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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Shokka Jolikkudhappaa

From Pesum Dheivam · 1967

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Leela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Pesum Dheivam1967

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Jokkaa jolikkudhappaaLook, the joker shines brilliantly!
Taekkaa kodukkudhappaaIt gives a dodge and twist!
Aahoohu aahoohuAahoohu aahoohu
Kuiyaagukki kuruvi kutti aiyaaloOh little bird chick, oh my!
Aiyaa kutti aattu kutti keiyaaloOh sir's little lamb chick, oh my!
Male
Kannu thadukki thalukki ladukki mainaaOh maina bird with slipping, swinging, sweet eyes!
Jillu dakkiri bukkiri dinghiri danghiri nainaaCool, lively, bouncing rhythm, my dear!
Adiyo jaalakku dolakku vaalakkuHey girl of magic, dolak drum, and playfulness!
Ammammaa nee makku vaa makku po makku dakkuOh dear, you are a fool, come fool, go fool!
Female
Maanaa meenaa neenaa kaanaa ponaaIs it a deer, a fish, you, lost or gone?
Ararara aiyaaloArarara aiyaalo
Ho ho ho ho ho ho hoHo ho ho ho ho ho ho
Male
Jokkaa jolikkudhappaaLook, the joker shines brilliantly!
Taekkaa kodukkudhappaaIt gives a dodge and twist!
Aahoohu aahoohuAahoohu aahoohu
Kuiyaagukki kuruvi kutti aiyaaloOh little bird chick, oh my!
Aiyaa kutti aattu kutti keiyaaloOh sir's little lamb chick, oh my!
Female
Naakkula mookkula nattu pullaakkulaOn the tongue, in the nose, in the nose-studs and rings,
Dhaeshu paraakkula sevuthu orathulaLooking around absent-mindedly near the wall,
Indula idukkula thaathaa kirukiruIn the narrow cracks and crevices, grandfather feels dizzy,
Muzhushaa sithaa pottukka thaalamSet the rhythm completely for a little while!
Rappo ada yanghappoRappo, oh where did it go!
Male
Ada daangu dappara dae paisaaHey dang dappara money!
Raiyaa rappaa dappaan dolaaRaiyaa rappaa dappaan dolaa
Thaangida thaan thaikkida thaanBeat the rhythm, dance to the beat!
Unnaiyum keduthu thannaiyum keduthuRuining you and ruining oneself,
Uttaarae chainaakaar javvaaroThe Chinaman left his Chinese goods!
Female
Summaa kettaarae chainaakaar yaaraaloThe Chinaman just asked casually!
Female
Oo…ooo….ooo….ooo….ooo….ooo….Oo...ooo...ooo...ooo...ooo...ooo...
Male Chorus :Kuiyaagukki kuruvi kutti aiyaaloMale Chorus: Oh little bird chick, oh my!
Female Chorus :Aiyaa kutti aattu kutti keiyaaloFemale Chorus: Oh sir's little lamb chick, oh my!
Male
Hooooo oooo hoiyaa…Hooooo oooo hoiyaa...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Jokkaa jolikkudhappaa from the 1967 film Pesum Dheivam is a lively, folk-infused humorous track filled with playful rhythm, street-performer slang, and lighthearted nonsense words. Written by Vaali, the song uses expressive Tamil folk idioms and cheerful sound effects to evoke the vibrant energy of a carnival or street performance, capturing a playful back-and-forth chatter with catchy vocalizations.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai and Ethukai (Alliteration and Assonance)

Jokkaa jolikkudhappaa / Taekkaa kodukkudhappaa

Rhyming words like Jokkaa and Taekkaa create internal rhythm and cadence.

Onomatopoeia / Rhythm Play

Jillu dakkiri bukkiri dinghiri danghiri nainaa

Use of fast rhythmic nonsense syllables like dakkiri, bukkiri, dinghiri, and danghiri to mimic traditional folk percussion beats.

Refrain

Kuiyaagukki kuruvi kutti aiyaalo

Repetition of folk chorus lines (Kuiyaagukki kuruvi kutti aiyaalo) anchors the song in Tamil folk tradition.

Did you know?

Trivia

Pesum Dheivam (1967) stars Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini, with music composed by K. V. Mahadevan. This song showcases lyricist Vaali's versatility in writing colloquial street-folk lyrics filled with rhythmic mouth-percussion words.

Keep listening

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