Otharooba Thaaya
From Geethanjali · 1985
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, S. N. Surendar
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Geethanjali1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oththa rooba thaaya | Give me a one-rupee coin, |
| Nalla paata kettukoo | and listen to a good song. |
| Rendu paththu rooba thaaya | Give me twenty rupees, |
| Enga kuda sernthukoo | and join us! |
| Chorus | |
| Oththa rooba thaaya | Give me a one-rupee coin, |
| Nalla paata kettukoo | and listen to a good song. |
| Rendu paththu rooba thaaya | Give me twenty rupees, |
| Enga kuda sernthukoo | and join us! |
| Male | |
| Matta matta kudhiraiyila | On a short dummy horse, |
| Yerikiralaam | we can ride! |
| Ada suthi suthi ooraiyellam | Hey, going round and round, |
| Parthukiralaam | we can see the whole town! |
| Chorus | |
| Matta matta kudhiraiyila | On a short dummy horse, |
| Yerikiralaam…aiii | we can ride... Aiii! |
| Ada suthi suthi ooraiyellam | Hey, going round and round, |
| Parthukiralaam | we can see the whole town! |
| Male | |
| Sattaiyum vettiyum | If we come wearing |
| Pottu vandha | a shirt and a dhoti, |
| Inga seendhura payaluva yarumillai | there is no guy here to mess with us! |
| Chorus | |
| Thanna na thanna naa | Thanna na thanna naa |
| Thannaa naa naaa | Thannaa naa naaa |
| Male | |
| Poovaiyum pottaiyum | When we wear flowers |
| Vechikitta namma | and a bindi, |
| Ellaiya thandura aalum ila | there is no one to cross our boundaries! |
| Chorus | |
| Thanna na thanna naa | Thanna na thanna naa |
| Thannaa naa naaa | Thannaa naa naaa |
| Male | |
| Podava ravikai na | A saree and blouse |
| Mariyaatha thaan | command respect! |
| Aala asathatho | Doesn't the scent of flowers |
| Poo vadaithaan | captivate people? |
| Chorus | |
| Vadai pudikatha | There is no guy |
| Payalae illa | who doesn't like the scent of flowers! |
| Pudicha viduvaana | Will a young man let go, |
| Vayasu pulla | if he likes it? |
| Male | |
| Eppovum naama | Whatever we lay down |
| Ittadhu sattam | is always the law! |
| Chorus :Yememma yappapa | Chorus: Yememma yappapa |
| Yappappa yememma | Yappappa yememma |
| Male | |
| Enniyadhu ellam | Everything we wish for |
| Kaiyila kittum | will fall right into our hands! |
| Chorus :Yememma yappapa | Chorus: Yememma yappapa |
| Yappappa yememma | Yappappa yememma |
| Male | |
| Kummalamoo kondatamoo | Fun and celebrations, |
| Ennalumae thaan..hoi… | every single day... hoi! |
| Male | |
| Oththa rooba thaaya | Give me a one-rupee coin, |
| Nalla paata kettukoo | and listen to a good song. |
| Rendu paththu rooba thaaya | Give me twenty rupees, |
| Enga kuda sernthukoo | and join us! |
| Male | |
| Matta matta kudhiraiyila | On a short dummy horse, |
| Yerikiralaam… | we can ride... |
| Chorus :Ada suthi suthi ooraiyellam | Chorus: Hey, going round and round, |
| Parthukiralaam | we can see the whole town! |
| Male | |
| Vanthavan ponavan | So many people came |
| Ethanaiyo | and went, |
| Oru kuthamum kuraiyum | yet not a single fault or flaw |
| Sonnanthilla | has anyone ever pointed out! |
| Chorus | |
