Rosa Malare
From Rajangam · 1981
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- P. Jayachandran
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Rajangam1981
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Rosa malarae azhuvakkoodathu | Rose flower, you shouldn't cry |
| Kanneeru veenaaguthae | Your tears are going to waste |
| Muzhukaatha magaraasi azhuthaalae paavam | If a pregnant blessed woman cries, it is a sin |
| Periyavanga solvaangalae | That is what the elders say |
| Male | |
| Rosa malarae azhuvakkoodathu | Rose flower, you shouldn't cry |
| Kanneeru veenaaguthae | Your tears are going to waste |
| Muzhukaatha magaraasi azhuthaalae paavam | If a pregnant blessed woman cries, it is a sin |
| Periyavanga solvaangalae | That is what the elders say |
| Male | |
| {Thaali onnu illaama | {Without a sacred thread, |
| Thooli vara poguthunnu | Thinking that a cradle is about to come, |
| Suththamulla panneeru | Tears like pure rosewater |
| Kottuthammaa kanneeru} (2) | Are pouring out, dear} (2) |
| Male | |
| Paththu maatha poo varattum | Let the ten-month flower come |
| Kannukkulla naan sumappen | I will carry it like the apple of my eye |
| Thottilittaa noguminnu | Lest it hurts if placed in a cradle, |
| Tholgalilae naan sumappaen | I will carry it on my shoulders |
| Sutta kanneer thaan thudaikka | To wipe away those burning tears, |
| Suttu viral naanirukkaen | I am here as your index finger |
| Sutta kanneer thaan thudaikka | To wipe away those burning tears, |
| Suttu viral naanirukkaen | I am here as your index finger |
| Male | |
| Rosa malarae azhuvakkoodathu | Rose flower, you shouldn't cry |
| Kanneeru veenaaguthae | Your tears are going to waste |
| Muzhukaatha magaraasi azhuthaalae paavam | If a pregnant blessed woman cries, it is a sin |
| Periyavanga solvaangalae | That is what the elders say |
| Male | |
| {Poovukkulla poovirukku | {Inside the flower, there is a flower, |
| Poovai sutri mullirukku | Around the flower, there are thorns; |
| Mul kizhikkum munnaalae | Before the thorn scratches it, |
| Moodi vaikka aalirukku} (2) | There is someone to cover and protect it} (2) |
| Male | |
| Chinna ponnu kuththamilla | The young girl is blameless, |
| Mannikkira nenjumilla | Yet there is no forgiving heart here; |
| Karpukkithu suththamilla | This does not fit their definition of chastity, |
| Suttramingae suththamilla | The relatives here are not pure either. |
| Nandhavanam thee pudichchaa | If the flower garden catches fire, |
| Naanuranga povathilla… | I will not go to sleep... |
| Nandhavanam thee pudichchaa | If the flower garden catches fire, |
| Naanuranga povathilla… | I will not go to sleep... |
| Male | |
| Rosa malarae azhuvakkoodathu | Rose flower, you shouldn't cry |
| Kanneeru veenaaguthae | Your tears are going to waste |
| Muzhukaatha magaraasi azhuthaalae paavam | If a pregnant blessed woman cries, it is a sin |
| Periyavanga solvaangalae | That is what the elders say |
| Periyavanga solvaangalae | That is what the elders say |
ரோசா மலரே அழுவக்கூடாது
கண்ணீரு வீணாகுதே
முழுகாத மகராசி அழுதாலே பாவம்
பெரியவங்க சொல்வாங்களே
Rose flower, you shouldn't cry
Your tears are going to waste
If a pregnant blessed woman cries, it is a sin
That is what the elders say
ரோசா மலரே அழுவக்கூடாது
கண்ணீரு வீணாகுதே
முழுகாத மகராசி அழுதாலே பாவம்
பெரியவங்க சொல்வாங்களே
Rose flower, you shouldn't cry
Your tears are going to waste
If a pregnant blessed woman cries, it is a sin
That is what the elders say
{தாலி ஒன்னு இல்லாம
தூளி வரப்போகுதுன்னு
சுத்தமுள்ள பன்னீரு
கொட்டுதம்மா கண்ணீரு} (2)
{Without a sacred thread,
Thinking that a cradle is about to come,
Tears like pure rosewater
Are pouring out, dear} (2)
பத்து மாத பூ வரட்டும்
கண்ணுக்குள்ள நான் சுமப்பேன்
தொட்டிலிட்டா நோகுமின்னு
தோள்களிலே நான் சுமப்பேன்
சுட்ட கண்ணீர் தான் துடைக்க
சுட்டு விரல் நானிருக்கேன்
சுட்ட கண்ணீர் தான் துடைக்க
சுட்டு விரல் நானிருக்கேன்
Let the ten-month flower come
I will carry it like the apple of my eye
Lest it hurts if placed in a cradle,
I will carry it on my shoulders
To wipe away those burning tears,
I am here as your index finger
To wipe away those burning tears,
I am here as your index finger
ரோசா மலரே அழுவக்கூடாது
கண்ணீரு வீணாகுதே
முழுகாத மகராசி அழுதாலே பாவம்
பெரியவங்க சொல்வாங்களே
Rose flower, you shouldn't cry
Your tears are going to waste
If a pregnant blessed woman cries, it is a sin
That is what the elders say
{பூவுக்குள்ள பூவிருக்கு
பூவை சுற்றி முள்ளிருக்கு
முள் கிழிக்கும் முன்னாலே
மூடி வைக்க ஆளிருக்கு} (2)
{Inside the flower, there is a flower,
Around the flower, there are thorns;
Before the thorn scratches it,
There is someone to cover and protect it} (2)
சின்னப் பொண்ணு குத்தமில்ல
மன்னிக்கிற நெஞ்சுமில்ல
கற்புக்கிது நட்டமில்ல
சுற்றமிங்கே சுத்தமில்ல
நந்தவனம் தீ புடிச்சா
நானுறங்க போவதில்ல.....
நந்தவனம் தீ புடிச்சா
நானுறங்க போவதில்ல.....
The young girl is blameless,
Yet there is no forgiving heart here;
This does not fit their definition of chastity,
The relatives here are not pure either.
If the flower garden catches fire,
I will not go to sleep...
If the flower garden catches fire,
I will not go to sleep...
ரோசா மலரே அழுவக்கூடாது
கண்ணீரு வீணாகுதே
முழுகாத மகராசி அழுதாலே பாவம்
பெரியவங்க சொல்வாங்களே.....
பெரியவங்க சொல்வாங்களே.....
Rose flower, you shouldn't cry
Your tears are going to waste
If a pregnant blessed woman cries, it is a sin
That is what the elders say
That is what the elders say
Rosa malarae azhuvakkoodathu
Rose flower, you shouldn't cry
Kanneeru veenaaguthae
Your tears are going to waste
Muzhukaatha magaraasi azhuthaalae paavam
If a pregnant blessed woman cries, it is a sin
Periyavanga solvaangalae
That is what the elders say
Rosa malarae azhuvakkoodathu
Rose flower, you shouldn't cry
Kanneeru veenaaguthae
Your tears are going to waste
Muzhukaatha magaraasi azhuthaalae paavam
If a pregnant blessed woman cries, it is a sin
Periyavanga solvaangalae
That is what the elders say
{Thaali onnu illaama
{Without a sacred thread,
Thooli vara poguthunnu
Thinking that a cradle is about to come,
Suththamulla panneeru
Tears like pure rosewater
Kottuthammaa kanneeru} (2)
Are pouring out, dear} (2)
Paththu maatha poo varattum
Let the ten-month flower come
Kannukkulla naan sumappen
I will carry it like the apple of my eye
Thottilittaa noguminnu
Lest it hurts if placed in a cradle,
Tholgalilae naan sumappaen
I will carry it on my shoulders
Sutta kanneer thaan thudaikka
To wipe away those burning tears,
Suttu viral naanirukkaen
I am here as your index finger
Sutta kanneer thaan thudaikka
To wipe away those burning tears,
Suttu viral naanirukkaen
I am here as your index finger
Rosa malarae azhuvakkoodathu
Rose flower, you shouldn't cry
Kanneeru veenaaguthae
Your tears are going to waste
Muzhukaatha magaraasi azhuthaalae paavam
If a pregnant blessed woman cries, it is a sin
Periyavanga solvaangalae
That is what the elders say
{Poovukkulla poovirukku
{Inside the flower, there is a flower,
Poovai sutri mullirukku
Around the flower, there are thorns;
Mul kizhikkum munnaalae
Before the thorn scratches it,
Moodi vaikka aalirukku} (2)
There is someone to cover and protect it} (2)
Chinna ponnu kuththamilla
The young girl is blameless,
Mannikkira nenjumilla
Yet there is no forgiving heart here;
Karpukkithu suththamilla
This does not fit their definition of chastity,
Suttramingae suththamilla
The relatives here are not pure either.
Nandhavanam thee pudichchaa
If the flower garden catches fire,
Naanuranga povathilla…
I will not go to sleep...
Nandhavanam thee pudichchaa
If the flower garden catches fire,
Naanuranga povathilla…
I will not go to sleep...
Rosa malarae azhuvakkoodathu
Rose flower, you shouldn't cry
Kanneeru veenaaguthae
Your tears are going to waste
Muzhukaatha magaraasi azhuthaalae paavam
If a pregnant blessed woman cries, it is a sin
Periyavanga solvaangalae
That is what the elders say
Periyavanga solvaangalae
That is what the elders say
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Rosa malarae azhuvakkoodathu is a comforting song addressing a young pregnant woman facing immense grief and societal judgment due to an unwed pregnancy. The narrator reassures her, urging her not to shed tears, reminding her of traditional wisdom that a pregnant woman's tears bring misfortune. The singer promises unconditional support, offering to bear the weight of caring for the child and standing by her side to shield her from the world's harshness. The lyrics sharply critique society's hypocrisy and lack of empathy (Suttramingae suththamilla), highlighting that while people judge her strictly on notions of chastity and family honor, they lack forgiving hearts. Through tender metaphors of flowers, thorns, and protective covers, lyricist Vairamuthu portrays a deep bond of empathy, protection, and resilience against social stigma.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Rosa malarae azhuvakkoodathu”
Compares the delicate young mother to a 'Rosa malar' (rose flower) and her unborn child to 'Poovukkulla poovirukku' (a flower inside a flower).
Second-letter Rhyme (Ethirai)
“Thaali onnu illaama / Thooli vara poguthunnu”
The second letters 'aa' in 'Thaali' and 'oo' in 'Thooli' create a rhythmic and phonetic pair connecting marriage and childbirth.
Alliteration (Monai)
“Sutta kanneer thaan thudaikka / Suttu viral naanirukkaen”
Repetition of initial 'Su' sound in 'Sutta' and 'Suttu' builds a poetic cadence.
Symbolism
“Nandhavanam thee pudichchaa”
The 'Nandhavanam' (flower garden) catching fire symbolizes a peaceful life or family being threatened by social scandal or crisis.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song features lyrics by Vairamuthu from the 1981 film 'Rajangam'. It addresses the taboo topic of unwed pregnancy and social prejudice with sensitivity, a recurring thematic element in progressive Tamil cinema during the early 1980s.
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