Sela Illai Ravikka Illa
From Oru Kai Osai · 1980
- Lyricist
- Bairavi
- Singer
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Oru Kai Osai1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| …………… | ... |
| Male | |
| Sela illa ravukka illa pulla | A girl with no saree and no blouse, |
| Sirichchu nikkiraa kaattukkullae | She stands smiling inside the forest. |
| Sela illa ravukka illa pulla | A girl with no saree and no blouse, |
| Sirichchu nikkiraa kaattukkullae | She stands smiling inside the forest. |
| Aalaa valarntha pulla ava yaaru pulla | Grown tall like a person, who is that girl? |
| Aalaa valarntha pulla ava yaaru pulla | Grown tall like a person, who is that girl? |
| Adhu thennam pulla aiyyaa thennampulla | That is a coconut sapling, sir, a coconut sapling! |
| Male | |
| Aa….sela illa ravukka illa pulla | Ah... a girl with no saree and no blouse, |
| Sirichchu nikkiraa kaattukkullae | She stands smiling inside the forest. |
| Male | |
| Pazhaththilellaam periya pazham | The biggest fruit among all fruits, |
| Adha paaththu sokkuraan ponnampalam | Seeing it, Ponnambalam gets mesmerized. |
| Pudichchu paaththaan pudikka vallae | He tried to hold it, but couldn't hold it, |
| Kadichchu paaththaan kadikka vallae | He tried to bite it, but couldn't bite it. |
| Pudichchu paaththaan pudikka vallae | He tried to hold it, but couldn't hold it, |
| Kadichchu paaththaan kadikka vallae | He tried to bite it, but couldn't bite it. |
| Male | |
| Nooru vayasu kizhavanukkum | Even to a hundred-year-old man, |
| Aasa kaattuthu anthapazham | That fruit tempts and sparks desire. |
| Nooru vayasu kizhavanukkum | Even to a hundred-year-old man, |
| Aasa kaattuthu anthapazham | That fruit tempts and sparks desire. |
| Adhu enna pazham thambi enna pazham | What fruit is that, brother, what fruit? |
| Sambalam sambalam sambalam….haan sela…sela… | Salary (Sambalam)! Salary, salary... haan saree... saree... |
| Male | |
| Sela illa ravukka illa pulla | A girl with no saree and no blouse, |
| Sirichchu nikkiraa kaattukkullae | She stands smiling inside the forest. |
| Male | |
| Pappampatti santhaiyilae | In the Pappampatti market, |
| Paatti oruththi paanai viththaa | An old woman was selling clay pots. |
| Moru vikka murugan vanthaan | Murugan came to sell buttermilk, |
| Paatti kooda pottiyittaan | He entered into a competition with the old woman. |
| Male | |
| Potti mudinju muruganukku | When the competition ended, for Murugan, |
| Jodiyaaga paatti vanthaa | The old woman became his companion. |
| Adhiu yaaru paatti adhu yaaru paatti | Who is that old woman? Who is that old woman? |
| Adhu vappaatti thambi vappaatti sela sela | That is a mistress (Vappaatti), brother, a mistress! Saree, saree... |
| Male | |
| Sela illa ravukka illa pulla | A girl with no saree and no blouse, |
| Sirichchu nikkiraa kaattukkullae | She stands smiling inside the forest. |
| Male | |
| …………….. | ... |
| Male | |
| Thoppukkullae thonnooru kaayi | Ninety unripe fruits inside the grove, |
| Thottu parichchaa thulluthungo | If touched and plucked, they jump around. |
| Thoppukkullae thonnooru kaayi | Ninety unripe fruits inside the grove, |
| Thottu parichchaa thulluthungo | If touched and plucked, they jump around. |
| Inippumillae kasappumillae | It is neither sweet nor bitter, |
| Eduththu thinga yaarumillae | There is no one to pick and eat it. |
| Male | |
| Kaasu konjam nirainjirunthaa | If you are filled with a little money, |
| Kaala pudichchu suththura kaayi | It is a fruit that circles around clinging to your feet. |
| Adhu enna kaayi thambi enna kaayi | What fruit is that, brother, what fruit? |
| Kaakkaa kaakkaa kaakkaa kaakkaayi… | A sycophant/flatterer (Kaakkaayi)... |
| Male | |
| Aa….sela illa ravukka illa pulla | Ah... a girl with no saree and no blouse, |
| Sirichchu nikkiraa kaattukkullae | She stands smiling inside the forest. |
| Aalaa valarntha pulla ava yaaru pulla | Grown tall like a person, who is that girl? |
| Adhu thennam pulla aiyyaa thennampulla | That is a coconut sapling, sir, a coconut sapling! |
| Male | |
| Sela sela sela illa ravukka illa pulla | Saree saree saree, a girl with no saree and no blouse, |
| Sirichchu nikkiraa kaattukkullae…aha….haa…aa… | She stands smiling inside the forest... aha... haa... aa... |
.......................
