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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oththa Roova

From Nattupura Pattu · 1995

Lyricist
Kasthuri Raja
Singers
Arun Mozhi, Devi
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Nattupura Pattu1995

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oththa roovayum thaarenI will give you a single rupee,
Oru onappathattum thaarenI will also give you a dried silk-cotton pod.
Nee oththukittu vaadiAgree to it and come with me, my girl,
Naama oodappakkam povomLet us go near the stream.
Female
Oththa roovayum venaaI don't want your single rupee,
Un onappathattum venaI don't want your dried silk-cotton pod either.
Oththukira maattenI will not agree to this,
Nee othungi nillu maamoiStand back and keep your distance, uncle!
Male
Ye.. paththu roovayum thaarenHey, I will give you ten rupees,
Oru pathikkan sangili thaarenI will give you a ten-gem necklace.
Pachchakili vaadi nallaCome, my green parrot,
Padappu pakkam povomLet us go near the haystack.
Female
Ye.. paththu roovayum venaHey, I don't want your ten rupees,
Ompathikkan sangili venaI don't want your ten-gem necklace.
Pasappinikkira mamaUncle, you are speaking sweet deceptive words,
Enna usuppivida venaDon't try to provoke or entice me!
Male
Naa machchu veedum thaarenI will give you a terraced house,
Panju meththa pottu thaarenI will lay out a soft cotton bed for you.
Mathiyaana neram vaadiCome in the afternoon time,
Maanthoppukku povomLet us go to the mango grove.
Female
Ada machchu veedum veenamOh, I don't want your terraced house,
Un panju meththaiyum venamI don't want your soft cotton bed either.
Mallukku nikkira maamaUncle who stands ready to entice me,
Un sollukku mayanga mattenI will not fall for your persuasive words.
Male
Ye nanjai punjaiyum thaarenHey, I will give you wet lands and dry lands,
Naalu thottam eluthi thaarenI will register four farm plots in your name.
Thannikku poradhu polaPretending as if going to fetch water,
Kannae kulathu pakkam vaadiMy darling, come near the pond.
Female
Un nanjai punjaiyum venamI don't want your wet lands or dry lands,
Nal thottam thuravum venamI don't want your four farms and wells either.
Kanakku pannura maamaUncle who keeps calculating and plotting,
Un kannukku sikka mattenI will not get caught in your trap.
Male
Yei soththu pooraa thaarenHey, I will give you all my entire property,
Saavi kothum kaiyila thaarenI will hand over the bunch of house keys into your hand.
Pathara manikku melaAfter ten-thirty at night,
Nee vethala kaatuku vaadiCome to the betel leaf farm.
Female
Un sothu sugam venamI don't want your wealth or luxury,
En puththi ketta maamaaMy foolish uncle,
Manja thaali podhumJust a yellow sacred thread is enough,
Un madiyila naan vaarenI will come and rest in your lap!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Oththa Roovayum Thaaren is a classic folk-style call-and-response duet from the 1995 village drama Nattupura Pattu. In the song, the male lead attempts to woo the heroine by offering a series of increasingly valuable material incentives, ranging from a single rupee and a dried fruit to expensive jewelry, a terraced house, vast agricultural fields, and ultimately his entire wealth and key to the house, inviting her to meet him in secluded village spots like the stream, mango grove, or betel farm.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second letter rhyming)

Oththa roovayum thaaren / Oru onappathattum thaaren

The second letter 'th' in 'Oththa' matches with 'th' sound in 'onappathattum', giving a rhythmic folk cadence.

Monai (First letter alliteration)

Nanjai punjaiyum thaaren / Naalu thottam eluthi thaaren

The initial letter 'N' sound repeats in 'Nanjai' and 'Naalu'.

Muran (Antithesis/Contrast)

Un sothu sugam venam... Manja thaali podhum

Contrasts temporary material wealth offered by the hero with the heroine's desire for honor, commitment, and marriage symbolized by the yellow thread (Manja Thaali).

Did you know?

Trivia

The song from Nattupura Pattu (1995) features music composed by Soundaryan, with lyrics written by director Kasthuri Raja himself. Sung passionately by Mano and Swarnalatha, this playful folk banter became one of the quintessential Tamil rural duets of the mid-90s.

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