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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Palapalapala Jilujilujilu

From Yaar Paiyyan · 1957

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
S. C. Krishnan, C. Gomathi
Music director
S. Dakshinamurthi
Details
Yaar Paiyyan1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pala pala palaShiny shiny shiny
Jilu jilu jiluCool cool cool
Hae pala pala palaHey shiny shiny shiny
Jilu jilu jiluCool cool cool
Baloonai paaruLook at the balloon
Chinaa baloonai paaruLook at the balloon from China
Jappaan baloonai paaruLook at the balloon from Japan
Male
Paarthavudan paiyan manasuUpon seeing it, the boy's heart
Thudikkidhu paaruLook, it beats fast
Vaanga thudikkidhu paaruLook, it beats to buy it
Paarthavudan paiyan manasuUpon seeing it, the boy's heart
Thudikkidhu paaruLook, it beats fast
Vaanga thudikkidhu paaruLook, it beats to buy it
Male
Hae thambi ….eee…Hey little brother... eee...
Paisaa koduthu vaangi vittaaOnce bought paying money
Kilambudhu paaru melaeLook at it rising up
Kilambudhu paaruLook at it rising
Ippa paaru ae thambi ada nallaa paarappaaNow look, hey little brother, look carefully man
Male
Paisaa koduthu vaangi vittaaOnce bought paying money
Kilambudhu paaru melaeLook at it rising up
Kilambudhu paaruLook at it rising
Naisaagavae kaathu vaakkilNicely floating in the direction of the wind
Nazhuvudhu paaruLook at it slipping away
Thambi nazhuvudhu paaruBrother, look at it slipping away
Naisaagavae kaathu vaakkilNicely floating in the direction of the wind
Nazhuvudhu paaruLook at it slipping away
Thambi nazhuvudhu paaruBrother, look at it slipping away
Male
Neelamaana podanlangaayaLike a long snake gourd
Pola thotram kodukkumIt gives an appearance
Idhu naalu anju onnaa saerndhaaIf four or five of these join together
Paambu padam edukkumIt lifts its hood like a snake
Idhu naalu anju onnaa saerndhaaIf four or five of these join together
Paambu padam edukkumIt lifts its hood like a snake
Male
Idhu vaayaalaeThis, with its mouth
Idhu vaayaalae kaatha pudichiCatching air through its mouth
Vayiru uppi perukkumIts stomach swells up big
Idhu vaayaalae kaatha pudichiCatching air through its mouth
Vayiru uppi perukkumIts stomach swells up big
Neeyum naanum nenaikkum munnae…Before you and I could even think...
Female
Thaenga… maangaa… sundal…Coconut... mango... sundal...
Thaenga maangaa sundalCoconut mango sundal
Thaenga maangaa sundalCoconut mango sundal
Paangaai pachai milagaai saerthuCombining green chillies neatly
Padhamaai seidha sundalSundal made perfectly
Idhu pattaani kadalai sundalThis is pea and chickpea sundal
Paangaai pachai milagaai saerthuCombining green chillies neatly
Padhamaai seidha sundalSundal made perfectly
Idhu pattaani kadalai sundalThis is pea and chickpea sundal
Female
Maadhirikki konjam thaarenI will give a little sample
Thinnu paarunga…haanTry eating it... haan
Maadhirikki konjam thaarenI will give a little sample
Thinnu paarungaTry eating it
Idhan nedi pattaa podhumJust smelling its aroma is enough
Naakku thanni oorungaYour tongue will water
Female
Thaenga maangaa sundalCoconut mango sundal
Thaenga maangaa sundalCoconut mango sundal
Paangaai pachai milagaai saerthuCombining green chillies neatly
Padhamaai seidha sundalSundal made perfectly
Idhu pattaani kadalai sundalThis is pea and chickpea sundal
Female
Veedhiyila vikkidhunnuJust because it is sold on the street
YelappamaagavaeDo not treat it lightheartedly
Neenga enna venaangaDon't reject it
Female
Veedhiyila vikkidhunnuJust because it is sold on the street
YelappamaagavaeDo not treat it lightheartedly
Neenga enna venaangaDon't reject it
Veru engum idhu polae agappadaadhungaYou won't get something like this anywhere else
Nainaa agappadaadhungaFriend, you won't get it
Female
Thaenga maangaa sundalCoconut mango sundal
Thaenga maangaa sundalCoconut mango sundal
Paangaai pachai milagaai saerthuCombining green chillies neatly
Padhamaai seidha sundalSundal made perfectly
Idhu pattaani kadalai sundalThis is pea and chickpea sundal
Idhu pattaani kadalai sundalThis is pea and chickpea sundal
Idhu pattaani kadalai sundalThis is pea and chickpea sundal
Thaengaa… maangaa… sundal…Coconut... mango... sundal...
Male
Ahaa… aaa….aaa….aaa….haei…Ahaa... aaa... aaa... aaa... haei...
Aazhaakku oranaa…One anna per aazhaakku measure...
Aazhaakku oranaa…One anna per aazhaakku measure...
Aazhaakku oranaa aazhaakku oranaaOne anna per aazhaakku measure, one anna per aazhaakku measure
Male
Kadappaa yelandha pazhamCuddapah jujube fruit
Kaattilae vilanja pazhamFruit grown in the forest
Female
Kadappaa yelandha pazhamCuddapah jujube fruit
Kaattilae vilanja pazhamFruit grown in the forest
Male
Pulikkaadha nalla pazhamGood fruit that is not sour
Puzhuvillaadha indha pazhamThis fruit without any worms
Male
Vaa vaathiyaarae …Come, teacher...
Thaen pola inikkum pazhamFruit that tastes sweet as honey
Thigattaadha osandha pazhamHigh quality fruit that never cloys
Female
Thaen pola inikkum pazhamFruit that tastes sweet as honey
Thigattaadha osandha pazhamHigh quality fruit that never cloys
Male
Ponaa varaadhungaOnce gone it won't return
Pozhudhu pochu odi vaangaTime is passing, run and come
Male
Vaa nainaa…Come, my friend...
Male
Aazhaakku oranaaOne anna per aazhaakku measure
Female :Aazhaakku oranaaFemale: One anna per aazhaakku measure
Male :Aazhaakku oranaaMale: One anna per aazhaakku measure
Female :Aazhaakku oranaaFemale: One anna per aazhaakku measure

