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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pudhu Cheri Katcheri

From Singaravelan · 1992

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Singaravelan1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
{Bumchikku bumchikkuBumchikku bumchikku
Bumcha bum bumBumcha bum bum
Bumchikku bumchikkuBumchikku bumchikku
Bumcha bumBumcha bum
Chorus
Bumchikku bumchikkuBumchikku bumchikku
Bumcha bum bumBumcha bum bum
Bumchikku bumchikkuBumchikku bumchikku
Bumcha bum} (2)Bumcha bum
Male
Kakakaa kikikukuKakakaa kikikuku
Kakakae kukukuku kaekaeKakakae kukukuku kaekae
Chorus :LaughingChorus: (Laughing)
Kakakaa kikikukuKakakaa kikikuku
Kakakae kukukuku kaekaeKakakae kukukuku kaekae
Male
kakakaa kikikuku…mmmmmKakakaa kikikuku... mmmmm
Chorus :Kakakaa kikikuku…Chorus: Kakakaa kikikuku...
Male :Very goodMale: Very good
Kakakaa kikikukuKakakaa kikikuku
Kakakae kukukuku kaekaeKakakae kukukuku kaekae
Padungooo…Sing along...
Chorus :Kakakaa kikikukuChorus: Kakakaa kikikuku
Kakakae kukukuku kaekaeKakakae kukukuku kaekae
Male
Kakakaa kikikukuKakakaa kikikuku
Kakakae kukukuku kaekaeKakakae kukukuku kaekae
Chorus :Kakakaa kikikukuChorus: Kakakaa kikikuku
Kakakae kukukuku kaekaeKakakae kukukuku kaekae
Male
Pudhucheri katcheriPondicherry concert,
Ekkachakka party onnu pudichenI caught a massive crowd/party!
Pudhu tiger aachaariLike the modern Tiger Varadachari,
Varadhaachaari pola padichenI sang with great mastery!
Male
Heyy paakkum paapaakumHey, looking at the young girl,
Muthupol bullaakkuHer nose ring shines like a pearl,
Kekkum mathaapu melaakuHer dazzling upper garment demands attention,
Pudhu kaathukkum paatukkumPutting a lock upon the new breeze and song,
Pootukkal podudhuThagida thathithom...
Thagida thathithom…Pondicherry concert,
Male
Pudhucheri katcheriI caught a massive crowd/party!
Ekkachakka party onnu pudichenLike the modern Tiger Varadachari,
Pudhu tiger aachaariI sang with great mastery!
Varadhaachaari pola padichenHey bumchikku bumchikku
Male
Hey bumchikku bumchikkuBumcha bum bum
Bumcha bum bumBumchikku bumchikku
Bumchikku bumchikkuBumcha bum
Bumcha bumBumchikku bumchikku
Chorus
Bumchikku bumchikkuBumcha bum bum
Bumcha bum bumBumchikku bumchikku
Bumchikku bumchikkuBumcha bum
Bumcha bumWhen I was born, along with me was born
Male
Porakayil ennodu porandhadhuAnd grew the music and song,
Valarndhadhu paatuWhen I walked, along with me walked
Nadakayil ennodu nadandhadhuAnd merged the rhythmic beat,
Kalandhadhu beat-uThere are guitars, drums,
Irukudhu guitar-u drumsugalTrumpets, and flutes,
Trumpet-u flute-uShow me who else here can play
Ivaigalai ondraagaAll of these together as one!
Isaipavan evan ingu kaattuIn various styles and distinct ways,
Male
Vidha vidhamaa vagai vagayaaPleasantly I will sing the musical notes,
Sugam sugamaa suram padipenFrom the Himalayas down to Kanyakumari,
Imayam mudhal kumari varaiI will win a place in everyone's hearts!
Idhayangalil idam pidipenThe cuckoo's music goes 'koo-koo',
Kuyilin sangeedham ku kooThe parrot's music goes 'kee-kee',
Kiliyin sangeedham kee keeMy music goes 'saa-paa',
Yenadhu sangeedham saa paaThere is no latch/barrier to stop this!
Idhukku kidayaadhu thaappaaWhether it is a young girl or an old woman,
Kumari aanalum kizhavi aanaalumShe will stand and listen with open ears!
Ninnu kaadhaara keppaaPondicherry concert...
Male
Pudhucheri katcheri…Pondicherry concert,
Pudhucheri katcheriI caught a massive crowd/party!
Ekkachakka party onnu pudichenLike the modern Tiger Varadachari,
Pudhu tiger aachaariI sang with great mastery!
Varadhaachaari pola padichenKakakaa kikikuku
Male
Kakakaa kikikukuKakakae kukukuku kaekae
Kakakae kukukuku kaekaeKakakaa kikikuku
Kakakaa kikikukuKakakae kukukuku kaekae... haahaa..
Kakakae kukukuku kaekae…haaahaa..For the mridangam to heat up and build energy,
Male
Mirudhangam sooderaYou must frequently adjust the rhythm/pitch,
Adikadi kodukanum tekkaTharigidathom thathom thakitta,
Tharigidathom thathom thakittaFor people to move forward in life,
Manushanga munneraThey must frequently grasp...
Adikadi pudikanumKaaa.. kaaa...
Kaaa..kaaa…Without revealing all the background details,
Male
Vivarangal sollaamaOne must finish the task cleverly,
Vishayatha mudikanum nekkaaOnce finished, everyone should walk in style
Mudichadhum ellaarumSo that all people praise them!
Pugazndhida nadakanum shokk-aThere is spirit, there is confidence and grit,
Male
Sarakirukku murukirukkuWhy should I have any worry in mind?
Enakedhukku manakavalaOne must learn, understand,
Aarinjukanum purinjukanumAnd know the true state of affairs,
Therinjukanum nilathavalaTime is my time now,
Kaalam ennoda kaalamThe moment is my moment,
Neram ennoda neramEven a stone will turn into fruit,
kallum kaayaaga maarumEven a thorn will bloom as a flower,
Mullum poovaaga malarumI have seen the days, I have seen the people,
Naalum paathachu aalum paathaachuWhen will the right pair unite?
Jodi eppodhu serumPondicherry concert,
Male
{Pudhucheri katcheriI caught a massive crowd/party!
Ekkachakka party onnu pudichenLike the modern Tiger Varadachari,
Pudhu tiger aachaariI sang with great mastery!
Varadhaachaari pola padichen} (2)Hey, looking at the young girl,
Male
Heyy paakkum paapaakumHer nose ring shines like a pearl,
Muthupol bullaakkuHer dazzling upper garment demands attention,
Kekkum mathaapu melaakuPutting a lock upon the new breeze and song,
Pudhu kaathukkum paatukkumThagida thathithom...
Pootukkal podudhuPondicherry concert,
Thagida thathithom…I caught a massive crowd/party!
Male
Pudhucheri katcheriMale: Kakakaa kikikuku
Ekkachakka party onnu pudichenKakakae kukukuku kaekae
Male :Kakakaa kikikuku
Kakakae kukukuku kaekae