...
சேல இல்ல ரவுக்க இல்ல புள்ள
சிரிச்சு நிக்கிறா காட்டுக்குள்ளே
சேல இல்ல ரவுக்க இல்ல புள்ள
சிரிச்சு நிக்கிறா காட்டுக்குள்ளே
ஆளா வளர்ந்த புள்ள அவ யாரு புள்ள
ஆளா வளர்ந்த புள்ள அவ யாரு புள்ள
அது தென்னம் புள்ள அய்யா தென்னம்புள்ள
A girl with no saree and no blouse,
She stands smiling inside the forest.
A girl with no saree and no blouse,
She stands smiling inside the forest.
Grown tall like a person, who is that girl?
Grown tall like a person, who is that girl?
That is a coconut sapling, sir, a coconut sapling!
ஆ.....சேல இல்ல ரவுக்க இல்ல புள்ள
சிரிச்சு நிக்கிறா காட்டுக்குள்ளே
Ah... a girl with no saree and no blouse,
She stands smiling inside the forest.
பழத்திலெல்லாம் பெரிய பழம்
அத பாத்து சொக்குறான் பொன்னம்பலம்
புடிச்சு பாத்தான் புடிக்க வல்லே
கடிச்சு பாத்தான் கடிக்க வல்லே
புடிச்சு பாத்தான் புடிக்க வல்லே
கடிச்சு பாத்தான் கடிக்க வல்லே
The biggest fruit among all fruits,
Seeing it, Ponnambalam gets mesmerized.
He tried to hold it, but couldn't hold it,
He tried to bite it, but couldn't bite it.
He tried to hold it, but couldn't hold it,
He tried to bite it, but couldn't bite it.
நூறு வயசு கிழவனுக்கும்
ஆசக் காட்டுது அந்தப்பழம்
நூறு வயசு கிழவனுக்கும்
ஆசக் காட்டுது அந்தப்பழம்
அது என்ன பழம் தம்பி என்ன பழம்
சம்பளம் சம்பளம் சம்பளம்......ஹான் சேல...சேல..
Even to a hundred-year-old man,
That fruit tempts and sparks desire.
Even to a hundred-year-old man,
That fruit tempts and sparks desire.
What fruit is that, brother, what fruit?
Salary (Sambalam)! Salary, salary... haan saree... saree...
சேல இல்ல ரவுக்க இல்ல புள்ள
சிரிச்சு நிக்கிறா காட்டுக்குள்ளே
A girl with no saree and no blouse,
She stands smiling inside the forest.
பாப்பம்பட்டி சந்தையிலே
பாட்டி ஒருத்தி பானை வித்தா
மோரு விக்க முருகன் வந்தான்
பாட்டி கூட போட்டியிட்டான்
In the Pappampatti market,
An old woman was selling clay pots.
Murugan came to sell buttermilk,
He entered into a competition with the old woman.
போட்டி முடிஞ்சு முருகனுக்கு
ஜோடியாக பாட்டி வந்தா
அது யாரு பாட்டி அது யாரு பாட்டி
அது வப்பாட்டி தம்பி வப்பாட்டி சேல...சேல.....
When the competition ended, for Murugan,
The old woman became his companion.
