Oththa Rooba
From Bhadrakali · 1976
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Bhadrakali1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oththa roobhaa unakku thaaren | I will give you a one-rupee coin, |
| Pathaattiyum eduthu thaaren | I will also hand over a gold locket medallion, |
| Oththa roobhaa unakku thaaren | I will give you a one-rupee coin, |
| Pathaattiyum eduthu thaaren | I will also hand over a gold locket medallion, |
| Muthaaram nee onnu thandhaakkaa | If you give me a pearl necklace in return, |
| En munnaadi nee konjam vandhaakkaa | And come stand in front of me for a moment. |
| Female | |
| Oththa roobhaa enakku venaa | I don't want your one-rupee coin, |
| On uravum enakku venaa | Nor do I want any relationship with you, |
| Oththa roobhaa enakku venaa | I don't want your one-rupee coin, |
| On uravum enakku venaa | Nor do I want any relationship with you, |
| Ammaadi enakkadhu kattaadhu | Oh dear, that is not sufficient for me, |
| Ada en maeni manakkura javvaadhu | Hey, my body is fragrant with precious civet perfume! |
| Male | |
| Oorum kaanaama uravum ariyaama | Without the town seeing and without relatives knowing, |
| Serum nerathil serndhaal enna | What if we come together when the right time arrives? |
| Odai poovaattam oosai ponnaattam | Like a flower floating on a stream, like the sound of gold, |
| Paavai nee konjam sirithaal enna | Oh maiden, what if you smile a little bit? |
| Female | |
| Anjum maalai pozhudhu | As the timid evening hour arrives, |
| Mella aadi nadakkum azhaghu | Ah, the beauty of walking and swaying gently, |
| Anjum maalai pozhudhu | As the timid evening hour arrives, |
| Mella aadi nadakkum azhaghu | Ah, the beauty of walking and swaying gently, |
| Sirichaa vala virichaa | If she smiles and casts her net, |
| Pakkam varumo oh oh | Will she come near me? Oh oh! |
| Male | |
| Oththa roobhaa unakku thaaren | I will give you a one-rupee coin, |
| Pathaattiyum eduthu thaaren | I will also hand over a gold locket medallion, |
| Female | |
| Ammaadi enakkadhu kattaadhu | Oh dear, that is not sufficient for me, |
| Ada en maeni manakkura javvaadhu | Hey, my body is fragrant with precious civet perfume! |
| Male | |
| Aadi kaathaadum aathang karaiyoram | On the riverbank where the windy month of Aadi blows, |
| Jodi kili koottam paadum bodhu | When a pair of lovebirds sing together, |
| Aasai thakkadho aalai paakaadho | Can desire be contained? Won't it gaze upon the person? |
| Kaadhal noi romba pollaadhadhu | The affliction of love is extremely dangerous, |
| Female | |
| Adhukku yetha marundhu | The appropriate medicine for it, |
| Un arugil irukku arundhu | Is right next to you, drink it up! |
| Adhukku yetha marundhu | The appropriate medicine for it, |
| Un arugil irukku arundhu | Is right next to you, drink it up! |
| Kudichaa neeyum thavichaa | If you drink it and yearn for more, |
| Sondham vidumaa | Will this intimate bond ever leave us? |
| Male | |
| Oththa roobhaa unakku thaaren | I will give you a one-rupee coin, |
| Pathaattiyum eduthu thaaren | I will also hand over a gold locket medallion, |
| Oththa roobhaa unakku thaaren | I will give you a one-rupee coin, |
| Pathaattiyum eduthu thaaren | I will also hand over a gold locket medallion, |
| Female | |
| Ammaadi enakkadhu kattaadhu | Oh dear, that is not sufficient for me, |
| Ada en maeni manakkura javvaadhu | Hey, my body is fragrant with precious civet perfume! |
| Ammaadi enakkadhu kattaadhu | Oh dear, that is not sufficient for me, |
| Ada en maeni manakkura javvaadhu | Hey, my body is fragrant with precious civet perfume! |
ஒத்த ரூபா உனக்கு தாரேன்
பத்தாட்டியும் எடுத்து தாரேன்
ஒத்த ரூபா உனக்கு தாரேன்
பத்தாட்டியும் எடுத்து தாரேன்
முத்தாரம் நீ ஒன்னு தந்தாக்கா
என் முன்னாடி நீ கொஞ்சம் வந்தாக்கா
I will give you a one-rupee coin,
I will also hand over a gold locket medallion,
I will give you a one-rupee coin,
I will also hand over a gold locket medallion,
If you give me a pearl necklace in return,
And come stand in front of me for a moment.
