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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Roobanottil

From Anbe Anbe · 2003

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Kay Kay, Anuradha Sriram
Music director
Bharathwaj
Movie name
Anbe Anbe
Movie release year
2003
Lyrics added on
15 Mar 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hey… ey…heyyyyy
Mayilae… kuyilae…
Chorus :………………………..
…………………………..
Rooba nottil selai katti
Sillara pol sirikkum pullae
Hey rooba nottil selai katti
Sillara pol sirikkum pullae
Sela panaththa selavu seiya
Seekkiramaaga vaadi ulla
Oorusanamum thoongavilla
Paththu manikku mela vaaren
Saeva kozhi koovum podhu
Sela thaedi alaiyaporen
Udhattu chaayam
Ippo velukka poren
Female :Pudavai pola
Unna chumakka poren
Oru vaththi
Pettikulla vaazhum
Thithikkindra theeppandham
Naamdhaanae
Aakkaporutha maamanukku
Aara porukka theriyaadhaiyaa
Alli thinga avasarapatta
Arugil vandhu anaichchukkoyaa
Sai saiyaa
Kokka polae kokka polae
Kaathirukkum machaanae
Meena pola naan vandhu
Kokka koththi povenae
Pachai kiliyaai pachai kiliyaai
Parandhu naanum thirinchenae
Unnai vandhu paarthadhumae
Josiya kiliyaai thavichenae
Paadhi raathiriyil
Endhan padukkayil nuzhainchavanae
Male :Oh rendu idhazhkalinaal
Ennai oodhi anaichavalae
Ada saathi vachcha
Pootta ippo saavi pottu
Thurakkapora
Koottaanchoru samachi ippo
Saapidalaama…..aaa…
Hey rooba nottil selai katti
Sillara pol sirikkum pullae
Sela panaththa selavu seiya
Seekkiramaaga vaadi ulla
Oorusanamum thoongavilla
Paththu manikku mela vaaren
Saeva kozhi koovum podhu
Sela thaedi alaiyaporen ..aaan
Sai saiyaa
Aathangaraiyil aathangaraiyil
Kaaththu irukkum kaadhaliyae
Alaiya pola naan vandhu
Kolusa thirudi povenae
Paaya virichu paaya virichu
Padukka pogum maamanae
Kangalmoodi thooginaal
Kanavu thirudi povenae
Kaiyaal nee thottaal
Endhan kangal paththikkudhae
Female :Hoo vilakku anaichadhumae
Undhan vaervai thithikkuthae
Indha hongi nirkkum
Moongil marathai ottai pottu
Oodhum kuyilae
Kaanum indha ettu thisaiyilum
Kaadhal oasai..
Hey rooba nottil selai katti
Sillara pol sirikkum pullae
Sela panaththa selavu seiya
Seekkiramaaga vaadi ulla
Oorusanamum thoongavilla
Paththu manikku mela vaaren
Saeva kozhi koovum podhu
Sela thaedi alaiyaporen
Udhattu chaayam
Ippo velukka poren
Female :Haahhaan
Pudavai pola
Unna chumakka poren
Oru vaththi
Pettikulla vaazhum
Thithikkindra theeppandham
Naamdhaanae
Aakkaporutha maamanukku
Aara porukka theriyaadhaiyaa
Alli thinga avasarapatta
Arugil vandhu anaichchukkoyaa
Hey... yeah... heh-heh-heh-heh
My peacock... my cuckoo...
(Chorus vocalising)
(Music continues)
Dressed in a sari of currency notes,
girl whose laugh chimes like loose coins!
Hey, dressed in a sari of currency notes,
girl whose laugh chimes like loose coins!
To spend this sari-money,
come inside quickly, girl!
The town folk haven't slept yet,
I'll come after ten o'clock!
When the rooster crows at dawn,
I'll be searching all around for my sari!
The lipstick on your lips,
I'm going to wipe away now!
Like a sari,
I'm going to wrap you around me!
Inside a single
matchbox,
sweet flaming torches
we are together, aren't we?
You waited for the food to cook, my man,
don't you have the patience to let it cool?
If you're in such a hurry to scoop and eat,
come close and hold me tight!
Saai saayaa
Like a crane, like a crane,
my dear man waiting patiently,
I will come like a fish
and peck the crane away!
Like a green parrot, like a green parrot,
I flew around freely!
The moment I saw you,
I was trapped like a fortune-teller's parrot!
In the dead of night,
you are the one who sneaked into my bed!
Oh, with just two lips,
you are the one who blew out my flame!
Look, that locked-up
padlock, with a key now,
you are going to open!
Having cooked a feast together,
shall we eat it now...?
Hey, dressed in a sari of currency notes,
girl whose laugh chimes like loose coins!
To spend this sari-money,
come inside quickly, girl!
The town folk haven't slept yet,
I'll come after ten o'clock!
When the rooster crows at dawn,
I'll be searching all around for my sari... yeah!
Saai saayaa
By the riverbank, by the riverbank,
my sweetheart waiting there,
I will come like a wave
and steal away your anklet!
Spreading the mat, spreading the mat,
my man getting ready to sleep,
if you close your eyes and sleep,
I will steal your dreams away!
When you touch me with your hand,
my eyes catch fire!
Once the lamp is turned off,
your sweat tastes sweet!
Making holes in this tall
bamboo shoot and playing it like a flute,
o singing cuckoo!
In all eight directions you see,
the sound of love rings out...
Hey, dressed in a sari of currency notes,
girl whose laugh chimes like loose coins!
To spend this sari-money,
come inside quickly, girl!
The town folk haven't slept yet,
I'll come after ten o'clock!
When the rooster crows at dawn,
I'll be searching all around for my sari!
The lipstick on your lips,
I'm going to wipe away now!
Ha-haan!
Like a sari,
I'm going to wrap you around me!
Inside a single
matchbox,
sweet flaming torches
we are together, aren't we?
You waited for the food to cook, my man,
don't you have the patience to let it cool?
If you're in such a hurry to scoop and eat,
come close and hold me tight!
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Chorus
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Rooba Nottil' is a vibrant folk-pop duet from the movie Anbe Anbe (2003). The male protagonist affectionately teases his beloved, comparing her laughter to the sound of jingling coins and her saree to valuable bank notes, while coaxing her to join him in intimate solitude after nightfall. The female protagonist responds with equal fervor and wit, teasing his impatience using traditional Tamil proverbs and metaphors about cooking and waiting. Throughout the track, veteran lyricist Vaali uses rich rural imagery—comparing the couple to cranes and fish, parrots, river waves, and matchsticks in a box. The song encapsulates playful romantic banter, mutual attraction, and the anticipation of intimacy in a lighthearted, earthy folk style.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

Sillara pol sirikkum pullae

Compares the heroine's crisp, light-hearted laughter to the jingle of loose change/coins.

Metaphor & Imagery

Thithikkindra theeppandham

Uses the metaphor of a matchstick inside a box catching fire to describe latent passion and desire.

Role Reversal Simile

Meena pola naan vandhu Kokka koththi povenae

Playfully subverts nature imagery where the heroine acts as the fish pecking at the waiting crane.

Ethirai (Rhyme) & Folk Idiom

Aakkaporutha maamanukku Aara porukka theriyaadhaiyaa

Employs traditional Tamil culinary idioms ('Aakkaporutha... Aara porukka...') to poetically describe impatience in love.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Rooba Nottil' was composed by D. Imman for the 2003 romantic film 'Anbe Anbe', starring Shaam and Sharmilee. The lyrics were penned by legendary lyricist Vaali, who was renowned for effortlessly mixing traditional rural metaphors with modern catchy colloquialisms.

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