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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Saroja Saman Nikalo

From Chennai 600028 · 2007

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Shankar Mahadevan, Premgi Amaren, Chorus
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Details
Chennai 6000282007

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Saroja saman nikkalo….Does Saroja have the goods?
Male
Mele yeri vaarom ini othingi nilluWe are coming up to the top, so stand aside now
Keezha eranga sonna ada yegurum palluIf you tell us to step down, your teeth will go flying!
Mela yeri vaarom ini othingi nilluWe are coming up to the top, so stand aside now
Keezha eranga sonna ada yegurum palluIf you tell us to step down, your teeth will go flying!
Ooty rani ullara vaa nee ellarum onnagalaamQueen of Ooty, come inside, let us all gather together
Ohoo oohooOhoo oohoo
Poorima nee pookatha poo nee ethaachu senjagalaamPoorima, you are an unblown flower, we can do whatever we want
Male
Heyyy beatu beatu intha heartu beatuHey beat beat, this heart beat
Rootu poota ithu maattum bittuIf you map out a route, this bit will get trapped
Beatu beatu intha heartu beatuBeat beat, this heart beat
Rootu poota ithu maattum bittuIf you map out a route, this bit will get trapped
Male
Mele yeri vaarom ini othingi nilluWe are coming up to the top, so stand aside now
Keezha eranga sonna ada yegurum palluIf you tell us to step down, your teeth will go flying!
Mela yeri vaarom ini othingi nilluWe are coming up to the top, so stand aside now
Keezha eranga sonna ada yegurum palluIf you tell us to step down, your teeth will go flying!
Chorus
…………………………..........................
Male
Pattu pattunu sethupattuDraped in silk piece by piece
Aiyo sirikkuthada namma cheeni sittuOh my, our sweet little bird is laughing!
Thottu puttu nee oram kattuTouch it and step aside to the corner
Athu pasikalana edam maathi kattuIf it is not hungry, change the spot and tie it
Male
Nelamai muzhuvathum theriyathu puriyathuYou will not know or understand the full situation
Thaechu paakkama thee kuchi eriyathuA matchstick will not ignite without striking it first
Adhukku neram othukkuAllocate time for that
Enna aanaalum ponalum namakkethukkuWhatever happens or goes away, why should we care?
Chorus
Beatu beatu intha heartu beatuBeat beat, this heart beat
Rootu poota ithu maattum bittuIf you map out a route, this bit will get trapped
Beatu beatu intha heartu beatuBeat beat, this heart beat
Rootu poota ithu maattum bittuIf you map out a route, this bit will get trapped
Chorus
Vaazha pappala vaazhi idhu puriyaathu ngoBanana fruit style, you will not understand this
Thaarai thappattam eduthu idhu pazhakkaathungoTaking up the traditional drums, this is not an old habit
Vaazha pappala vaazhi idhu puriyaathu ngoBanana fruit style, you will not understand this
Thaarai thappattam eduthu idhu pazhakkaathungoTaking up the traditional drums, this is not an old habit
Chorus
No… no…no…no…no…no…no noNo… no…no…no…no…no…no no
No… no…no…no…no…no…noNo… no…no…no…no…no…no
No… no…no…no…no…no…no noNo… no…no…no…no…no…no no
No… no…no…no…no…no…noNo… no…no…no…no…no…no
Chorus
Hei heii…(4)Hey heii… (x4)
Chorus
Annatha aaduraar othikko othikkoThe big brother is dancing, step aside, step aside
Thennaatu venga thaan othukko othukkoHe is the tiger of the Southern land, accept it, accept it
Ada annaatha aaduraar othikko othikkoAh, the big brother is dancing, step aside, step aside
Thennaatu venga thaan othukko othukkoHe is the tiger of the Southern land, accept it, accept it
Male
Jhonny jhonny saree gama pathaneeJohnny Johnny, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Da Ni
Vaani raani atha varuthavaneeVaani, Raani, and the one who fried them
Keeni keeni thiruvallikeeniKeeni keeni, Triplicane area
Kettu paaru nee thaan mudhal booniListen and see, you are the very first customer
Male
Ilasu pazhasana inikathu rusikathuIf youth grows old, it will not taste sweet or enjoyable
Alagu selavana athukethum kedaikathuOnce beauty is spent, you get nothing in return
Male
Irukumpothae norukkuCrush and enjoy it while you still have it
Athu illama ingaethaan ethu irukkuWithout that, what else is even left here?
Chorus
Beatu beatu intha heartu beatuBeat beat, this heart beat
Rootu poota ithu maattum bittuIf you map out a route, this bit will get trapped
Beatu beatu intha heartu beatuBeat beat, this heart beat
Rootu poota ithu maattum bittuIf you map out a route, this bit will get trapped
Chorus
Kozhi kokara kozhi idu muzhikkaathungoThe rooster crows, but this one will not wake up
Vaadi pankajavalli idu salikathungoCome on Pankajavalli, this will not get tiresome
Kozhi kokara kozhi idu muzhikkaathungoThe rooster crows, but this one will not wake up
Vaadi pankajavalli idu salikathungoCome on Pankajavalli, this will not get tiresome

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This track from the 2007 film 'Chennai 600028' is a energetic, high-tempo Chennai 'Gaana' street anthem celebrating youthful enthusiasm, swagger, and local pride. It captures the spirit of local area boys participating in street cricket and local festivities, filled with witty local slang and rhyming couplets.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emoni / Second Letter Rhyme (Ethugai)

Mele yeri vaarom ini othingi nillu / Keezha eranga sonna ada yegurum pallu

Matching second consonants across lines to create rhythmic flow ('Mele' and 'Keezha').

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Mele yeri vaarom ini othingi nillu / Keezha eranga sonna ada yegurum pallu

Matching line endings ('nillu' / 'pallu') enhancing the catchy musicality.

Metaphor

Thaechu paakkama thee kuchi eriyathu

Using the matchstick striking as a metaphor for initiative and effort producing results.

Rhythmic Nonsense / Street Slang Rhyming

Jhonny jhonny saree gama pathanee / Vaani raani atha varuthavanee / Keeni keeni thiruvallikeeni

Juxtaposition of musical notes, nursery rhymes, and local place names to maintain cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja for director Venkat Prabhu's debut feature, the phrase 'Saroja Saman Nikkalo' became so massively popular in Tamil pop culture that Venkat Prabhu named his next 2008 comedy-thriller film 'Saroja'.

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