Who is that old woman? Who is that old woman?
That is a mistress (Vappaatti), brother, a mistress! Saree, saree...
சேல இல்ல ரவுக்க இல்ல புள்ள
சிரிச்சு நிக்கிறா காட்டுக்குள்ளே
A girl with no saree and no blouse,
She stands smiling inside the forest.
..................
...
தோப்புக்குள்ளே தொண்ணூறு காயி
தொட்டு பறிச்சா துள்ளுதுங்கோ
தோப்புக்குள்ளே தொண்ணூறு காயி
தொட்டு பறிச்சா துள்ளுதுங்கோ
இனிப்புமில்லே கசப்புமில்லே
எடுத்து திங்க யாருமில்லே
Ninety unripe fruits inside the grove,
If touched and plucked, they jump around.
Ninety unripe fruits inside the grove,
If touched and plucked, they jump around.
It is neither sweet nor bitter,
There is no one to pick and eat it.
காசு கொஞ்சம் நிறைஞ்சிருந்தா
கால புடிச்சு சுத்துற காயி
அது என்ன காயி தம்பி என்ன காயி
காக்கா காக்கா காக்கா காக்காயி....
If you are filled with a little money,
It is a fruit that circles around clinging to your feet.
What fruit is that, brother, what fruit?
A sycophant/flatterer (Kaakkaayi)...
ஆ....சேல இல்ல ரவுக்க இல்ல புள்ள
சிரிச்சு நிக்கிறா காட்டுக்குள்ளே
ஆளா வளர்ந்த புள்ள அவ யாரு புள்ள
அது தென்னம் புள்ள அய்யா தென்னம்புள்ள
Ah... a girl with no saree and no blouse,
She stands smiling inside the forest.
Grown tall like a person, who is that girl?
That is a coconut sapling, sir, a coconut sapling!
சேல சேல சேல இல்ல ரவுக்க இல்ல புள்ள
சிரிச்சு நிக்கிறா காட்டுக்குள்ளே அஹ ஹா...ஆ.....
Saree saree saree, a girl with no saree and no blouse,
She stands smiling inside the forest... aha... haa... aa...
……………
...
Sela illa ravukka illa pulla
A girl with no saree and no blouse,
Sirichchu nikkiraa kaattukkullae
She stands smiling inside the forest.
Sela illa ravukka illa pulla
A girl with no saree and no blouse,
Sirichchu nikkiraa kaattukkullae
She stands smiling inside the forest.
Aalaa valarntha pulla ava yaaru pulla
Grown tall like a person, who is that girl?
Aalaa valarntha pulla ava yaaru pulla
Grown tall like a person, who is that girl?
Adhu thennam pulla aiyyaa thennampulla
That is a coconut sapling, sir, a coconut sapling!
Aa….sela illa ravukka illa pulla
Ah... a girl with no saree and no blouse,
Sirichchu nikkiraa kaattukkullae
She stands smiling inside the forest.
Pazhaththilellaam periya pazham
The biggest fruit among all fruits,
Adha paaththu sokkuraan ponnampalam
Seeing it, Ponnambalam gets mesmerized.
Pudichchu paaththaan pudikka vallae
He tried to hold it, but couldn't hold it,
Kadichchu paaththaan kadikka vallae
He tried to bite it, but couldn't bite it.
Pudichchu paaththaan pudikka vallae
He tried to hold it, but couldn't hold it,
Kadichchu paaththaan kadikka vallae
He tried to bite it, but couldn't bite it.
Nooru vayasu kizhavanukkum
Even to a hundred-year-old man,
Aasa kaattuthu anthapazham
That fruit tempts and sparks desire.
Nooru vayasu kizhavanukkum
Even to a hundred-year-old man,
Aasa kaattuthu anthapazham
That fruit tempts and sparks desire.
Adhu enna pazham thambi enna pazham
What fruit is that, brother, what fruit?
Sambalam sambalam sambalam….haan sela…sela…
Salary (Sambalam)! Salary, salary... haan saree... saree...
Sela illa ravukka illa pulla
A girl with no saree and no blouse,
Sirichchu nikkiraa kaattukkullae
She stands smiling inside the forest.