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Pudhucheri Katcheri' is a high-energy, fun-filled track from the movie Singaravelan (1992), composed by Ilaiyaraaja, written by Vaali, and sung dynamic actor Kamal Haasan (along with S.P. Balasubrahmanyam/Kamal Haasan vocal flair). The protagonist showcases his musical genius, confidence, and charismatic stage presence, comparing his musical prowess playfully to Carnatic legend 'Tiger' Varadachariar while blending western instruments with classical vocal scatting and scat beatbox sounds.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monorhyme and Rhyme Scheme (Emonai / Edhugai)

Porakayil ennodu porandhadhu / Nadakayil ennodu nadandhadhu

Vaali uses secondary syllable rhyming (Edhugai) in couplets like 'Porakayil / Nadakayil' and 'Kaalam / Neram / kallum / Mullum'.

Onomatopoeia and Scatting

Kuyilin sangeedham ku koo / Kiliyin sangeedham kee kee

Playful vocalizations ('Bumchikku bumchikku', 'Kakakaa kikikuku', 'ku koo', 'kee kee') mimic musical instruments and bird sounds.

Metaphor and Allusion

Pudhu tiger aachaari / Varadhaachaari pola padichen

Alludes to Carnatic vocalist 'Tiger' Varadachariar to assert musical mastery, and uses metaphors like 'Mullum poovaaga malarum' (Thorns will bloom as flowers).

Did you know?

Trivia

The song playfully references 'Tiger' Varadachariar, one of the iconic stalwarts of Carnatic classical music. Kamal Haasan executed vocal scatting live-style beatboxing elements for this song under the composition of Maestro Ilaiyaraaja.

Keep listening

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