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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pettai Rap

From Kadhalan · 1994

Lyricist
S. Shankar
Singers
Suresh Peters, Theni Kunjarammal, Shahul Hameed
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Kadhalan1994

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Chorus
Ah…haaa…ah ah haaa…Ah…haaa…ah ah haaa…
Ah…haaa…Ah…haaa…
Chorus
Rhythm of lifeRhythm of life
Blue clear mountainBlue clear mountain
Mixed with attitudeMixed with attitude
Funky drums from hellFunky drums from hell
Male
Saidapettai chrompettaiSaidapet, Chromepet,
Ranipettai pettai rapRanipet, local hood rap!
Pettai rap… pettai rap…pettai rapHood rap… hood rap… hood rap
Male
Indru enna nalai ennaWhat is today, what is tomorrow?
Dhinasari adhaeEvery day is just the same.
Kalai enna malai ennaWhat is morning, what is evening?
MatramillaiyaeThere is no change at all.
Male
MarandhiruppomaeLet us forget it,
Kavalai marandhiruppomaeLet us forget our worries.
Kobam vandhal konjamIf anger arises, let's set it
Oththi vaippomaeaside for a little while.
Male
Ada get up and danceHey, get up and dance!
Ithu thaan new chanceThis is a brand new chance!
Un kayil ellam irukkudhadaEverything is right in your hands, my friend.
Male
Iss ee ki da…iss ee ki daIss ee ki da… iss ee ki da
Mettu podalamLet's compose a tune!
Mudhal yar mudhal yarWho comes first? Who comes first?
Mudhala mudhala mudhalaFirst, first, first!
Chorus
Petta rap…. petta rapHood rap… hood rap
Petta rap…. petta rap….Hood rap… hood rap…
Male
Pettai rap ….Hood rap…
Ammapettai ayyampettaiAmmapettai, Ayyampettai,
Thenampettai thengai mattaiTeynampet, coconut husk!
Ammapettai ayyampettai… pettai rapAmmapettai, Ayyampettai… hood rap
Thenampettai thengai mattaiTeynampet, coconut husk!
Male
Hey kasenna panamennaHey, what is money, what is wealth?
Iruppadhu oru lifeThere's only one life to live.
Podhumada samiThat is enough, oh Lord,
Enakku oru wifeI just need one wife for myself.
Male
Thirandhu vaippomaeLet us open up,
Manasai thirandhu vaippomaeLet us open our hearts.
Varuvadhu yar enaWhoever comes along,
Vittuthan parpomaeLet's wait and see!
Male
Ada unakkena pirandhadhuHey, whatever is meant for you,
Unakae thaanIs only for you.
Kidachadha vaichukkodaKeep whatever you get,
Avvalavu thaanThat's all there is to it.
Male
NadapadhuthanWhatever happens,
Nadappadhuthan unmaiWhatever happens is the truth.
Vidiyum paar vidiyum paarWatch the dawn break, watch the dawn break,
Vidiya vidiya vidiya vidyaAs the dawn breaks, breaks, breaks!
Chorus
Pettai rap… pettai rapHood rap… hood rap
Pettai rap …. pettai rapHood rap… hood rap
Petta rap ooo..ooo…petta rap ooo…oooHood rap ooo..ooo… hood rap ooo…ooo
Petta rap ooo..ooo…petta rap..ooo…oooHood rap ooo..ooo… hood rap..ooo…ooo
Petta rapHood rap
Male
Vadagai currentu muravasalRent, electricity bill, Murasoli newspaper,
Packet palu pullakuttiPacket milk, little children,
Schoolu feesu nallennaiSchool fees, sesame oil,
Mannennai ravai rationKerosene, semolina, ration supplies,
Male
Palm oil pacharisi godhumaiPalm oil, raw rice, wheat,
Pathala pathalaNot enough, not enough!
Kasu konjam kooda pathalaiyaeEven a little bit of money is not enough!
Male
Orana rendana undiyala udachuBreaking open the piggy bank with one or two annas,
Nalana ettana kadana udana vangiBorrowing four or eight annas in debt,
Orana rendana undiyala udachuBreaking open the piggy bank with one or two annas,
Nalana ettana kadana udana vangiBorrowing four or eight annas in debt,
Male
Anda gunda adagu vachumPawning large pots and vessels,
Anju pathu pichai eduthumBegging for five or ten coins,
Pathala pathala pathala pathalaStill not enough, not enough, not enough, not enough!
Male
Gnana pazhamaeFruit of wisdom,
Gnana pazhamaeFruit of wisdom,
Nee chevvaipettaiYou are Chevvaipettai,
Gnana pazhamaeFruit of wisdom,
Male
Gnana pazhamae ..ooo..oooFruit of wisdom..ooo..ooo
Gnana pazhamae..ooo..oooFruit of wisdom..ooo..ooo
Nee chevvaipettai..ooo..oooYou are Chevvaipettai..ooo..ooo
Gnana pazhamae..ooo..oooFruit of wisdom..ooo..ooo
Male
Saidapettai ranipettaiSaidapet, Ranipet,
Chrompettai petta rapChromepet, hood rap!
Saidapettai ranipettaiSaidapet, Ranipet,
Chrompettai petta rapChromepet, hood rap!
Male
Ammapettai ayyampettaiAmmapettai, Ayyampettai,
Thenampettai thengai mattaiTeynampet, coconut husk!
Ammapettai ayyampettaiAmmapettai, Ayyampettai,
Thenampettai thengai mattaiTeynampet, coconut husk!
Male
Hey sarayam karuvaduHey, liquor, dried fish,
Thundu beedi vavvaluHalf beedi, bat,
kudisai kuppai thottiHut, dustbin,
Pakkathula tea kadaiTea shop right nearby,
Male
Rickshaw kathadiRickshaw, paper pinwheel,
Bottleodu manjaYellow liquid in a bottle,
Gilli goli lungiGilli, marbles, lungi,
Bana gana patta padalamaShall we sing a Gaana song?
Male
Aalai anjalai bazaru nijaruAalai, Anjalai, market, shorts,
Kanniyappan muniammaKanniyappan, Muniamma,
Giri gaja maniGiri, Gaja, Mani,
Male
Mgru sivaji rajini kamaluMGR, Sivaji, Rajini, Kamal,
Bagilu bigulu sevulu avuluArmpit, whistle, ears, beaten rice,
All shows house fulluAll shows house full!
Chorus
Pettai rap… pettai rapHood rap… hood rap
Pettai rap….pettai rapHood rap… hood rap
Pettai rap… pettai rapHood rap… hood rap
Petai rap…. pettaai rapHood rap… hood rap
Petta rap petta rap petta rap petta rapHood rap hood rap hood rap hood rap
Petta rap petta rap petta rap petta rapHood rap hood rap hood rap hood rap
Female
Stop itStop it
Male :Eva ava…Male: Who is she…?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'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.

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