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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poda Pakkoda

From Sakthivel · 1994

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, Y. Gee. Mahendra, Charlee
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Sakthivel1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Podaa pakkodaaGo away, pakoda!
Ada neththu chuttaAh, fried yesterday,
Namathu vitta pazhaiya pakkodaaOld, soggy pakoda!
Male
Hei podaa pakkodaaHey go away, pakoda!
Ada neththu chuttaAh, fried yesterday,
Namathu vitta pazhaiya pakkodaaOld, soggy pakoda!
Male
Hei kaakki chokkaadaaHey khaki shirt guy!
Adha pottukkittu vandhaa neeyumJust because you wear that, do you think
Periya kokkaadaaYou are a big crane (big deal)?
Male
Poovaayi akkaadaaIs it Poovayi sister?
Varutha koli chukkaadaaIs it roasted chicken chukka?
Male
En veeram pakkaadaaMy bravery is top-notch,
Poduven unakku mukkaadaaI will cover your face in shame!
Male
Punnaakku chekkodaaOil-cake presser,
Makkodaa puliyang kokkodaaFoolish guy, tamarind seed!
Male
Podaa pakkodaaGo away, pakoda!
Ada neththu chuttaAh, fried yesterday,
Namathu vitta pazhaiya pakkodaaOld, soggy pakoda!
Male
Hei kaakki chokkaadaaHey khaki shirt guy!
Adha pottukkittu vandhaa neeyumJust because you wear that, do you think
Periya kokkaadaaYou are a big crane?
Male
Usilambatti thirumangalamUsilampatti Thirumangalam
Roadu polaLike the road,
Um mogarakkatta azhagu irukkuYour mug/face is so 'pretty',
TherinjukkodaaKnow this!
Male
Kallippatti karisal mannuKallippatti black soil
Boomi polaeLike the land,
Um mookku muzhi karuthu kedakkuYour face and eyes are dark,
PurinjukkodaaUnderstand this!
Male
Hae pudicha pudi nazhuvidaamaHey, once a grip is taken without slipping,
Udumbu polaLike a monitor lizard,
Naan kachidhamaa pudikkiravanI am one who holds firmly,
TherinjukkodaaKnow this!
Male
HahaahahakkanHahaahahakkan!
Avuthu vitta nellikkaayiLike a bag of gooseberries
Mootta polaeUntied and spilled,
Enga ooru janam irukkudhunnuOur village people are scattered, understand this!
PurinjukkodaaUnderstand this!
Male
Hey munnae vechaHey, he is one who steps forward,
Kaalu ivanThis man,
Pinnae vekkum aalu illaIs not one who retreats!
Enna paththi kandu kollaTo understand about me,
Ungalukku moolai illaYou guys lack brains!
Chorus
Punnaakku chekkodaaOil-cake presser,
Makkodaa puliyang kokkodaaFoolish guy, tamarind seed!
Male
YedededdaeYedededdae!
Podaa pakkodaaGo away, pakoda!
Ada neththu chuttaAh, fried yesterday,
Namathu vitta pazhaiya pakkodaaOld, soggy pakoda!
Male
Hei kaakki chokkaadaaHey khaki shirt guy!
Adha pottukkittu vandhaa neeyumJust because you wear that, do you think
Periya kokkaadaaYou are a big crane?
Male
Poovaayi akkaadaaIs it Poovayi sister?
Varutha koli chukkaadaaIs it roasted chicken chukka?
Male
En veeram pakkaadaaMy bravery is top-notch,
Poduven unakku mukkaadaaI will cover your face in shame!
Male
Punnaakku chekkodaaOil-cake presser,
Makkodaa puliyang kokkodaaFoolish guy, tamarind seed!
Male
Podaa pakkodaaGo away, pakoda!
Ada neththu chuttaAh, fried yesterday,
Namathu vitta pazhaiya pakkodaaOld, soggy pakoda!
Male
Hei kaakki chokkaadaaHey khaki shirt guy!
Adha pottukkittu vandhaa neeyumJust because you wear that, do you think
Periya kokkaa daa daa daaYou are a big crane, daa daa daa?
Male
Kelamburappo kurukka varumCrossing paths when setting out,
Poona polaLike a black cat,
Oor kaariyatha kedukkura neeYou ruin the village work,
TherinjukkodaaKnow this!
