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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Rayilu Rayilu

From Bharathi Kannamma · 1997

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Vadivelu
Music director
Deva
Details
Bharathi Kannamma1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Rayilu rayiluTrain, train
Jappaanin pullet rayilu adhu polaJust like Japan's bullet train
Puyalu puyalu naanthaandi vaigai puyaluStorm, storm, I am the storm of the Vaigai river
Entha ponnuthaan yaengamaattaaWhich girl wouldn't yearn for me?
Enna paaththathum thoongamaattaaShe won't sleep after seeing me
Maadhuri theetchith kooda maanthaa naaluEven Madhuri Dixit, four months ago
Letter potaaWrote me a letter
Male
Rayilu rayiluTrain, train
Jappaanin pullet rayilu adhu polaJust like Japan's bullet train
Puyalu puyalu naanthaandi vaigai puyaluStorm, storm, I am the storm of the Vaigai river
Male
Thaanaaga thookkum en sattai collarMy shirt collar lifts up on its own
Kaaranam paiyil american dollerBecause there are American dollars in my pocket
En pinnaal yaarum adikkaathae jalraNobody needs to flatter me from behind
Male
Kaiya thatti azhaichchaaIf I clap my hands and call
Vaanam vittu erangi rambaiyumthaan varuvaalaeEven Rambha will descend from the sky and come
Kaasa vittu erinjaaIf I throw money around
Veththalaiya madichchi oorvasiyum tharuvaalaeEven Urvashi will fold betel leaves and give them to me
Male
Julie julie….Julie, Julie...
Unakkum enakkum dhinamum jollyEvery day is fun for you and me
Idaiyil yaedhu thadukkum vaeliWhat fence is there in between to block us?
Kaala vittu thazhuvikkittu paadidalaam kavvaaliLet us embrace enthusiastically and sing qawwali
Male
Rayilu rayiluTrain, train
Pullet rayilu adhu polaJust like the bullet train
Puyalu puyalu naanthaandi vaigai puyaluStorm, storm, I am the storm of the Vaigai river
Male
Bombay-il neththu karishmaa kaboor-ruYesterday in Bombay, Karisma Kapoor
Ennaththaan aaththu kan vachchaa paaruLook at how deeply she cast her gaze on me
En maele crazy vada naattu star-ruThe North Indian star is crazy about me
Male
Ennidaththila yaedhoInside me, there is some
Current onnu irukkuKind of electric current
Izhukkuthu pala peraIt pulls many people towards me
Ennudaiya nenaipil chinna chinnaThinking about me, young
Ponnunga marakkuthu than peraGirls forget their own names
Male
Amsaa amsaa….aa..Amsaa, Amsaa... aa..
Needhaan enakku chicken samosaaYou are like a chicken samosa to me
Inimael enna jalsaa jalsaaFrom now on, it is pure celebration and joy
Flight-il yaeri honey moon kkuBoarding a flight for a honeymoon
Poyidalaam mun paasaaLet's go to Mombasa
Male
Rayilu rayiluTrain, train
Pullet rayilu adhu polaJust like the bullet train
Puyalu puyalu naanthaandi vaigai puyaluStorm, storm, I am the storm of the Vaigai river
Entha ponnuthaan yaengamaattaaWhich girl wouldn't yearn for me?
Enna paaththathum thoongamaattaaShe won't sleep after seeing me
Maadhuri theetchith kooda maanthaa naaluEven Madhuri Dixit, four months ago
Letter potaaWrote me a letter
Male
Rayilu rayiluTrain, train
Jappaanin pullet rayilu adhu polaJust like Japan's bullet train
Puyalu puyalu naanthaandi vaigai puyaluStorm, storm, I am the storm of the Vaigai river

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Rayilu Rayilu is an energetic, humorous dance track from the 1997 Tamil film Bharathi Kannamma, composed by Deva with lyrics written by Vairamuthu. The song features a protagonist hyperbolically boasting about his charm, irresistible style, and wealth, comparing his dynamic energy to Japan's bullet train and a raging storm over the Vaigai river. Throughout the song, he playfully asserts that top Bollywood celebrities like Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor, as well as celestial damsels Rambha and Urvashi, are captivated by him. Laden with 90s pop culture tropes, humorous food metaphors like 'chicken samosa', and references to international trips like Mombasa, the track offers a fun, larger-than-life portrayal of self-love and romantic banter.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

Maadhuri theetchith kooda maanthaa naalu Letter potaa

Extravagant exaggeration used for comedic effect, claiming that Bollywood superstar Madhuri Dixit wrote him a letter.

Simile (Uvamai)

Jappaanin pullet rayilu adhu pola

Compares speed, power, and high-energy personality directly to Japan's bullet train.

Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai & Edhugai)

Rayilu rayilu ... Puyalu puyalu

Phonetic rhyming and matching syllables between 'Rayilu' (train) and 'Puyalu' (storm) across refrain lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

Bharathi Kannamma (1997) features music composed by Deva. The song includes iconic 90s pop culture references to prominent Bollywood actresses like Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor, highlighting how North Indian cinema stardom was frequently incorporated into lighthearted Tamil film songs during that era.

Keep listening

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