Otha Rooba
From Thudhu Po Chellakiliye · 1991
- Lyricist
- Kalidasan
- Singer
- K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Deva
- Details
- Thudhu Po Chellakiliye1991
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Chitira maasathu seergasamba | The Seeraga Samba rice of the month of Chithirai, |
| Chorus :Kuthunga kunthunga nellu kunthunga | Chorus: Pound it, sit down and pound the paddy! |
| Female :Atha maganukku virunthu vaikkanum | Female: I must prepare a grand feast for my maternal aunt's son! |
| Chorus :Arisi velukka amukki kuthunga | Chorus: Pound it down hard so the rice turns gleaming white! |
| Chorus | |
| Namma ooru sosiyaru | Our village astrologer, |
| Nallathu sollittaru | Has foretold good tidings. |
| Aavani masathu dhavani chittukkku | For the girl in a half-saree in the month of Aavani, |
| Azhagu kalyanam | A beautiful wedding shall take place. |
| Female | |
| Oththa rooba pottu vachaan | He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead, |
| Othayil vantha machaan | My maternal cousin who came all alone. |
| Oththa rooba pottu vachaan | He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead, |
| Othayil vantha machaan | My maternal cousin who came all alone. |
| Female | |
| Odakara oram anthi neram | By the bank of the stream in the evening twilight, |
| Oru saada paesi | Speaking in secret signals, |
| Oththa rooba pottu vachaan | He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead, |
| Othaiyil vantha machaan | My maternal cousin who came all alone. |
| Female | |
| Malli poo paayapottu | Spreading out a mat woven with jasmine flowers, |
| Maaman yaengunaan | My beloved yearned for me. |
| Mallukattum thaagathodu | With a passionate, wrestling-like thirst, |
| Maaril thaanginaan | He held me tight against his chest. |
| Female | |
| Mella mella nenjukulla | Slowly and gently inside my heart, |
| Aasai aduppai yaethinaan | He lit up the stove of desire. |
| Mallakkathaan padukka solli | Asking me to lie down on my back, |
| Mallakkathaan padukka solli | Asking me to lie down on my back, |
| Maaman vaeliya thooginaan | My beloved swung on the outer fence. |
| Vidikaalam neram…thaana thanana naana | At the break of dawn... thaana thanana naana. |
| Female | |
| Oththa rooba pottu vachaan | He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead, |
| Othayil vantha machaan | My maternal cousin who came all alone. |
| Oththa rooba pottu vachaan | He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead, |
| Othayil vantha machaan | My maternal cousin who came all alone. |
| Female | |
| Odakara oram anthi neram | By the bank of the stream in the evening twilight, |
| Oru saada paesi | Speaking in secret signals, |
| Oththa rooba pottu vachaan | He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead, |
| Othaiyil vantha machaan | My maternal cousin who came all alone. |
| Female | |
| Geittimela maela thalathodui | To the resounding beats of auspicious wedding drums, |
| Maalai maathuvom | We shall exchange garlands. |
| Chittu kuruvi pola naanga | Like a pair of happy sparrows, |
| Saernthu aaduvom | We shall dance together. |
| Female | |
| Etu ooru kannupadavae | Making all the eight surrounding villages envious, |
| Otti urasi nadapaenae | I will walk holding onto him closely. |
| Munthaanayil purushan manasai | Tying my husband's heart into the corner of my saree, |
| Mudinju vchu rasipaen | I will treasure and adore it. |
| Dhinamthorum naanga | Every single day we... |
| thaana thanana naana | thaana thanana naana. |
| Female | |
| Odakara oram anthi neram | By the bank of the stream in the evening twilight, |
| Oru saada paesi | Speaking in secret signals, |
| Oththa rooba pottu vachaan | He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead, |
| Othaiyil vantha machaan | My maternal cousin who came all alone. |
| Female | |
| Odakara oram anthi neram | By the bank of the stream in the evening twilight, |
| Oru saada paesi | Speaking in secret signals, |
| Oththa rooba pottu vachaan | He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead, |
| Othaiyil vantha machaan | My maternal cousin who came all alone. |
| Female | |
| Oththa rooba pottu vachaan | He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead, |
| Othayil vantha machaan | My maternal cousin who came all alone. |
சித்திர மாசத்து சீரகச்சம்பா
குழு :
குத்துங்க குத்துங்க நெல்லு குத்துங்க
அத்த மகனுக்கு விருந்து வெக்கணும்
குழு :
அரிசி வெளுக்க அமுக்கிக் குத்துங்க
The Seeraga Samba rice of the month of Chithirai,
Chorus: Pound it, sit down and pound the paddy!
Female: I must prepare a grand feast for my maternal aunt's son!
Chorus: Pound it down hard so the rice turns gleaming white!
