Roatoram
From En Mana Vaanil · 2002
- Lyricist
- Mu. Metha
- Singers
- K. J. Yesudas, Shruti Haasan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- En Mana Vaanil2002
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Roattora paattu | Roadside song, |
| Saththam ketkkuthaa | Can you hear the sound? |
| Ketkkumbodhu sogam | When listening to it, does sadness |
| Vanthu thaakkuthaa… | Come and strike you? |
| Male | |
| Roattora paattu | Roadside song, |
| Saththam ketkkuthaa | Can you hear the sound? |
| Ketkkumbodhu sogam | When listening to it, does sadness |
| Vanthu thaakkuthaa… | Come and strike you? |
| Male | |
| Pootti vacha mana kathavu | Will the locked door of the heart |
| Therakkumaa… | Open up? |
| Kotti vanthu anba | Will it pour out love |
| Kannil kaattumaa…. | And show it in the eyes? |
| Male | |
| Vaan nilavu engal vaazhvu | Is the celestial moon watching |
| Valarumaanu paarkuthaa… | To see if our life will grow? |
| Valarvatharkku nombirunthu | Is it fasting and praying to the gods |
| Deivangala venduthaa.. | So that our life may grow? |
| Enna solvadhoo …ooo…oo | What can I say... ooo... oo |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………. | ................... |
| Male | |
| Entha naadu ponaalum | Whichever country we go to, |
| Intha koodu veguthu | This body/nest burns in agony. |
| Koottathodu varumaiyunthaan | Poverty travels in crowds, |
| Naadu maaruthu… | Only the land changes... |
| Male | |
| Paadhi vayiru kaayuthu | Half the stomach dries up, |
| Meedhi vayiru theiyuthu | The rest of the stomach wears away. |
| Manusha saathi | The human race, |
| Manusharathaan usira vaanguthu | Takes the very life of fellow humans. |
| Male | |
| Aattam kaanum vaazhkaiyilae | In a life that totters, |
| Aattam varuthu adhisayamaa | Dancing arrives like a miracle. |
| Patta paadu etti nikka | While past struggles stand at a distance, |
| Paattu varum adhirasamaa | A song arrives like a sweet delicacy. |
| Male | |
| Verum vaarthaigal ketkkaiyilae | When hearing mere words, |
| Kurukurukkuthu manathinilae | The heart feels a restless prickle. |
| Thiruvaasaga kovililae | Sacred verses stay inside temples, |
| Karuvaasagam theruvinilae | While the core message of life is out on the street. |
| Male | |
| Aadhiyilae eluthi vacha | Just listen to the song |
| Paatta mattum kettukko | Written in the beginning, |
| Kaasu ulla pottukko | And drop a few coins inside. |
| Male | |
| Kallum mannum kalanthaalum | Even if mixed with stones and dirt, |
| Erinja soththukku adidhadithaan | People fight over burnt rice. |
| Kaiyil vanthu pasi thodachaa | If food reaches the hand and wipes off hunger, |
| Adhu amirtham ammaa | That is divine nectar, oh mother! |
| Male | |
| Otti pona Vavuthulaiyum | Even in a shriveled stomach, |
| Adikkira vaga yeraalam | The blows delivered are countless. |
| Thatti kettu thavichathundu | We have suffered and yearned, |
| Edhuthu kettomaa… | But did we ever demand or rob? |
| Male | |
| Kallum mullil paduthaalum | Even sleeping on stones and thorns, |
| Thookkam varuthu padu sugamaa | Sleep comes deeply and pleasantly. |
| Muzhikkurappo vedhanaiyum | Yet upon waking up, agony |
| Kannmulikkum baadhagamaa | Wakes up like a cruel sin. |
| Male | |
| Ulagam engum ezhai undu | Poor people exist all across the world, |
| Thunbam ennum thodarbum undu | And the bond with sorrow exists everywhere. |
| Ottu potta thuni pola | Like a patched-up cloth, |
| Kottidaatha vaazhkai undu | There exists a life that does not tear apart. |
| Naan padikkum paattu mattum | Only the song I sing |
| Veedhi engum vedikkum | Will echo throughout every street, |
| Ezhai thunbam thudaikkum | Wiping away the sorrow of the poor. |
| Female | |
| Roattora paattu | Roadside song, |
| Saththam ketkkuthaa | Can you hear the sound? |
| Ketkkumbodhu sogam | When listening to it, does sadness |
| Vanthu thaakkuthaa… | Come and strike you? |
| Male | |
| Pootti vacha mana kathavu | Will the locked door of the heart |
| Therakkumaa… | Open up? |
| Kotti vanthu anba | Will it pour out love |
| Kannil kaattumaa…. | And show it in the eyes? |
| Male | |
| Vaan nilavu engal vaazhvu | Is the celestial moon watching |
| Valarumaanu paarkuthaa… | To see if our life will grow? |
| Valarvatharkku nombirunthu | Is it fasting and praying to the gods |
| Deivangala venduthaa.. | So that our life may grow? |
| Enna solvadhoo …ooo…oo | What can I say... ooo... oo |
ஆஆ.....ஆஆஆ......ஆஅ.......