| Thanna na thanna naa | Thanna na thanna naa |
| Thannaa naa naaa | Thannaa naa naaa |
| Male | |
| Kandavan vandhadhum | Just because anyone comes along |
| Palillika | smiling showing their teeth, |
| Potta kurudha pola idhu | this is not something cheap |
| Mattam ilae | like a blind horse! |
| Chorus | |
| Thanna na thanna naa | Thanna na thanna naa |
| Thannaa naa naaa | Thannaa naa naaa |
| Male | |
| Vaala aattu thaiyaa | Wag your tail, sir, |
| Azhagaagathaan | so beautifully! |
| Kaasa kekku thaiyaa | Ask for money, sir, |
| Kanakaagathaan | properly calculated! |
| Chorus | |
| Mela idam kudukum | It gives you a higher place |
| Okkarathaan | to sit upon, |
| Kaala odhachukittu nee | to kick your legs |
| Ottathaan | and ride along! |
| Male | |
| Ennatha solla | What can I say, |
| Eppadi solla | and how can I say it? |
| Chorus :Yememma yappapa | Chorus: Yememma yappapa |
| Yappappa yememma | Yappappa yememma |
| Male | |
| Nikkuthu paaru | Look at it standing, |
| Sokkuthu paaru | look at it mesmerising! |
| Chorus :Yememma yappapa | Chorus: Yememma yappapa |
| Yappappa yememma | Yappappa yememma |
| Male | |
| Ellarumae engalukku | Everyone is like |
| Machannunga thaan… | a brother-in-law to us! |
| Male | |
| Oththa rooba thaaya | Give me a one-rupee coin, |
| Nalla paata kettukoo | and listen to a good song. |
| Rendu paththu rooba thaaya | Give me twenty rupees, |
| Enga kuda sernthukoo | and join us! |
| Chorus | |
| Oththa rooba thaaya | Give me a one-rupee coin, |
| Nalla paata kettukoo | and listen to a good song. |
| Rendu paththu rooba thaaya | Give me twenty rupees, |
| Enga kuda sernthukoo | and join us! |
| Male | |
| Matta matta kudhiraiyila | On a short dummy horse, |
| Yerikiralaam | we can ride, |
| Ada suthi suthi ooraiyellam | Hey, going round and round, |
| Parthukiralaam | we can see the whole town! |
| Chorus | |
| Matta matta kudhiraiyila | On a short dummy horse, |
| Yerikiralaam… | we can ride... |
| Ada suthi suthi ooraiyellam | Hey, going round and round, |
| Parthukiralaam | we can see the whole town! |
ஒத்த ரூபா தாயா
நல்ல பாட்ட கேட்டுக்கோ
ரெண்டு பத்து ரூபா தாயா
எங்க கூட சேர்ந்துக்கோ
Give me a one-rupee coin,
and listen to a good song.
Give me twenty rupees,
and join us!
ஒத்த ரூபா தாயா
நல்ல பாட்ட கேட்டுக்கோ
ரெண்டு பத்து ரூபா தாயா
எங்க கூட சேர்ந்துக்கோ
Give me a one-rupee coin,
and listen to a good song.
Give me twenty rupees,
and join us!
மட்ட மட்ட குதிரையில
ஏறிக்கிறலாம் அட சுத்தி சுத்தி
ஊரையெல்லாம் பார்த்துகிரலாம்
On a short dummy horse,
we can ride!
Hey, going round and round,
we can see the whole town!
மட்ட மட்ட குதிரையில
ஏறிக்கிறலாம் அட சுத்தி சுத்தி
ஊரையெல்லாம் பார்த்துகிரலாம்
On a short dummy horse,
we can ride... Aiii!
Hey, going round and round,
we can see the whole town!
ஆண் & குழு :
ஒத்த ரூபா தாயா
நல்ல பாட்ட கேட்டுக்கோ ரெண்டு
பத்து ரூபா தாயா எங்க கூட
சேர்ந்துக்கோ
If we come wearing
a shirt and a dhoti,
there is no guy here to mess with us!
சட்டையும் வேட்டியும்
போட்டு வந்த இங்க சீந்துற
பயலுவ யாருமில்லை
Thanna na thanna naa
Thannaa naa naaa
தன்னா னா தன்னா
னா தன்னா னா னா
When we wear flowers
and a bindi,
there is no one to cross our boundaries!