நம்ம ஊரு சோசியரு
நல்ல சேதி சொல்லிட்டாரு
ஆவணி மாசம் தாவணி சிட்டுக்கு
அழகு கல்யாணம்
Our village astrologer,
Has foretold good tidings.
For the girl in a half-saree in the month of Aavani,
A beautiful wedding shall take place.
ஒத்த ரூபா பொட்டு வெச்சான்
ஒத்தையில வந்த மச்சான்
ஒத்த ரூபா பொட்டு வெச்சான்
ஒத்தையில வந்த மச்சான்
He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead,
My maternal cousin who came all alone.
He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead,
My maternal cousin who came all alone.
ஓடக்கர ஓரம் அந்தி நேரம்
ஒரு சாட பேசி
ஒத்த ரூபா பொட்டு வெச்சான்
ஒத்தையில வந்த மச்சான்
By the bank of the stream in the evening twilight,
Speaking in secret signals,
He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead,
My maternal cousin who came all alone.
மல்லியப்பூ பாயப் போட்டு
மாமன் ஏங்குனான்
மல்லுக்கட்டும் தாகத்தோடு
மாரில் தாங்குனான்
Spreading out a mat woven with jasmine flowers,
My beloved yearned for me.
With a passionate, wrestling-like thirst,
He held me tight against his chest.
மெல்ல மெல்ல நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள
ஆச அடுப்பை ஏத்துனான்
மல்லாக்கத்தான் படுக்க சொல்லி
மல்லாக்கத்தான் படுக்க சொல்லி
மாமன் வெளிய தூங்குனான்
விடிகாலம் நேரம்...தான தனனானா
Slowly and gently inside my heart,
He lit up the stove of desire.
Asking me to lie down on my back,
Asking me to lie down on my back,
My beloved swung on the outer fence.
At the break of dawn... thaana thanana naana.
ஒத்த ரூபா பொட்டு வெச்சான்
ஒத்தையில வந்த மச்சான்
ஒத்த ரூபா பொட்டு வெச்சான்
ஒத்தையில வந்த மச்சான்
He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead,
My maternal cousin who came all alone.
He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead,
My maternal cousin who came all alone.
ஓடக்கர ஓரம் அந்தி நேரம்
ஒரு சாட பேசி
ஒத்த ரூபா பொட்டு வெச்சான்
ஒத்தையில வந்த மச்சான்
By the bank of the stream in the evening twilight,
Speaking in secret signals,
He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead,
My maternal cousin who came all alone.
கெட்டிமேள தாளத்தோட
மாலை மாத்துவோம்
சிட்டுக்குருவி போல நாங்க
சேர்ந்து ஆடுவோம்
To the resounding beats of auspicious wedding drums,
We shall exchange garlands.
Like a pair of happy sparrows,
We shall dance together.
எட்டு ஊரு கண்ணுபடவே
ஒட்டி உரசி நடப்பேனே
முந்தானையில் புருஷன் மனச
முடிஞ்சு வெச்சு ரசிப்பேனே
தினந்தோறும் நாங்க
தான தனனானா.....
Making all the eight surrounding villages envious,
I will walk holding onto him closely.
Tying my husband's heart into the corner of my saree,
I will treasure and adore it.
Every single day we...
thaana thanana naana.
ஒத்த ரூபா பொட்டு வெச்சான்
ஒத்தையில வந்த மச்சான்
ஒத்த ரூபா பொட்டு வெச்சான்
ஒத்தையில வந்த மச்சான்
By the bank of the stream in the evening twilight,
Speaking in secret signals,
He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead,
My maternal cousin who came all alone.
ஓடக்கர ஓரம் அந்தி நேரம்
ஒரு சாட பேசி
ஒத்த ரூபா பொட்டு வெச்சான்
ஒத்தையில வந்த மச்சான்
By the bank of the stream in the evening twilight,
Speaking in secret signals,
He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead,
My maternal cousin who came all alone.
ஒத்த ரூபா பொட்டு வெச்சான்
ஒத்தையில வந்த மச்சான்
He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead,
My maternal cousin who came all alone.
Chitira maasathu seergasamba
The Seeraga Samba rice of the month of Chithirai,
Chorus :Kuthunga kunthunga nellu kunthunga
Chorus: Pound it, sit down and pound the paddy!
Female :Atha maganukku virunthu vaikkanum
Female: I must prepare a grand feast for my maternal aunt's son!
Chorus :Arisi velukka amukki kuthunga
Chorus: Pound it down hard so the rice turns gleaming white!
Namma ooru sosiyaru
Our village astrologer,
Nallathu sollittaru
Has foretold good tidings.
