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Jannal Oram album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thathali Puthali Makka

From Jannal Oram · 2013

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singers
K. Lakshman, Aravind, Rishi, Haresh, Aishwarya, Aswitha
Music director
Vidyasagar
Movie name
Jannal Oram
Movie release year
2013
Lyrics added on
6 Jan 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thathali puthali makkaa sukkaa
Paalu parangi raattinam poottinam
Kadakada vandi kelambudhu nondi
Oram po
Athili sithili sukkaa makkaa
Aadi kulungi veettula saekkanum
Thala thala vandi thalumbudhu mundhi
Oram po
Vaana mala vandi saerum idam thondi
Pogudhadaa mundhi oram po
Thulli thulli thaan yaerikko yaerikko
Illa illa edam thothikko thothikko
Thalli thalli thaan poikko poikko
Enga eranganum sollikko
Thulli thulli thaan yaerikko yaerikko
Illa illa edam thothikko thothikko
Thalli thalli thaan poikko poikko
Enga eranganum sollikko
Paampaam papa papaam paampaa paampaa
Papaampaam paa
Paampaam papa papaam paampaa paampaa
Urrr…
Sakkaram suthudhu yekkaa yekkaa
Satham kodukkudhu makkaa makkaa
Urumudhu vandi odhungida solli
Po po po
En mukkula nikkudhu kokkaa kokkaa
Munnukku povadhu dakkaa dakkaa
Kelambura vandi ezhuppudhu oora
Tee tee tee
Maedu kuzhi ellaam paathu varum vandi
Kaadu mala thaandum paar paar paar
Akkam pakkam nee paathukko paathukko
Namma ooru varum ninnukko ninnukko
Kuiyaa muiyaa hae saanjukko saanjukko
Kaiyil ulladha vaangikko
Akkam pakkam nee paathukko paathukko
Namma ooru varum ninnukko ninnukko
Kuiyaa muiyaa hae saanjukko saanjukko
Kaiyil ulladha vaangikko
Thathali puthali, hey folks, make way!
Milk, pumpkins, a giant wheel hitched and loaded,
Rattling and clattering, the rickety bus starts limping along,
Step aside!
Athilli sithilli, hey folks, make way!
Rocking and shaking, it must get everyone home,
Packed to the brim, the bus sways as it surges ahead,
Step aside!
The bus climbing to the mountain skies, seeking its stop,
Rushes on ahead, boys—step aside!
Hop and leap right on, climb on!
If there is no room, just cling on tight, hang on!
Squeeze and push your way inside, go on!
Tell us where you need to get off!
Hop and leap right on, climb on!
If there is no room, just cling on tight, hang on!
Squeeze and push your way inside, go on!
Tell us where you need to get off!
Paam paam pa-pa paam-pa paam-pa paam-pa
Pa-pam-paam paa
Paam paam pa-pa paam-pa paam-pa paam-pa
Vroooom...
The wheels are spinning, sister, sister!
It makes such a racket, folks, folks!
The engine growls, telling everyone to clear the path,
Move, move, move!
Waiting at the street corner like a patient crane!
Lurching straight ahead, clackety-clack!
The departing bus wakes up the whole town,
Beep, beep, beep!
Tackling every bump and pothole, here comes the bus,
Crossing forests and mountains, look, look, look!
Look around carefully, watch yourself!
When our stop arrives, stand up and get ready!
In all the hustle and bustle, lean in close, lean on in!
Take your ticket and change in hand!
Look around carefully, watch yourself!
When our stop arrives, stand up and get ready!
In all the hustle and bustle, lean in close, lean on in!
Take your ticket and change in hand!
Chorus
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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