Saalakaara
From Pakkiri · 2019
- Lyricist
- Madhan Karky
- Singers
- Anthony Daasan, R. Venkataraman
- Music director
- Amit Trivedi
- Details
- Pakkiri2019
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Saalakkaaraa | Hey street-trickster! |
| Kannkatti vitha kaattum | Who performs tricks that blindfold the eyes, |
| Saalakkaaraa | Hey street-trickster! |
| Kaathathaan kaasaa maathum | Who turns mere air into money, |
| Saalakkaaraa | Hey street-trickster! |
| Megatha choosaa maathum | Who turns clouds into juice, |
| Saalakkaaraa | Hey street-trickster! |
| Saalakkaaraa | Hey street-trickster! |
| Male | |
| Aatta ellaam maasula | All his moves are grand and stylish, |
| Maatta maattaan lesula | He won't easily get caught, |
| Ottam paaru chase-ula | Look at his run during a chase, |
| Pulimaari urumaari | Transforming like a tiger, shape-shifting away! |
| Male | |
| ……………………… | ... |
| Male | |
| Saalakkaaraa | Hey street-trickster! |
| Vaanathil cycle viduvaan | He will ride a bicycle in the sky, |
| Saalakkaaraa | Hey street-trickster! |
| Malai muzhungi | Swallowing a whole mountain, |
| Yeppam viduvaan | He will burp it out, |
| Saalakkaaraa | Hey street-trickster! |
| Un tavusara unakkae vippaan | He will sell your own trousers right back to you! |
| Saalakkaaraa..ae….ae…ae…. | Hey street-trickster... |
| Male | |
| Machaan maaya kannaadi | Friend, he is a magical mirror, |
| Nippaan di on munnaadi | He will stand right in front of you, girl, |
| Kaanaa povum pinnaadi | Everything behind will vanish, |
| Fakkeeru killaadi | The Fakir is an expert master! |
| Male | |
| Koottan saeppaan koothaadi | The street performer gathers a crowd, |
| Kaattuvaan dee kaathaadi | He will show off a paper kite, girl, |
| Yechu poavaan aathaadi | Oh my goodness, he will trick you and slip away! |
| Fakkeeru killaadi… | The Fakir is a master trickster... |
| Male | |
| Pacha ila kasakkuvaan | He will crush a green leaf, |
| Keechu kili porakkum | A squeaking parrot will be born, |
| Rekka rendu kirukkuvaan | He will scribble two wings, |
| Pacha kili parakkum | A green parrot will fly away! |
| Chekka cheva mookka vechu | With a bright red beak, |
| Un parsa thorakkum | It will open your wallet, |
| Thorakkum thorakkum thorakkum | Will open, will open, will open! |
| Male | |
| Takkaru aalu fakkeeru | The Fakir is a brilliant guy, |
| Chikkunaa needhaan jokkeru | If you get trapped, you become the joker! |
| Male | |
| Gili gili jee boom baa | Abra-cadabra, jee boom baa! |
| Naanga saamiyaara varuvom daa | We will arrive disguised as holy men, man! |
| Indha saalai pathu nadungumdaa | Seeing us, this street will tremble, man! |
| Ipoo aarum illa thadangal daa | Now there is no obstacle left, man! |
| Male | |
| Vetti vetti vettiyaaga | Endlessly and wastefully, |
| Enga vitha illa kannu | Our trick is no joke, look! |
| Naanga dhoolu paa | We are absolute rockstars, pal! |
| Unga pocket kulla login | Logging inside your pocket, |
| Panni ella data clean up baa | And cleaning up all your data, pal! |
| Phone-u motham ella sothum | Your phone and all your entire wealth, |
