dreaming only of a college girl,
waiting like a penance till your legs ache,
should you keep longing day after day?
Do you want to get beaten up badly?
When on earth
will your mindset become right?
Mmm-hmm, for this
to change around here, it will take time!
Studying is essential,
what you gain is experience;
this is a new kind of Thirukkural (classic book of wisdom), hey!
Zero in studies,
a hero in acting,
a Romeo on the streets... ooh...
Zero in studies,
a hero in acting,
a Romeo on the streets...
Hey rustic fellow,
should you forget your studies? Ah...
Talking idle nonsense,
should you wander aimlessly?
"Let's check out girls,
that is the right thing to do!"
Should you really live like that?
Roaming around until you grow thin,
should you bake in the scorching sun?
Relying on your education,
our whole nation waits, little brother!
Won't you reform on your own?
You have great talent, so why regret later, huh?
The wealth that your father and grandfather
earned and saved with hard work,
should you waste and squander it away?
If someone corrects you, should you glare at them?
When you are told the truth,
won't your daily anger ever cool down?
The future that lies ahead,
won't you ever see it?
Develop your skills,
study hard day after day,
O mind that wanders in countless daydreams!
Zero in studies,
a hero in acting,
a Romeo on the streets... ooh hoo oo hoo!
Zero in studies,
a hero in acting,
a Romeo on the streets...
Hey rustic fellow,
should you forget your studies? Ah...
Talking idle nonsense,
should you wander aimlessly?
"Let's check out girls,
that is the right thing to do!"
Should you really live like that?
Roaming around until you grow thin,
should you bake in the scorching sun?
Zero in studies,
a hero in acting,
a Romeo on the streets...
Zero in studies,
a hero in acting,
a Romeo on the streets... hoo ooh ooh...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Padippula Zero' from the 1983 Tamil film 'Ilamai Kaalangal' is a playful yet didactic track that addresses youth culture, procrastination, and lack of focus among college-going students. It humorously critiques young men who neglect their studies ('zero in studies') while pretending to be heroic or romantic ('hero in acting, Romeo on the road'). The song lightheartedly scolds them for wandering aimlessly, chasing girls, and wasting their parents' hard-earned money. Simultaneously, the lyricist Gangai Amaran imparts valuable moral guidance, emphasizing that education is the backbone of personal growth and national progress. It urges youth to drop their ego, reform themselves, hone their latent talents, and focus on building a secure future rather than squandering their young years on frivolous pursuits.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emonai / Rhyme (Monai and Ethirai)

Padippula zero / Nadippula hero

The lyrics rely on snappy internal rhyming such as 'Padippula' and 'Nadippula', alongside 'zero' and 'hero', creating a rhythmic, memorable hook.

Metaphor / Literary Allusion

Roattilae romeo

Refers to street loafers as 'Romeo', using the famous Shakespearean romantic character metaphorically to describe young men pursuing love interest on roads.

Metaphor / Allusion to Tamil Literature

Idhu oru pudhu vidha thirukkural hae…

Compares practical advice given to youth to a modern version of 'Thirukkural', the ancient Tamil ethical treatise.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed with unknown credits in some records, 'Ilamai Kaalangal' (1983) featured a soundtrack composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by his brother Gangai Amaran, who also directed the film.

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