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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Rukkumani Rukkumani

From Roja · 1992

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Roja
Movie release year
1992
Lyrics added on
1 Apr 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Rukkumani rukkumani
Akkam pakkam enna satham
Kaathu rendum koosuthadi
Kandu pidi enna satham
{Ooo…ooo….oooo…..
Oo….ooooo….}(4)
{Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Ohoo..ooo} (4)
Rukkumani rukkumani
Akkam pakkam enna satham
Chorus :Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Ohoo..ooo
Male :Kaathu rendum koosuthadi
Kandu pidi enna satham
Chorus :Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Ohoo..ooo
Katti konda aanum pennum
Thottu tharum mutha satham
Kattil onnu vittu vittu
Mettu kattum inba satham
Seval onnu koovaama
Theeraathu indha satham..
{Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Ohoo..ooo} (2)
Rukkumani rukkumani
Akkam pakkam enna satham
Kaathu rendum koosuthadi
Kandu pidi enna satham
Chinnanchiru ponnukku
Aasai romba irukku
Chorus :Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Ohoo..ooo
Female :Cheenikkulla erumbu
Maattikitta kanakku
Chorus :Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Ohoo..ooo
Ettu mela ettu vachu
Kattil varai nerunga
Female :Muthumani kolusunga
Mutham kettu chinunga
Ullae poo pookkuthu
Adi uchi yen verkkuthu
Female :Aasai paai pottathu
Ada acham thaal pottathu
{Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Ohoo..ooo} (2)
Rukkumani rukkumani
Akkam pakkam enna satham
Kaathu rendum koosuthadi
Kandu pidi enna satham
{Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Ohoo..ooo} (2)
{Oooo…ooo..ooo…ooo..
Oo…ooo..} (2)
Sontham konda purushan
Sundu viral pudikka
Chorus :Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Ohoo..ooo
Male :Sundu viral thottathum
Antha idam silirkka
Chorus :Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Ohoo..ooo
Kaamadevan mandabathil
Katcheriyum nadakka
Male :Kannimagal valaiyalum
Vinanigal isaikka
Mutham panthaaduthu
Uyir motham thindaaduthu
Male :Sitham sooderuthu
Indha jenmam eederuthu
{Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Ohoo..ooo} (2)
Rukkumani rukkumani
Akkam pakkam enna satham
Kaathu rendum koosuthadi
Kandu pidi enna satham
Katti konda aanum pennum
Thottu tharum mutha satham
Kattil onnu vittu vittu
Mettu kattum inba satham
Seval onnu koovaama
Theeraathu indha satham
{Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Ohoo..ooo} (2)
Ohoo ooo
Ohooo ooo
Ohoo ooo
Ohooo ooo
Ohoo ooo
Ohooo ooo
Rukmani, oh Rukmani!
What is that sound all around us?
It makes my ears tingle with shyness, girl!
Guess what that sound is!
{Oh... oh... oho...
Oh... oho...} (4)
{Oho oho... oh
Oho... oh} (4)
Rukmani, oh Rukmani!
What is that sound all around us?
Chorus: Oho oho... oh
Oho... oh
Male: It makes my ears tingle with shyness, girl!
Guess what that sound is!
Chorus: Oho oho... oh
Oho... oh
The sound of a man and woman locked in an embrace,
Sharing gentle kisses!
The rhythmic, joyful creak of a bed
Setting a tune of sheer pleasure!
Until the rooster crows at dawn,
This sound will not stop...
{Oho oho... oh
Oho... oh} (2)
Rukmani, oh Rukmani!
What is that sound all around us?
It makes my ears tingle with shyness, girl!
Guess what that sound is!
Inside the young bride,
Desires run deep,
Chorus: Oho oho... oh
Oho... oh
Female: Just like an ant
Trapped inside a pile of sugar!
Chorus: Oho oho... oh
Oho... oh
Taking slow, careful steps,
As he draws near the bed,
Female: Her pearl anklets softly chime,
Whining playfully for a kiss!
Flowers are blooming deep inside,
But why is the crown of her head breaking into a sweat?
Female: Desire has spread out the bed,
But shyness has latched the door!
{Oho oho... oh
Oho... oh} (2)
Rukmani, oh Rukmani!
What is that sound all around us?
It makes my ears tingle with shyness, girl!
Guess what that sound is!
{Oho oho... oh
Oho... oh} (2)
{Oh... oh... oh... oh...
Oh... oh...} (2)
When her rightful husband
Holds her little finger,
Chorus: Oho oho... oh
Oho... oh
Male: The instant he touches her little finger,
Her whole body shivers with delight!
Chorus: Oho oho... oh
Oho... oh
In the hall of Kamadevan (the god of love),
As a concert of passion plays out,
Male: The young bride's bangles
Strum their own sweet melodies!
Kisses bounce back and forth like a ball,
And the whole soul trembles with delight!
Male: The mind warms up with passion,
And this life finds its true fulfillment!
{Oho oho... oh
Oho... oh} (2)
Rukmani, oh Rukmani!
What is that sound all around us?
It makes my ears tingle with shyness, girl!
Guess what that sound is!
The sound of a man and woman locked in an embrace,
Sharing gentle kisses!
The rhythmic, joyful creak of a bed
Setting a tune of sheer pleasure!
Until the rooster crows at dawn,
This sound will not stop!
{Oho oho... oh
Oho... oh} (2)
Oho oh
Oho oh
Oho oh
Oho oh
Oho oh
Oho oh
Female
Chorus
Male
Female
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Male
Female
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Rukkumani Rukkumani' is a playful, cheeky village celebration song from the iconic film Roja (1992). The song depicts village elders and women teasing a newlywed bride about her nuptial night. Through humorous observation and rhythmic banter, the villagers talk about the nocturnal sounds of love, affection, and intimacy echoing from the bedroom, playfully demanding to know what all the noise is about.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Uvamai

Cheenikkulla erumbu maattikitta kanakku

Compares the bride's state of overwhelmed desire to an ant trapped happily inside sugar ('Cheenikkulla erumbu maattikitta kanakku').

Personification

Muthumani kolusunga mutham kettu chinunga

Attributes human emotions like pouting and demanding a kiss to the anklets ('kolusunga mutham kettu chinunga').

Rhyme / Monai & Ethirai

Rukkumani rukkumani / Akkam pakkam enna satham

Uses internal rhythmic matching of words across lines such as 'Rukkumani' and 'Akkam pakkam', as well as 'Sundu viral' and 'Kannimagal'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Rukkumani Rukkumani' marked A.R. Rahman's debut soundtrack in Mani Ratnam's Roja (1992). Sung primarily by S.P. Sailaja, K.S. Chithra, and chorus, the song became a nationwide sensation across India, praised for its innovative synth-driven folk rhythm and catchy vocal hooks.

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