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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sel Sel

From Kaaka Muttai · 2014

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singer
Sathya Prakash
Music director
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Details
Kaaka Muttai2014

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Chal chalaeKeep moving
Chal chalae chal chalKeep moving, move, move
Charae chal chalaeMove, keep moving
Chal chalae chalKeep moving, move
Male
Chal chalaeKeep moving
Chal chalae chal chalKeep moving, move, move
Charae chal chalaeMove, keep moving
Chal chalae chalKeep moving, move
Male
Chal chalae chal chalaeKeep moving, keep moving
Chal chalae chal chalaeKeep moving, keep moving
Siragai virithu selSpread your wings and go
Chal chalae chal chalaeKeep moving, keep moving
Chal chalae chal chalaeKeep moving, keep moving
Kaattril yeri selRide the wind and go
Male
Po po vaazhvaeGo, go, oh life
Kaakkaa mutta thaanJust a crow's egg
Kotta vittaDropped and lost
Otta satta thaan…Just a torn shirt...
Male
Mazhai veyilRain and sunshine
Rendum engalBoth are our
Annan thambi thaan.Elder and younger brothers.
Natchathiram varuvadhuThe stars come out
Nammai nambi thaanOnly by believing in us
Male
Ingae vali yaavumHere all the paths
Nerillai sandhulaAre not straight, through narrow lanes
Pondhula po poAnd burrows, go, go
Po poda po podaGo man, go man
Pudhu inbam thaedi poGo in search of new joy
Kann paarkkum yaavumEverything your eyes behold
Un sondham endrenni po poConsider it your own and go, go
Innum melae po…Go even higher up...
Theraenaaa…..aaa…Theraenaaa.....aaa...
Male
Thooral vandhaal ingaeWhen a drizzle falls here
Koni kudaiyaagumaeA gunny bag becomes an umbrella
Oru quater bottlulaiUsing a quarter bottle
Vilakkaai maattriTransformed into a lamp
Iruttai ottiduvomWe drive away the darkness
Ada kattaandharayilHey, on the hard bare floor
Kaigalai neettiStretching out our arms
Paduththadhum thoongiduvomWe fall asleep as soon as we lie down
Male
Sandaigal adithadiFights and brawls
Ingum undu naal thorumaeHappen here every day
Sattena anbaaiSuddenly with affection
Anaithida odum nam nenjamaeOur hearts race to embrace
Male
Kadhavugal unduThere are doors
Mugavari illai nam veedhiyilaeBut no address in our street
Ada yaar veedumHey, thinking anyone's house
nam veedu endrenniIs our own home
Vazhugirom po poWe live, go, go
Po poda po podaGo man, go man
Pudhu inbam thaedi poGo in search of new joy
Kann paarkkum yaavumEverything your eyes behold
Un sondham endrenni po poConsider it your own and go, go
Innum melae po…Go even higher up...
Theraenaaa…..aaa…Theraenaaa.....aaa...
Male
Trouser dhapaal pettiA tin box for shorts
Dhosthu aattu kuttiA pet kid goat as a friend
Dhinam anjae rupaaiEvery day, five rupees
Kidachaa podhumIf we get that, it's enough
Hero naangaladaaWe are the heroes, man!
Ada anjaan class-aHey, we haven't crossed
Thaandala aanaaThe fifth grade, but
Anubavam adhigamadaaOur life experience is vast, man!
Male
Koovam enbadhaiThe Cooum river—
Saakkadai endru yaar sonnadhadaaWho called it a sewer, man?
Koovam engalaiThe Cooum rocks us
Thaai madiyaaga thaalaattumadaaaTo sleep like a mother's lap, man!
Male
Rathiri engal kachchaerikkuFor our night concert
Vandugal paadumadaaBeetles will sing, man!
Ada ration card adhil engalHey, on the ration card
Naai per serthiduvom po poWe will add our dog's name too, go, go
Po poda po podaGo man, go man
Pudhu inbam thaedi poGo in search of new joy
Kann paarkkum yaavumEverything your eyes behold
Un sondham endrenni po poConsider it your own and go, go
Innum melae po…Go even higher up...
Theraenaaa…..aaa…Theraenaaa.....aaa...
Male
Chal chalaeKeep moving
Chal chalae chal chalKeep moving, move, move
Charae chal chalaeMove, keep moving
Chal chalae chalKeep moving, move
Male
Chal chalaeKeep moving
Chal chalae chal chalKeep moving, move, move
Charae chal chalaeMove, keep moving
Chal chalae chalKeep moving, move
Male
Chal chalae chal chalaeKeep moving, keep moving
Chal chalae chal chalaeKeep moving, keep moving
Siragai virithu selSpread your wings and go
Chal chalae chal chalaeKeep moving, keep moving
Chal chalae chal chalaeKeep moving, keep moving
Kaattril yeri selRide the wind and go

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic song from the critically acclaimed film 'Kaaka Muttai' (2014) captures the carefree, resilient, and imaginative spirit of two young brothers living in a Chennai slum. Written by Na. Muthu Kumar and composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar, the lyrics portray how children transform hardship into an adventure, regarding nature—rain and sun—as family, gunny sacks as umbrellas, and bare ground as a comfortable bed. The song celebrates innocent joy and boundless freedom that transcend material wealth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Mazhai veyil Rendum engal Annan thambi thaan.

Treating natural elements like rain and sun as brothers ('Mazhai veyil... Annan thambi thaan') and the Cooum river as a comforting mother ('Thaai madiyaaga thaalaattumadaaa').

Metaphor

Oru quater bottlulai Vilakkaai maattri Iruttai ottiduvom

Comparing a discarded quarter bottle filled with oil to a lamp that drives away darkness.

Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Trouser dhapaal petti Dhosthu aattu kutti

Rhyming structure popular in Tamil poetry where the second letter aligns across lines (Trouser / Dhosthu / Dhinam).

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kaaka Muttai' (2014), directed by M. Manikandan and produced by Dhanush and Vetrimaaran, won two National Film Awards, including Best Children's Film. The soundtrack composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar features evocative lyrics by late National Award-winning lyricist Na. Muthu Kumar.

Keep listening

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