| Thuru thuru naanga take up paa | Swiftly, we take it all up, pal! |
| Wake up paa | Wake up, pal! |
| Inga paar kaasu panam engappa | Look here, where is the cash and money, pal? |
| Male | |
| Enga aasa kaasu | Our desire is cash, |
| Nalla kanakku | A fine calculation, |
| Manidhana money illa enakku | Conventional money is not for me, |
| Kadasi kooku thaan unakku | Only a final scream remains for you, |
| Suruttu suruttu | Roll it up, stash it away! |
| Aandavan thaan thunaikku | Only God is there for support, |
| Amukku amukku amukku | Press it down, hide it away! |
| Male | |
| Aatta ellaam maasula | All his moves are grand and stylish, |
| Maatta maattaan lesula | He won't easily get caught, |
| Ottam paaru chase-ula | Look at his run during a chase, |
| Pulimaari urumaari | Transforming like a tiger, shape-shifting away! |
| Male | |
| Grab it grab it rob | Grab it, grab it, rob! |
| Its okay…its okay….its okay | It's okay... it's okay... it's okay, |
| Its okay…its okay…. | It's okay... it's okay... |
| Male | |
| Saalakkaaraa…aa…aa… | Street-trickster... |
| Saalakkaaraa…haaa…aa…aa… | Street-trickster... |
| Saalakkaaraa…aaa..aaa..aaa..aa… | Street-trickster... |
| Saalakkaaraa…aaa…aaa…aa… | Street-trickster... |
| Male | |
| Fakkeeru…(8)………….. | Fakir... |
சாலக்காரா
கண்கட்டி வித்த காட்டும்
சாலக்காரா
காத்ததான் காசா மாத்தும்
சாலக்காரா
மேகத்த ஜூசா மாத்தும்
சாலக்காரா
சாலக்காரா
Hey street-trickster!
Who performs tricks that blindfold the eyes,
Hey street-trickster!
Who turns mere air into money,
Hey street-trickster!
Who turns clouds into juice,
Hey street-trickster!
Hey street-trickster!
ஆட்ட எல்லாம் மாசுல
மாட்ட மாட்டான் லேசுல
ஓட்டம் பாரு சேஸ்சுல
புலிமாறி உருமாறி
All his moves are grand and stylish,
He won't easily get caught,
Look at his run during a chase,
Transforming like a tiger, shape-shifting away!
.......................
...
சாலக்காரா
வானத்தில் சைக்கிள் விடுவான்
சாலக்காரா
மலை முழுங்கி
ஏப்பம் விடுவான்
சாலக்காரா
உன் டவுசர உனக்கே விப்பான்
சாலக்காரா....ஏ....ஏ....ஏ.....
Hey street-trickster!
He will ride a bicycle in the sky,
Hey street-trickster!
Swallowing a whole mountain,
He will burp it out,
Hey street-trickster!
He will sell your own trousers right back to you!
Hey street-trickster...
மச்சான் மாய கண்ணாடி
நிப்பான்டி ஒன் முன்னாடி
காணா போவும் பின்னாடி
பக்கீரீ கில்லாடி
Friend, he is a magical mirror,
He will stand right in front of you, girl,
Everything behind will vanish,
The Fakir is an expert master!
கூட்டான் சேப்பான் கூத்தாடி
காட்டுவண்டி காத்தாடி
ஏச்சி போவான் ஆத்தாடி
பக்கீரீ கில்லாடி
The street performer gathers a crowd,
He will show off a paper kite, girl,
Oh my goodness, he will trick you and slip away!
The Fakir is a master trickster...
பச்சை இலை கசக்குவான்
கீச்சு கிளி பொறக்கும்
ரெக்கை ரெண்டு கிறுக்குவான்
பச்சை கிளி பறக்கும்
செக்க செவ மூக்கு வச்சு
உன் பர்ஸ தொறக்கும்
தொறக்கும் தொறக்கும் தொறக்கும்
He will crush a green leaf,
A squeaking parrot will be born,
He will scribble two wings,
A green parrot will fly away!
With a bright red beak,
It will open your wallet,
Will open, will open, will open!
டக்கரு ஆளு பக்கீரீ
சிக்குனா நீதான் ஜோக்கரு
The Fakir is a brilliant guy,
If you get trapped, you become the joker!
