Pathu Rooba
From Clap · 2023
- Lyricist
- Gkb
- Singer
- Srinisha Jayaseelan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Clap2023
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Tu rur ru ru | Tu rur ru ru |
| Nanana naa naa | Nanana naa naa |
| Nanana naa naa | Nanana naa naa |
| Nana nana nana | Nana nana nana |
| Aana aana nana | Aana aana nana |
| Nana nana nana | Nana nana nana |
| Na naana nannanana | Na naana nannanana |
| Female | |
| Pathu rooba velarikka | Ten-rupee cucumber |
| Kaducha paaka kaasu irukka | Do you have money in your pocket to bite into it? |
| Uppu kaaram thottu thinna | If eaten dipped in salt and chili powder |
| Vaayil echil oorum appa | Ah, it makes your mouth water! |
| Female | |
| Polladha vaalkaiyilae | In this tough life |
| Pogum idam dhooramilla | destination is not far away |
| Rail mela yerikitta | Once you board the train |
| Railukkoru baaram illa | You are no burden to the train |
| Oorum en serum onnu | town and my slum are all one |
| Rusi paarka thutta neetu | Hand out money to taste it |
| Female | |
| Pathu rooba velarikka | Ten-rupee cucumber |
| Kaducha paaka kaasu irukka | Do you have money in your pocket to bite into it? |
| Female | |
| Rail ingae jaadhi madha | train here does not look at caste or religion |
| Vithiyaasam parpadhillai | It sees no differences |
| Mel endrum keel endrum | High or low |
| Baedhangal edhum illa | There are no discriminations |
| Female | |
| Rail ingae jaadhi madha | train here does not look at caste or religion |
| Vithiyaasam parpadhillai | It sees no differences |
| Mel endrum keel endrum | High or low |
| Baedhangal edhum illa | There are no discriminations |
| Female | |
| Adhu pola thanaiyaa | Just like that, sir |
| Naan kodukum velrikka | train cucumber I sell |
| Hey adhu pola thanaiyaa | Hey, just like that, sir |
| Naan kodukum velrikka | train cucumber I sell |
| Female | |
| All paarthu rusi mathathu | Does not change taste based on who eats it |
| Panakara selvanukkum | For the rich wealthy person |
| Paadu padum yelaikkum | And for the hardworking poor person |
| Mel vaguppu keel vaguppu | Upper class or lower class |
| Rendu rusiya kaatathu | It doesn't show two different tastes |
| Female | |
| Pathu rooba velarikka | Ten-rupee cucumber |
| Kaducha paaka kaasu irukka | Do you have money in your pocket to bite into it? |
| Uppu kaaram thottu thinna | If eaten dipped in salt and chili powder |
| Vaayil echil oorum appa | Ah, it makes your mouth water! |
| Female | |
| Thannera paichina than | Only if you channel water |
| Man mela payir valarum | Crops will grow on the soil |
| Adhu vendan velarikku | That is not needed for cucumber |
| Poo poothu kaai kaikum | It blooms flowers and bears fruit naturally |
| Female | |
| Vellari pola neyum | Like a cucumber, you too |
| Thaanaga valara venum | Must grow on your own |
| Palamaana vilaguthal pol | Like strong detachment |
| Kettadha velakka venum | You must ward off bad things |
| Female | |
| Pacha pinju vellari | Tender green cucumber |
| Vaadi pogum munnadi | Before it fades away |
| En paata naan paadi | Singing my song |
| Vittu pidipen ammadi | I will make my mark, my dear |
| Nikkatha vyaabaaram thaan | Unstoppable business indeed |
| Female | |
| Yarukum naan aalu illa | I am no servant to anyone |
| Enaku yarum thunai illa | I have no companion |
| Aanalum raasathi naanae | Yet I am a princess myself |
| Thanee neeyum kelu | You listen to this too |
| Female | |
| Pathu rooba velarikka | Ten-rupee cucumber |
| Kaducha paaka kaasu irukka | Do you have money in your pocket to bite into it? |
| Uppu kaaram thottu thinna | If eaten dipped in salt and chili powder |
| Vaayil echil oorum appa | Ah, it makes your mouth water! |
.......................
Tu rur ru ru
Nanana naa naa
Nanana naa naa
Nana nana nana
Aana aana nana
Nana nana nana
Na naana nannanana
பத்து ரூபா வெள்ளரிக்கா
கடுச்சு பாக்க காசு இருக்கா
உப்பு காரம் தொட்டு தின்னா
வாயில் எச்சி ஊரும் அப்பா
Ten-rupee cucumber
Do you have money in your pocket to bite into it?
