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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Rose Mary

From Pallikoodam · 2007

Lyricist
Gana Ulaganathan
Singers
Gana Ulaganathan, Surmukhi Raman
Music director
Bharathwaj
Details
Pallikoodam2007

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Rose maryRosemary
Nee oru juice maariYou are like sweet juice
Un beautyku naan thaanFor your beauty, I am
SurrenderadiSurrendered, girl!
Namba jodi sernthaalIf our pair comes together
SuperadiIt will be super, girl!
Rose maryRosemary
Rose maryRosemary
Female
Oho..robertuOho, Robert!
Pottiyae brackettuYou hooked me in!
Enna valikuthuHow captivating it pulls me!
Unnoda body kattuYour fit physique!
Naan vanthenaeI came here
Unna thaedikittuSearching for you
Robertu ..Robert..
Robertu …Robert...
Male
Bus depo vilaeAt the bus depot
Fit aanathuIt got fixed up
Parku beachu side-uNear the park and beach side
Set aanathu..It got set up..
Male
Bus depo vilaeAt the bus depot
Fit aanathuIt got fixed up
Parku beachu side-uNear the park and beach side
Set aanathu..It got set up..
Male
Sokka sirichiSmiling sweetly
Taekka kuduthuGiving excuses and dodging
Pakkava manasu jilpaanathuPerfectly the heart became thrilled
Adhu edhu …That and this...
Female
Moore market-ilaAt Moore Market
Moodu vanthathuThe mood arrived
Ippo centralu pakkamNow near Central station
Side-u vaanguthuTaking a side glance
Female
Moore market-ilaAt Moore Market
Moodu vanthathuThe mood arrived
Ippo centralu pakkamNow near Central station
Side-u vaanguthuTaking a side glance
Female
China bajaaruAt China Bazaar
Bommaiya maariLike a doll
Mel court building maariLike the High Court building
UyaramadhuIt stands tall
Adhu edhu…That and this...
Male
Orthaarai ondraaga vaiyarae vaipparThose who endure insults will be held in highest esteem
Poruthaarai ponpor podhindhuThose who bear with patience will be cherished like gold
Male
Rose maryRosemary
Nee oru juice maariYou are like sweet juice
Un beautyku naan thaanFor your beauty, I am
SurrenderadiSurrendered, girl!
Namba jodi sernthaalIf our pair comes together
SuperadiIt will be super, girl!
Rose maryRosemary
Rose maryRosemary
Female
Oho..robertuOho, Robert!
Pottiyae brackettuYou hooked me in!
Enna valikuthuHow captivating it pulls me!
Unnoda body kattuYour fit physique!
Naan vanthenaeI came here
Unna thaedikittuSearching for you
Robertu ..Robert..
Robertu …Robert...
Female
Buhari biriyaniBuying Buhari biryani
Vaangi thanthuttuAnd giving it
Carrotu kuduthuDangling a carrot
Ushaar pannuthuTrying to charm me
Female
Buhari biriyaniBuying Buhari biryani
Vaangi thanthuttuAnd giving it
Carrotu kuduthuDangling a carrot
Ushaar pannuthuTrying to charm me
Female
Kaasi maettu meenaLike a fish from Kasimedu
Egiri kuthikuthuIt is jumping up and down
Sowcar pettai sweet aanathuSowcarpet became sweet
Adhu edhu …That and this...
Male
Kokkokka koombum paruvathu mattradhanJust as the lotus folds up out of season
Kuththokka seertha idathuWhen placed in an unsuitable spot
Male
Matinee show-ulaIn the matinee show
Disturb aanathuIt got disturbed
Ippo kaanjipurathilaNow in Kanchipuram
Work out aavuthuIt is working out
Male
Matinee show-ulaIn the matinee show
Disturb aanathuIt got disturbed
Ippo kaanjipurathilaNow in Kanchipuram
Work out aavuthuIt is working out
Male
Life-ula onnu seraTo unite for life
Plan pannuthuMaking a plan
Oru naadhari adikadiA scoundrel frequently
Naasthi pannuthuRuin and destroy it
Adhu idhu…..That and this...
Male
Nonaa udambum uyirum madalaerumThe suffering body and soul resort to riding the palm-leaf horse
Naaninai neekki niruthuRemoving all shame and standing firm
Male
Rose maryRosemary
Nee oru juice maariYou are like sweet juice
Un beautyku naan thaanFor your beauty, I am
SurrenderadiSurrendered, girl!
Namba jodi sernthaalIf our pair comes together
SuperadiIt will be super, girl!
Rose maryRosemary
Rose maryRosemary
Female
Oho..robertuOho, Robert!
Pottiyae brackettuYou hooked me in!
Enna valikuthuHow captivating it pulls me!
Unnoda body kattuYour fit physique!
Naan vanthenaeI came here
Unna thaedikittuSearching for you
Robertu ..Robert..
Robertu …Robert...
Oh ho oh..hoo ooo hooOh ho oh..hoo ooo hoo
Male :Oh ho ohh hoo oo hoo hoo hoo hoooMale: Oh ho ohh hoo oo hoo hoo hoo hooo

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song is a lively Gaana-style conversation between two lovers, Rosemary and Robert, capturing the humor, romance, and urban culture of Chennai. Through playful banter, they recount how their romance blossomed across landmark locations in Chennai, including bus depots, beaches, Moore Market, Central Station, China Bazaar, Buhari Restaurant, Kasimedu, and Sowcarpet. Amidst lighthearted street slang, the song uniquely blends classical literary couplets with modern local dialect to paint a picture of passion, perseverance, and urban love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Nee oru juice maari

Comparing the lover to sweet juice ('Nee oru juice maari') and the height/stature to the High Court building ('Mel court building maari').

Rhyme (Edhukai / Monai)

Nee oru juice maari / Un beautyku naan thaan

Use of matching second letters and initial sound harmonies across lines, typical of Gaana folk structures (e.g., 'Rosu' / 'Juice', 'Buhari' / 'Carrotu').

Literary Allusion (Kural / Sangam Motifs)

Nonaa udambum uyirum madalaerum

Insertion of classical literary-style venba verses and Sangam concepts like 'Madalarudhal' (riding the palmyra stem to demonstrate extreme devotion in love) juxtaposed against Madras slang.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track was composed by Bharadwaj for the film 'Pallikoodam' (2007) directed by Cheran. Lyricist and singer Gana Ulaganathan brought his signature North Chennai 'Gaana' style to the song, contrasting high classical Tamil tropes (like Madalarudhal) with everyday Chennai landmarks like Moore Market and Buhari Biryani.

Keep listening

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