கிலி கிலி ஜீ பூம் பா
நாங்க சாமியாரா வருவோம்டா
இந்த சாலை பாத்து நடுங்குமடா
இப்ப யாரும் இல்ல தடங்கல்டா
Abra-cadabra, jee boom baa!
We will arrive disguised as holy men, man!
Seeing us, this street will tremble, man!
Now there is no obstacle left, man!
வெட்டி வெட்டி வெட்டியாக
எங்க வித்த இல்ல கண்ணு
நாங்க தூளுபா
உங்க பாக்கெட்குள்ள லாக் இன்
பண்ணி எல்லா டேட்டா கிளீன் அப் பா
போன்னு மொத்தம் எல்லாம் சொத்தும்
துரு துரு நாங்க டேக் அப் பா
வேக் அப் பா
இங்க பார் காசு பணம் எங்கப்பா
Endlessly and wastefully,
Our trick is no joke, look!
We are absolute rockstars, pal!
Logging inside your pocket,
And cleaning up all your data, pal!
Your phone and all your entire wealth,
Swiftly, we take it all up, pal!
Wake up, pal!
Look here, where is the cash and money, pal?
எங்க ஆசை காசு
நல்ல கணக்கு
மனிதனா மணி இல்ல எனக்கு
கடைசி கொக்குதான் உனக்கு
சுருட்டு சுருட்டு
ஆண்டவன்தான் துணைக்கு
அமுக்கு அமுக்கு அமுக்கு
Our desire is cash,
A fine calculation,
Conventional money is not for me,
Only a final scream remains for you,
Roll it up, stash it away!
Only God is there for support,
Press it down, hide it away!
ஆட்ட எல்லாம் மாசுல
மாட்ட மாட்டான் லேசுல
ஓட்டம் பாரு சேஸ்சுல
புலிமாறி உருமாறி
All his moves are grand and stylish,
He won't easily get caught,
Look at his run during a chase,
Transforming like a tiger, shape-shifting away!
கிராப் இட் கிராப் இட் ராப்
இட்ஸ் ஓகே ....இட்ஸ் ஓகே .... இட்ஸ் ஓகே ....
இட்ஸ் ஓகே ....இட்ஸ் ஓகே ....
Grab it, grab it, rob!
It's okay... it's okay... it's okay,
It's okay... it's okay...
சாலக்காரா...ஆ....ஆ.....
சாலக்காரா....ஹா....ஆ....ஆ....
சாலக்காரா.....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ.....
சாலக்காரா....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ.....
Street-trickster...
Street-trickster...
Street-trickster...
Street-trickster...
பக்கீரு.....(8)
Fakir...
Saalakkaaraa
Hey street-trickster!
Kannkatti vitha kaattum
Who performs tricks that blindfold the eyes,
Saalakkaaraa
Hey street-trickster!
Kaathathaan kaasaa maathum
Who turns mere air into money,
Saalakkaaraa
Hey street-trickster!
Megatha choosaa maathum
Who turns clouds into juice,
Saalakkaaraa
Hey street-trickster!
Saalakkaaraa
Hey street-trickster!
Aatta ellaam maasula
All his moves are grand and stylish,
Maatta maattaan lesula
He won't easily get caught,
Ottam paaru chase-ula
Look at his run during a chase,
Pulimaari urumaari
Transforming like a tiger, shape-shifting away!
………………………
...
Saalakkaaraa
Hey street-trickster!
Vaanathil cycle viduvaan
He will ride a bicycle in the sky,
Saalakkaaraa
Hey street-trickster!
Malai muzhungi
Swallowing a whole mountain,
Yeppam viduvaan
He will burp it out,
Saalakkaaraa
Hey street-trickster!
Un tavusara unakkae vippaan
He will sell your own trousers right back to you!
Saalakkaaraa..ae….ae…ae….
Hey street-trickster...
Machaan maaya kannaadi
Friend, he is a magical mirror,
Nippaan di on munnaadi
He will stand right in front of you, girl,
Kaanaa povum pinnaadi
Everything behind will vanish,
Fakkeeru killaadi
The Fakir is an expert master!