If eaten dipped in salt and chili powder
Ah, it makes your mouth water!
பொல்லாத வாழ்க்கையிலே
போகும் இடம் தூரம் இல்லே
ரயில் மேலே ஏறி கிட்டா
ரயிலுக்கு பாரம் இல்ல
ஊரும் என் சீரும் ஒன்னு
ருசி பார்க்க துட்ட நீட்டு
In this tough life
destination is not far away
Once you board the train
You are no burden to the train
town and my slum are all one
Hand out money to taste it
பத்து ரூபா வெள்ளரிக்கா
கடுச்சு பாக்க காசு இருக்கா
Ten-rupee cucumber
Do you have money in your pocket to bite into it?
ரயில் இங்கே ஜாதி மத
வித்தியாசம் பார்ப்பதில்லை
மேல் என்றும் கீழ் என்றும்
பேதங்கள் ஒன்னும் இல்ல
train here does not look at caste or religion
It sees no differences
High or low
There are no discriminations
அது போல தானய்யா
நான் கொடுக்கும் வெள்ளரிக்கா
ஹே அது போல தானய்யா
நான் கொடுக்கும் வெள்ளரிக்கா
train here does not look at caste or religion
It sees no differences
High or low
There are no discriminations
ஆள் பார்த்து ருசி மாத்தாது
பணக்கார செல்வனுக்கும்
பாடு படும் ஏழைக்கும்
மேல் வகுப்பு கீழ் வகுப்பு
ரெண்டு ருசியா காட்டாது
Just like that, sir
train cucumber I sell
Hey, just like that, sir
train cucumber I sell
பத்து ரூபா வெள்ளரிக்கா
கடுச்சு பாக்க காசு இருக்கா
உப்பு காரம் தொட்டு தின்னா
வாயில் எச்சி ஊரும் அப்பா
Does not change taste based on who eats it
For the rich wealthy person
And for the hardworking poor person
Upper class or lower class
It doesn't show two different tastes
தண்ணீர் பாய்ச்சினா தான்
மண் மேல பயிர் வளரும்
அது வேண்டான் வெள்ளரிக்கு
பூ பூத்து காய் காய்க்கும்
Ten-rupee cucumber
Do you have money in your pocket to bite into it?
If eaten dipped in salt and chili powder
Ah, it makes your mouth water!
வெள்ளரி போல நீயும்
தானாக வளர வேணும்
பலமான விழுதுகள் போல்
கேட்டதா விளக்க வேணும்
Only if you channel water
Crops will grow on the soil
That is not needed for cucumber
It blooms flowers and bears fruit naturally
பச்ச பிஞ்சு வெள்ளரி
வாடி போகும் முன்னாடி
என் பாட்ட நான் பாடி
விட்டு பிடிப்பேன் அம்மாடி
நிக்காத வியாபாரம் தான்
Like a cucumber, you too
Must grow on your own
Like strong detachment
You must ward off bad things
யாருக்கும் நான் ஆளு இல்ல
எனக்கு யாரும் துணை இல்ல
ஆனாலும் ராசாத்தி நானே
தானே நீயும் கேளு
Tender green cucumber
Before it fades away
Singing my song
I will make my mark, my dear
Unstoppable business indeed
பத்து ரூபா வெள்ளரிக்கா
கடுச்சு பாக்க காசு இருக்கா
உப்பு காரம் தொட்டு தின்னா
வாயில் எச்சி ஊரும் அப்பா
I am no servant to anyone
I have no companion
Yet I am a princess myself
You listen to this too
Ten-rupee cucumber
Do you have money in your pocket to bite into it?
If eaten dipped in salt and chili powder
Ah, it makes your mouth water!
Tu rur ru ru
Tu rur ru ru
Nanana naa naa
Nanana naa naa
Nanana naa naa
Nanana naa naa
Nana nana nana
Nana nana nana
Aana aana nana
Aana aana nana
Nana nana nana
Nana nana nana
Na naana nannanana
Na naana nannanana
Pathu rooba velarikka
Ten-rupee cucumber
Kaducha paaka kaasu irukka
Do you have money in your pocket to bite into it?
Uppu kaaram thottu thinna
If eaten dipped in salt and chili powder
Vaayil echil oorum appa
Ah, it makes your mouth water!
