Othayya Rettaya
From February 14 · 2005
- Lyricist
- S. P. Hosimin
- Singers
- Pushpavanam Kuppusamy, Anuradha Sriram
- Music director
- Bharathwaj
- Details
- February 142005
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oththaiya…rettaiya | Odd... or even? |
| Female | |
| Oththaiya rettaiya oththaiya rettaiya | Odd or even? Odd or even? |
| Unnoda porandhavanga oththaiya rettaiya | Were those born with you single or twins? |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………….. | |
| Male | |
| Rangu rangu raatinamae | Oh colorful, colorful giant wheel! |
| Sangu sangu sakkaramae | Oh shell-like Catherine wheel! |
| Suthi suthi aadidalaam odi vaadi | Let us spin around and dance, come running, girl! |
| Female | |
| Oi thol urucha saathukudi | Hey, peeled sweet lime! |
| Mukkulikkum thoothukudi | Oh pearl-diving Tuticorin! |
| Mutham ittu sendhukalaam vaada vaada | Let us kiss and join together, come boy, come! |
| Male | |
| Eh vaal illaa kaathaadi nee thaanadi | Hey, you are a tail-less kite! |
| Vaal ulla koothaadi naan thaanadi | I am the entertainer with a tail! |
| Female :Pacha pulla nee maeya paakira | Female: You are trying to graze an innocent young girl! |
| Pacha pullaiya kaayam aakura | You are hurting an innocent child! |
| Male | |
| Unnodu naan aada | For me to dance with you, |
| Ennodu nee aada | For you to dance with me, |
| Female | |
| Oththaiya…hoi rettaiya | Odd... hey, even! |
| Oththaiya rettaiya oththaiya rettaiya | Odd or even? Odd or even? |
| Unnoda porandhavanga oththaiya rettaiya | Were those born with you single or twins? |
| Chorus | |
| ………………………… | |
| Male | |
| Oththaiyaa rettaiyaa | Odd or even? |
| Female :Oththaiyaa rettaiyaa | Female: Odd or even? |
| Rettaiyaa oththaiyaa | Even or odd? |
| Male :Rettaiyaa oththaiyaa | Male: Even or odd? |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………….. | |
| Male | |
| Kannu rendum meen kozhambu | Both eyes are like spicy fish curry, |
| Udhadu rendum thaen kolambu | Both lips are like sweet honey broth, |
| Thithikira sandai poda thaedi vaadi | Come searching to have a sweet playful fight! |
| Female | |
| Aah..aaah aah aah aaa | Aah..aaah aah aah aaa |
| Oh pacha thanni naan thaanae | Oh, I am cold water, right? |
| Pacha thannI nee thaanae | You are cold water, right? |
| Venneera kodhika vekka odi vaada | Run and come, boy, to make us boil into hot water! |
| Male | |
| Adi ennoda oppandham aanaayadi | Hey, you became my partner in agreement! |
| Naan thithikkum theepandham aanenadi | I became a sweet flaming torch! |
| Female | |
| Achu vellamae echil oorumae | Oh block of jaggery, it makes the mouth water! |
| Kollai aasaiya ellai meerumae | The overwhelming desire crosses all boundaries! |
| Male | |
| Eerettu padhinaarae | Two eights make sixteen, |
| Venaandi thagaraaru | No need for any argument! |
| Male | |
| Oththaiyaa…aa.. | Odd... |
| Female :Hooo rettaiyaa | Female: Hooo even! |
| Oththaiya rettaiya oththaiya rettaiya | Odd or even? Odd or even? |
| Unnoda porandhavanga oththaiya rettaiya | Were those born with you single or twins? |
| Oththaiya rettaiya oththaiya rettaiya | Odd or even? Odd or even? |
| Unnoda pinnal enna oththaiya rettaiya | Is your hair braid single or double? |
| Unnoda naadi enna oththaiya rettaiya | Is your pulse single or double? |
| Unnoda idupu madippu oththaiya rettaiya | Are the folds on your waist single or double? |
| Naan ippo oththadi nee | I am single right now, and if you |
| Sendhukitta sendhukitta rettadi rettadi | Join together with me, we become double, double! |
| Male | |
| Oththaiya…rettaiya | Odd... or even? |
| Female | |
| Hoi oththaiya rettaiya oththaiya rettaiya | Hey odd or even? Odd or even? |
| Unnoda porandhavanga oththaiya rettaiya | Were those born with you single or twins? |
ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா
உன்னோட பொறந்தவங்க ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா
ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா
உன்னோட பின்னல் என்ன ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா
உன்னோட நாடி என்ன ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா
உன்னோட இடுப்பு மடிப்பு ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா
நான் இப்ப ஒத்தடி நீ
சேர்ந்துகிட்டா சேர்ந்துகிட்டா ரெட்டைடி ரெட்டைடி
Odd... or even?
