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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Roja Mottu

From Vazhaiyadi Vazhai · 1972

Lyricist
Udumalai Narayanakavi
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
Kunnakudi Vaithiyanathan
Movie name
Vazhaiyadi Vazhai
Movie release year
1972
Lyrics added on
4 Oct 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Roja mottum malarnthathaa
Malarntha poovum sivanthathaa
Roja mottum malarnthathaa
Malarntha poovum sivanthathaa
Roopa sundharam pudhiya maattram
Sobhithamaai adainthathaa
Roopa sundharam pudhiya maattram
Sobhithamaai adainthathaa
Roja mottum malarnthathaa
Malarntha poovum sivanthathaa
Roja mottum malarnthathaa
Malarntha poovum sivanthathaa
Roja mottum malarnthathaa
Malarntha poovum sivanthathaa
Poovumaagi pinjumaagi
Kaayumaagi valarnthathaa
Chorus :Lala lallaa laalaa lalalaa
Lala lallaa laalaa lalalaa
Poovumaagi pinjumaagi
Kaayumaagi valarnthathaa
Pulippu maari inippumaagi
Kaniyumaagi piranthathaa
Pulippu maari inippumaagi
Kaniyumaagi piranthathaa
Roja mottum malarnthathaa
Malarntha poovum sivanthathaa
Roja mottum malarnthathaa
Malarntha poovum sivanthathaa
Roja mottum malarnthathaa
Malarntha poovum sivanthathaa
Ambujamae sengamalam
Pangajamae senbagamae
Adi ambujamae sengamalam
Pangajamae senbagamae
Roja mottum malarnthathaa
Malarntha poovum sivanthathaa
Roja mottum malarnthathaa
Malarntha poovum sivanthathaa
Roja mottum malarnthathaa
Malarntha poovum sivanthathaa
Paadaathiruntha kuyilu kunjum
Paranthu paada munainthathaa
Adhu Paruva kaala kolaarunnu
Paarkka paarkka therinjathaa
Adhu Paruva kaala kolaarunnu
Paarkka paarkka therinjathaa
Roja mottum malarnthathaa
Malarntha poovum sivanthathaa
Roopa sundharam pudhiya maattram
Sobhithamaai adainthathaa
Roopa sundharam pudhiya maattram
Sobhithamaai adainthathaa
Roja mottum malarnthathaa
Malarntha poovum sivanthathaa
Roja mottum malarnthathaa
Malarntha poovum sivanthathaa
Roja mottum malarnthathaa
Malarntha poovum sivanthathaa
Has the rosebud blossomed?
And did the blossomed flower turn red?
Has the rosebud blossomed?
And did the blossomed flower turn red?
Has her charming beauty
taken on a radiant new glow?
Has her charming beauty
taken on a radiant new glow?
Has the rosebud blossomed?
And did the blossomed flower turn red?
Has the rosebud blossomed?
And did the blossomed flower turn red?
Has the rosebud blossomed?
And did the blossomed flower turn red?
Becoming a flower, then a tender sprout,
did it grow into an unripe fruit?
Chorus: Laala lalla laala lalaala
Laala lalla laala lalaala
Becoming a flower, then a tender sprout,
did it grow into an unripe fruit?
Losing its sourness to turn sweet,
did it ripen into a sweet fruit?
Losing its sourness to turn sweet,
did it ripen into a sweet fruit?
Has the rosebud blossomed?
And did the blossomed flower turn red?
Has the rosebud blossomed?
And did the blossomed flower turn red?
Has the rosebud blossomed?
And did the blossomed flower turn red?
Oh lotus, oh red lotus!
Oh blooming lotus, oh fragrant champak flower!
Hey girl, oh lotus, oh red lotus!
Oh blooming lotus, oh fragrant champak flower!
Has the rosebud blossomed?
And did the blossomed flower turn red?
Has the rosebud blossomed?
And did the blossomed flower turn red?
Has the rosebud blossomed?
And did the blossomed flower turn red?
Did the little cuckoo that never sang
finally take wing and attempt a song?
Is it just the restless fever of youth,
did you realize as you watched?
Is it just the restless fever of youth,
did you realize as you watched?
Has the rosebud blossomed?
And did the blossomed flower turn red?
Has her charming beauty
taken on a radiant new glow?
Has her charming beauty
taken on a radiant new glow?
Has the rosebud blossomed?
And did the blossomed flower turn red?
Has the rosebud blossomed?
And did the blossomed flower turn red?
Has the rosebud blossomed?
And did the blossomed flower turn red?
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Roja Mottum Malarnthathaa' uses evocative botanical and natural metaphors to describe a young woman coming of age and experiencing the awakening of love. The lyricist compares her physical and emotional development to a rose bud blossoming, an unripe fruit turning sweet, and a young cuckoo chick finding its voice. Through these natural transitions, the song celebrates the radiant beauty and changes brought about by youth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaai)

Roja mottum malarnthathaa / Malarntha poovum sivanthathaa

Compares a young woman's natural maturity and blossoming beauty to a rose opening and a fruit turning from sour to sweet.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Poovumaagi pinjumaagi / Kaayumaagi valarnthathaa

Repeated suffix ending -maagi across successive descriptive terms creates musical rhythm.

Personification / Imagery

Paadaathiruntha kuyilu kunjum / Paranthu paada munainthathaa

Attributes human behaviors of singing and blossoming transformations to nature to represent romantic maturation.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track from the 1972 movie 'Vazhaiyadi Vazhai' features music composed by Kunnakudi Vaithiyanathan and lyrics by the acclaimed reformist poet Udumalai Narayanakavi, rendered by playback singer L. R. Eswari.

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