Roja Poo Aadivandhathu
From Agni Natchathiram · 1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Chan chancha chachan | (Rhythmic vocal scatting) |
| Chan chancha chachan | (Rhythmic vocal scatting) |
| Chan chancha chachan | (Rhythmic vocal scatting) |
| Chan chachancha chachancha.. | (Rhythmic vocal scatting) |
| Female | |
| Roja poo aadivandhathu… | A rose came dancing and swaying... |
| Raajavai thedi vandhathu.. | It came searching for its king... |
| Poovai konjam nee soodu | Adorn yourself with this flower a little, |
| Poovin thenil neeraadu | Bathe in the nectar of this flower. |
| Pesi pesi theeraathu aasai endrum aaraathu | Desire never ends with mere talks, nor does it ever cool down. |
| Love love enbatha sol sol manmatha | Will you say 'love, love', oh Manmatha (God of Love)? |
| Sonnaal pothuma thaagam theerumaa… | Is merely saying it enough? Will it quench the thirst? |
| Female | |
| Roja poo aadivandhathu… | A rose came dancing and swaying... |
| Raajavai thedi vandhathu.. | It came searching for its king... |
| Chorus | |
| Roo roo roo…rooo rooo | (Vocalizing beats) |
| Chan chancha chachan | (Rhythmic vocal scatting) |
| Chan chachancha chachancha.. | (Rhythmic vocal scatting) |
| Female | |
| Netru neer vittathu indru ver vittathu | Yesterday it was watered, today it has taken deep root, |
| Nenjil ammadiyo nooru poo poothathu | Oh my, a hundred flowers have bloomed in the heart! |
| Chinna chiru paruvam innum kothipatho | Is tender youth still boiling with passionate desire? |
| Solli solli pozhuthai innum kazhipatho | Should we keep spending time just talking and talking? |
| Thodu thodu thodaamal… | Touch, touch, yet without touching... |
| Nilavin meni naalellaam. thedudhae… | The body of the moon searches all day long... |
| Female | |
| Roja poo aadivandhathu… | A rose came dancing and swaying... |
| Raajavai thedi vandhathu.. | It came searching for its king... |
| Chorus | |
| Chan chancha chachan | (Rhythmic vocal scatting) |
| Chan chachancha chachancha.. | (Rhythmic vocal scatting) |
| Female | |
| Neeyum acham vidu nooru mutham idu | Cast away your hesitation and give a hundred kisses, |
| Meetham micham edu melum solli kodu | Take whatever remains and teach me even more. |
| Anthi pagal iravu sinthai thudikuthu | Dusk, day, and night, the mind throbs with longing, |
| Andhapura ninaivil sindhu padikkuthu | It sings a musical melody in the thoughts of a royal palace. |
| Idho idho unnaalae…. | Look here, right now, because of you... |
| Vidaamal mogam vaatuthu..thaangumaa… | Relentless passion torments me... can I bear it? |
| Female | |
| Roja poo aadivandhathu… | A rose came dancing and swaying... |
| Raajavai thedi vandhathu.. | It came searching for its king... |
| Poovai konjam nee soodu | Adorn yourself with this flower a little, |
| Poovin thenil neeraadu | Bathe in the nectar of this flower. |
| Pesi pesi theeraathu aasai endrum aaraathu | Desire never ends with mere talks, nor does it ever cool down. |
| Love love enbatha sol sol manmatha | Will you say 'love, love', oh Manmatha? |
| Sonnaal pothuma thaagam theerumaa… | Is merely saying it enough? Will it quench the thirst? |
| Female | |
| Roja poo aadivandhathu… | A rose came dancing and swaying... |
| Raajavai thedi vandhathu.. | It came searching for its king... |
....................................
