Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Kadhalan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pettai Rap

From Kadhalan · 1994

Lyricist
S. Shankar
Singers
Suresh Peters, Theni Kunjarammal, Shahul Hameed
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Kadhalan
Movie release year
1994
Lyrics added on
18 Sept 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ah…haaa…ah ah haaa…
Ah…haaa…
Rhythm of life
Blue clear mountain
Mixed with attitude
Funky drums from hell
Saidapettai chrompettai
Ranipettai pettai rap
Pettai rap… pettai rap…pettai rap
Indru enna nalai enna
Dhinasari adhae
Kalai enna malai enna
Matramillaiyae
Marandhiruppomae
Kavalai marandhiruppomae
Kobam vandhal konjam
Oththi vaippomae
Ada get up and dance
Ithu thaan new chance
Un kayil ellam irukkudhada
Iss ee ki da…iss ee ki da
Mettu podalam
Mudhal yar mudhal yar
Mudhala mudhala mudhala
Petta rap…. petta rap
Petta rap…. petta rap….
Pettai rap ….
Ammapettai ayyampettai
Thenampettai thengai mattai
Ammapettai ayyampettai… pettai rap
Thenampettai thengai mattai
Hey kasenna panamenna
Iruppadhu oru life
Podhumada sami
Enakku oru wife
Thirandhu vaippomae
Manasai thirandhu vaippomae
Varuvadhu yar ena
Vittuthan parpomae
Ada unakkena pirandhadhu
Unakae thaan
Kidachadha vaichukkoda
Avvalavu thaan
Nadapadhuthan
Nadappadhuthan unmai
Vidiyum paar vidiyum paar
Vidiya vidiya vidiya vidya
Pettai rap… pettai rap
Pettai rap …. pettai rap
Petta rap ooo..ooo…petta rap ooo…ooo
Petta rap ooo..ooo…petta rap..ooo…ooo
Petta rap
Vadagai currentu muravasal
Packet palu pullakutti
Schoolu feesu nallennai
Mannennai ravai ration
Palm oil pacharisi godhumai
Pathala pathala
Kasu konjam kooda pathalaiyae
Orana rendana undiyala udachu
Nalana ettana kadana udana vangi
Orana rendana undiyala udachu
Nalana ettana kadana udana vangi
Anda gunda adagu vachum
Anju pathu pichai eduthum
Pathala pathala pathala pathala
Gnana pazhamae
Gnana pazhamae
Nee chevvaipettai
Gnana pazhamae
Gnana pazhamae ..ooo..ooo
Gnana pazhamae..ooo..ooo
Nee chevvaipettai..ooo..ooo
Gnana pazhamae..ooo..ooo
Saidapettai ranipettai
Chrompettai petta rap
Saidapettai ranipettai
Chrompettai petta rap
Ammapettai ayyampettai
Thenampettai thengai mattai
Ammapettai ayyampettai
Thenampettai thengai mattai
Hey sarayam karuvadu
Thundu beedi vavvalu
kudisai kuppai thotti
Pakkathula tea kadai
Rickshaw kathadi
Bottleodu manja
Gilli goli lungi
Bana gana patta padalama
Aalai anjalai bazaru nijaru
Kanniyappan muniamma
Giri gaja mani
Mgru sivaji rajini kamalu
Bagilu bigulu sevulu avulu
All shows house fullu
Pettai rap… pettai rap
Pettai rap….pettai rap
Pettai rap… pettai rap
Petai rap…. pettaai rap
Petta rap petta rap petta rap petta rap
Petta rap petta rap petta rap petta rap
Stop it
Male :Eva ava…
Aa... haa... a-a-haa...
Aa... haa...
Rhythm of life
Blue clear mountain
Mixed with attitude
Funky drums from hell
Saidapet, Chromepet
Ranipet, Pettai rap
Pettai rap... Pettai rap... Pettai rap
What's today, what's tomorrow?
Every day is the same!
What's morning, what's evening?
There's no change at all!
Let's just forget it,
Let's forget all our worries!
If anger rises,
Let's put it on hold!
Hey, get up and dance!
This is a new chance!
Everything is in your hands, man!
Is-e-ki-ta... is-e-ki-ta
Let's make a tune!
Who goes first? Who goes first?
First? First? First?
Pettai rap... Pettai rap
Pettai rap... Pettai rap...
Pettai rap...
Ammapettai, Ayyampettai
Teynampet, coconut husk!
Ammapettai, Ayyampettai... Pettai rap
Teynampet, coconut husk!
Hey, what's coins and what's cash?
We only get one life!
It's enough for me, Lord,
Just one wife for me!
Let's keep it open,
Let's keep our hearts open!
Whoever comes in,
Let's just wait and see!
Look, whatever is meant for you
Is only for you!
Hold on to what you've got, man,
That's all there is to it!
Whatever is happening right now,
What happens is the only truth!
