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Geethanjali album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Otharooba Thaaya

From Geethanjali · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. N. Surendar
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Geethanjali
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
17 Jul 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oththa rooba thaaya
Nalla paata kettukoo
Rendu paththu rooba thaaya
Enga kuda sernthukoo
Oththa rooba thaaya
Nalla paata kettukoo
Rendu paththu rooba thaaya
Enga kuda sernthukoo
Matta matta kudhiraiyila
Yerikiralaam
Ada suthi suthi ooraiyellam
Parthukiralaam
Matta matta kudhiraiyila
Yerikiralaam…aiii
Ada suthi suthi ooraiyellam
Parthukiralaam
Sattaiyum vettiyum
Pottu vandha
Inga seendhura payaluva yarumillai
Thanna na thanna naa
Thannaa naa naaa
Poovaiyum pottaiyum
Vechikitta namma
Ellaiya thandura aalum ila
Thanna na thanna naa
Thannaa naa naaa
Podava ravikai na
Mariyaatha thaan
Aala asathatho
Poo vadaithaan
Vadai pudikatha
Payalae illa
Pudicha viduvaana
Vayasu pulla
Eppovum naama
Ittadhu sattam
Chorus :Yememma yappapa
Yappappa yememma
Enniyadhu ellam
Kaiyila kittum
Chorus :Yememma yappapa
Yappappa yememma
Kummalamoo kondatamoo
Ennalumae thaan..hoi…
Oththa rooba thaaya
Nalla paata kettukoo
Rendu paththu rooba thaaya
Enga kuda sernthukoo
Matta matta kudhiraiyila
Yerikiralaam…
Chorus :Ada suthi suthi ooraiyellam
Parthukiralaam
Vanthavan ponavan
Ethanaiyo
Oru kuthamum kuraiyum
Sonnanthilla
Thanna na thanna naa
Thannaa naa naaa
Kandavan vandhadhum
Palillika
Potta kurudha pola idhu
Mattam ilae
Thanna na thanna naa
Thannaa naa naaa
Vaala aattu thaiyaa
Azhagaagathaan
Kaasa kekku thaiyaa
Kanakaagathaan
Mela idam kudukum
Okkarathaan
Kaala odhachukittu nee
Ottathaan
Ennatha solla
Eppadi solla
Chorus :Yememma yappapa
Yappappa yememma
Nikkuthu paaru
Sokkuthu paaru
Chorus :Yememma yappapa
Yappappa yememma
Ellarumae engalukku
Machannunga thaan…
Oththa rooba thaaya
Nalla paata kettukoo
Rendu paththu rooba thaaya
Enga kuda sernthukoo
Oththa rooba thaaya
Nalla paata kettukoo
Rendu paththu rooba thaaya
Enga kuda sernthukoo
Matta matta kudhiraiyila
Yerikiralaam
Ada suthi suthi ooraiyellam
Parthukiralaam
Matta matta kudhiraiyila
Yerikiralaam…
Ada suthi suthi ooraiyellam
Parthukiralaam
Give a one-rupee coin,
and listen to a good song!
Give two ten-rupee notes,
and join right in with us!
Give a one-rupee coin,
and listen to a good song!
Give two ten-rupee notes,
and join right in with us!
On this little pony,
we can go for a ride!
Hey, we can roam all around,
and see the whole town!
On this little pony,
we can go for a ride... aiyee!
Hey, we can roam all around,
and see the whole town!
Wearing a shirt and dhoti (traditional waistcloth),
if we come along,
no one here dares to mess with us!
Thannana thannanaa,
Thannaanaa naa!
Putting on flowers and a bindi,
once we wear them,
no one dares to cross our boundaries!
Thannana thannanaa,
Thannaanaa naa!
A saree and blouse
command only respect!
Doesn't it captivate everyone,
this sweet scent of flowers?
A fellow who doesn't like that scent,
there isn't one around!
Once he's hooked, would he ever let go,
any young lad?
Whatever we declare,
always becomes the rule!
Chorus: Yememma yappapa,
Yappappa yememma!
Whatever we set our hearts on,
we will surely get in our hands!
Chorus: Yememma yappapa,
Yappappa yememma!
It's full of fun and celebration,
every single day... hoy!
Give a one-rupee coin,
and listen to a good song!
Give two ten-rupee notes,
and join right in with us!
On this little pony,
we can go for a ride...
Chorus: Hey, we can roam all around,
and see the whole town!
So many people who came
and went by,
not a single flaw or fault
have they ever pointed out!
Thannana thannanaa,
Thannaanaa naa!
Just because any stranger comes by
grinning from ear to ear,
like some blind fool,
it is not so cheap!
Thannana thannanaa,
Thannaanaa naa!
Look, it wags its tail
so delightfully!
Look, it asks for the fare
right on the mark!
It makes room on its back
for you to sit,
so you can spur your feet
and ride away!
What more can I say?
How can I even describe it?
Chorus: Yememma yappapa,
Yappappa yememma!
Look at how it stands!
Look at how it charms everyone!
Chorus: Yememma yappapa,
Yappappa yememma!
Everyone around here
is our dear friend and kin...
Give a one-rupee coin,
and listen to a good song!
Give two ten-rupee notes,
and join right in with us!
Give a one-rupee coin,
and listen to a good song!
Give two ten-rupee notes,
and join right in with us!
On this little pony,
we can go for a ride!
Hey, we can roam all around,
and see the whole town!
On this little pony,
we can go for a ride...
Hey, we can roam all around,
and see the whole town!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Did you know?

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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