Osibisa Osai Idhu
From Pakkathu Veettu Roja · 1982
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Pakkathu Veettu Roja1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Osibisa osai idhu | This is the sound of Osibisa |
| Chorus :Mamamiyo mama mamamiyo | Chorus: Mamamiyo mama mamamiyo |
| Mamamiyo mama mamamiyo | Mamamiyo mama mamamiyo |
| Mamamiyo mama mamamiyo | Mamamiyo mama mamamiyo |
| Mamamiyo mama mamamiyo | Mamamiyo mama mamamiyo |
| Female | |
| Mamamiyo paashai idhu | This is the language of Mamamiyo |
| Raagamo udhadugalil thaalamo uravugalil | Is it melody on the lips, or rhythm in relationships? |
| Raagamo udhadugalil thaalamo uravugalil | Is it melody on the lips, or rhythm in relationships? |
| Undaaga ondraaga koodum iravugalil | In the nights when we come together as one |
| Female | |
| Osibisa osai idhu… | This is the sound of Osibisa… |
| Mamamiyo paashai idhu | This is the language of Mamamiyo |
| Female | |
| Naan neela vizhiyil kola mozhiyil | What I express with blue eyes and alluring words... |
| Kooruvathai kelungal | ...please listen to it! |
| Thaen odai malaraai kodai nilavaai | Like a flower in a honey stream, like the summer moon |
| Jaadai idhu paarungal | Look at these subtle gestures! |
| Female | |
| Koyilgal kaanaatha sirpam naan papapapaapp | I am a sculpture unseen in temples, pa-pa-pa-pa-pa |
| Cholaigal paadaatha pushpam naan | I am a flower unsung in the groves |
| Ellorum ullaasam thedungal | Let everyone seek joy and celebration! |
| Female | |
| Osibisa osai idhu… | This is the sound of Osibisa… |
| Mamamiyo paashai idhu | This is the language of Mamamiyo |
| Raagamo udhadugalil thaalamo uravugalil | Is it melody on the lips, or rhythm in relationships? |
| Undaaga ondraaga koodum iravugalil | In the nights when we come together as one |
| Female | |
| Osibisa osai idhu… | This is the sound of Osibisa… |
| Mamamiyo paashai idhu | This is the language of Mamamiyo |
| Female | |
| ………… | |
| Female | |
| Kel kaathu kulira kadhal malara | Listen! Making the ears feel pleasant as love blossoms |
| Vaalipaththin katcheri | It is the concert of youth! |
| Paar aadai sumanthu aadi asainthu | Look! Carrying her garment, dancing and swaying |
| Odi varum kaveri | Here comes the flowing river Kaveri! |
| Female | |
| Meettungal naanthaanae pon veenai papapapaapp | Strum me, for I am a golden Veena, pa-pa-pa-pa-pa |
| Soottungal naalthorum poomaalai | Adorn me with a flower garland every single day |
| Singaara sangeetham paadungal | Sing a beautiful, romantic song! |
| Female | |
| Osibisa osai idhu… | This is the sound of Osibisa… |
| Mamamiyo paashai idhu | This is the language of Mamamiyo |
| Raagamo udhadugalil thaalamo uravugalil | Is it melody on the lips, or rhythm in relationships? |
| Undaaga ondraaga koodum iravugalil | In the nights when we come together as one |
| Female | |
| Osibisa osai idhu… | This is the sound of Osibisa… |
| Mamamiyo paashai idhu | This is the language of Mamamiyo |
ஓசிபிசா ஓசை இது....
குழு :
மாமாமியோ மாமா மாமாமியோ
மாமாமியோ மாமா மாமாமியோ
மாமாமியோ மாமா மாமாமியோ
மாமாமியோ மாமா மாமாமியோ
This is the sound of Osibisa
Chorus: Mamamiyo mama mamamiyo
Mamamiyo mama mamamiyo
Mamamiyo mama mamamiyo
Mamamiyo mama mamamiyo
மாமாமியோ பாஷை இது....
