Roja Kaadu
From Red · 2002
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Hariharan
- Music director
- Deva
- Details
- Red2002
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho | Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho |
| Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho | Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho |
| Male | |
| Roja kaadu chudithaar pottu | A garden of roses wearing a chudithar, |
| Madurai veedhyil vandhaa | Came walking down the streets of Madurai. |
| Ada manam kudhikkuthu pandhaa | Oh, my heart leaps in celebration! |
| Konjam madakki podanum kandhaa | We need to fold her in a bit, Kandha! |
| Male | |
| Theeyaai irundhenada | I was like wild fire, my friend, |
| Thiriyaai vandhaalada | She came like a wick to channel me. |
| Kalakkum kaataaru naan | I am a wild, churning river, |
| Karaiyae aval thaanada | She is the stabilizing riverbank. |
| Male | |
| Roja kaadu chudithaar pottu | A garden of roses wearing a chudithar, |
| Chorus | |
| Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho | Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho |
| Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho | Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho |
| Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho | Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho |
| Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho | Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………….. | ................... |
| Male | |
| Azhagu pennazhagu | Beauty, female beauty, |
| Aayiramthaan irukkuthadi | There are thousands of forms, girl. |
| Aana en manasu | But my heart, |
| Un madiyil vizhundhathadi | Fell right into your lap. |
| Chorus | |
| Oh bhaiya re | Oh brother! |
| Oh bhaiya re | Oh brother! |
| Oh bhaiya | Oh brother |
| Oh bhaiya | Oh brother |
| Oh bhaiya re | Oh brother! |
| Male | |
| Oh..pidichchadu | Oh, what I liked about you, |
| Munnazhago pinnazhago illayadi | Is neither your front beauty nor back beauty, girl, |
| Athukkum mela oru | Above all of that, |
| Thaayazhagum ullathadi | You possess a motherly beauty. |
| Chorus | |
| Oh bhaiya re | Oh brother! |
| Oh bhaiya re | Oh brother! |
| Oh bhaiya | Oh brother |
| Oh bhaiya | Oh brother |
| Oh bhaiya re | Oh brother! |
| Male | |
| Avala ponnu kettu poda poren thaali | I will ask for her hand and tie the sacred wedding thread, |
| Thiruparan kundrathu koyililae | At the Thiruparankundram temple! |
| Mela maasi veedhi vara | Coming down the Mela Maasi street, |
| Mela chaththam ketkkum | The sound of wedding drums will resound, |
| Moonu mudi podum velaiyilae | When the three sacred knots are tied! |
| Veetukullae paai poduven | I will lay down a mat inside the house, |
| Pillai peththu veliyeruven | Father a child and then step out! |
| Male | |
| Roja kaadu chudithaar pottu | A garden of roses wearing a chudithar, |
| Madurai veedhyil vandhaa | Came walking down the streets of Madurai. |
| Ada manam kudhikkuthu pandhaa | Oh, my heart leaps in celebration! |
| Konjam madakki podanum kandhaa | We need to fold her in a bit, Kandha! |
| Male | |
| Theeyaai irundhenada | I was like wild fire, my friend, |
| Thiriyaai vandhaalada | She came like a wick to channel me. |
| Kalakkum kaataaru naan | I am a wild, churning river, |
| Karaiyae aval thaanada | She is the stabilizing riverbank. |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………….. | ................... |
| Male | |
| Avala manam mudichi | After marrying her, |
| Arasar adiyil kudiyiruppen | I will live right at the feet of the King. |
| Verthaa azhaghar malai | If she breaks a sweat, I'll turn the breeze from Alagar Hills, |
| Kaatha konjam thiruppi veppen | To blow directly towards her! |
| Chorus | |
| Oh bhaiya re | Oh brother! |
| Oh bhaiya re | Oh brother! |
| Oh bhaiya | Oh brother |
| Oh bhaiya | Oh brother |
| Oh bhaiya re | Oh brother! |
| Male | |
| Madurai malligai poo | Madurai jasmine flowers, |
| Vandi katti vaangi varuven | I will bring loaded in a cart for her. |
| Mattinikku titanic english padam | For the matinee show, the English movie Titanic, |
| Paaka veppen | I will take her to watch! |
| Chorus | |
| Oh bhaiya re | Oh brother! |
| Oh bhaiya re | Oh brother! |
| Oh bhaiya | Oh brother |
| Oh bhaiya | Oh brother |
| Oh bhaiya re | Oh brother! |
| Male | |
| Sembuvala viral vittu | Even if a fingernail slips off her copper-ringed fingers, |
| Nagam vizhundhaalum | If a nail falls off, |
| Adha oru muthaa vechiruppen | I will treasure it like a precious pearl! |
| Pattu vanna koondhal vittu | From her silk-like hair, |
| Mudi vizhundhaalum | Even if a single strand falls off, |
| Parambarai sothaaga vechiruppen | I will cherish it as ancestral wealth! |
| Madiyil seeratuven | I will pamper her on my lap, |
| Vidindhum vaalatuven | And wag my tail around her even after dawn! |
| Male | |
| Roja kaadu chudithaar pottu | A garden of roses wearing a chudithar, |
| Madurai veedhyil vandhaa | Came walking down the streets of Madurai. |
| Ada manam kudhikkuthu pandhaa | Oh, my heart leaps in celebration! |
| Konjam madakki podanum kandhaa | We need to fold her in a bit, Kandha! |
| Male | |
| Theeyaai irundhenada | I was like wild fire, my friend, |
| Thiriyaai vandhaalada | She came like a wick to channel me. |
| Kalakkum kaataaru naan | I am a wild, churning river, |
| Karaiyae aval thaanada | She is the stabilizing riverbank. |
| Male | |
| Roja kaadu chudithaar pottu | A garden of roses wearing a chudithar. |
ஹோ பேபி ஹோ பேபி
ஹோ பேபி ஹோ
ஹோ பேபி ஹோ பேபி
ஹோ பேபி ஹோ
Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho
Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho
ரோஜா காடு சுடிதார் போட்டு
மதுரை வீதியில் வந்தா
அட மனம் குதிக்குது பந்தா
கொஞ்சம் மடக்கி போடணும் கந்தா
A garden of roses wearing a chudithar,
Came walking down the streets of Madurai.
Oh, my heart leaps in celebration!
We need to fold her in a bit, Kandha!
தீயாய் இருந்தேனடா
திரியாய் வந்தாளடா
கலக்கும் காட்டாறு நான்
கரையே அவள் தானடா
I was like wild fire, my friend,
She came like a wick to channel me.
I am a wild, churning river,
She is the stabilizing riverbank.
ரோஜா காடு சுடிதார் போட்டு
A garden of roses wearing a chudithar,
{ஹோ பேபி ஹோ பேபி
ஹோ பேபி ஹோ
ஹோ பேபி ஹோ பேபி
ஹோ பேபி ஹோ...}(2)
Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho
Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho
Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho
Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho
................................
...................
அழகு பெண்ணழகு
ஆயிரம் தான் இருக்குதடி
ஆனா என் மனசு
உன் மடியில் விழுந்ததடி
Beauty, female beauty,
There are thousands of forms, girl.
But my heart,
Fell right into your lap.
ஓ பையாரே
ஓ பையாரே
ஓ பையா ஓ பையா
ஓ பையாரே
Oh brother!
Oh brother!
Oh brother
Oh brother
Oh brother!
ஓ.. பிடிச்சது
முன்னழகோ பின்னழகோ இல்லையடி
அதுக்கும் மேல ஒரு
தாயழகும் உள்ளதடி
Oh, what I liked about you,
Is neither your front beauty nor back beauty, girl,
Above all of that,
You possess a motherly beauty.
ஓ பையாரே
ஓ பையாரே
ஓ பையா ஓ பையா
ஓ பையாரே
Oh brother!
Oh brother!
Oh brother
Oh brother
Oh brother!
அவள பொண்ணு கேட்டு
போடப் போறேன் தாலி
திருப்பரங்குன்றத்து கோயிலிலே
மேல மாசி வீதி வர
மேல சத்தம் கேட்கும்
மூணு முடி போடும் வேளையிலே
வீட்டுக்குள்ளே பாய் போடுவேன்
பிள்ளை பெத்து வெளியேறுவேன்
I will ask for her hand and tie the sacred wedding thread,
At the Thiruparankundram temple!
Coming down the Mela Maasi street,
The sound of wedding drums will resound,
When the three sacred knots are tied!
I will lay down a mat inside the house,
Father a child and then step out!
ரோஜா காடு சுடிதார் போட்டு
மதுரை வீதியில் வந்தா
அட மனம் குதிக்குது பந்தா
கொஞ்சம் மடக்கி போடணும் கந்தா
A garden of roses wearing a chudithar,
Came walking down the streets of Madurai.
Oh, my heart leaps in celebration!
We need to fold her in a bit, Kandha!
தீயாய் இருந்தேனடா
திரியாய் வந்தாளடா
கலக்கும் காட்டாறு நான்
கரையே அவள் தானடா
I was like wild fire, my friend,
She came like a wick to channel me.
I am a wild, churning river,
She is the stabilizing riverbank.
..............................................
...................
அவள மனம் முடிச்சி
அரசர் அடியில் குடியிருப்பேன்
வேர்த்தா அழகர் மலை
காத்த கொஞ்சம் திருப்பி வெப்பேன்
After marrying her,
I will live right at the feet of the King.
If she breaks a sweat, I'll turn the breeze from Alagar Hills,
To blow directly towards her!
ஓ பையாரே
ஓ பையாரே
ஓ பையா ஓ பையா
ஓ பையாரே
Oh brother!
Oh brother!
Oh brother
Oh brother
Oh brother!
மதுரை மல்லிகை பூ
வண்டி கட்டி வாங்கி வருவேன்
மேட்டினிக்கு டைடானிக் இங்கிலீஷ் படம்
பாக்க வெப்பேன்
Madurai jasmine flowers,
I will bring loaded in a cart for her.
For the matinee show, the English movie Titanic,
I will take her to watch!
ஓ பையாரே
ஓ பையாரே
ஓ பையா ஓ பையா
ஓ பையாரே
Oh brother!
Oh brother!
Oh brother
Oh brother
Oh brother!
செம்பவள விரல் விட்டு
நகம் விழுந்தாலும்
அத ஒரு முத்தா வெச்சிருப்பேன்
பட்டு வண்ண கூந்தல் விட்டு
முடி விழுந்தாலும்
பரம்பரை சொத்தா வெச்சிருப்பேன்
மடியில் சீராட்டுவேன்
விடிந்தும் வாலாட்டுவேன்
Even if a fingernail slips off her copper-ringed fingers,
If a nail falls off,
I will treasure it like a precious pearl!
From her silk-like hair,
Even if a single strand falls off,
I will cherish it as ancestral wealth!
I will pamper her on my lap,
And wag my tail around her even after dawn!
ரோஜா காடு சுடிதார் போட்டு
மதுரை வீதியில் வந்தா
அட மனம் குதிக்குது பந்தா
கொஞ்சம் மடக்கி போடணும் கந்தா
A garden of roses wearing a chudithar,
Came walking down the streets of Madurai.
Oh, my heart leaps in celebration!
We need to fold her in a bit, Kandha!
தீயாய் இருந்தேனடா
திரியாய் வந்தாளடா
கலக்கும் காட்டாறு நான்
கரையே அவள் தானடா
I was like wild fire, my friend,
She came like a wick to channel me.
I am a wild, churning river,
She is the stabilizing riverbank.
ரோஜா காடு சுடிதார் போட்டு.....
A garden of roses wearing a chudithar.
Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho
Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho
Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho
Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho
Roja kaadu chudithaar pottu
A garden of roses wearing a chudithar,
Madurai veedhyil vandhaa
Came walking down the streets of Madurai.
Ada manam kudhikkuthu pandhaa
Oh, my heart leaps in celebration!
Konjam madakki podanum kandhaa
We need to fold her in a bit, Kandha!
Theeyaai irundhenada
I was like wild fire, my friend,
Thiriyaai vandhaalada
She came like a wick to channel me.
Kalakkum kaataaru naan
I am a wild, churning river,
Karaiyae aval thaanada
She is the stabilizing riverbank.
Roja kaadu chudithaar pottu
A garden of roses wearing a chudithar,
Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho
Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho
Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho
Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho
Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho
Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho
Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho
Ho baby ho baby ho baby ho
………………………..
...................
Azhagu pennazhagu
Beauty, female beauty,
Aayiramthaan irukkuthadi
There are thousands of forms, girl.
Aana en manasu
But my heart,
Un madiyil vizhundhathadi
Fell right into your lap.
Oh bhaiya re
Oh brother!
Oh bhaiya re
Oh brother!
Oh bhaiya
Oh brother
Oh bhaiya
Oh brother
Oh bhaiya re
Oh brother!
Oh..pidichchadu
Oh, what I liked about you,
Munnazhago pinnazhago illayadi
Is neither your front beauty nor back beauty, girl,
Athukkum mela oru
Above all of that,
Thaayazhagum ullathadi
You possess a motherly beauty.
Oh bhaiya re
Oh brother!
Oh bhaiya re
Oh brother!
Oh bhaiya
Oh brother
Oh bhaiya
Oh brother
Oh bhaiya re
Oh brother!
Avala ponnu kettu poda poren thaali
I will ask for her hand and tie the sacred wedding thread,
Thiruparan kundrathu koyililae
At the Thiruparankundram temple!
Mela maasi veedhi vara
Coming down the Mela Maasi street,
Mela chaththam ketkkum
The sound of wedding drums will resound,
Moonu mudi podum velaiyilae
When the three sacred knots are tied!
Veetukullae paai poduven
I will lay down a mat inside the house,
Pillai peththu veliyeruven
Father a child and then step out!
Roja kaadu chudithaar pottu
A garden of roses wearing a chudithar,
Madurai veedhyil vandhaa
Came walking down the streets of Madurai.
Ada manam kudhikkuthu pandhaa
Oh, my heart leaps in celebration!
Konjam madakki podanum kandhaa
We need to fold her in a bit, Kandha!
Theeyaai irundhenada
I was like wild fire, my friend,
Thiriyaai vandhaalada
She came like a wick to channel me.
Kalakkum kaataaru naan
I am a wild, churning river,
Karaiyae aval thaanada
She is the stabilizing riverbank.
………………………..
...................
Avala manam mudichi
After marrying her,
Arasar adiyil kudiyiruppen
I will live right at the feet of the King.
Verthaa azhaghar malai
If she breaks a sweat, I'll turn the breeze from Alagar Hills,
Kaatha konjam thiruppi veppen
To blow directly towards her!
Oh bhaiya re
Oh brother!
Oh bhaiya re
Oh brother!
Oh bhaiya
Oh brother
Oh bhaiya
Oh brother
Oh bhaiya re
Oh brother!
Madurai malligai poo
Madurai jasmine flowers,
Vandi katti vaangi varuven
I will bring loaded in a cart for her.
Mattinikku titanic english padam
For the matinee show, the English movie Titanic,
Paaka veppen
I will take her to watch!
Oh bhaiya re
Oh brother!
Oh bhaiya re
Oh brother!
Oh bhaiya
Oh brother
Oh bhaiya
Oh brother
Oh bhaiya re
Oh brother!
Sembuvala viral vittu
Even if a fingernail slips off her copper-ringed fingers,
Nagam vizhundhaalum
If a nail falls off,
Adha oru muthaa vechiruppen
I will treasure it like a precious pearl!
Pattu vanna koondhal vittu
From her silk-like hair,
Mudi vizhundhaalum
Even if a single strand falls off,
Parambarai sothaaga vechiruppen
I will cherish it as ancestral wealth!
Madiyil seeratuven
I will pamper her on my lap,
Vidindhum vaalatuven
And wag my tail around her even after dawn!
Roja kaadu chudithaar pottu
A garden of roses wearing a chudithar,
Madurai veedhyil vandhaa
Came walking down the streets of Madurai.
Ada manam kudhikkuthu pandhaa
Oh, my heart leaps in celebration!
Konjam madakki podanum kandhaa
We need to fold her in a bit, Kandha!
Theeyaai irundhenada
I was like wild fire, my friend,
Thiriyaai vandhaalada
She came like a wick to channel me.
Kalakkum kaataaru naan
I am a wild, churning river,
Karaiyae aval thaanada
She is the stabilizing riverbank.
Roja kaadu chudithaar pottu
A garden of roses wearing a chudithar.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Roja Kaadu' from the movie Red (2002) is an energetic Madurai-based romantic track expressing a protagonist's deep affection and reverence for his lover. He metaphorically describes her as a walking garden of roses who brings stability to his chaotic life—comparing himself to a wild fire given direction by a wick and a raging river held together by a bank.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kalakkum kaataaru naan / Karaiyae aval thaanada”
The protagonist compares himself to a wild, uncontained river ('kaataaru') and his lover to the riverbank ('karai') that gives him boundary and structure.
Metaphor & Contrast
“Theeyaai irundhenada / Thiriyaai vandhaalada”
He compares his destructive wild nature to uncontrolled fire ('theeyai') and her entry into his life as a wick ('thiri') that transforms fire into useful light.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)
“Pattu vanna koondhal vittu / Mudi vizhundhaalum / Parambarai sothaaga vechiruppen”
An intentional exaggeration stating that even a single strand of her fallen hair will be preserved like cherished ancestral property.
Rhyme & Assonance (Edhugai / Monai)
“Ada manam kudhikkuthu pandhaa / Konjam madakki podanum kandhaa”
Traditional Tamil poetic meter features second-letter rhyming (Edhugai) seen in words like 'Manam' / 'Konjam' / 'Kandha'.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Red' (2002) starred Ajith Kumar in a intense hero persona set against the backdrop of Madurai. The song 'Roja Kaadu' was composed by Deva, with vocals by Hariharan and Anuradha Sriram, and lyrics by Vairamuthu. The lyrics ingeniously weave local Madurai geography (Thiruparankundram, Mela Maasi Street, Alagar Hills) together with contemporary pop-culture references like the movie Titanic.
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