ஒத்த ரூபா எனக்கு வேணா
ஒன் உறவும் எனக்கு வேணா
ஒத்த ரூபா எனக்கு வேணா
ஒன் உறவும் எனக்கு வேணா
அம்மாடி எனக்கது கட்டாது
அட என் மேனி மணக்குற ஜவ்வாது
I don't want your one-rupee coin,
Nor do I want any relationship with you,
I don't want your one-rupee coin,
Nor do I want any relationship with you,
Oh dear, that is not sufficient for me,
Hey, my body is fragrant with precious civet perfume!
ஊரும் காணாம உறவும் அறியாமா
சேரும் நேரத்தில் சேர்ந்தால் என்ன
ஓடை பூவாட்டம் ஊசை பொன்னாட்டம்
பாவை நீ கொஞ்சம் சிரித்தால் என்ன
Without the town seeing and without relatives knowing,
What if we come together when the right time arrives?
Like a flower floating on a stream, like the sound of gold,
Oh maiden, what if you smile a little bit?
அஞ்சும் மாலை பொழுது
மெல்ல ஆடி நடக்கும் அழகு
அஞ்சும் மாலை பொழுது
மெல்ல ஆடி நடக்கும் அழகு
சிரிச்சா வலை விரிச்சா
பக்கம் வருமோ ஓ ஓ
As the timid evening hour arrives,
Ah, the beauty of walking and swaying gently,
As the timid evening hour arrives,
Ah, the beauty of walking and swaying gently,
If she smiles and casts her net,
Will she come near me? Oh oh!
ஒத்த ரூபா உனக்கு தாரேன்
பத்தாட்டியும் எடுத்து தாரேன்
I will give you a one-rupee coin,
I will also hand over a gold locket medallion,
அம்மாடி எனக்கது கட்டாது
அட என் மேனி மணக்குற ஜவ்வாது
Oh dear, that is not sufficient for me,
Hey, my body is fragrant with precious civet perfume!
ஆடி காத்தாடும் ஆத்தங் கரையோரம்
சோடி கிளி கூட்டம் பாடும் போது
ஆசை தாக்காதோ ஆளை பாக்காதோ
காதல் நோய் ரொம்ப பொல்லாதது
On the riverbank where the windy month of Aadi blows,
When a pair of lovebirds sing together,
Can desire be contained? Won't it gaze upon the person?
The affliction of love is extremely dangerous,
அதுக்கு ஏத்த மருந்து
உன் அருகில் இருக்கு அருந்து
அதுக்கு ஏத்த மருந்து
உன் அருகில் இருக்கு அருந்து
குடிச்சா நீ தவிச்சா சொந்தம் விடுமோ
The appropriate medicine for it,
Is right next to you, drink it up!
The appropriate medicine for it,
Is right next to you, drink it up!
If you drink it and yearn for more,
Will this intimate bond ever leave us?
ஒத்த ரூபா உனக்கு தாரேன்
பத்தாட்டியும் எடுத்து தாரேன்
ஒத்த ரூபா உனக்கு தாரேன்
பத்தாட்டியும் எடுத்து தாரேன்
I will give you a one-rupee coin,
I will also hand over a gold locket medallion,
I will give you a one-rupee coin,
I will also hand over a gold locket medallion,
அம்மாடி எனக்கது கட்டாது
அட என் மேனி மணக்குற ஜவ்வாது
அம்மாடி எனக்கது கட்டாது
அட என் மேனி மணக்குற ஜவ்வாது
Oh dear, that is not sufficient for me,
Hey, my body is fragrant with precious civet perfume!
Oh dear, that is not sufficient for me,
Hey, my body is fragrant with precious civet perfume!
Oththa roobhaa unakku thaaren
I will give you a one-rupee coin,
Pathaattiyum eduthu thaaren
I will also hand over a gold locket medallion,
Oththa roobhaa unakku thaaren
I will give you a one-rupee coin,
Pathaattiyum eduthu thaaren
I will also hand over a gold locket medallion,
Muthaaram nee onnu thandhaakkaa
If you give me a pearl necklace in return,
En munnaadi nee konjam vandhaakkaa
And come stand in front of me for a moment.