ராகமோ உதடுகளில் தாளமோ உறவுகளில்
ராகமோ உதடுகளில் தாளமோ உறவுகளில்
உண்டாக ஒன்றாக கூடும் இரவுகளில்
This is the language of Mamamiyo
Is it melody on the lips, or rhythm in relationships?
Is it melody on the lips, or rhythm in relationships?
In the nights when we come together as one
ஓசிபிசா ஓசை இது....
மாமாமியோ பாஷை இது....
This is the sound of Osibisa…
This is the language of Mamamiyo
நான் நீல விழியில் கோல மொழியில்
கூறுவதை கேளுங்கள்
தேன் ஓடை மலராய் கோடை நிலவாய்
ஜாடை இது பாருங்கள்
What I express with blue eyes and alluring words...
...please listen to it!
Like a flower in a honey stream, like the summer moon
Look at these subtle gestures!
கோயில்கள் காணாத சிற்பம் நான் பபபபாப்ப்
சோலைகள் பாடாத புஷ்பம் நான்
எல்லோரும் உல்லாசம் தேடுங்கள்
I am a sculpture unseen in temples, pa-pa-pa-pa-pa
I am a flower unsung in the groves
Let everyone seek joy and celebration!
ஓசிபிசா ஓசை இது....
மாமாமியோ பாஷை இது....
ராகமோ உதடுகளில் தாளமோ உறவுகளில்
உண்டாக ஒன்றாக கூடும் இரவுகளில்
This is the sound of Osibisa…
This is the language of Mamamiyo
Is it melody on the lips, or rhythm in relationships?
In the nights when we come together as one
ஓசிபிசா ஓசை இது....
மாமாமியோ பாஷை இது....
This is the sound of Osibisa…
This is the language of Mamamiyo
.......................
கேள் காது குளிர காதல் மலர
வாலிபத்தின் கச்சேரி
பார் ஆடை சுமந்து ஆடி அசைந்து
ஓடி வரும் காவேரி
Listen! Making the ears feel pleasant as love blossoms
It is the concert of youth!
Look! Carrying her garment, dancing and swaying
Here comes the flowing river Kaveri!
மீட்டுங்கள் நான்தானே பொன் வீணை பபபபாப்ப்
சூட்டுங்கள் நாள்தோறும் பூமாலை
சிங்கார சங்கீதம் பாடுங்கள்...
Strum me, for I am a golden Veena, pa-pa-pa-pa-pa
Adorn me with a flower garland every single day
Sing a beautiful, romantic song!
ஓசிபிசா ஓசை இது
மாமாமியோ பாஷை இது....
ராகமோ உதடுகளில் தாளமோ உறவுகளில்
உண்டாக ஒன்றாக கூடும் இரவுகளில்
This is the sound of Osibisa…
This is the language of Mamamiyo
Is it melody on the lips, or rhythm in relationships?
In the nights when we come together as one
ஓசிபிசா மாமாமியோ
ஓசிபிசா மாமாமியோ
This is the sound of Osibisa…
This is the language of Mamamiyo
Osibisa osai idhu
This is the sound of Osibisa
Chorus :Mamamiyo mama mamamiyo
Chorus: Mamamiyo mama mamamiyo
Mamamiyo mama mamamiyo
Mamamiyo mama mamamiyo
Mamamiyo mama mamamiyo
Mamamiyo mama mamamiyo
Mamamiyo mama mamamiyo
Mamamiyo mama mamamiyo
Mamamiyo paashai idhu
This is the language of Mamamiyo
Raagamo udhadugalil thaalamo uravugalil
Is it melody on the lips, or rhythm in relationships?
Raagamo udhadugalil thaalamo uravugalil
Is it melody on the lips, or rhythm in relationships?
Undaaga ondraaga koodum iravugalil
In the nights when we come together as one
Osibisa osai idhu…
This is the sound of Osibisa…
Mamamiyo paashai idhu
This is the language of Mamamiyo
Naan neela vizhiyil kola mozhiyil
What I express with blue eyes and alluring words...