(Rhythmic vocal scatting)
(Rhythmic vocal scatting)
(Rhythmic vocal scatting)
(Rhythmic vocal scatting)
ரோஜாப்பூ ஆடிவந்தது
ராஜாவை தேடி வந்தது பூவை
கொஞ்சம் நீ சூடு பூவின் தேனில்
நீராடு பேசி பேசி தீராது ஆசை
என்றும் ஆறாது லவ் லவ் என்பதா
சொல் சொல் மன்மதா சொன்னால்
போதுமா தாகம் தீருமா
A rose came dancing and swaying...
It came searching for its king...
Adorn yourself with this flower a little,
Bathe in the nectar of this flower.
Desire never ends with mere talks, nor does it ever cool down.
Will you say 'love, love', oh Manmatha (God of Love)?
Is merely saying it enough? Will it quench the thirst?
ரோஜாப்பூ ஆடிவந்தது
ராஜாவை தேடி வந்தது
A rose came dancing and swaying...
It came searching for its king...
....................................
(Vocalizing beats)
(Rhythmic vocal scatting)
(Rhythmic vocal scatting)
நேற்று நீர் விட்டது
இன்று வேர் விட்டது நெஞ்சில்
அம்மாடியோ நூறு பூ பூத்தது
சின்னஞ்சிறு பருவம் இன்னும்
கொதிப்பதோ சொல்லி சொல்லி
பொழுதை இன்னும் கழிப்பதோ
தொடு தொடு தொடாமல்
நிலாவின் மேனி நாளெல்லாம்
தேடுதே
Yesterday it was watered, today it has taken deep root,
Oh my, a hundred flowers have bloomed in the heart!
Is tender youth still boiling with passionate desire?
Should we keep spending time just talking and talking?
Touch, touch, yet without touching...
The body of the moon searches all day long...
ரோஜாப்பூ ஆடிவந்தது
ராஜாவை தேடி வந்தது
A rose came dancing and swaying...
It came searching for its king...
....................................
(Rhythmic vocal scatting)
(Rhythmic vocal scatting)
நீயும் அச்சம் விடு
நூறு முத்தம் இடு மீதம்
மிச்சம் எடு மேலும்
சொல்லிக்கொடு அந்தி
பகல் இரவு சிந்தை துடிக்குது
அந்தப்புர நினைவில் சிந்து
படிக்குது இதோ இதோ உன்னாலே
விடாமல் மோகம் வாட்டுது
தாங்குமா
Cast away your hesitation and give a hundred kisses,
Take whatever remains and teach me even more.
Dusk, day, and night, the mind throbs with longing,
It sings a musical melody in the thoughts of a royal palace.
Look here, right now, because of you...
Relentless passion torments me... can I bear it?
ரோஜாப்பூ ஆடிவந்தது
ராஜாவை தேடி வந்தது பூவை
கொஞ்சம் நீ சூடு பூவின் தேனில்
நீராடு பேசி பேசி தீராது ஆசை
என்றும் ஆறாது லவ் லவ் என்பதா
சொல் சொல் மன்மதா சொன்னால்
போதுமா தாகம் தீருமா
A rose came dancing and swaying...
It came searching for its king...
Adorn yourself with this flower a little,
Bathe in the nectar of this flower.
Desire never ends with mere talks, nor does it ever cool down.
Will you say 'love, love', oh Manmatha?
Is merely saying it enough? Will it quench the thirst?
ரோஜாப்பூ ஆடிவந்தது
ராஜாவை தேடி வந்தது
A rose came dancing and swaying...
It came searching for its king...
Chan chancha chachan
(Rhythmic vocal scatting)
Chan chancha chachan
(Rhythmic vocal scatting)
Chan chancha chachan
(Rhythmic vocal scatting)
Chan chachancha chachancha..
(Rhythmic vocal scatting)
Roja poo aadivandhathu…
A rose came dancing and swaying...
Raajavai thedi vandhathu..
It came searching for its king...
Poovai konjam nee soodu
Adorn yourself with this flower a little,
Poovin thenil neeraadu
Bathe in the nectar of this flower.
Pesi pesi theeraathu aasai endrum aaraathu
Desire never ends with mere talks, nor does it ever cool down.