Pappampatti santhaiyilae
In the Pappampatti market,
Paatti oruththi paanai viththaa
An old woman was selling clay pots.
Moru vikka murugan vanthaan
Murugan came to sell buttermilk,
Paatti kooda pottiyittaan
He entered into a competition with the old woman.
Potti mudinju muruganukku
When the competition ended, for Murugan,
Jodiyaaga paatti vanthaa
The old woman became his companion.
Adhiu yaaru paatti adhu yaaru paatti
Who is that old woman? Who is that old woman?
Adhu vappaatti thambi vappaatti sela sela
That is a mistress (Vappaatti), brother, a mistress! Saree, saree...
Sela illa ravukka illa pulla
A girl with no saree and no blouse,
Sirichchu nikkiraa kaattukkullae
She stands smiling inside the forest.
……………..
...
Thoppukkullae thonnooru kaayi
Ninety unripe fruits inside the grove,
Thottu parichchaa thulluthungo
If touched and plucked, they jump around.
Thoppukkullae thonnooru kaayi
Ninety unripe fruits inside the grove,
Thottu parichchaa thulluthungo
If touched and plucked, they jump around.
Inippumillae kasappumillae
It is neither sweet nor bitter,
Eduththu thinga yaarumillae
There is no one to pick and eat it.
Kaasu konjam nirainjirunthaa
If you are filled with a little money,
Kaala pudichchu suththura kaayi
It is a fruit that circles around clinging to your feet.
Adhu enna kaayi thambi enna kaayi
What fruit is that, brother, what fruit?
Kaakkaa kaakkaa kaakkaa kaakkaayi…
A sycophant/flatterer (Kaakkaayi)...
Aa….sela illa ravukka illa pulla
Ah... a girl with no saree and no blouse,
Sirichchu nikkiraa kaattukkullae
She stands smiling inside the forest.
Aalaa valarntha pulla ava yaaru pulla
Grown tall like a person, who is that girl?
Adhu thennam pulla aiyyaa thennampulla
That is a coconut sapling, sir, a coconut sapling!
Sela sela sela illa ravukka illa pulla
Saree saree saree, a girl with no saree and no blouse,
Sirichchu nikkiraa kaattukkullae…aha….haa…aa…
She stands smiling inside the forest... aha... haa... aa...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful track from the 1980 film 'Oru Kai Osai' is constructed around rural Tamil riddles (Vidukadhai) set to a catchy folk melody. The lyrics present double-entendre questions that initially sound provocative or mysterious, only to be resolved with witty, everyday answers. For instance, a 'girl without clothes standing in the grove' turns out to be a coconut sapling ('thennampulla'); the most desirable fruit that cannot be bitten is salary ('sambalam'); and a fruit that clings to feet for money refers to a sycophant ('kaakkaayi'). Sung with high energy and comedic flair by legendary composer M. S. Viswanathan, the song captures the essence of traditional Tamil village oral humor, folk riddles, and clever wordplay.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Vidukadhai (Riddle Form / Paronomasia)
“Sela illa ravukka illa pulla... Adhu thennam pulla”
The entire song structure is built around Tamil folk riddles using wordplay (puns) to mislead and entertain before revealing the true answer.
Monnai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Sela illa ravukka illa pulla / Sirichchu nikkiraa kaattukkullae”
Repetition of the initial consonant sounds across lines creating rhythm.
Ethirai (Second-letter Assonance)
“Pudichchu paaththaan pudikka vallae / Kadichchu paaththaan kadikka vallae”
Matching of the second consonant sound across consecutive lines.
Personification
“Sela illa ravukka illa pulla / Sirichchu nikkiraa kaattukkullae”
Attributing human traits (wearing clothes, smiling) to a plant or coconut sapling.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Oru Kai Osai' (1980) was written, directed by, and starred K. Bhagyaraj. The music director M. S. Viswanathan sang this song himself, infusing it with dramatic comic timing. The lyricist Bairavi drew heavily from authentic Tamil folk riddles and colloquial village dialect.
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