Koottan saeppaan koothaadi
The street performer gathers a crowd,
Kaattuvaan dee kaathaadi
He will show off a paper kite, girl,
Yechu poavaan aathaadi
Oh my goodness, he will trick you and slip away!
Fakkeeru killaadi…
The Fakir is a master trickster...
Pacha ila kasakkuvaan
He will crush a green leaf,
Keechu kili porakkum
A squeaking parrot will be born,
Rekka rendu kirukkuvaan
He will scribble two wings,
Pacha kili parakkum
A green parrot will fly away!
Chekka cheva mookka vechu
With a bright red beak,
Un parsa thorakkum
It will open your wallet,
Thorakkum thorakkum thorakkum
Will open, will open, will open!
Takkaru aalu fakkeeru
The Fakir is a brilliant guy,
Chikkunaa needhaan jokkeru
If you get trapped, you become the joker!
Gili gili jee boom baa
Abra-cadabra, jee boom baa!
Naanga saamiyaara varuvom daa
We will arrive disguised as holy men, man!
Indha saalai pathu nadungumdaa
Seeing us, this street will tremble, man!
Ipoo aarum illa thadangal daa
Now there is no obstacle left, man!
Vetti vetti vettiyaaga
Endlessly and wastefully,
Enga vitha illa kannu
Our trick is no joke, look!
Naanga dhoolu paa
We are absolute rockstars, pal!
Unga pocket kulla login
Logging inside your pocket,
Panni ella data clean up baa
And cleaning up all your data, pal!
Phone-u motham ella sothum
Your phone and all your entire wealth,
Thuru thuru naanga take up paa
Swiftly, we take it all up, pal!
Wake up paa
Wake up, pal!
Inga paar kaasu panam engappa
Look here, where is the cash and money, pal?
Enga aasa kaasu
Our desire is cash,
Nalla kanakku
A fine calculation,
Manidhana money illa enakku
Conventional money is not for me,
Kadasi kooku thaan unakku
Only a final scream remains for you,
Suruttu suruttu
Roll it up, stash it away!
Aandavan thaan thunaikku
Only God is there for support,
Amukku amukku amukku
Press it down, hide it away!
Aatta ellaam maasula
All his moves are grand and stylish,
Maatta maattaan lesula
He won't easily get caught,
Ottam paaru chase-ula
Look at his run during a chase,
Pulimaari urumaari
Transforming like a tiger, shape-shifting away!
Grab it grab it rob
Grab it, grab it, rob!
Its okay…its okay….its okay
It's okay... it's okay... it's okay,
Its okay…its okay….
It's okay... it's okay...
Saalakkaaraa…aa…aa…
Street-trickster...
Saalakkaaraa…haaa…aa…aa…
Street-trickster...
Saalakkaaraa…aaa..aaa..aaa..aa…
Street-trickster...
Saalakkaaraa…aaa…aaa…aa…
Street-trickster...
Fakkeeru…(8)…………..
Fakir...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Saalakkaaraa' (Street Trickster) energetically celebrates the wily charm, street-smartness, and elusive magic of a street illusionist (the Fakir). Through colorful metaphors and humorous hyperbole, the lyrics describe how the protagonist tricks people, performs surreal illusions like turning air to cash or riding bicycles in the sky, and manages to escape tricky situations unscathed.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Hyperbole (Exaggeration)
“Malai muzhungi Yeppam viduvaan”
Extravagant exaggeration used to highlight the unbelievable scale of street magic tricks.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Aatta ellaam maasula / Maatta maattaan lesula / Ottam paaru chase-ula”
Rhyming of the second letter across consecutive lines ('maasula', 'lesula', 'chase-ula').
Metaphor
“Machaan maaya kannaadi”
Direct comparison comparing the deceptive street illusionist to a 'magical mirror' that hides reality.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Pakkiri' (2019) is the Tamil dubbed version of the French-Indian comedy-drama film 'The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir', starring Dhanush in his international film debut. The original soundtrack was composed by Amit Trivedi, with Tamil lyrics penned by Madhan Karky.
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