Kaattu Roja
From Nalla Mudivu · 1973
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Nalla Mudivu1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Ohho ohho oo oo… | Ohho ohho oo oo… |
| Ohho ohho oo oo… | Ohho ohho oo oo… |
| Female | |
| Kaattu roja mugathai kaattu roja | Wild rose, show your face, wild rose. |
| Kannirendai mella thookki | Gently raising both your eyes, |
| Pon mugathai kaattu roja | Show your golden face, wild rose. |
| Female | |
| Kaattu roja mugathai kaattu roja | Wild rose, show your face, wild rose. |
| Kannirendai mella thookki | Gently raising both your eyes, |
| Pon mugathai kaattu roja | Show your golden face, wild rose. |
| Female | |
| Kaalai raja ilangaalai raja | Morning king, young morning king, |
| Unnai kandapothu malarnthintha kaattu roja | I am the wild rose that blossomed upon seeing you. |
| Unnai kandapothu malarnthintha kaattu roja | I am the wild rose that blossomed upon seeing you. |
| Female | |
| Kaalai raja ilangaalai raja | Morning king, young morning king, |
| Unnai kandapothu malarnthintha kaattu roja | I am the wild rose that blossomed upon seeing you. |
| Female | |
| Yedhetho pesa vanthaen pesa mudiyala | I came to speak so many things, but I couldn't speak. |
| Nan ethanaiyo solla vanthaen paashai puriyala | I came to tell so much, but couldn't comprehend the language. |
| Thaeneduthu kudikka vanthaen kudikka mudiya | I came to taste and drink honey, but couldn't drink, |
| Thaeneduthu kudikka vanthaen kudikka mudiyala | I came to taste and drink honey, but couldn't drink. |
| Naan thirumbi poga ninaitha pothum poga mudiyal | Even when I thought of going back, I couldn't go, |
| Naan thirumbi poga ninaitha pothum poga mudiyal | Even when I thought of going back, I couldn't go. |
| Female | |
| Kaattu roja mugathai kaattu roja | Wild rose, show your face, wild rose. |
| Kannirendai mella thookki | Gently raising both your eyes, |
| Pon mugathai kaattu roja | Show your golden face, wild rose. |
| Female | |
| Mella mella paarkka vanthaen | I came to slowly gaze at you, |
| Paarkka mudiyala | But I couldn't gaze. |
| Unnai megam pola thazhuva vanthaen | I came to embrace you like a cloud, |
| Thazhuva mudiyala | But I couldn't embrace. |
| Female | |
| Alli alli kodukka vanthaen | I came to give generously in abundance, |
| Kodukka mudiyala | But I couldn't give. |
| Alli alli kodukka vanthaen | I came to give generously in abundance, |
| Kodukka mudiyala | But I couldn't give. |
| Unnai aththaan endru azhaikka vanthaen | I came to call you my beloved husband, |
| Unnai aththaan endru azhaikka vanthaen | I came to call you my beloved husband, |
| Pesa mudiyala | But I couldn't speak. |
| Female | |
| Kaalai raja ilangaalai raja | Morning king, young morning king, |
| Unnai kandapothu malarnthintha kaattu roja | I am the wild rose that blossomed upon seeing you. |
| Female | |
| Kaattu roja mugathai kaattu roja | Wild rose, show your face, wild rose. |
| Kannirendai mella thookki | Gently raising both your eyes, |
| Pon mugathai kaattu roja | Show your golden face, wild rose. |
ஓஹோ ஓஹோ ஓ ஓ.....
ஓஹோ ஓஹோ ஓ ஓ.....ஓ.....
Ohho ohho oo oo…
Ohho ohho oo oo…
காட்டு ரோஜா முகத்தை காட்டு ரோஜா
கண்ணிரெண்டை மெல்ல தூக்கி
பொன் முகத்தை காட்டு ரோஜா
Wild rose, show your face, wild rose.
Gently raising both your eyes,
Show your golden face, wild rose.
காட்டு ரோஜா முகத்தை காட்டு ரோஜா
கண்ணிரெண்டை மெல்ல தூக்கி
பொன் முகத்தை காட்டு ரோஜா
Wild rose, show your face, wild rose.
Gently raising both your eyes,
Show your golden face, wild rose.
காளை ராஜா இளங்காளை ராஜா
உன்னை கண்டபோது மலர்ந்திந்த காட்டு ரோஜா
உன்னைகண்டபோது மலர்ந்திந்த காட்டு ரோஜா
Morning king, young morning king,
I am the wild rose that blossomed upon seeing you.
I am the wild rose that blossomed upon seeing you.
காளை ராஜா இளங்காளை ராஜா
உன்னை கண்டபோது மலர்ந்திந்த காட்டு ரோஜா
Morning king, young morning king,
I am the wild rose that blossomed upon seeing you.
ஏதேதோ பேச வந்தேன் பேச முடியல
நான் எத்தனையோ சொல்ல வந்தேன் பாஷை புரியல
தேனெடுத்து குடிக்க வந்தேன் குடிக்க முடியல
தேனெடுத்து குடிக்க வந்தேன் குடிக்க முடியல
நான் திரும்பி போக நினைத்த போதும் போக முடியல
நான் திரும்பி போக நினைத்த போதும் போக முடியல
I came to speak so many things, but I couldn't speak.
I came to tell so much, but couldn't comprehend the language.
I came to taste and drink honey, but couldn't drink,
I came to taste and drink honey, but couldn't drink.
Even when I thought of going back, I couldn't go,
Even when I thought of going back, I couldn't go.
காட்டு ரோஜா முகத்தை காட்டு ரோஜா
கண்ணிரெண்டை மெல்ல தூக்கி
பொன் முகத்தை காட்டு ரோஜா
Wild rose, show your face, wild rose.
Gently raising both your eyes,
Show your golden face, wild rose.
மெல்ல மெல்ல பார்க்க வந்தேன்
பார்க்க முடியல
உன்னைமேகம் போல தழுவ வந்தேன்
தழுவ முடியல
I came to slowly gaze at you,
But I couldn't gaze.
I came to embrace you like a cloud,
But I couldn't embrace.
அள்ளி அள்ளி கொடுக்க வந்தேன்
கொடுக்க முடியல
அள்ளி அள்ளி கொடுக்க வந்தேன்
கொடுக்க முடியல
உன்னை அத்தான் என்று அழைக்க வந்தேன்
உன்னை அத்தான் என்று அழைக்க வந்தேன்
பேச முடியல...
I came to give generously in abundance,
But I couldn't give.
I came to give generously in abundance,
But I couldn't give.
I came to call you my beloved husband,
I came to call you my beloved husband,
But I couldn't speak.
காளை ராஜா இளங்காளை ராஜா
உன்னை கண்டபோது மலர்ந்திந்த காட்டு ரோஜா
Morning king, young morning king,
I am the wild rose that blossomed upon seeing you.
காட்டு ரோஜா முகத்தை காட்டு ரோஜா
கண்ணிரெண்டை மெல்ல தூக்கி
பொன் முகத்தை காட்டு ரோஜா
Wild rose, show your face, wild rose.
Gently raising both your eyes,
Show your golden face, wild rose.
Ohho ohho oo oo…
Ohho ohho oo oo…
Ohho ohho oo oo…
Ohho ohho oo oo…
Kaattu roja mugathai kaattu roja
Wild rose, show your face, wild rose.
Kannirendai mella thookki
Gently raising both your eyes,
Pon mugathai kaattu roja
Show your golden face, wild rose.
Kaattu roja mugathai kaattu roja
Wild rose, show your face, wild rose.
Kannirendai mella thookki
Gently raising both your eyes,
Pon mugathai kaattu roja
Show your golden face, wild rose.
Kaalai raja ilangaalai raja
Morning king, young morning king,
Unnai kandapothu malarnthintha kaattu roja
I am the wild rose that blossomed upon seeing you.
Unnai kandapothu malarnthintha kaattu roja
I am the wild rose that blossomed upon seeing you.
Kaalai raja ilangaalai raja
Morning king, young morning king,
Unnai kandapothu malarnthintha kaattu roja
I am the wild rose that blossomed upon seeing you.
Yedhetho pesa vanthaen pesa mudiyala
I came to speak so many things, but I couldn't speak.
Nan ethanaiyo solla vanthaen paashai puriyala
I came to tell so much, but couldn't comprehend the language.
Thaeneduthu kudikka vanthaen kudikka mudiya
I came to taste and drink honey, but couldn't drink,
Thaeneduthu kudikka vanthaen kudikka mudiyala
I came to taste and drink honey, but couldn't drink.
Naan thirumbi poga ninaitha pothum poga mudiyal
Even when I thought of going back, I couldn't go,
Naan thirumbi poga ninaitha pothum poga mudiyal
Even when I thought of going back, I couldn't go.
Kaattu roja mugathai kaattu roja
Wild rose, show your face, wild rose.
Kannirendai mella thookki
Gently raising both your eyes,
Pon mugathai kaattu roja
Show your golden face, wild rose.
Mella mella paarkka vanthaen
I came to slowly gaze at you,
Paarkka mudiyala
But I couldn't gaze.
Unnai megam pola thazhuva vanthaen
I came to embrace you like a cloud,
Thazhuva mudiyala
But I couldn't embrace.
Alli alli kodukka vanthaen
I came to give generously in abundance,
Kodukka mudiyala
But I couldn't give.
Alli alli kodukka vanthaen
I came to give generously in abundance,
Kodukka mudiyala
But I couldn't give.
Unnai aththaan endru azhaikka vanthaen
I came to call you my beloved husband,
Unnai aththaan endru azhaikka vanthaen
I came to call you my beloved husband,
Pesa mudiyala
But I couldn't speak.
Kaalai raja ilangaalai raja
Morning king, young morning king,
Unnai kandapothu malarnthintha kaattu roja
I am the wild rose that blossomed upon seeing you.
Kaattu roja mugathai kaattu roja
Wild rose, show your face, wild rose.
Kannirendai mella thookki
Gently raising both your eyes,
Pon mugathai kaattu roja
Show your golden face, wild rose.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kaattu Roja from the 1973 film Nalla Mudivu is a tender romantic duet expressing the delightful shyness, hesitation, and overwhelming feelings shared between lovers. The hero fondly refers to his love as a 'Kaattu Roja' (wild rose), urging her to lift her gaze and show her radiant face. The heroine responds by addressing him as 'Kaalai Raja' (the morning sun king), explaining how her heart blooms like a flower in his presence. As the song unfolds, both lovers describe their endearing helplessness—how every desire to speak, gaze, embrace, or express love turns into joyful speechlessness when standing face to face.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Pun / Double Entendre (Sledai)
“Kaattu roja mugathai kaattu roja”
The phrase 'Kaattu roja' cleverly uses 'Kaattu' in two senses: as an adjective meaning 'wild' (wild rose) and as an imperative verb meaning 'show' (show your rose face).
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Kaalai raja ilangaalai raja”
Addressing the beloved as 'Kaalai raja' (Morning King) metaphorically equates the hero to the morning sun that prompts the flower (heroine) to bloom.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Unnai megam pola thazhuva vanthaen”
Compares the desire to gently embrace the lover to a soft cloud enveloping something ('megam pola').
Repetition / Reduplication (Adukku Thodar)
“Mella mella paarkka vanthaen”
Words like 'Mella mella' and 'Alli alli' are repeated for rhythmic emphasis and to signify intensity or gentleness.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by the legendary music director M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics penned by the poet Kannadasan, this classic track features the master duo T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela. Kannadasan's playful lyricism excels in using the word 'Kaattu' twice in a single line with different contextual meanings, creating an iconic opening hook in 70s Tamil film music.
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