Love love enbatha sol sol manmatha
Will you say 'love, love', oh Manmatha (God of Love)?
Sonnaal pothuma thaagam theerumaa…
Is merely saying it enough? Will it quench the thirst?
Roja poo aadivandhathu…
A rose came dancing and swaying...
Raajavai thedi vandhathu..
It came searching for its king...
Roo roo roo…rooo rooo
(Vocalizing beats)
Chan chancha chachan
(Rhythmic vocal scatting)
Chan chachancha chachancha..
(Rhythmic vocal scatting)
Netru neer vittathu indru ver vittathu
Yesterday it was watered, today it has taken deep root,
Nenjil ammadiyo nooru poo poothathu
Oh my, a hundred flowers have bloomed in the heart!
Chinna chiru paruvam innum kothipatho
Is tender youth still boiling with passionate desire?
Solli solli pozhuthai innum kazhipatho
Should we keep spending time just talking and talking?
Thodu thodu thodaamal…
Touch, touch, yet without touching...
Nilavin meni naalellaam. thedudhae…
The body of the moon searches all day long...
Roja poo aadivandhathu…
A rose came dancing and swaying...
Raajavai thedi vandhathu..
It came searching for its king...
Chan chancha chachan
(Rhythmic vocal scatting)
Chan chachancha chachancha..
(Rhythmic vocal scatting)
Neeyum acham vidu nooru mutham idu
Cast away your hesitation and give a hundred kisses,
Meetham micham edu melum solli kodu
Take whatever remains and teach me even more.
Anthi pagal iravu sinthai thudikuthu
Dusk, day, and night, the mind throbs with longing,
Andhapura ninaivil sindhu padikkuthu
It sings a musical melody in the thoughts of a royal palace.
Idho idho unnaalae….
Look here, right now, because of you...
Vidaamal mogam vaatuthu..thaangumaa…
Relentless passion torments me... can I bear it?
Roja poo aadivandhathu…
A rose came dancing and swaying...
Raajavai thedi vandhathu..
It came searching for its king...
Poovai konjam nee soodu
Adorn yourself with this flower a little,
Poovin thenil neeraadu
Bathe in the nectar of this flower.
Pesi pesi theeraathu aasai endrum aaraathu
Desire never ends with mere talks, nor does it ever cool down.
Love love enbatha sol sol manmatha
Will you say 'love, love', oh Manmatha?
Sonnaal pothuma thaagam theerumaa…
Is merely saying it enough? Will it quench the thirst?
Roja poo aadivandhathu…
A rose came dancing and swaying...
Raajavai thedi vandhathu..
It came searching for its king...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Roja Poo Adivandhathu from Mani Ratnam's 1988 film Agni Natchathiram is a sensual and evocative romantic song. The protagonist metaphorically envisions herself as a rose blooming and swaying as she arrives in search of her beloved king. The lyrics express deep intimacy, urge her partner to abandon hesitation, and urge him to fulfill their romantic desires rather than letting time pass in simple conversation.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Roja poo aadivandhathu… Raajavai thedi vandhathu..”
Comparing the heroine to a blooming 'Roja poo' (rose) seeking her 'Raaja' (king/lover).
Repetition / Reduplication (Adukkuthodar)
“Pesi pesi theeraathu aasai endrum aaraathu”
Repetition of words like 'Pesi pesi', 'Solli solli', and 'Thodu thodu' to intensify emotion and continuity.
Allusion
“Love love enbatha sol sol manmatha”
Direct reference to 'Manmatha', the Hindu deity of romantic love and passion.
Rhyme (Edugai)
“Netru neer vittathu indru ver vittathu / Nenjil ammadiyo nooru poo poothathu”
Second letter matching across adjacent lines ('Netru' / 'Nenjil').
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vaali and sung by S. Janaki, 'Agni Natchathiram' is celebrated for its sleek modern soundscape and groundbreaking cinematography by P. C. Sreeram.
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