ஆஆ.....ஆஆஆ......ஆஅ.......
Roadside song,
Can you hear the sound?
When listening to it, does sadness
Come and strike you?
ரோட்டோரப் பாட்டுச்சத்தம் கேட்குதா
கேட்கும்போது சோகம் வந்து தாக்குதா
Roadside song,
Can you hear the sound?
When listening to it, does sadness
Come and strike you?
ரோட்டோரப் பாட்டுச்சத்தம் கேட்குதா
கேட்கும்போது சோகம் வந்து தாக்குதா
Will the locked door of the heart
Open up?
Will it pour out love
And show it in the eyes?
பூட்டி வச்ச
மனக்கதவு திறக்குமா கூட்டி வந்து
அன்பைக் கண்ணில் காட்டுமா
Is the celestial moon watching
To see if our life will grow?
Is it fasting and praying to the gods
So that our life may grow?
What can I say... ooo... oo
வான் நிலவு எங்கள் வாழ்வு
வளருமான்னு பார்க்குதா
வளர்வதற்கு நோன்பிருந்து
தெய்வங்களை வேண்டுதா
என்ன சொல்வதோ ஓ ஓ ஓ ஒ.....
...................
ஆண் மற்றும் குழு :
ரோட்டோரப் பாட்டுச்சத்தம் கேட்குதா
கேட்கும்போது சோகம் வந்து தாக்குதா
Whichever country we go to,
This body/nest burns in agony.
Poverty travels in crowds,
Only the land changes...
நனான னனனா னானா நா
நன னனனா னானா நா
நனான னனனா னானா நா
நன னனனா னானா நா
Half the stomach dries up,
The rest of the stomach wears away.
The human race,
Takes the very life of fellow humans.
எந்த நாடு போனாலும்
இந்த கூடு வேகுது
கூட்டத்தோடு வறுமையும்தான்
நாடு மாறுது
In a life that totters,
Dancing arrives like a miracle.
While past struggles stand at a distance,
A song arrives like a sweet delicacy.
பாதி வயிறு காயுது
மீதி வயிறு தேயுது
மனுஷ சாதி மனுஷனத்தான்
உசிரை வாங்குது
When hearing mere words,
The heart feels a restless prickle.
Sacred verses stay inside temples,
While the core message of life is out on the street.
ஆட்டம் காணும் வாழ்க்கையிலே
ஆட்டம் வருது அதிசயமா
பட்டப்பாடு எட்டி நிற்க
பாட்டு வரும் அதிரசமா
Just listen to the song
Written in the beginning,
And drop a few coins inside.
வெறும் வார்த்தைகள் கேட்கையிலே
குறுகுறுக்குது மனதினிலே
திருவாசகம் கோயிலிலே
கருவாசகம் தெருவினிலே
Even if mixed with stones and dirt,
People fight over burnt rice.
If food reaches the hand and wipes off hunger,
That is divine nectar, oh mother!
ஆதியிலே எழுதி வச்ச
பாட்டை மட்டும் கேட்டுக்கோ
காசை உள்ள பூட்டிக்கோ…
Even in a shriveled stomach,
The blows delivered are countless.
We have suffered and yearned,
But did we ever demand or rob?
