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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vilakku Onnu

From Devathayai Kanden · 2004

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singers
Yugendran, Grace Karunas
Music director
Deva
Details
Devathayai Kanden2004

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vilakku onnu thiriya paakkuthuA lamp looks at the wick,
Athu kolunthu vittu yeriya yenguthuIt longs to burst into flames and burn.
Female
Ponnai onnu puliya paakkuthuA cat looks at a tiger,
Athu poratti poratti kadikka yenguthuIt longs to toss it around and bite it.
Male
Iravellam enakkuThe whole night is mine,
En ilamai ellam unakkuAll my youth is for you.
Female :Thodanga venum enakkuFemale: I need to start,
Innum yenda valakkuWhy do you still argue?
Male
Neethandi yenoda paappuYou are my baby,
Hey namakkulla venandi gappuHey, we don't need any gap between us!
Female :Podathada podathada soappuFemale: Don't butter me up,
Naan vekka poren vekka poren aappuI am going to set a trap for you!
Male
Hey vilakku onnu thiriya paakkuthuHey, a lamp looks at the wick,
Athu kolunthu vittu yeriya yenguthuIt longs to burst into flames and burn.
Male
Hey sulukkikichaeHey, it caught a sprain!
Ada sulukkikichaeAh, it sprained!
Hey vetti kattum antha idathilae….Hey, in that place where the waist-cloth is tied...
Female
Marunthu vechu..Applying medicine...
Puthu marunthu vechuApplying new medicine,
Naan sulukku yeduppen nalla vithathilaaaaI will relieve the sprain in a proper way!
Male
Aadu nanaiyithaIs the sheep getting drenched?
Onaai karaiyithaIs the jackal weeping crocodile tears?
Aarthi yethukkunuWhy the welcoming light is lit,
Theriyum theriyumI know, I know!
Female
Meenu kasakkuthaIs the fish feeling bitter?
Kokku pasapputhaIs the crane acting innocent?
Aamaa yethukkennuYes, why that is,
Enakkum puriyuuum…I understand too...
Male
Thavicha vaikku thanni kidaikkumaWill a thirsty mouth get water?
Ye thangamae thalli ninaOh darling, if you stand far away,
Soodu koraiyuma… aa aaWill the heat subside?
Female
Summa tharaiyil kappal irangumaWill a ship sail on bare ground?
Ye chinna paiya.. kattan taraiyilHey little boy, on dry hard ground,
Yeru odumaWill a plow run?
Male
Hey vilakku onnu thiriya paakkuthuHey, a lamp looks at the wick,
Athu kolunthu vittu yeriya yenguthae….It longs to burst into flames and burn.
Male
Potta muyalaeOh female rabbit,
Adi potta muyalae…Hey female rabbit...
Unna rendula onna paakkaTo see you face off one-on-one,
PorendiI'm coming, girl!
Female
Podi payalae..Hey little boy...
Dei podi payalae..Hey little boy...
Unna undu illa aakkaTo completely finish you off,
PorendaaaaaaaI'm coming, boy!
Male
Hey pombula aasathaanHey, a woman's desire is like,
Eriyum kosuvathi iravu mulukkavumA burning mosquito coil, burning all night long,
Yeriyum yeriyumIt burns and burns!
Female
Aambula aasathaanA man's desire is like,
Eriyum oothuvathi.. konja neramthaanA burning incense stick, only for a short time,
Olaiyum olaiyumIt burns and dies out!
Female
Yega patta aasa kedakkuthuA heap of desires lies waiting,
Nee thottu putta thousand wats-uWhen you touch me, a thousand-watt
Balbu eriyuthuuuuBulb lights up!
Male
Hey unna kanda yekkam kuduthuHey, seeing you increases my longing,
Enn nenjukkulla meenambaakkaInside my heart like Meenambakkam airport,
Flight parakkuthuA flight takes off!
Male
Adiyae..vilakku onnu thiriya paakkuthuHey girl, a lamp looks at the wick,
Athu kolunthu vittu yeriya yenguthuIt longs to burst into flames and burn.
Female :Dai dai.. poona onnu puliya paakkuthuFemale: Hey hey, a cat looks at a tiger,
Athu poratti poratti kadikka yenguthuIt longs to toss it around and bite it.
Male
Iravellam enakkuThe whole night is mine,
En ilamai ellam unakkuAll my youth is for you.
Female :Thodanga venum enakkuFemale: I need to start,
Innum yenda valakkuWhy do you still argue?
Male
Neethandi yenoda paappuYou are my baby,
Hey namakkulla venandiHey, between us we don't need
Gappu gappu gappuAny gap, gap, gap!
Female :Podathada podathada soappuFemale: Don't butter me up,
Naan vekka poren vekka porenI am going to set a trap,
Aappu aappuA trap, a trap!
Male
Hey yemma yeppaHey mother, father!
Yemma yeppa yemmaaaaaaMother, father, mother!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Vilakku Onnu is a high-energy folk duet featuring a playful and romantic banter between two lovers. Through a sequence of witty exchanges, rustic proverbs, and comical metaphors, the male and female leads challenge each other's affection, stamina, and intentions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Vilakku onnu thiriya paakkuthu / Athu kolunthu vittu yeriya yenguthu

Compares romantic longing to a lamp yearning to ignite its wick and a cat daring to challenge a tiger.

Contrast / Simile

Pombula aasathaan eriyum kosuvathi... Aambula aasathaan eriyum oothuvathi

Contrasts female desire (long-lasting like a mosquito coil) with male desire (short-lived like an incense stick).

Hyperbole

Nee thottu putta thousand wats-u Balbu eriyuthuuuu / Enn nenjukkulla meenambaakka Flight parakkuthu

Exaggerates emotional excitement by comparing touch to a 1000-watt bulb lighting up and airplanes taking off inside the heart.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 2004 Tamil film 'Devathayai Kanden', starring Dhanush and Sridevi Vijaykumar, with music composed by Deva, known for his signature kuthu and folk compositions.

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