Male
Anju paththu venumunnaaIf you want five or ten rupees,
Maamool vaanguTake a bribe!
Male :HeiiMale: Heii!
Male :Nee adichu puttu izhuthu pothiMale: You get beaten up, cover yourself up,
Paduthu thoonguAnd go to sleep!
Male
Rendu patta ooru onnaaThe divided village into two halves,
Kalakka pogudhuIs going to unite and stir things up,
Nalla kaalamum thaan ippo ingaeGood times are now,
Porakka pogudhuGoing to be born!
Male
AdadadadaaAdadadadaa!
Aththaikkeppo meesai ingaeWhen will a moustache sprout,
Molaikka pogudhuFor the maternal aunt here? (An impossible event)
Ada thiruvizhaavum eppo ingaeAh, when will the temple festival,
Nadakka pogudhuTake place here?
Male
Chee vaaya konjam moodikkadaaChee, shut your mouth a bit!
Nalla paera thedikkadaaEarn a good name!
Mandha buthi aattu kedaaDull-minded goat,
Vettu chaththam kettukadaaListen to the sound of the slaughter!
Punnaakku chekkodaaOil-cake presser,
Makkodaa puliyang kokkodaaFoolish guy, tamarind seed!
Male
Hei podaa pakkodaaHey go away, pakoda!
Ada neththu chuttaAh, fried yesterday,
Namathu vitta pazhaiya pakkodaaOld, soggy pakoda!
Male
Hei kaakki chokkaadaaHey khaki shirt guy!
Adha pottukkittu vandhaa neeyumJust because you wear that, do you think
Periya kokkaadaaYou are a big crane?
Male
Poovaayi akkaadaaIs it Poovayi sister?
Varutha koli chukkaadaaIs it roasted chicken chukka?
Male
En veeram pakkaadaaMy bravery is top-notch,
Poduven unakku mukkaadaaI will cover your face in shame!
Male
VeveveveveveVeveveveveve!
Podaa pakkodaaGo away, pakoda!
Ada neththu chuttaAh, fried yesterday,
Namathu vitta pazhaiya pakkodaaOld, soggy pakoda!
Male
Podu takkaru takkaru daaHit it, top class!
Hei toppu takkaru takkaru takkaruHey top class, super!
Takkaru takkaru daa dada dadadadaaSuper top class daa dada dadadadaa!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the film Sakthivel (1994) is a playful rural taunt song full of regional slang and folk humor. The protagonist engages in a verbal duel with an adversary (likely a local authority figure or cop referred to as 'kaakki chokkaadaa'). The lyricist uses colorful metaphors comparing the adversary to soggy old pakodas, bumpy village roads, black soil, and bad-luck cats crossing paths. Amidst the witty banter, the lyrics touch upon themes of village unity, corrupt local dealings ('maamool'), and local pride. The energetic rhythm and playful rhymes emphasize rustic bravado, mocking pretentiousness, and celebrating local village banter.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Podaa pakkodaa / ... / Periya kokkaadaa

Extensive use of rhythmic end-rhymes matching '-da' / '-daaa' sounds across multiple stanzas.

Uwamai (Simile)

Udumbu pola / Naan kachidhamaa pudikkiravan

Comparing a tenacious grip to that of a monitor lizard (Udumbu).

Uwamai (Simile)

Avuthu vitta nellikkaayi / Mootta polae

Comparing scattered village people to spilled gooseberries from an untied sack.

Proverbial / Idiomatic Metaphor

Aththaikkeppo meesai ingae / Molaikka pogudhu

Using the famous Tamil rhetorical idiom 'Aththaikku meesai molaithal' to point out an impossible or absurd expectation.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by Ilaiyaraaja for the film 'Sakthivel' (1994), directed by K. S. Ravikumar and starring Selva and Kasthuri. Veteran lyricist Vaali penned the track using authentic Madurai/Southern Tamil rural slang and playful folk insults.

Keep listening

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