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This street vendor song from the 1957 film Yaar Paiyyan captures the lively essence of street hawkers calling out to children and adults alike in mid-20th century Tamil Nadu. The vendors enthusiastically hawk colorful imported balloons from China and Japan, mouth-watering street snacks like coconut-mango-pea sundal, and fresh jujube fruits (yelandha pazham) from Cuddapah. Through playful imagery, the lyrics describe how balloons float in the breeze and resemble snake gourds or hooded cobras, while tempting passersby with delicious, spicy treats.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia (Erattai Kilavi)

Pala pala pala / Jilu jilu jilu

Use of rhythmic sensory sound words like 'Pala pala' (shining) and 'Jilu jilu' (cool/glitzy) to evoke visual and sensory delight.

Simile (Uwamai)

Neelamaana podanlangaaya / Pola thotram kodukkum

Comparing the shape and appearance of inflated balloons to long snake gourds ('podanlangaaya pola') and rearing snakes ('paambu padam edukkum').

Metaphor & Hyperbole

Thaen pola inikkum pazham

Describing the sweetness of jujube fruit as tasting like pure honey ('Thaen pola inikkum pazham').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Yaar Paiyyan' (1957) is a classic Tamil comedy film starring Gemini Ganesan and Savitri, directed by T. R. Raghunath. Lyricist A. Maruthakasi captured authentic local Madras street culture through street-hawker song tropes that were hugely popular in 1950s cinema.

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