Polladha vaalkaiyilae
In this tough life
Pogum idam dhooramilla
destination is not far away
Rail mela yerikitta
Once you board the train
Railukkoru baaram illa
You are no burden to the train
Oorum en serum onnu
town and my slum are all one
Rusi paarka thutta neetu
Hand out money to taste it
Pathu rooba velarikka
Ten-rupee cucumber
Kaducha paaka kaasu irukka
Do you have money in your pocket to bite into it?
Rail ingae jaadhi madha
train here does not look at caste or religion
Vithiyaasam parpadhillai
It sees no differences
Mel endrum keel endrum
High or low
Baedhangal edhum illa
There are no discriminations
Rail ingae jaadhi madha
train here does not look at caste or religion
Vithiyaasam parpadhillai
It sees no differences
Mel endrum keel endrum
High or low
Baedhangal edhum illa
There are no discriminations
Adhu pola thanaiyaa
Just like that, sir
Naan kodukum velrikka
train cucumber I sell
Hey adhu pola thanaiyaa
Hey, just like that, sir
Naan kodukum velrikka
train cucumber I sell
All paarthu rusi mathathu
Does not change taste based on who eats it
Panakara selvanukkum
For the rich wealthy person
Paadu padum yelaikkum
And for the hardworking poor person
Mel vaguppu keel vaguppu
Upper class or lower class
Rendu rusiya kaatathu
It doesn't show two different tastes
Pathu rooba velarikka
Ten-rupee cucumber
Kaducha paaka kaasu irukka
Do you have money in your pocket to bite into it?
Uppu kaaram thottu thinna
If eaten dipped in salt and chili powder
Vaayil echil oorum appa
Ah, it makes your mouth water!
Thannera paichina than
Only if you channel water
Man mela payir valarum
Crops will grow on the soil
Adhu vendan velarikku
That is not needed for cucumber
Poo poothu kaai kaikum
It blooms flowers and bears fruit naturally
Vellari pola neyum
Like a cucumber, you too
Thaanaga valara venum
Must grow on your own
Palamaana vilaguthal pol
Like strong detachment
Kettadha velakka venum
You must ward off bad things
Pacha pinju vellari
Tender green cucumber
Vaadi pogum munnadi
Before it fades away
En paata naan paadi
Singing my song
Vittu pidipen ammadi
I will make my mark, my dear
Nikkatha vyaabaaram thaan
Unstoppable business indeed
Yarukum naan aalu illa
I am no servant to anyone
Enaku yarum thunai illa
I have no companion
Aanalum raasathi naanae
Yet I am a princess myself
Thanee neeyum kelu
You listen to this too
Pathu rooba velarikka
Ten-rupee cucumber
Kaducha paaka kaasu irukka
Do you have money in your pocket to bite into it?
Uppu kaaram thottu thinna
If eaten dipped in salt and chili powder
Vaayil echil oorum appa
Ah, it makes your mouth water!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Pathu Rooba Velarikka from the movie Clap (2023) is a spirited street-vendor song composed by Ilaiyaraaja and penned by Gkb. Sung by Srinisha Jayaseelan, the song uses a ten-rupee cucumber sold on passenger trains as an upbeat metaphor for egalitarianism and self-respect. The lyrics emphasize that train travel and simple street food do not discriminate based on class, caste, wealth, or status; a cucumber tastes equally delicious to both the wealthy and the working poor. The protagonist celebrates her honest livelihood and independent spirit.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Rail ingae jaadhi madha vithiyaasam parpadhillai”
The train and the cucumber are used as metaphors for social equality, showing no bias towards caste, religion, or economic class.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Vellari pola neyum thaanaga valara venum”
The lyricist explicitly compares human growth and self-reliance to the natural, effortless growth of a cucumber vine.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Pathu rooba velarikka kaducha paaka kaasu irukka”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('Pa' sound) across words in the same line.
Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Polladha vaalkaiyilae / Rail mela yerikitta”
Agreement of the second letter ('l' / 'll') in consecutive lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is set in a train journey sequence in the bilingual sports drama Clap (2023), starring Aadhi Pinisetty. Srinisha Jayaseelan's playful vocal delivery paired with Ilaiyaraaja's energetic folk-pop rhythm creates an uplifting sequence highlighting street vendors' daily lives.
Keep listening
More from Clap
Clap
Clap
Clap
Clap