Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Arthamulla Pattu

From Rojavai Killathe · 1993

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra, Baby Sujatha
Music director
Deva
Details
Rojavai Killathe1993

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
……………....
Female
Arthamulla paattu vanthu rompa naallachchuIt has been a long time since a meaningful song was released.
Ada aalukkoru vari sonnaa sariyaa pochchuHey, if everyone contributes a line, it will be just right!
Male
Mm appadiyaa sari ok okMm, is that so? Okay, okay!
Haan arthamulla paattu vanthu rompa naalaachchuAh, it has been a long time since a meaningful song came along.
Female :Ada aalukoru vari sonna sariya pochchuHey, if everyone contributes a line, it will turn out right!
Female
Yaa yamma yamma yamma pallavi edhukkuYaa yamma yamma yamma, why do we need a pallavi (opening verse)?
Male :Yaa yamma yamma yamma pall vazhi edhukkuYaa yamma yamma yamma, why suffer toothaches (a play on 'pallavi')?
Yaa yayyaa yayya yayya yayya saaram irunthaalYaa yayyaa yayya yayya yayya, as long as there is substance...
Female :Yaa yayyaa yayya yayya yayya saranam edhukkuYaa yayyaa yayya yayya yayya, why do we need a saranam (subsequent verse)?
Male
Aalukoru variya solli paattu paaduSing a song with everyone contributing a line!
Female :Yaar arthamulla vari sonnaalum thaalam poduWhoever sings a meaningful line, clap along to the beat!
Female
Mm aarambikkalaama rediyaa jootMm, shall we start? Ready, off we go!
Female
Vaanavil patri enna ninaikkiraiWhat do you think about the rainbow?
Male :Mazhaiyil kaayum varnnaa cholaiA colorful garden drying under the rain!
Eppadidaa ok yaaHow is it? Is it okay?
Female :ParavaayillaNot bad!
Male :Adi vaanguva paadavaa nee solluYou'll get beaten up! Shall I sing? You tell me!
Male
Poovinam pattri enna ninaikkiraaiWhat do you think about flowers?
Female :Kodigal vandukku ezhuthiya olaiA palm-leaf letter written by creepers for the beetles!
Male :Sabaash…Bravo!
Female
Aruvi enbathu malaiyin thaippaalA waterfall is the mother's milk of the mountain!
Female :Mm….iravu enbathu pagalin thaazhpaalMm... night is the latch of the day!
Male
Yaa yamma yamma yamma pallavi edhukkuYaa yamma yamma yamma, why do we need a pallavi?
Female :Yaa yamma yamma yamma pall vazhi edhukkuYaa yamma yamma yamma, why suffer toothaches?
Female :Yaa yayyaa yayya yayya yayya saaram irunthaalYaa yayyaa yayya yayya yayya, as long as there is substance...
All :Yaa yayyaa yayya yayya yayya saranam edhukkuYaa yayyaa yayya yayya yayya, why do we need a saranam?
Female
Arthamulla paattu vanthu rompa naalaachchuIt has been a long time since a meaningful song was released.
Female :Ada aalukoru vari sonna sariya pochchuHey, if everyone contributes a line, it will be just right!
Female
Nilaavai patri enna ninaikkiraaiWhat do you think about the moon?
Male :Velli veedhiyil Vellai theruA white chariot on a silver street!
ParavaayillaiyaadaIs it okay, friend?
Female :Hmm thevalaamHmm, acceptable!
Male :Nilaavai patri nee enna ninaikiraiWhat do you think about the moon?
Female :Aagaayaththin amutha saaruThe ambrosial juice of the sky!
Female
Nilaavai patri nee enna ninaikkiraaiWhat do you think about the moon?
Male :Nainaa unnaththaanHey pal, I'm asking you!
Female :Yaezhaikku ettaatha sola soruA ball of rice beyond the reach of the poor!
Male :Sabaash…Bravo!
Male
Yaa yamma yamma yamma pallavi edhukkuYaa yamma yamma yamma, why do we need a pallavi?
Female :Yaa yamma yamma yamma pall vazhi edhukkuYaa yamma yamma yamma, why suffer toothaches?
Female :Yaa yayyaa yayya yayya yayya saaram irunthaalYaa yayyaa yayya yayya yayya, as long as there is substance...
All :Yaa yayyaa yayya yayya yayya saranam edhukkuYaa yayyaa yayya yayya yayya, why do we need a saranam?
Male
Arthamulla paattu vanthu rompa naallachchuIt has been a long time since a meaningful song was released.
Female :Ada aalukkoru vari sonnaa sariyaa pochchuHey, if everyone contributes a line, it will be just right!
Female :Aalukoru variya solli paattu paaduSing a song with everyone contributing a line!
Yaar arthamulla vari sonnaalum thaalam poduWhoever sings a meaningful line, clap along to the beat!
Male
Adadaadaa…..Ah-da-da-daa...
Chorus
………………..................
Female
Saavu enbathu enna ninaikkiraaiWhat do you think death is?
Mmm come on…Mmm come on...
Saavu enbath enna ninaikkiraaiWhat do you think death is?
Male :Uyirukkum udambukkum oppantha mudivuThe expiration of the contract between soul and body!
Saavu enbath enna ninaikkiraaiWhat do you think death is?
Kanavugal illatha kadaisi niththiraiThe final slumber without any dreams!
Female
Saavu enbathu enna ninaikkiraaiWhat do you think death is?
Female :Naan ezhuthiya kavithaikkuA full stop placed by someone else...
Yaaro vanthu vaikkum muttrupulli...to the poem that I wrote!
Male
Aalukoru vari sonna sariyaa pochchuIf everyone contributes a line, it will turn out right!
Female
Aalukoru variya solli paattu paaduSing a song with everyone contributing a line!
Yaar arthamulla vari sonnaalum thaalam poduWhoever sings a meaningful line, clap along to the beat!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Arthamulla Paattu' is an engaging, playful musical banter structured around improvisational poetry. The singers invite everyone to collaborate line-by-line to build a song rich in meaning, playfully dismissing traditional song structures like pallavi and saranam in favor of pure poetic essence and creative fun.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor

Mazhaiyil kaayum varnnaa cholai

Comparing the rainbow to a colorful garden drying in the rain ('Mazhaiyil kaayum varnnaa cholai').

Metaphor & Personification

Kodigal vandukku ezhuthiya olai

Describing flowers as palm-leaf letters written by climbing vines to beetles ('Kodigal vandukku ezhuthiya olai').

Pun / Wordplay (Shlesha)

Yaa yamma yamma yamma pall vazhi edhukku

Playful pun on 'Pallavi' (opening verse) sound-alike with 'Pall vazhi' (toothache).

Did you know?

Trivia

This creative riddle-style song from the movie 'Rojavai Killathe' (1993) features music composed by Deva and lyricist Vairamuthu displaying his signature vivid metaphors in a conversational style.

Keep listening

More from Rojavai Killathe