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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Rettai Jadai Rakkamma

From Anbe Anbe · 2003

Lyricist
Kalai Kumar
Singers
T. L. Maharajan, Manikka Vinayagam
Music director
Bharathwaj
Details
Anbe Anbe2003

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Namma ooru saami vandhutaagaOur village deity has arrived
Thanga thaeru pola vandhutaagaShe has come like a golden chariot
Male
Retta sada rakkammaOh Rakkamma with twin braids
Otha sollu sollammaSay just one single word
Kaathiraama suthurenI wander restlessly without waiting
Konjam nillammaStop for a moment, girl
Male
Eh manjal poosum rakkammaOh Rakkamma who applies turmeric
Konjam neram paarammaLook at me for just a little while
Kuchi ice-a pola naanumJust like a popsicle
Karayuren maI am melting, girl
Male
Kaatu yaana kalangathaanTo startle a wild elephant
Naatu vedi vedikanumCountry firecrackers must be burst
Kanni ponna kavarathaanTo captivate a young maiden
Paatu katti valikkanumSongs must be composed to pull her in
Male
Retta sada rakkammaOh Rakkamma with twin braids
Otha sollu sollammaSay just one single word
Kaathiraama suthurenI wander restlessly without waiting
Konjam nillammaStop for a moment, girl
Male
Eh manjal poosum rakkammaOh Rakkamma who applies turmeric
Konjam neram paarammaLook at me for just a little while
Kuchi ice-a pola naanumJust like a popsicle
Karayuren maI am melting, girl
Chorus
Hmmm hmmmHmmm hmmm
Meeravin nenjil yaar vandhu ponaarWho came and went in Meera's heart?
Maayangal seithathu evaroWho performed these magical feats?
Dheepangal illa vizhiyaaga maariTurning into eyes without lamps
Kannan mugam thaediyathoDid it search for Lord Krishna's face?
Kaadhal sugam koodiyathoHas the joy of love increased?
Hmmm hmmmm…..Hmmm hmmmm…..
Chorus
Rakkamma rakkammaRakkamma, Rakkamma
Konjam paarammaLook at me a little
Raavellam raavellamAll night long, all night long
Thookam illamaaWithout any sleep
Haiyaaaa…..Haiyaaaa…..
Female
Vaettai aada porennuYou said you were going to hunt
Eliyathaana adichigaBut you only caught a simple rat
Male :Puli vaettaikaaran naanMale: I am a tiger hunter
Podavakulla puduchigaYet you caught me inside your saree
Chorus
Thatha oda aasaiGrandfather's desire was
Savithriya kattaTo marry actress Savithri
Gemini vandhadhaalaBecause Gemini Ganesan came in between
Paati kitta mottaGrandmother was left empty-handed
Chorus
Paeran paethi ellamEven after fathering grandchildren
Petredutha podhumDesire never really goes away
Aasai povathillaDesire never dies
Aiyo enna sollaOh dear, what can I say?
Male
Kaveri nellukkuFor the rice of Cauvery
Kadhai ellam sollukkuAll stories are just words
Aanoda aasai ethukkuWhy does a man have desire?
Female
Oru vaarthai pechukkuFor a single word of talk
Orae oru paarvaikkuFor just a single glance
Purinjikka ponnu athukkuA girl exists to understand that
Male
Palpona muttaaiyathaEven if granddad bites
Thathavum kadichaaA soft toothless candy
Kaayakalpam thothu pogumaaDoes the elixir of youth fail?
Chorus :Kasiyila mungithaanChorus: Immersing oneself in Kasi
Kulikira vayasulaAt the age of taking holy baths
Mutham thara vaegam varumaeThe urge to give a kiss still arises
Male
Retta sada rakkammaOh Rakkamma with twin braids
Otha sollu sollammaSay just one single word
Kaathiraama suthurenI wander restlessly without waiting
Konjam nillammaStop for a moment, girl
Male
Eh manjal poosum rakkammaOh Rakkamma who applies turmeric
Konjam neram paarammaLook at me for just a little while
