Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Rottoram Seriyile Pooththu

From Thangamadi Thangam · 1984

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thangamadi Thangam1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Rottoram saeriyilaeIn the roadside slum
Pooththu vantha rojappoo aaduthaiyaaThe bloomed rose is dancing, sir
Joraana koottaththilae raagam pottuSetting a tune in a lively crowd
Paattaaga paaduthaiyyaaIt is singing as a song, sir
Female
Naan vachchathu sattamaiyyaaWhat I laid down is the law, sir
Idhu pombala thittamaiyyaaThis is a woman's plan, sir
Enna suththiyum nikkuthuSurrounding me stands
Aambala koottamaiyyaaA crowd of men, sir
Female
Naan vachchathu sattamaiyyaaWhat I laid down is the law, sir
Idhu pombala thittamaiyyaaThis is a woman's plan, sir
Enna suththiyum nikkuthuSurrounding me stands
Aambala koottamaiyyaaA crowd of men, sir
Female
Rottoram saeriyilaeIn the roadside slum
Pooththu vantha rojappoo aaduthaiyaaThe bloomed rose is dancing, sir
Female
Kodi panaththa karuppaagaTurning millions into black money
Manja panaththa velupaagaTurning yellow money into white
Moodi marachchu iruppaangaThey conceal and hide it
Naalu muzhuthum thavippaangaWorrying all day long
Female
Antha thollai ingillai yaeiThat trouble isn't here, hey
Adhilae namakku pangilaWe have no share in that
Oodaaga theinjavanga udal valikkaThose who worked hard until their bodies worn out
Urumaari kaainjavangaThose who transformed and withered away
Female
Naalaaga thaeranumnga nallapadiMust recover well over time
Nammooru maaranumngaOur town must change for the better
Namma veettula varumaiPoverty in our home
Vaattaththa ozhikka nallaa paadupaduWork hard to eradicate suffering
Female
Rottoram saeriyilaeIn the roadside slum
Pooththu vantha rojappoo aaduthaiyaaThe bloomed rose is dancing, sir
Joraana koottaththilae raagam pottuSetting a tune in a lively crowd
Paattaaga paaduthaiyyaaIt is singing as a song, sir
Female
Naan vachchathu sattamaiyyaaWhat I laid down is the law, sir
Idhu pombala thittamaiyyaaThis is a woman's plan, sir
Enna suththiyum nikkuthuSurrounding me stands
Aambala koottamaiyyaaA crowd of men, sir
Female
Maamiyaaru samaiyal pannaWhen the mother-in-law cooks
Thanni eduththu udhai pannuHelp out by fetching water
Bumb irunthum thanni varallaEven with a pump, water doesn't come
Paavam neeyum enna pannaPoor you, what can you do?
Female
Nalla aaluga irunthaalumEven if good people are present
Angae maegam irukku mazhai varallaThere are clouds above, but no rain falls
Mazhai thanni penjathunnaaIf rainwater falls
Oorukulla kashtangal yaedhumillaThere will be no hardships in the village
Female
Kashtangal theernthathunnaaIf hardships end
Naattukulla kanneerum maarumillaTears in the country will disappear too
Namma veetula varumaiPoverty in our home
Vaattatha ozhikka nallaa paadupadu…Work hard to eradicate suffering…
Female
Rottoram saeriyilaeIn the roadside slum
Pooththu vantha rojappoo aaduthaiyaaThe bloomed rose is dancing, sir
Joraana koottaththilae raagam pottuSetting a tune in a lively crowd
Paattaaga paaduthaiyyaaIt is singing as a song, sir
Female
Naan vachchathu sattamaiyyaaWhat I laid down is the law, sir
Idhu pombala thittamaiyyaaThis is a woman's plan, sir
Enna suththiyum nikkuthuSurrounding me stands
Aambala koottamaiyyaaA crowd of men, sir
Female
Naan vachchathu sattamaiyyaaWhat I laid down is the law, sir
Idhu pombala thittamaiyyaaThis is a woman's plan, sir
Enna suththiyum nikkuthuSurrounding me stands
Aambala koottamaiyyaaA crowd of men, sir

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic folk-style track features a working-class female protagonist singing triumphantly about empowerment, resilience, and daily social realities from a roadside slum. She metaphorically compares herself to a rose blooming amidst hardships, asserting her authority and standing tall surrounded by a crowd of men who follow her lead.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Pooththu vantha rojappoo aaduthaiyaa

Compares a young working-class woman flourishing in a slum to a blooming rose ('rojappoo').

Rhyme (Edhugai)

Naan vachchathu sattamaiyyaa / Idhu pombala thittamaiyyaa

Second letter rhyming in consecutive lines ('sattamaiyyaa' / 'thittamaiyyaa').

Symbolism

Angae maegam irukku mazhai varalla

Uses 'clouds without rain' as a symbol for unfulfilled promises or well-meaning people who lack effective output.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Gangai Amaran, this song showcases typical 1980s Tamil cinema folk rhythms designed for street performance scenes highlighting social awareness and female empowerment.

Keep listening

More from Thangamadi Thangam