ஆண் மற்றும் குழு :
ரோட்டோரப் பாட்டுச்சத்தம் கேட்குதா
கேட்கும்போது சோகம் வந்து தாக்குதா
Even sleeping on stones and thorns,
Sleep comes deeply and pleasantly.
Yet upon waking up, agony
Wakes up like a cruel sin.
கல்லும் மண்ணும் கலந்தாலும்
எறிஞ்ச சோத்துக்கு அடிதடிதான்
கையில் வந்து பசி துடைச்சா
அது அமிர்தம் அம்மா
Poor people exist all across the world,
And the bond with sorrow exists everywhere.
Like a patched-up cloth,
There exists a life that does not tear apart.
Only the song I sing
Will echo throughout every street,
Wiping away the sorrow of the poor.
ஒட்டிப் போன வவுத்துலையும்
அடிக்கிற வகை ஏராளம்
தட்டிக் கேட்க தவிச்சதுண்டு
எதிர்த்துக் கேட்டமா
Roadside song,
Can you hear the sound?
When listening to it, does sadness
Come and strike you?
கல்லு முள்ளில் படுத்தாலும்
தூக்கம் வருது படு சுகமா
உக்கிரம்போல் வேதனையும்
கண் முழிக்கும் பாதகமா
Will the locked door of the heart
Open up?
Will it pour out love
And show it in the eyes?
உலகமெங்கும் ஏழை உண்டு
துன்பமென்னும் தொடர்பும் உண்டு
ஒட்டுப் போட்ட துணி போல
கொட்டிடாத வாழ்க்கை உண்டு
Is the celestial moon watching
To see if our life will grow?
Is it fasting and praying to the gods
So that our life may grow?
What can I say... ooo... oo
நான் படிக்கும் பாட்டு மட்டும்
வீதி எங்கும் வெடிக்கும்
ஏழை துன்பம் துடைக்கும்……
ரோட்டோரப் பாட்டுச்சத்தம் கேட்குதா.....
கேட்கும்போது சோகம் வந்து தாக்குதா
பூட்டி வச்ச
மனக்கதவு திறக்குமா கூட்டி வந்து
அன்பைக் கண்ணில் காட்டுமா
வான் நிலவு எங்கள் வாழ்வு
வளருமான்னு பார்க்குதா
வளர்வதற்கு நோன்பிருந்து
தெய்வங்களை வேண்டுதா
என்ன சொல்வதோ ஓ ஓ ஓ ஒ.....
ஆண் மற்றும் பெண் :
ரோட்டோரப் பாட்டுச்சத்தம் கேட்குதா.....
கேட்கும்போது சோகம் வந்து தாக்குதா
Roattora paattu
Roadside song,
Saththam ketkkuthaa
Can you hear the sound?
Ketkkumbodhu sogam
When listening to it, does sadness
Vanthu thaakkuthaa…
Come and strike you?
Roattora paattu
Roadside song,
Saththam ketkkuthaa
Can you hear the sound?
Ketkkumbodhu sogam
When listening to it, does sadness
Vanthu thaakkuthaa…
Come and strike you?
Pootti vacha mana kathavu
Will the locked door of the heart
Therakkumaa…
Open up?
Kotti vanthu anba
Will it pour out love
Kannil kaattumaa….
And show it in the eyes?
Vaan nilavu engal vaazhvu
Is the celestial moon watching
Valarumaanu paarkuthaa…
To see if our life will grow?
Valarvatharkku nombirunthu
Is it fasting and praying to the gods
Deivangala venduthaa..
So that our life may grow?
Enna solvadhoo …ooo…oo
What can I say... ooo... oo
…………………….
...................
Entha naadu ponaalum
Whichever country we go to,
Intha koodu veguthu
This body/nest burns in agony.
Koottathodu varumaiyunthaan
Poverty travels in crowds,
Naadu maaruthu…
Only the land changes...
Paadhi vayiru kaayuthu
Half the stomach dries up,
Meedhi vayiru theiyuthu
The rest of the stomach wears away.
Manusha saathi
The human race,
Manusharathaan usira vaanguthu
Takes the very life of fellow humans.
Aattam kaanum vaazhkaiyilae
In a life that totters,
Aattam varuthu adhisayamaa
Dancing arrives like a miracle.
