(Translation on request for XG[1])
Arashummottil Appukuttan and Thaiparambil Ashokan, cousins and members of rival arts clubs in their village, compete each other in numerous trivial competitions. Both are unemployed and their parents are slowly getting tired of their useless pursuits for different reasons. Ashokan’s dad is worried that he will not amount to anything in life while Appukuttan’s parents are always bitter that he loses to Ashokan in every single competition. Appukuttan is eternally optimistic that he will win the next one. This scene is set for a singing competition at their village temple, where Ashokan and Appukuttan sing about being warriors in front of Goddess Kaali. The movie Yodha was one of the biggest hits of ’90s and many scenes hold cult status among Malayalis. Appukuttan by Jagathy Sreekumar is one of his best comedy portrayals of all times. Also this is the first and only Malayalam movie album to date to be directed by A.R. Rahman.

To listen to the song click play:

Padakaali, Chandi, Changari, porkkali margini Bhagavathi adiyanil
alivodu innu ithiri kaniyaname!
[Warrior Goddess Kaali, Chandi, Changari, imparter of warrior moves, Bhagavati, on this devotee
please kindly show grace!]
He Hey! Paramelam, chenda, chengila, dhimthudi, maddalam, aramani kini kini
pala thaalam thakkida kida thakathaa!
[He Hey! (Hear) all these percussion and musical instruments…
making different noises together!]
Chuvadukal ini oru njodiyida pizhayaruthe! hoi! Amma, hoi! hoi!
Adavukalude chudu pakidakal urulanam, oru varam ini athinu arulaname!
[Please help me take perfect steps at every moment, Mother Goddess!
All my moves should roll like dice (in a winning game), please grant me that boon (Goddess)!]
Othungi pathungi chothungi chulungi che! che!
vanangi kunungum manungan!
[Siding, crouching in fear, lowering, folding himself,
bowing down and shaking, this useless fellow!]
Thalangum vilangum kurungi parungi, ayye!
Ee maramadayanu njaan ethir alleda po!
[Criss-cross knotted up and cowering…
this idiot is not a match for me! go!]

+Kunnummel anjarettu illathelipili kadalukal uzhuthu, kunnithai vechaaredo!
Aa! kunnithai mele annu anthikkidayil adakkakal kaaychu, chennappam maangaapazham!
[On the hill, behind 6-8 homes, the sea was tilled and someone planted kunni(tree) saplings!
Aa! On those kunni saplings at dusk, areca nuts took shape, but when we went there, we got ripe mangoes instead!]
Tholiyodu tholi tholiyaril oru kuzhavi! vi! Amma, hoi! hoi!
Kuzhaviyil ezhu muthukizhavikal azhakodu charapara charapara idiyidiyo
[They were all being peeled in a hurry, and in between there was a pestle, Mother Goddess!
Using the pestle, seven old women were grinding everything so fast!]
Idichum pidichum valichum thozhichum vaa! vaa!
Karikku nurukkum, cherukka!
[Punched, pulled and kicked, come! come!
I will cut you into curry pieces, boy!]
Methichum chathachum morichum tholichum vaa! vaa!
Kurumulakari podi oru pidi vithari vidum!
[Stomped, bruised, burned and skinned, come! come!
I’ll sprinkle some pepper powder on you!]

Thaana naa naa thanna naa naa thaana naa naa thannannannaa
Thaana naa naa thanna naa naa thaana naa naa thannannannaa

Adithetti pothatho veezhalle kuzhiyaane
Ninnishtam thannishtam thakathinthaaro!
[Losing your foot, watch out!, dont fall, you insect!
You are too willful for your own good! ]
Pida kaane pidakkum poonchaaval kozhithan
Pinnale kurukkan theyyantharo!
[You are like a rooster who preens in front of hens,
Don’t forget there is a fox behind you!]
Aana thadiyanum aanakku odayanum aana thodiyilu nilayilla!
Ambadi cheru thavalakkunjiinu thalayattam vare ayyayyaa!
[A elephantine fatso (like you), or the owner of an elephant has no footing in the elephant’s arena
The meadows are too high for a tiny little frog!]
Thalayivide irikkumbam vaalirunnu anangalleda, dey!
Vadi koduthu adi kittan orumbettu nadakalleda, dey!
[When the head(me) is sitting here, the tail(you) shouldn’t move on its own!
Don’t bring a cane and end up being caned yourself!]
Oru kai poruthaam, kara veerariyaam, chunayodu ithile ethire idayaam
Thadiya! madaya! vaada! kuzhimadiyaa!
[Let us have a fight, and know each other’s strength, compete with energy
Fatso! idiot! come! you lazy fellow!]
Ha Ha Ha! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho!

