Vaaraayo Thozhi
From Jeans · 1998
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Shahul Habib, Sonu Nigam, Sangeetha, Harini
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Jeans1998
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| ………………………….. | |
| Male | |
| ……………………………… | |
| Male | |
| Vaarayo thozhi | Won't you come, my friend? |
| Vaaraai en thozhi vaa | Come, my female friend, come! |
| Vanthu lootiyadi | Come and let's make merry! |
| Male | |
| Vaarevaa thozhi | Wow, my friend! |
| Vayasana thozhi | My aged friend! |
| Vaai vitu cheetiyadi | Whistle aloud! |
| Female | |
| Anbuku nee | For affection, you are |
| Arichuvadi annaiku | the alphabet primer, and for mother |
| Mel chellamadi | you are even dearer! |
| Female | |
| Mazhalaiyil | Just as I leaned on you |
| Naan sainthapadi | during my childhood, |
| Muthumaiyilum vendumadi | I need you in old age too! |
| Male | |
| Ye paati en sweety | Hey grandmother, my sweety! |
| Nee innum beauty beautyadi | You are still beauty, beauty personified! |
| Male | |
| Vaarayo thozhi | Won't you come, my friend? |
| Vaaraai en thozhi vaa | Come, my female friend, come! |
| Vanthu lootiyadi oh yea | Come and let's make merry, oh yeah! |
| Male | |
| Vaarevaa thozhi | Wow, my friend! |
| Vayasana thozhi | My aged friend! |
| Vaai vitu cheetiyadi | Whistle aloud! |
| Male | |
| Jeansellam matiko | Wear jeans! |
| Lip sticku potuko poi | Go put on lipstick! |
| Pesum naraiyellam | All the silver hair that speaks |
| Maipoosi mathiko oo….. | Dye it and change it! |
| Female | |
| Adi aathi enna | Oh my goodness, what is this |
| Koothu en vayasu paathi pochu | mad drama? Half my age is gone! |
| Male | |
| Clinton number | Clinton's phone number |
| Potu thaaren kilukilupaaga | I will dial and give you playfully, |
| I love you nee sollividu | you just say 'I love you'! |
| Female | |
| Yaar nee endral | If anyone asks who you are, |
| Miss world alla miss all | tell them you are not Miss World, but Miss All! |
| Endrae sollividu | Just say so! |
| Male | |
| Oh yeah | Oh yeah |
| Male | |
| Vaarayo thozhi | Won't you come, my friend? |
| Vaaraai en thozhi vaa | Come, my female friend, come! |
| Vanthu lootiyadi oh ho oh | Come and let's make merry, oh ho oh! |
| Male | |
| Vaarevaa thozhi | Wow, my friend! |
| Vayasana thozhi | My aged friend! |
| Vaai vitu cheetiyadi ……. | Whistle aloud! |
| Female | |
| ……………………… | |
| Female | |
| Computer paatuku | To computer music |
| Karagaatam nee aadu | you dance Karagaatam! |
| Male | |
| M tv channelil | On MTV channel |
| Sasti kavasam nee paadu ho …… | you sing Sashti Kavasam, ho! |
| Male | |
| 2 piece uda potu | Wear a two-piece dress |
| Sun bathu edu paati | and take a sunbath, grandma! |
| Disney landil vaasal | At the entrance of Disneyland |
| Thelichi arisi maavu | sprinkle water and draw rice flour |
| Kolam poda vaa paati | Rangoli designs, come grandma! |
| Male | |
| Nadu roadtil oru | In the middle of the street |
| Kadaiya potu vada sutu | set up a shop, fry vadas |
| Vikanum oruvaati oh yea | and sell them once, oh yeah! |
| Male | |
| Vaarayo thozhi | Won't you come, my friend? |
| Vaaraai en thozhi vaa | Come, my female friend, come! |
| Vanthu lootiyadi oh ho oo | Come and let's make merry, oh ho oo! |
| Male | |
| Vaarevaa thozhi | Wow, my friend! |
| Vayasana thozhi | My aged friend! |
| Vaai vitu cheetiyadi yea hey yea | Whistle aloud, yeah hey yeah! |
| Female | |
| Anbuku nee | For affection, you are |
| Arichuvadi annaiku | the alphabet primer, and for mother |
| Mel chellamadi | you are even dearer! |
| Female | |
| Mazhalaiyil | Just as I leaned on you |
| Naan sainthapadi | during my childhood, |
| Muthumaiyilum vendumadi | I need you in old age too! |
| Male | |
| Oh yea | Oh yeah |
| Female | |
| Vaarayo thozhi | Won't you come, my friend? |
| Vaaraai en thozhi vaa | Come, my female friend, come! |
| Vanthu lootiyadi | Come and let's make merry! |
| Male | |
| Oh ho oo | Oh ho oo |
| Female | |
| Vaarevaa thozhi | Wow, my friend! |
| Vayasana thozhi | My aged friend! |
| Vaai vitu cheetiyadi yea hey yea … | Whistle aloud, yeah hey yeah! |
...........................