Kooruvathai kelungal
...please listen to it!
Thaen odai malaraai kodai nilavaai
Like a flower in a honey stream, like the summer moon
Jaadai idhu paarungal
Look at these subtle gestures!
Koyilgal kaanaatha sirpam naan papapapaapp
I am a sculpture unseen in temples, pa-pa-pa-pa-pa
Cholaigal paadaatha pushpam naan
I am a flower unsung in the groves
Ellorum ullaasam thedungal
Let everyone seek joy and celebration!
Osibisa osai idhu…
This is the sound of Osibisa…
Mamamiyo paashai idhu
This is the language of Mamamiyo
Raagamo udhadugalil thaalamo uravugalil
Is it melody on the lips, or rhythm in relationships?
Undaaga ondraaga koodum iravugalil
In the nights when we come together as one
Osibisa osai idhu…
This is the sound of Osibisa…
Mamamiyo paashai idhu
This is the language of Mamamiyo
…………
Kel kaathu kulira kadhal malara
Listen! Making the ears feel pleasant as love blossoms
Vaalipaththin katcheri
It is the concert of youth!
Paar aadai sumanthu aadi asainthu
Look! Carrying her garment, dancing and swaying
Odi varum kaveri
Here comes the flowing river Kaveri!
Meettungal naanthaanae pon veenai papapapaapp
Strum me, for I am a golden Veena, pa-pa-pa-pa-pa
Soottungal naalthorum poomaalai
Adorn me with a flower garland every single day
Singaara sangeetham paadungal
Sing a beautiful, romantic song!
Osibisa osai idhu…
This is the sound of Osibisa…
Mamamiyo paashai idhu
This is the language of Mamamiyo
Raagamo udhadugalil thaalamo uravugalil
Is it melody on the lips, or rhythm in relationships?
Undaaga ondraaga koodum iravugalil
In the nights when we come together as one
Osibisa osai idhu…
This is the sound of Osibisa…
Mamamiyo paashai idhu
This is the language of Mamamiyo
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Osibisa Osai Idhu' is a high-energy dance number from the 1982 movie 'Pakkathu Veettu Roja', composed by Shankar-Ganesh and sung by Vani Jairam. The song captures the lively spirit of youth, celebration, and romance, combining Western cabaret/pop music elements with classical Indian poetic metaphors. Vaali incorporates trendy international pop culture references—most notably the legendary Afro-rock band Osibisa and catchy rhythmic scatting like 'Mamamiyo'. The lyricist depicts the heroine celebrating her beauty, comparing herself to an undiscovered temple sculpture, an unsung blossom in a grove, and a golden Veena waiting to be played. Through vivid romantic imagery, the song invites the listener to revel in the rhythms of love, youth, and togetherness during magical nights.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Raagamo udhadugalil thaalamo uravugalil / Undaaga ondraaga koodum iravugalil”
The matching end sounds 'udhadugalil', 'uravugalil', and 'iravugalil' create a pleasing rhythmic cadence.
Metaphor (Uruvam)
“Meettungal naanthaanae pon veenai”
The singer directly compares herself to a 'pon veenai' (golden Veena instrument) waiting to be played by love.
Personification
“Odi varum kaveri”
The dancer's graceful movement while wearing a draped dress is personified as the running river Kaveri.
Cultural Allusion
“Osibisa osai idhu”
References 'Osibisa', the famous Ghanaian-British Afro-rock band popular in India during the late 1970s and early 1980s, to denote modern, energetic beats.
Did you know?
Trivia
The band 'Osibisa' toured India in November 1981 to massive fanfare and played packed stadium shows across major Indian cities. Lyricist Vaali picked up on this cultural phenomenon and incorporated the band's name directly into this song for 'Pakkathu Veettu Roja' (1982) to make it appeal to the urban youth.
Keep listening
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