பூவையும் பொட்டையும்
வெச்சிகிட்டா நம்ம எல்லையை
தாண்டுற ஆளும் இல்ல
Thanna na thanna naa
Thannaa naa naaa
தன்னா னா
தன்னா னா தன்னா
னா னா
A saree and blouse
command respect!
Doesn't the scent of flowers
captivate people?
புடவை ரவிக்கை
னா மரியாதை தான் ஆள
அசத்தாதோ பூ வாடை தான்
There is no guy
who doesn't like the scent of flowers!
Will a young man let go,
if he likes it?
வாடை புடிக்காத
ஆளே இல்ல புடிச்சா
விடுவானா வயசு புள்ள
Whatever we lay down
is always the law!
Chorus: Yememma yappapa
Yappappa yememma
எப்போவும் நாம
இட்டது சட்டம்
குழு :
எம்மம்மா எப்பப்பா
எப்பப்பா எம்மம்மா
Everything we wish for
will fall right into our hands!
Chorus: Yememma yappapa
Yappappa yememma
எண்ணியது எல்லாம்
கையில கிட்டும்
குழு :
எம்மம்மா எப்பப்பா
எப்பப்பா எம்மம்மா
Fun and celebrations,
every single day... hoi!
கும்மாளமோ
கொண்டாட்டமோ
எந்நாளுமே தான்
ஹோய்
Give me a one-rupee coin,
and listen to a good song.
Give me twenty rupees,
and join us!
ஒத்த ரூபா தாயா
நல்ல பாட்ட கேட்டுக்கோ
ரெண்டு பத்து ரூபா தாயா
எங்க கூட சேர்ந்துக்கோ
On a short dummy horse,
we can ride...
Chorus: Hey, going round and round,
we can see the whole town!
மட்ட மட்ட
குதிரையில ஏறிக்கிறலாம்
குழு :
அட சுத்தி சுத்தி
ஊரையெல்லாம் பார்த்துகிரலாம்
So many people came
and went,
yet not a single fault or flaw
has anyone ever pointed out!
ஆண் & குழு :
ஒத்த ரூபா
தாயா நல்ல பாட்ட கேட்டுக்கோ
ரெண்டு பத்து ரூபா தாயா எங்க
கூட சேர்ந்துக்கோ
Thanna na thanna naa
Thannaa naa naaa
வந்தவன் போனவன்
எத்தனையோ ஒரு குத்தமும்
குறையும் சொன்னதில்லை
Just because anyone comes along
smiling showing their teeth,
this is not something cheap
like a blind horse!
தன்னா னா
தன்னா னா தன்னா
னா னா
Thanna na thanna naa
Thannaa naa naaa
கண்டவன் வந்ததும்
பல் இளிக்க போட்ட குருத
போல இது மட்டம் இல்லே
Wag your tail, sir,
so beautifully!
Ask for money, sir,
properly calculated!
தன்னா னா தன்னா
னா தன்னா னா னா
It gives you a higher place
to sit upon,
to kick your legs
and ride along!
வால ஆட்டு தையா
அழகாகத்தான் காச கேக்கு
தையா கணக்காகத்தான்
What can I say,
and how can I say it?
Chorus: Yememma yappapa
Yappappa yememma
மேல இடம் குடுக்கும்
ஒக்கார தான் கால உதைச்சு
கிட்டு நீ ஓட்ட தான்
Look at it standing,
look at it mesmerising!
Chorus: Yememma yappapa
Yappappa yememma
என்னத்த சொல்ல
எப்படி சொல்ல
குழு :
எம்மம்மா எப்பப்பா
எப்பப்பா எம்மம்மா
Everyone is like
a brother-in-law to us!
நிக்குது பாரு
சொக்குது பாரு
குழு :
எம்மம்மா எப்பப்பா
எப்பப்பா எம்மம்மா
Give me a one-rupee coin,
and listen to a good song.
Give me twenty rupees,
and join us!