Padakaali, Chandi, Changari, porkkali margini Bhagavathi adiyanil
alivodu innu ithiri kaniyaname!
[Warrior Goddess Kaali, Chandi, Changari, imparter of warrior moves, Bhagavati, on this devotee
please kindly show grace!]
He Hey! Paramelam, chenda, chengila, dhimthudi, maddalam, aramani kini kini
pala thaalam thakkida kida thakathaa!
[He Hey! (Hear) all these percussion and musical instruments…
making different noises together!]
Chuvadukal ini oru njodiyida pizhayaruthe! hoi! Amma, hoi! hoi!
Adavukalude chudu pakidakal urulanam, oru varam ini athinu arulaname!
[Please help me take perfect steps at every moment, Mother Goddess!
All my moves should roll like dice (in a winning game), please grant me that boon (Goddess)!]
Othungi pathungi chothungi chulungi che! che!
vanangi kunungum manungan!
[Siding, crouching in fear, lowering, folding himself,
bowing down and shaking, this useless fellow!]
Thalangum vilangum kurungi parungi, hoo hoo!
Ee maramadayanu njaan ethir alleda po! Aa po!
[Criss-cross knotted up and cowering…
this idiot is not a match for me, go! Yeah, go!]

Bhoomi thorannu nee appuram poyeedil
Vaidoorya kottaaram kappam kettaam!
[If you burrow this ground and go to the other side of the world,
I’ll build you a cat’s-eye(precious) castle]
Vaidoorya kottaaram swapnathil kettanum
Vazhiyillaathonu enthum veembilakkaam!
[The cat’s-eye castle, even in your dreams
you have no means to build, such people can boast anything!]
Kaannan pokana pooram chollanathu aaranu ambada kunchaalee?
Neeyoo ninte pakarppu avakashakkaro cholleda, koothaadi!
[Who is gonna tell the story of this (your) epic (failure) which will happen here?
Is it gonna be you or your copycats(followers)?, tell me you mosquito larve!]
Chotta chaanin dooram chaadum, kokko
kozhichaathanu maanam muttaan moham!
[The one who is only able to jump a short distance, kokko(sound of a chicken)
this Chathan (breed) rooster is aiming for the sky though!]
Kanasaa kunuasaa parayathe adi vey, koove!
Kanisham keniyum thakidam mariyum, koohe!
[Stop your worthless chit-chat and make a move, dude!
Surely your traps are all gonna fall flat!]
Mora parayaan, sora parayaan, thadiyanumude pongacham
Adiparayaan, avakayidaan madayanu chettatharamoru jaga poka
[To talk shop, and joke, this fatso is putting on airs
To cover-up his ignorance, to escape any punishments, this idiot uses crookedness as a smoke screen]
Manasilu vey! Madiyilu vey! Yamathadiya! Malamadiya!
Thadiya! Madaya! Idiya! Podiya! Maruthe! Cheruthe! Vaadaa! Podaa!
[Keep that in mind! Show it in the fighting ring! You big fatso! You lazy ass!
You fattie! You idiot! You hitter! You tiny! You evil! You small guy! Come! Go!]
Poyichelavinu chillara varavinu
cheru cheru velakal iravil thirayada
[The tiny amount you make for daily spending,
Search and spend it on trivial tricks at night]
Pathinettu adavum pizhayum neram
Udumundu uriyum, thalayil kettumeda!…
[When all your 18 techniques* fail
I will pull your dhothi and wear it on my head!]

Padakaali, Chandi, Changari, porkkali margini Bhagavathi adiyanil
alivodu innu ithiri kaniyaname!
[Warrior Goddess Kaali, Chandi, Changari, imparter of warrior moves, Bhagavati, on this devotee
please kindly show grace!]
Hey! Padakaali, Chandi, Changari, porkkali margini Bhagavathi adiyanil
alivodu innu ithiri kaniyanameh!
[Warrior Goddess Kaali, Chandi, Changari, imparter of warrior moves, Bhagavati, on this devotee
please kindly show grace!]

+I’m not sure what the lyricist meant with these four lines other than a funny fantasy. If there is an underlying meaning to all this, I am clearly missing it. 🙂
*18 techniques refer to the techniques in Kerala martial arts form, Kalaripayattu.

[1] Thank you XG for providing me with this reference link. It was very useful.