Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Rukkumani Rukkumani

From Roja · 1992

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Roja1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Rukkumani rukkumaniRukkumani, Rukkumani
Akkam pakkam enna sathamWhat is that noise all around?
Kaathu rendum koosuthadiMy ears are burning with shyness/sensitivity
Kandu pidi enna sathamFind out what that sound is!
Chorus
{Ooo…ooo….oooo…..{Ooo…ooo….oooo…..
Oo….ooooo….}(4)Oo….ooooo….} (4)
{Ohooo ohooo…ooo{Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Ohoo..ooo} (4)Ohoo..ooo} (4)
Male
Rukkumani rukkumaniRukkumani, Rukkumani
Akkam pakkam enna sathamWhat is that noise all around?
Chorus :Ohooo ohooo…oooChorus: Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Ohoo..oooOhoo..ooo
Male :Kaathu rendum koosuthadiMale: My ears are burning with shyness
Kandu pidi enna sathamFind out what that sound is!
Chorus :Ohooo ohooo…oooChorus: Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Ohoo..oooOhoo..ooo
Female
Katti konda aanum pennumThe sound of kisses exchanged between a wedded man and woman
Thottu tharum mutha sathamThe rhythmic sound of a bed rocking continuously making melody
Kattil onnu vittu vittuUntil the rooster crows in the morning
Mettu kattum inba sathamThis noise will not cease..
Seval onnu koovaama{Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Theeraathu indha satham..Ohoo..ooo} (2)
Chorus
{Ohooo ohooo…oooRukkumani, Rukkumani
Ohoo..ooo} (2)What is that noise all around?
Male
Rukkumani rukkumaniMy ears are burning with shyness
Akkam pakkam enna sathamFind out what that sound is!
Kaathu rendum koosuthadiFor this tiny young girl
Kandu pidi enna sathamThere is immense desire inside
Male
Chinnanchiru ponnukkuChorus: Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Aasai romba irukkuOhoo..ooo
Chorus :Ohooo ohooo…oooFemale: Just like an ant stuck
Ohoo..oooInside a jar of sugar
Female :Cheenikkulla erumbuChorus: Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Maattikitta kanakkuOhoo..ooo
Chorus :Ohooo ohooo…oooTaking step after step
Ohoo..oooApproaching close to the bed
Male
Ettu mela ettu vachuFemale: The pearl anklets
Kattil varai nerungaPout and jingle asking for a kiss
Female :Muthumani kolusungaA flower is blooming deep inside
Mutham kettu chinungaOh dear, why is the crown of my head sweating?
Male
Ullae poo pookkuthuFemale: Desire has spread out a bed mat
Adi uchi yen verkkuthuAh, but fear has bolted the door lock!
Female :Aasai paai pottathu{Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Ada acham thaal pottathuOhoo..ooo} (2)
Chorus
{Ohooo ohooo…oooRukkumani, Rukkumani
Ohoo..ooo} (2)What is that noise all around?
Male
Rukkumani rukkumaniMy ears are burning with shyness
Akkam pakkam enna sathamFind out what that sound is!
Kaathu rendum koosuthadi{Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Kandu pidi enna sathamOhoo..ooo} (2)
Chorus
{Ohooo ohooo…ooo{Oooo…ooo..ooo…ooo..
Ohoo..ooo} (2)Oo…ooo..} (2)
{Oooo…ooo..ooo…ooo..The husband who holds rightful claim
Oo…ooo..} (2)Holds onto the little pinky finger
Female
Sontham konda purushanChorus: Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Sundu viral pudikkaOhoo..ooo
Chorus :Ohooo ohooo…oooMale: The moment that little finger is touched
Ohoo..oooThat spot sends goosebumps through the skin
Male :Sundu viral thottathumChorus: Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Antha idam silirkkaOhoo..ooo
Chorus :Ohooo ohooo…oooIn the hall of the God of Love (Kamadeva)
Ohoo..oooAs a musical concert takes place
Female
Kaamadevan mandabathilMale: The young maiden's bangles
Katcheriyum nadakkaPlay tunes like a veena
Male :Kannimagal valaiyalumKisses bounce around like a playful ball
Vinanigal isaikkaThe entire soul struggles in ecstatic pleasure
Female
Mutham panthaaduthuMale: The mind heats up with passion
Uyir motham thindaaduthuAnd this lifetime finds its fulfillment!
Male :Sitham sooderuthu{Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Indha jenmam eederuthuOhoo..ooo} (2)
Chorus
{Ohooo ohooo…oooRukkumani, Rukkumani
Ohoo..ooo} (2)What is that noise all around?
Male
Rukkumani rukkumaniMy ears are burning with shyness
Akkam pakkam enna sathamFind out what that sound is!
Kaathu rendum koosuthadiThe sound of kisses exchanged between a wedded man and woman
Kandu pidi enna sathamThe rhythmic sound of a bed rocking continuously making melody
Female
Katti konda aanum pennumUntil the rooster crows in the morning
Thottu tharum mutha sathamThis noise will not cease
Kattil onnu vittu vittu{Ohooo ohooo…ooo
Mettu kattum inba sathamOhoo..ooo} (2)
Seval onnu koovaamaOhoo ooo
Theeraathu indha sathamOhooo ooo
Chorus
{Ohooo ohooo…oooOhoo ooo
Ohoo..ooo} (2)Ohooo ooo
Ohoo oooOhoo ooo
Ohooo oooOhooo ooo
Ohoo ooo
Ohooo ooo
Ohoo ooo
Ohooo ooo

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'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.

Keep listening

More from Roja