Oththa roobhaa enakku venaa
I don't want your one-rupee coin,
On uravum enakku venaa
Nor do I want any relationship with you,
Oththa roobhaa enakku venaa
I don't want your one-rupee coin,
On uravum enakku venaa
Nor do I want any relationship with you,
Ammaadi enakkadhu kattaadhu
Oh dear, that is not sufficient for me,
Ada en maeni manakkura javvaadhu
Hey, my body is fragrant with precious civet perfume!
Oorum kaanaama uravum ariyaama
Without the town seeing and without relatives knowing,
Serum nerathil serndhaal enna
What if we come together when the right time arrives?
Odai poovaattam oosai ponnaattam
Like a flower floating on a stream, like the sound of gold,
Paavai nee konjam sirithaal enna
Oh maiden, what if you smile a little bit?
Anjum maalai pozhudhu
As the timid evening hour arrives,
Mella aadi nadakkum azhaghu
Ah, the beauty of walking and swaying gently,
Anjum maalai pozhudhu
As the timid evening hour arrives,
Mella aadi nadakkum azhaghu
Ah, the beauty of walking and swaying gently,
Sirichaa vala virichaa
If she smiles and casts her net,
Pakkam varumo oh oh
Will she come near me? Oh oh!
Oththa roobhaa unakku thaaren
I will give you a one-rupee coin,
Pathaattiyum eduthu thaaren
I will also hand over a gold locket medallion,
Ammaadi enakkadhu kattaadhu
Oh dear, that is not sufficient for me,
Ada en maeni manakkura javvaadhu
Hey, my body is fragrant with precious civet perfume!
Aadi kaathaadum aathang karaiyoram
On the riverbank where the windy month of Aadi blows,
Jodi kili koottam paadum bodhu
When a pair of lovebirds sing together,
Aasai thakkadho aalai paakaadho
Can desire be contained? Won't it gaze upon the person?
Kaadhal noi romba pollaadhadhu
The affliction of love is extremely dangerous,
Adhukku yetha marundhu
The appropriate medicine for it,
Un arugil irukku arundhu
Is right next to you, drink it up!
Adhukku yetha marundhu
The appropriate medicine for it,
Un arugil irukku arundhu
Is right next to you, drink it up!
Kudichaa neeyum thavichaa
If you drink it and yearn for more,
Sondham vidumaa
Will this intimate bond ever leave us?
Oththa roobhaa unakku thaaren
I will give you a one-rupee coin,
Pathaattiyum eduthu thaaren
I will also hand over a gold locket medallion,
Oththa roobhaa unakku thaaren
I will give you a one-rupee coin,
Pathaattiyum eduthu thaaren
I will also hand over a gold locket medallion,
Ammaadi enakkadhu kattaadhu
Oh dear, that is not sufficient for me,
Ada en maeni manakkura javvaadhu
Hey, my body is fragrant with precious civet perfume!
Ammaadi enakkadhu kattaadhu
Oh dear, that is not sufficient for me,
Ada en maeni manakkura javvaadhu
Hey, my body is fragrant with precious civet perfume!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a playful, romantic duet featuring teasing exchanges between two lovers. The male protagonist tries to woo the woman by offering simple gifts like a one-rupee coin and a gold locket (pathaatti) in exchange for her affection and presence. However, the female protagonist banteringly rejects these modest offers, claiming her beauty and self-worth—fragrant like civet perfume (javvaadhu)—demand much more than mere tokens.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Oththa roobhaa / Pathaattiyum”
The second consonant sound 'th' (த்) matches across the consecutive lines, creating rhythmic harmony in Tamil folk rhythm.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Ammaadi enakkadhu kattaadhu / Ada en maeni manakkura javvaadhu”
Both lines end with the matching sound '-aadhu', delivering a lyrical cadence.
Uwamai (Simile)
“Odai poovaattam oosai ponnaattam”
The suffix '-aattam' means 'like' or 'similar to', comparing her beauty and smile to stream flowers and the pleasant sound of golden ornaments.
Metaphor
“Kaadhal noi romba pollaadhadhu”
Love is metaphorically referred to as an affliction or disease ('noi') that requires a specific cure.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although the movie context lists the music director as unknown, 'Bhadrakali' (1976) featured music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja during the early years of his career, with lyrics penned by Vaali. The film was a major commercial hit directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar.
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