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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Usukko Usakkaiya

From Enga Thambi · 1993

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
Minmini, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Enga Thambi1993

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Haei usukko usaakkiyaa usukkaaraeHey, clever ones / lively ones!
Ustha ustha usthaUstha ustha ustha
Dasukko dasaakkiyaa dasukkaaraeDasukko dasaakkiyaa dasukkaarae
Daskka buskka daskkaaDaskka buskka daskkaa
Chorus
Padippum kallooriyumStudies and college,
Special classumAnd special classes,
Boreu boreu boreuAre boring, boring, boring!
Professor ellorumaeAll the professors,
Seven o clockLike Seven O'Clock razor blades,
Blade blade bladeAre boring blades, blades, blades!
Chorus
Nam raggingum teasingumOur ragging and teasing,
ThaangaadhuUnable to endure,
Raadhaavum geethaavum poyaachuRadha and Geetha ran away!
Aanaalum ippodhu naam ellaamNevertheless, now all of us,
Onnodu onnaaga aayaachuHave united as one!
Chorus
Usukko usaakkiyaa usukkaaraeUsukko usaakkiyaa usukkaarae
Ustha ustha usthaUstha ustha ustha
Haei dasukko dasaakkiyaa dasukkaaraeHey dasukko dasaakkiyaa dasukkaarae
Daskka buskka daskkaaDaskka buskka daskkaa
Female
First bell adichaaWhen the first bell rings,
Ennadi seivomWhat shall we do, girl?
Chorus :Cut adippom class cut adippomChorus: We will skip class, skip class!
Female :Test varum podhuFemale: When the exam approaches,
Ennadi seivomWhat shall we do, girl?
Chorus :Bit adippom naam bit adippomChorus: We will cheat with bits, cheat with bits!
Female
Nam meedhu thaanAiming directly at us,
Dhinam arrow vidaTo shoot love arrows daily,
Collegela sila hero varaWhen a few 'heroes' show up in college,
Kaattadhae dee kannaeDon't wave goodbye to them, girl,
Tataavai thaanWith a wave of your hand;
Kaiyil edu undhan bata vai thaanInstead, pick up your footwear in hand!
Chorus
Vattathil nikkaadha mottukkalWe are flower buds that don't stay inside a drawn circle,
Naam kattathil sikkaadha sittukkalWe are sparrows that cannot be caught in traps!
Female
Pennukku ingillai kattukkalThere are no restrictive bounds for women here,
Dhinam paadungal aanandha mettukkalSing joyful tunes every single day!
Adi raagini vana mogini jeyamaaliniHey Raagini, forest enchantress, Jeyamaalini,
Aadu nee kondaattam podu neeDance away and celebrate enthusiastically!
Chorus
Usukko usaakkiyaa usukkaaraeUsukko usaakkiyaa usukkaarae
Ustha ustha usthaUstha ustha ustha
Haei dasukko dasaakkiyaa dasukkaaraeHey dasukko dasaakkiyaa dasukkaarae
Daskka buskka daskkaaDaskka buskka daskkaa
Chorus
Nam raggingum teasingumOur ragging and teasing,
ThaangaadhuUnable to endure,
Raadhaavum geethaavum poyaachuRadha and Geetha ran away!
Aanaalum ippodhu naam ellaamNevertheless, now all of us,
Onnodu onnaaga aayaachuHave united as one!
Chorus
Usukko usaakkiyaa usukkaaraeUsukko usaakkiyaa usukkaarae
Ustha ustha usthaUstha ustha ustha
Haei dasukko dasaakkiyaa dasukkaaraeHey dasukko dasaakkiyaa dasukkaarae
Daskka buskka daskkaaDaskka buskka daskkaa
Female
Laalaala laalaala laalaalaa laalalaaLaalaala laalaala laalaalaa laalalaa
Chorus :Laalaala laalaala laalaalaa laalalaaChorus: Laalaala laalaala laalaalaa laalalaa
Female :Laalaala laalaala laalaalaa laaFemale: Laalaala laalaala laalaalaa laa
Chorus :Laalaala laalaala laalaalaa laaChorus: Laalaala laalaala laalaalaa laa
Female :Lalala lala lalalaFemale: Lalala lala lalala
Chorus :Lalala lala lalalaChorus: Lalala lala lalala
Female :Lalala lala lalalaFemale: Lalala lala lalala
Chorus :Lalala lala lalalaChorus: Lalala lala lalala
Female
Kikkugalai yetha paattu irukkuMusic exists to give us a real high,
