- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Vadivelu
- Music director
- Deva
- Movie name
- Bharathi Kannamma
- Movie release year
- 1997
- Lyrics added on
- 30 Oct 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
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
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Bharathi Kannamma
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.