...........................
வாராயோ தோழி
வாராய் என் தோழி வா
வந்து லூட்டியடி
Won't you come, my friend?
Come, my female friend, come!
Come and let's make merry!
வாரேவா தோழி
வயசான தோழி வாய்
விட்டு சீட்டியடி
Wow, my friend!
My aged friend!
Whistle aloud!
அன்புக்கு நீ
அரிச்சுவடி அன்னைக்கு
மேல் செல்லமடி
For affection, you are
the alphabet primer, and for mother
you are even dearer!
மழலையில் நான்
சாய்ந்தபடி முதுமையிலும்
வேண்டுமடி
Just as I leaned on you
during my childhood,
I need you in old age too!
ஏ பாட்டி என்
ஸ்வீட்டி நீ இன்னும்
பீயூட்டி பீயூட்டியடி
Hey grandmother, my sweety!
You are still beauty, beauty personified!
வாராயோ தோழி
வாராய் என் தோழி வா
வந்து லூட்டியடி ஓ யே
Won't you come, my friend?
Come, my female friend, come!
Come and let's make merry, oh yeah!
வாரேவா தோழி
வயசான தோழி வாய்
விட்டு சீட்டியடி
Wow, my friend!
My aged friend!
Whistle aloud!
ஜீன்ஸ் எல்லாம்
மாட்டிக்கோ லிப்ஸ்டிக்கு
போட்டுக்கோ பொய் பேசும்
நரையெல்லாம் மைபூசி
மாத்திக்கோ ஓ
Wear jeans!
Go put on lipstick!
All the silver hair that speaks
Dye it and change it!
அடி ஆத்தி என்ன
கூத்து என் வயசு பாதி
போச்சு
Oh my goodness, what is this
mad drama? Half my age is gone!
கிளின்டன் நம்பர்
போட்டு தாரேன் கிளு
கிளுப்பாக ஐ லவ் யூ நீ
சொல்லிவிடு
Clinton's phone number
I will dial and give you playfully,
you just say 'I love you'!
யார் நீ என்றால்
மிஸ் வோ்ல்ட் அல்ல
மிஸ் ஆல் என்றே
சொல்லிவிடு
If anyone asks who you are,
tell them you are not Miss World, but Miss All!
Just say so!
ஓ யே
Oh yeah
வாராயோ தோழி
வாராய் என் தோழி வா
வந்து லூட்டியடி ஓ
ஹோ ஓ
Won't you come, my friend?
Come, my female friend, come!
Come and let's make merry, oh ho oh!
வாரேவா தோழி
வயசான தோழி வாய்
விட்டு சீட்டியடி
Wow, my friend!
My aged friend!
Whistle aloud!
...........................
கம்ப்யூட்டர் பாட்டுக்கு
கரகாட்டம் நீ ஆடு
To computer music
you dance Karagaatam!
எம் டிவி சேனலில்
சஷ்டி கவசம் நீ பாடு ஹோ
On MTV channel
you sing Sashti Kavasam, ho!
டூ பீஸ் உட போட்டு
சன் பாத்து எடு பாட்டி டிஸ்னி
லேண்டில் வாசல் தெளிச்சி
அரிசி மாவுக் கோலம் போட
வா பாட்டி
Wear a two-piece dress
and take a sunbath, grandma!
At the entrance of Disneyland
sprinkle water and draw rice flour
Rangoli designs, come grandma!
நடு ரோட்டில் ஒரு
கடைய போட்டு வட சுட்டு
விக்கணும் ஒரு வாட்டி
ஓ யே
In the middle of the street
set up a shop, fry vadas
and sell them once, oh yeah!
வாராயோ தோழி
வாராய் என் தோழி வா
வந்து லூட்டியடி ஓ
ஹோ ஓ
Won't you come, my friend?
Come, my female friend, come!
Come and let's make merry, oh ho oo!
வாரேவா தோழி
வயசான தோழி வாய்
விட்டு சீட்டியடி யே
ஹே யே
Wow, my friend!
My aged friend!
Whistle aloud, yeah hey yeah!
அன்புக்கு நீ
அரிச்சுவடி அன்னைக்கு
மேல் செல்லமடி
For affection, you are
the alphabet primer, and for mother
you are even dearer!
மழலையில் நான்
சாய்ந்தபடி முதுமையிலும்
வேண்டுமடி
Just as I leaned on you
during my childhood,
I need you in old age too!
ஓ யே
Oh yeah
வாராயோ தோழி
வாராய் என் தோழி வா
வந்து லூட்டியடி
Won't you come, my friend?
Come, my female friend, come!
Come and let's make merry!
ஓ ