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Lyrics & meaning

Thathali Puthali Makka

From Jannal Oram · 2013

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singers
K. Lakshman, Aravind, Rishi, Haresh, Aishwarya, Aswitha
Music director
Vidyasagar
Details
Jannal Oram2013

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Thathali puthali makkaa sukkaaRhythmic folk chant with playful nonsense syllables!
Paalu parangi raattinam poottinamMilk, pumpkin, ferris wheel, lock and key
Kadakada vandi kelambudhu nondiThe clattering bus starts moving and limps along
Oram poMove to the side!
Athili sithili sukkaa makkaaPlayful folk beat chant syllables
Aadi kulungi veettula saekkanumSwaying and shaking, we must safely reach home
Thala thala vandi thalumbudhu mundhiThe overflowing bus sloshes as it surges ahead
Oram poMove to the side!
Vaana mala vandi saerum idam thondiCrossing rain and mountains, the bus heads to its destination
Pogudhadaa mundhi oram poIt is moving ahead, move to the side!
Chorus
Thulli thulli thaan yaerikko yaerikkoBounce up and board, board the bus!
Illa illa edam thothikko thothikkoIf there is no room, grab hold tight and squeeze in!
Thalli thalli thaan poikko poikkoMove aside, push further away!
Enga eranganum sollikkoTell us where you need to get off!
Chorus
Thulli thulli thaan yaerikko yaerikkoBounce up and board, board the bus!
Illa illa edam thothikko thothikkoIf there is no room, grab hold tight and squeeze in!
Thalli thalli thaan poikko poikkoMove aside, push further away!
Enga eranganum sollikkoTell us where you need to get off!
Chorus
Paampaam papa papaam paampaa paampaaPaampaam papa papaam paampaa paampaa (imitative horn sounds)
Papaampaam paaPapaampaam paa
Paampaam papa papaam paampaa paampaaPaampaam papa papaam paampaa paampaa
Urrr…Urrr... (revving bus engine sound)
Chorus
Sakkaram suthudhu yekkaa yekkaaThe wheels are spinning round and round, sister!
Satham kodukkudhu makkaa makkaaIt makes a loud noise, people!
Urumudhu vandi odhungida solliThe bus growls asking everyone to clear the path
Po po poGo, go, go!
En mukkula nikkudhu kokkaa kokkaaRhythm resting right at the tip of the nose!
Munnukku povadhu dakkaa dakkaaMoving forward with a rumble and dash!
Kelambura vandi ezhuppudhu ooraThe departing bus wakes up the entire town
Tee tee teeTee, tee, tee! (horn beep)
Maedu kuzhi ellaam paathu varum vandiNavigating carefully through bumps and potholes comes the bus
Kaadu mala thaandum paar paar paarIt crosses forests and hills, look, look, look!
Chorus
Akkam pakkam nee paathukko paathukkoLook around both sides carefully
Namma ooru varum ninnukko ninnukkoOur town is arriving, stand up and get ready!
Kuiyaa muiyaa hae saanjukko saanjukkoSwaying back and forth, lean and balance!
Kaiyil ulladha vaangikkoGrab whatever you hold in your hand
Chorus
Akkam pakkam nee paathukko paathukkoLook around both sides carefully
Namma ooru varum ninnukko ninnukkoOur town is arriving, stand up and get ready!
Kuiyaa muiyaa hae saanjukko saanjukkoSwaying back and forth, lean and balance!
Kaiyil ulladha vaangikkoGrab whatever you hold in your hand

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song vividly captures the lively, humorous, and chaotic experience of riding a rural passenger bus. Using colorful folk terms, rhyming nonsense chants, and vocal imitations of bus horns and revving engines, the song describes the bus limping, shaking, and sloshing as it navigates rough village roads, potholes, hills, and heavy rain. The lyrics invite passengers to squeeze in, hold on tight, and prepare for their stop in an upbeat, celebratory atmosphere.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Thulli thulli thaan yaerikko yaerikko

Words like 'thulli thulli', 'yaerikko yaerikko', and 'po po po' are repeated consecutively to create urgency, enthusiasm, and musical cadence.

Onomatopoeia (Olijoppuchol)

Kadakada vandi kelambudhu nondi

Sound-mimicking words like 'Kadakada' (rattling noise) and 'Tee tee tee' / 'Paampaam' (horn honking) recreate real sounds of a bus journey.

Mondai and Etukai (Internal Rhyme & Alliteration)

Thathali puthali makkaa sukkaa

Pairs like 'Thathali puthali' and 'Athili sithili' demonstrate traditional Tamil folk rhyming patterns that drive the rhythmic momentum.

Did you know?

Trivia

Jannal Oram (2013) is the official Tamil remake of the hit 2012 Malayalam film 'Ordinary'. The film's soundtrack was composed by Vidyasagar, with lyrics written by Yugabharathi. The story and songs revolve around the daily occurrences on a local bus route connecting remote hill villages.

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