ஒத்தையா.....ரெட்டையா
Odd or even? Odd or even?
Were those born with you single or twins?
ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா
உன்னோட பொறந்தவங்க ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா
....................................
Oh colorful, colorful giant wheel!
Oh shell-like Catherine wheel!
Let us spin around and dance, come running, girl!
ரங்கு ரங்கு ராட்டினமே
சங்கு சங்க சக்கரமே
சுத்தி சுத்தி ஆடிடலாம் ஓடி வாடி
Hey, peeled sweet lime!
Oh pearl-diving Tuticorin!
Let us kiss and join together, come boy, come!
விசில் :
.........................
ஒய் தோள் உருச்ச சாத்துக்குடி
முக்குளிக்கும் தூத்துக்குடி
முத்தம் இட்டு சேந்துக்கலாம் வாடா வாடா
Hey, you are a tail-less kite!
I am the entertainer with a tail!
Female: You are trying to graze an innocent young girl!
You are hurting an innocent child!
விசில் :
.......................
For me to dance with you,
For you to dance with me,
ஏ வால் இல்லா காத்தாடி நீ தானடி
வால் உள்ள கூத்தாடி நான் தானடி
பச்ச புல்ல நீ மேய பாக்குற
பச்ச புள்ளைய காயம் ஆக்குற
Odd... hey, even!
Odd or even? Odd or even?
Were those born with you single or twins?
உன்னோட நான் ஆட
என்னோடு நீ ஆட
ஒத்தையா....ஹோய் ரெட்டையா
ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா
உன்னோட பொறந்தவங்க ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா
Odd or even?
Female: Odd or even?
Even or odd?
Male: Even or odd?
.......................
ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா
ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா
ரெட்டையா ஒத்தையா
ரெட்டையா ஒத்தையா
Both eyes are like spicy fish curry,
Both lips are like sweet honey broth,
Come searching to have a sweet playful fight!
..............................
Aah..aaah aah aah aaa
Oh, I am cold water, right?
You are cold water, right?
Run and come, boy, to make us boil into hot water!
கண்ணு ரெண்டும் மீன் கொழம்பு
உதடு ரெண்டும் தேன் கொழம்பு
தித்திக்கிற சண்டை போட தேடி வாடி
Hey, you became my partner in agreement!
I became a sweet flaming torch!
ஆ....ஆஅஹ்....ஆஹ்...ஆஹ்....ஆஅ....
ஓ பச்ச தண்ணி நான்தானே
பச்ச தண்ணி நீ தானே
வெந்நீர கொதிக்க வைக்க ஓடி வாடா
Oh block of jaggery, it makes the mouth water!
The overwhelming desire crosses all boundaries!
விசில் :
............................
Two eights make sixteen,
No need for any argument!
அடி என்னோட ஒப்பந்தம் ஆனாயடி
நான் தித்திக்கும் தீப்பந்தம் ஆனேன்னடி
Odd...
Female: Hooo even!
Odd or even? Odd or even?
Were those born with you single or twins?
Odd or even? Odd or even?
Is your hair braid single or double?
Is your pulse single or double?
Are the folds on your waist single or double?
I am single right now, and if you
Join together with me, we become double, double!
அச்சு வெல்லமே எச்சில் ஊறுமே
கொள்ளை ஆசையா எல்லை மீறுமே
Odd... or even?
ஈரெட்டு பதினாறே
வேணாண்டி தகராறு
Hey odd or even? Odd or even?
Were those born with you single or twins?
ஒத்தையா....ஆஅ....
ஹோ ரெட்டையா
ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா
உன்னோட பொறந்தவங்க ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா
ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா
உன்னோட பின்னல் என்ன ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா
உன்னோட நாடி என்ன ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா
உன்னோட இடுப்பு மடிப்பு ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா
நான் இப்ப ஒத்தடி நீ
சேர்ந்துகிட்டா சேர்ந்துகிட்டா ரெட்டைடி ரெட்டைடி
ஒத்தையா.....ரெட்டையா
ஹோய் ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா
உன்னோட பொறந்தவங்க ஒத்தையா ரெட்டையா
Oththaiya…rettaiya
Odd... or even?
Oththaiya rettaiya oththaiya rettaiya
Odd or even? Odd or even?
Unnoda porandhavanga oththaiya rettaiya
Were those born with you single or twins?
………………………..
Rangu rangu raatinamae
Oh colorful, colorful giant wheel!
Sangu sangu sakkaramae
Oh shell-like Catherine wheel!
Suthi suthi aadidalaam odi vaadi
Let us spin around and dance, come running, girl!
Oi thol urucha saathukudi
Hey, peeled sweet lime!
Mukkulikkum thoothukudi
Oh pearl-diving Tuticorin!