Kuchi ice-a pola naanumJust like a popsicle
Karayuren maI am melting, girl
Female
Nei poda vandhengaYou came to add ghee
En kaiya thaanae pudicheengaAnd caught my hand instead
Male :Naan romba sadhunngaMale: I am very innocent
Ada neenga thaanga izhutheegaAh, it was you who pulled me
Chorus
Pathu paeru vandhaIf ten people came at once
Thooki podum thathaGrandfather would throw them down
Paatiyathaan paathaBut if he looks at Grandmother
Bayam varum shokkaHe gets shocked with fear
Chorus
Goyaa thoppu polaLike a guava orchard
Namma veedu thaaneOur house is open and welcoming
Ooru pugalaalaeWith the fame of the village
Kolam poduvomaeShall we draw traditional rangoli?
Male
Thanjavur gopuramThe Thanjavur temple tower
Thanazhaga somakkumCarries its own beauty
En nenjam etha somakkumWhat does my heart carry?
Female
Poonthottam endraalaeIf it is a flower garden
Pattampochi irukkumButterflies are bound to be there
Kaalam thaan badhil kodukkumTime alone will give the answer
Male
Vela vetti illaamaWithout doing proper work
Aadi paadi thirinjaIf one wanders around dancing and singing
Soru thanni evan kodupaanWho will provide food and water?
Chorus :Thiruvizhaa vandhaalaeChorus: If the temple festival arrives
Kanjikkuthaan panjamaIs there any scarcity of porridge?
Aarumugam avan koduppaanLord Aarumugam (Murugan) will provide
Male
Retta sada rakkammaOh Rakkamma with twin braids
Otha sollu sollammaSay just one single word
Kaathiraama suthurenI wander restlessly without waiting
Konjam nillammaStop for a moment, girl
Male
Eh manjal poosum rakkammaOh Rakkamma who applies turmeric
Konjam neram paarammaLook at me for just a little while
Kuchi ice-a pola naanumJust like a popsicle
Karayuren maI am melting, girl
Male
Kaatu yaana kalangathaanTo startle a wild elephant
Naatu vedi vedikanumCountry firecrackers must be burst
Kanni ponna kavarathaanTo captivate a young maiden
Paatu katti valikkanumSongs must be composed to pull her in
Male
Retta sada rakkammaOh Rakkamma with twin braids
Otha sollu sollammaSay just one single word
Kaathiraama suthurenI wander restlessly without waiting
Konjam nillammaStop for a moment, girl
Male
Eh manjal poosum rakkammaOh Rakkamma who applies turmeric
Konjam neram paarammaLook at me for just a little while
Kuchi ice-a pola naanumJust like a popsicle
Karayuren maI am melting, girl

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Retta Sada Rakkamma' is a lively, folk-flavored duet from the movie 'Anbe Anbe' (2003). The song features romantic banter between lovers, set against a backdrop of rural cultural references, humor, and classical/pop culture allusions such as Lord Krishna, Gemini Ganesan, and the iconic Thanjavur tower.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Kuchi ice-a pola naanum Karayuren ma

Compares the protagonist's helpless romantic state to ice cream melting on a stick.

Simile (Upamai)

Thanga thaeru pola vandhutaaga

Compares the woman's majestic arrival to a golden temple chariot.

Rhyme / Alliteration (Edhugai & Monai)

Retta sada rakkamma / Otha sollu sollamma

Uses matching initial sounds ('Retta' / 'Otha') and rhyming line endings ('Rakkamma' / 'Sollamma').

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Anbe Anbe' (2003) starred Shaam and Sharmili, with music composed by Vidyasagar. The song incorporates traditional folk beats blended with modern rhythms characteristic of early 2000s Tamil cinema dance numbers.

Keep listening

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