எல்லாருமே
எங்களுக்கு மச்சானுங்க
தான்
Give me a one-rupee coin,
and listen to a good song.
Give me twenty rupees,
and join us!
ஒத்த ரூபா தாயா
நல்ல பாட்ட கேட்டுக்கோ
ரெண்டு பத்து ரூபா தாயா
எங்க கூட சேர்ந்துக்கோ
On a short dummy horse,
we can ride,
Hey, going round and round,
we can see the whole town!
ஒத்த ரூபா தாயா
நல்ல பாட்ட கேட்டுக்கோ
ரெண்டு பத்து ரூபா தாயா
எங்க கூட சேர்ந்துக்கோ
On a short dummy horse,
we can ride...
Hey, going round and round,
we can see the whole town!
மட்ட மட்ட குதிரையில
ஏறிக்கிறலாம் அட சுத்தி சுத்தி
ஊரையெல்லாம் பார்த்துகிரலாம்
மட்ட மட்ட குதிரையில
ஏறிக்கிறலாம் அட சுத்தி சுத்தி
ஊரையெல்லாம் பார்த்துகிரலாம்
ஆண் & குழு :
ஒத்த ரூபா தாயா
நல்ல பாட்ட கேட்டுக்கோ ரெண்டு
பத்து ரூபா தாயா எங்க கூட
சேர்ந்துக்கோ
Oththa rooba thaaya
Give me a one-rupee coin,
Nalla paata kettukoo
and listen to a good song.
Rendu paththu rooba thaaya
Give me twenty rupees,
Enga kuda sernthukoo
and join us!
Oththa rooba thaaya
Give me a one-rupee coin,
Nalla paata kettukoo
and listen to a good song.
Rendu paththu rooba thaaya
Give me twenty rupees,
Enga kuda sernthukoo
and join us!
Matta matta kudhiraiyila
On a short dummy horse,
Yerikiralaam
we can ride!
Ada suthi suthi ooraiyellam
Hey, going round and round,
Parthukiralaam
we can see the whole town!
Matta matta kudhiraiyila
On a short dummy horse,
Yerikiralaam…aiii
we can ride... Aiii!
Ada suthi suthi ooraiyellam
Hey, going round and round,
Parthukiralaam
we can see the whole town!
Sattaiyum vettiyum
If we come wearing
Pottu vandha
a shirt and a dhoti,
Inga seendhura payaluva yarumillai
there is no guy here to mess with us!
Thanna na thanna naa
Thanna na thanna naa
Thannaa naa naaa
Thannaa naa naaa
Poovaiyum pottaiyum
When we wear flowers
Vechikitta namma
and a bindi,
Ellaiya thandura aalum ila
there is no one to cross our boundaries!
Thanna na thanna naa
Thanna na thanna naa
Thannaa naa naaa
Thannaa naa naaa
Podava ravikai na
A saree and blouse
Mariyaatha thaan
command respect!
Aala asathatho
Doesn't the scent of flowers
Poo vadaithaan
captivate people?
Vadai pudikatha
There is no guy
Payalae illa
who doesn't like the scent of flowers!
Pudicha viduvaana
Will a young man let go,
Vayasu pulla
if he likes it?
Eppovum naama
Whatever we lay down
Ittadhu sattam
is always the law!
Chorus :Yememma yappapa
Chorus: Yememma yappapa
Yappappa yememma
Yappappa yememma
Enniyadhu ellam
Everything we wish for
Kaiyila kittum
will fall right into our hands!
Chorus :Yememma yappapa
Chorus: Yememma yappapa
Yappappa yememma
Yappappa yememma
Kummalamoo kondatamoo
Fun and celebrations,
Ennalumae thaan..hoi…
every single day... hoi!
Oththa rooba thaaya
Give me a one-rupee coin,
Nalla paata kettukoo
and listen to a good song.
Rendu paththu rooba thaaya
Give me twenty rupees,
Enga kuda sernthukoo
and join us!
Matta matta kudhiraiyila
On a short dummy horse,
Yerikiralaam…
we can ride...