Mutham ittu sendhukalaam vaada vaada
Let us kiss and join together, come boy, come!
Eh vaal illaa kaathaadi nee thaanadi
Hey, you are a tail-less kite!
Vaal ulla koothaadi naan thaanadi
I am the entertainer with a tail!
Female :Pacha pulla nee maeya paakira
Female: You are trying to graze an innocent young girl!
Pacha pullaiya kaayam aakura
You are hurting an innocent child!
Unnodu naan aada
For me to dance with you,
Ennodu nee aada
For you to dance with me,
Oththaiya…hoi rettaiya
Odd... hey, even!
Oththaiya rettaiya oththaiya rettaiya
Odd or even? Odd or even?
Unnoda porandhavanga oththaiya rettaiya
Were those born with you single or twins?
…………………………
Oththaiyaa rettaiyaa
Odd or even?
Female :Oththaiyaa rettaiyaa
Female: Odd or even?
Rettaiyaa oththaiyaa
Even or odd?
Male :Rettaiyaa oththaiyaa
Male: Even or odd?
………………………..
Kannu rendum meen kozhambu
Both eyes are like spicy fish curry,
Udhadu rendum thaen kolambu
Both lips are like sweet honey broth,
Thithikira sandai poda thaedi vaadi
Come searching to have a sweet playful fight!
Aah..aaah aah aah aaa
Aah..aaah aah aah aaa
Oh pacha thanni naan thaanae
Oh, I am cold water, right?
Pacha thannI nee thaanae
You are cold water, right?
Venneera kodhika vekka odi vaada
Run and come, boy, to make us boil into hot water!
Adi ennoda oppandham aanaayadi
Hey, you became my partner in agreement!
Naan thithikkum theepandham aanenadi
I became a sweet flaming torch!
Achu vellamae echil oorumae
Oh block of jaggery, it makes the mouth water!
Kollai aasaiya ellai meerumae
The overwhelming desire crosses all boundaries!
Eerettu padhinaarae
Two eights make sixteen,
Venaandi thagaraaru
No need for any argument!
Oththaiyaa…aa..
Odd...
Female :Hooo rettaiyaa
Female: Hooo even!
Oththaiya rettaiya oththaiya rettaiya
Odd or even? Odd or even?
Unnoda porandhavanga oththaiya rettaiya
Were those born with you single or twins?
Oththaiya rettaiya oththaiya rettaiya
Odd or even? Odd or even?
Unnoda pinnal enna oththaiya rettaiya
Is your hair braid single or double?
Unnoda naadi enna oththaiya rettaiya
Is your pulse single or double?
Unnoda idupu madippu oththaiya rettaiya
Are the folds on your waist single or double?
Naan ippo oththadi nee
I am single right now, and if you
Sendhukitta sendhukitta rettadi rettadi
Join together with me, we become double, double!
Oththaiya…rettaiya
Odd... or even?
Hoi oththaiya rettaiya oththaiya rettaiya
Hey odd or even? Odd or even?
Unnoda porandhavanga oththaiya rettaiya
Were those born with you single or twins?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Oththaiya Rettaiya' is an energetic and playful romantic duet from the movie February 14. The song revolves around the traditional game concept of 'Odd or Even' ('Oththaiya Rettaiya'), which the lead characters use as a playful metaphor for flirtation. The male lead teases the female lead by questioning whether various things about her—such as her siblings, her braided hair, her waist folds, and her pulse—are single or double, playfully suggesting that while both of them are currently single ('oththai'), combining forces will make them a couple ('rettai'). The track uses vibrant imagery from rural carnival elements, food metaphors, and local geography to convey youthful passion, witty back-and-forth banter, and romantic tension between the couple.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Alliteration)
“Rangu rangu raatinamae / Sangu sangu sakkaramae”
Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sound patterns across consecutive lines creates rhythmic musicality.
Ethugai (Rhyming Second Letter)
“Pacha pulla nee maeya paakira / Pacha pullaiya kaayam aakura”
The second letter 'cha' rhymes across both lines ('Pacha' and 'Pacha'), serving as a classic Tamil poetic rhythm tool.
Metaphor
“Kannu rendum meen kozhambu / Udhadu rendum thaen kolambu”
The eyes are metaphorically compared to tempting fish curry and the lips to sweet honey broth to express physical attraction.
Extended Metaphor / Wordplay
“Naan ippo oththadi nee / Sendhukitta sendhukitta rettadi rettadi”
The entire odd/even theme serves as an extended metaphor comparing being single ('oththai') to becoming a pair ('rettai') upon joining together.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is from the 2005 Tamil romantic movie 'February 14' starring Bharath and Renuka Menon. The film was directed by S. P. Hosimin, who also penned lyrics for songs in the movie. Music for the film was composed by Bharadwaj.
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