Look, dawn will break! Look, dawn will break!
Until dawn breaks, on and on and on!
Pettai rap... Pettai rap
Pettai rap... Pettai rap
Pettai rap oo..oo... Pettai rap oo...oo
Pettai rap oo..oo... Pettai rap..oo...oo
Pettai rap
House rent, electricity bill, sweeping the porch,
Packet milk, kids and family,
School fees, sesame cooking oil,
Kerosene, semolina, ration supplies,
Palm oil, raw rice, wheat flour!
Not enough, not enough!
The money is not nearly enough!
Breaking the piggy bank for one or two annas (old coins),
Quickly borrowing four or eight annas,
Breaking the piggy bank for one or two annas,
Quickly borrowing four or eight annas,
Pawning all the pots and pans,
Begging for five or ten rupees,
Still not enough, not enough, not enough, not enough!
Oh, fruit of wisdom!
Oh, fruit of wisdom!
You belong to Sevvaipet,
Oh, fruit of wisdom!
Oh, fruit of wisdom... oo... oo
Oh, fruit of wisdom... oo... oo
You belong to Sevvaipet... oo... oo
Oh, fruit of wisdom... oo... oo
Saidapet, Ranipet,
Chromepet, Pettai rap!
Saidapet, Ranipet,
Chromepet, Pettai rap!
Ammapettai, Ayyampettai,
Teynampet, coconut husk!
Ammapettai, Ayyampettai,
Teynampet, coconut husk!
Hey, country liquor, dried fish,
Beedi butts, hanging bats,
Slum huts, overflowing trash bins,
A tea stall right next door!
Cycle rickshaws, paper kites,
Glass-powdered kite string from bottles,
Gilli-danda, marbles, lungis,
Shall we sing a lively Gaana folk song?
Folks, Anjalai, the market bazaar, shorts and trousers,
Kanniyappan, Muniyamma,
Giri, Gaja, Mani,
MGR, Sivaji, Rajini, Kamal,
Bodybuilders, loud whistles, boxed ears, flattened rice,
All shows houseful!
Pettai rap... Pettai rap
Pettai rap... Pettai rap
Pettai rap... Pettai rap
Pettai rap... Pettai rap
Pettai rap, Pettai rap, Pettai rap, Pettai rap
Pettai rap, Pettai rap, Pettai rap, Pettai rap
Stop it!
Male: Who is she?...
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Pettai Rap' from the 1994 Tamil movie Kadhalan is a pioneering track in South Indian cinema, widely recognized as one of the earliest mainstream Tamil rap and Gaana fusion songs. Directed by S. Shankar with music composed by A. R. Rahman, the song captures the raw energy, street slang, and everyday life of working-class Chennai (Madras) youth. The lyrics mix casual, lighthearted philosophy about taking life as it comes with a humorous yet realistic breakdown of urban middle-class financial struggles—such as rent, electricity, school fees, and grocery expenses. Through place names ending in 'pettai', local pop culture references, street games, and cinema icons, the song celebrates the vibrant, uninhibited spirit of Chennai street culture.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhyme / Alliteration (Edhugai and Monai)

Ammapettai ayyampettai Thenampettai thengai mattai

Extensive use of place names ending in '-pettai' (Saidapettai, Chrompettai, Ranipettai, Ammapettai, Ayyampettai, Thenampettai, Chevvaipettai) creates a rhythmic, repetitive rhyming sound throughout the track.

Assonance and Internal Rhyme

Aalai anjalai bazaru nijaru

Pairs like 'Aalai anjalai', 'bazaru nijaru', 'Giri gaja', and 'Bagilu bigulu' employ internal rhyming sounds typical of Chennai Gaana poetry.

Imagery / Realism

Vadagai currentu muravasal Packet palu pullakutti

Lists practical daily household expenses (vadagai, currentu, packet palu, school fees) to create vivid imagery of common working-class living.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics penned by director S. Shankar himself, 'Pettai Rap' popularized Chennai street slang (Madras Bashai) and Tamil Gaana-rap across India. Sung by Suresh Peters, Thelekman, and Shahul Hameed, it became a massive chartbuster upon release in 1994.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Kadhalan

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.