Aavani masathu dhavani chittukkku
For the girl in a half-saree in the month of Aavani,
Azhagu kalyanam
A beautiful wedding shall take place.
Oththa rooba pottu vachaan
He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead,
Othayil vantha machaan
My maternal cousin who came all alone.
Oththa rooba pottu vachaan
He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead,
Othayil vantha machaan
My maternal cousin who came all alone.
Odakara oram anthi neram
By the bank of the stream in the evening twilight,
Oru saada paesi
Speaking in secret signals,
Oththa rooba pottu vachaan
He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead,
Othaiyil vantha machaan
My maternal cousin who came all alone.
Malli poo paayapottu
Spreading out a mat woven with jasmine flowers,
Maaman yaengunaan
My beloved yearned for me.
Mallukattum thaagathodu
With a passionate, wrestling-like thirst,
Maaril thaanginaan
He held me tight against his chest.
Mella mella nenjukulla
Slowly and gently inside my heart,
Aasai aduppai yaethinaan
He lit up the stove of desire.
Mallakkathaan padukka solli
Asking me to lie down on my back,
Mallakkathaan padukka solli
Asking me to lie down on my back,
Maaman vaeliya thooginaan
My beloved swung on the outer fence.
Vidikaalam neram…thaana thanana naana
At the break of dawn... thaana thanana naana.
Oththa rooba pottu vachaan
He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead,
Othayil vantha machaan
My maternal cousin who came all alone.
Oththa rooba pottu vachaan
He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead,
Othayil vantha machaan
My maternal cousin who came all alone.
Odakara oram anthi neram
By the bank of the stream in the evening twilight,
Oru saada paesi
Speaking in secret signals,
Oththa rooba pottu vachaan
He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead,
Othaiyil vantha machaan
My maternal cousin who came all alone.
Geittimela maela thalathodui
To the resounding beats of auspicious wedding drums,
Maalai maathuvom
We shall exchange garlands.
Chittu kuruvi pola naanga
Like a pair of happy sparrows,
Saernthu aaduvom
We shall dance together.
Etu ooru kannupadavae
Making all the eight surrounding villages envious,
Otti urasi nadapaenae
I will walk holding onto him closely.
Munthaanayil purushan manasai
Tying my husband's heart into the corner of my saree,
Mudinju vchu rasipaen
I will treasure and adore it.
Dhinamthorum naanga
Every single day we...
thaana thanana naana
thaana thanana naana.
Odakara oram anthi neram
By the bank of the stream in the evening twilight,
Oru saada paesi
Speaking in secret signals,
Oththa rooba pottu vachaan
He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead,
Othaiyil vantha machaan
My maternal cousin who came all alone.
Odakara oram anthi neram
By the bank of the stream in the evening twilight,
Oru saada paesi
Speaking in secret signals,
Oththa rooba pottu vachaan
He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead,
Othaiyil vantha machaan
My maternal cousin who came all alone.
Oththa rooba pottu vachaan
He placed a one-rupee bindi on my forehead,
Othayil vantha machaan
My maternal cousin who came all alone.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This energetic rural folk song from 'Thudhu Po Chellakiliye' captures the joyful romantic longing and wedding anticipation of a young village woman. The song opens with communal paddy-pounding activities, illustrating the vibrant culture of Tamil village life where women gather to prepare feasts. The astrologer’s prediction of an upcoming wedding in the month of Aavani sets a joyous narrative foundation. The heroine fondly recalls playful and intimate secret meetings with her maternal cousin (machaan) by the stream bank during dusk. She dreams of their upcoming marriage filled with grand music, exchanging garlands, and dancing like sparrows without a care for the world, expressing her deep emotional attachment and longing to keep her future husband close to her heart forever.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Oththa rooba pottu vachaan / Othayil vantha machaan”
The second letter 'th' ('த்') rhymes in 'Oththa' and 'Othayil', creating an authentic folk rhythm.
Monai (Initial Letter Rhyme)
“Malli poo paayapottu / Maaman yaengunaan”
The starting consonant 'M' ('ம'/'மா') is repeated in 'Malli' and 'Maaman'.
Simile (Uvamai Ani)
“Chittu kuruvi pola naanga / Saernthu aaduvom”
The couple compares their joyous union and dance to a pair of free sparrows ('Chittu kuruvi pola').
Metaphor (Uruvagak Ani)
“Aasai aduppai yaethinaan”
Desire is metaphorically visualised as a stove ('aduppu') being lit within her heart.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Deva with lyrics penned by Kalidasan, 'Chitira maasathu seergasamba' highlights Deva's expertise in authentic Tamil village folk rhythm (Gramiya Isai). Sung by K. S. Chithra, the song beautifully blends playfulness, traditional wedding culture, and rustic romantic storytelling characteristic of early 1990s South Indian cinema music.
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