Chorus :Kannu maniyae adi kannu maniyaeChorus: Oh darling friend, oh dear one!
Female :Bodhaigalai yethum dress yedhukkuFemale: Why wear revealing clothes that induce bad intoxications?
Chorus :Ponnu maniyae adi ponnu maniyaeChorus: Oh precious girl, oh dear one!
Female
Vendaamammaa adhu pollaadhadhuNo, my friend, that is bad,
Thottaal adhu vittu chellaadhadhuOnce touched, it won't let you go!
Meettungadi mella rocking guitarStrum the rocking guitar gently,
Naam vaangalaam andha grammy awardAnd we might win that Grammy Award!
Chorus :Sitraadai kondaadum sirpangalChorus: Sculptures celebrating traditional attire,
Naam sillendru poothaadum pushpangalWe are cool, blossoming flowers swaying around,
Female
Sippikkul illaadha muthukkalPearls not confined inside oyster shells,
Naam dhesathin ponnaana sothukkalWe are the country's golden assets!
Adi raagini vana mogini jeyamaaliniHey Raagini, forest enchantress, Jeyamaalini,
Aadu nee kondaattam podu neeDance away and celebrate enthusiastically!
Chorus
Usukko usaakkiyaa usukkaaraeUsukko usaakkiyaa usukkaarae
Ustha ustha usthaUstha ustha ustha
Dasukko dasaakkiyaa dasukkaaraeDasukko dasaakkiyaa dasukkaarae
Daskka buskka daskkaaDaskka buskka daskkaa
Chorus
Padippum kallooriyumStudies and college,
Special classumAnd special classes,
Boreu boreu boreuAre boring, boring, boring!
Professor ellorumaeAll the professors,
Seven o clockLike Seven O'Clock razor blades,
Blade blade bladeAre boring blades, blades, blades!
Chorus
Nam raggingum teasingumOur ragging and teasing,
ThaangaadhuUnable to endure,
Raadhaavum geethaavum poyaachuRadha and Geetha ran away!
Aanaalum ippodhu naam ellaamNevertheless, now all of us,
Onnodu onnaaga aayaachuHave united as one!
Chorus
Usukko usaakkiyaa usukkaaraeUsukko usaakkiyaa usukkaarae
Ustha ustha usthaUstha ustha ustha
Haei dasukko dasaakkiyaa dasukkaaraeHey dasukko dasaakkiyaa dasukkaarae
Daskka buskka daskkaaDaskka buskka daskkaa
Chorus
Padippum kallooriyumStudies and college,
Special classumAnd special classes,
Boreu boreu boreuAre boring, boring, boring!
Professor ellorumaeAll the professors,
Seven o clockLike Seven O'Clock razor blades,
Blade blade bladeAre boring blades, blades, blades!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This high-energy youth track from 'Enga Thambi' (1993) expresses the free-spirited, rebellious, and joyful nature of college women. The lyrics humorously vent frustration over tedious lectures, special classes, and professors who talk endlessly ('blade'). Instead of conforming to strict academic pressures, the students celebrate sisterhood, fun, skipping classes, and harmless mischief.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Eyaibu (Rhyme / இயைபு)

Vattathil nikkaadha mottukkal / Naam kattathil sikkaadha sittukkal / Pennukku ingillai kattukkal

The end-rhymes with '-kkal' across multiple consecutive lines create a strong rhythmic cadence suitable for a college group song.

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

Sippikkul illaadha muthukkal / Naam dhesathin ponnaana sothukkal

The young women are metaphorically praised as unbound pearls and the nation's golden wealth, emphasizing female empowerment.

Pun / Slang Metaphor

Professor ellorumae / Seven o clock / Blade blade blade

Clever integration of Tamil youth slang 'blade' (meaning boring speech) with 'Seven O'Clock', a popular brand of razor blades.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Enga Thambi' (1993) features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. The song uses early 90s Tamil college slang where 'blade' meant a boring or repetitive speaker, combined with brand play on 'Seven O'Clock' blades.

Keep listening

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