Chorus :Ada suthi suthi ooraiyellam
Chorus: Hey, going round and round,
Parthukiralaam
we can see the whole town!
Vanthavan ponavan
So many people came
Ethanaiyo
and went,
Oru kuthamum kuraiyum
yet not a single fault or flaw
Sonnanthilla
has anyone ever pointed out!
Thanna na thanna naa
Thanna na thanna naa
Thannaa naa naaa
Thannaa naa naaa
Kandavan vandhadhum
Just because anyone comes along
Palillika
smiling showing their teeth,
Potta kurudha pola idhu
this is not something cheap
Mattam ilae
like a blind horse!
Thanna na thanna naa
Thanna na thanna naa
Thannaa naa naaa
Thannaa naa naaa
Vaala aattu thaiyaa
Wag your tail, sir,
Azhagaagathaan
so beautifully!
Kaasa kekku thaiyaa
Ask for money, sir,
Kanakaagathaan
properly calculated!
Mela idam kudukum
It gives you a higher place
Okkarathaan
to sit upon,
Kaala odhachukittu nee
to kick your legs
Ottathaan
and ride along!
Ennatha solla
What can I say,
Eppadi solla
and how can I say it?
Chorus :Yememma yappapa
Chorus: Yememma yappapa
Yappappa yememma
Yappappa yememma
Nikkuthu paaru
Look at it standing,
Sokkuthu paaru
look at it mesmerising!
Chorus :Yememma yappapa
Chorus: Yememma yappapa
Yappappa yememma
Yappappa yememma
Ellarumae engalukku
Everyone is like
Machannunga thaan…
a brother-in-law to us!
Oththa rooba thaaya
Give me a one-rupee coin,
Nalla paata kettukoo
and listen to a good song.
Rendu paththu rooba thaaya
Give me twenty rupees,
Enga kuda sernthukoo
and join us!
Oththa rooba thaaya
Give me a one-rupee coin,
Nalla paata kettukoo
and listen to a good song.
Rendu paththu rooba thaaya
Give me twenty rupees,
Enga kuda sernthukoo
and join us!
Matta matta kudhiraiyila
On a short dummy horse,
Yerikiralaam
we can ride,
Ada suthi suthi ooraiyellam
Hey, going round and round,
Parthukiralaam
we can see the whole town!
Matta matta kudhiraiyila
On a short dummy horse,
Yerikiralaam…
we can ride...
Ada suthi suthi ooraiyellam
Hey, going round and round,
Parthukiralaam
we can see the whole town!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Oththa rooba thaaya' from the movie Geethanjali (1985) is a lively, folk-infused street performance track. The lyrics portray street entertainers performing traditional art forms, such as 'Poikkal Kudhirai' (dummy horse dance). Through upbeat rhythms and playful lyrics written by Vaali, the performers invite bystanders to contribute a small coin, enjoy their music, and join in the joyous festivities. The song highlights the self-respect, dignity, and infectious optimism of folk artists. Even while asking for small contributions, the singers assert that their traditional attire commands respect and that their art form is neither cheap nor open to disrespect. They view all onlookers as family, celebrating life with constant fun and camaraderie.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Sattaiyum vettiyum / Poovaiyum pottaiyum”
The second consonant sound 'tta' (ட்) matches across lines 17 and 22, establishing a strong rhythm.
Monai (First-letter Alliteration)
“Podava ravikai na / Poo vadaithaan / Payalae illa”
The initial letter sounds 'Po' and 'Pa' repeat across lines 27, 30, and 32 to create melodic harmony.
Anaphora / Refrain
“Oththa rooba thaaya / Nalla paata kettukoo”
The opening couplet is repeated periodically throughout the song as a catchy refrain typical of street performance lyrics.
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Trivia
Written by renowned lyricist Vaali for the 1985 movie Geethanjali (directed by K. Rangaraj with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja), this song captures the authentic street performance culture of rural Tamil Nadu, specifically referencing the 'Poikkal Kudhirai' (dummy horse) folk dance.
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