Patta paadu etti nikka
While past struggles stand at a distance,
Paattu varum adhirasamaa
A song arrives like a sweet delicacy.
Verum vaarthaigal ketkkaiyilae
When hearing mere words,
Kurukurukkuthu manathinilae
The heart feels a restless prickle.
Thiruvaasaga kovililae
Sacred verses stay inside temples,
Karuvaasagam theruvinilae
While the core message of life is out on the street.
Aadhiyilae eluthi vacha
Just listen to the song
Paatta mattum kettukko
Written in the beginning,
Kaasu ulla pottukko
And drop a few coins inside.
Kallum mannum kalanthaalum
Even if mixed with stones and dirt,
Erinja soththukku adidhadithaan
People fight over burnt rice.
Kaiyil vanthu pasi thodachaa
If food reaches the hand and wipes off hunger,
Adhu amirtham ammaa
That is divine nectar, oh mother!
Otti pona Vavuthulaiyum
Even in a shriveled stomach,
Adikkira vaga yeraalam
The blows delivered are countless.
Thatti kettu thavichathundu
We have suffered and yearned,
Edhuthu kettomaa…
But did we ever demand or rob?
Kallum mullil paduthaalum
Even sleeping on stones and thorns,
Thookkam varuthu padu sugamaa
Sleep comes deeply and pleasantly.
Muzhikkurappo vedhanaiyum
Yet upon waking up, agony
Kannmulikkum baadhagamaa
Wakes up like a cruel sin.
Ulagam engum ezhai undu
Poor people exist all across the world,
Thunbam ennum thodarbum undu
And the bond with sorrow exists everywhere.
Ottu potta thuni pola
Like a patched-up cloth,
Kottidaatha vaazhkai undu
There exists a life that does not tear apart.
Naan padikkum paattu mattum
Only the song I sing
Veedhi engum vedikkum
Will echo throughout every street,
Ezhai thunbam thudaikkum
Wiping away the sorrow of the poor.
Roattora paattu
Roadside song,
Saththam ketkkuthaa
Can you hear the sound?
Ketkkumbodhu sogam
When listening to it, does sadness
Vanthu thaakkuthaa…
Come and strike you?
Pootti vacha mana kathavu
Will the locked door of the heart
Therakkumaa…
Open up?
Kotti vanthu anba
Will it pour out love
Kannil kaattumaa….
And show it in the eyes?
Vaan nilavu engal vaazhvu
Is the celestial moon watching
Valarumaanu paarkuthaa…
To see if our life will grow?
Valarvatharkku nombirunthu
Is it fasting and praying to the gods
Deivangala venduthaa..
So that our life may grow?
Enna solvadhoo …ooo…oo
What can I say... ooo... oo
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a poignant reflection on poverty, social inequality, and the resilient spirit of street performers and marginalized people. The singer describes the daily hardships faced by those living on the margins of society—persistent hunger, severe hardship, and the cold indifference of fellow human beings. Despite travelling far and wide, poverty remains an inescapable shadow, turning basic survival into a constant battle.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification / உருவகம்
“Vaan nilavu engal vaazhvu / Valarumaanu paarkuthaa…”
The moon in the sky is personified as a compassionate observer who fasts and prays to the gods on behalf of the poor so that their lives may prosper.
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme) / எதுகை
“Paadhi vayiru kaayuthu / Meedhi vayiru theiyuthu”
Matching second consonants ('dhi' in Paadhi and Meedhi) create a rhythmic flow while highlighting the physical toll of extreme hunger.
Contrast & Metaphor / முரண் மற்றும் உருவகம்
“Thiruvaasaga kovililae / Karuvaasagam theruvinilae”
Contrasts formal religious verses inside temples (Thiruvaasagam) with the essential, raw human experience existing out on the streets (Karuvaasagam).
Simile / உவமை
“Ottu potta thuni pola / Kottidaatha vaazhkai undu”
Compares a precarious yet surviving impoverished life to a patched cloth that manages to hold together despite damage.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is from the 2002 film 'En Mana Vaanil', directed by Vinayan and starring Jayasurya and Kavya Madhavan. The music was composed by Sirpy, and the moving lyrics were penned by veteran Tamil poet Mu. Metha.
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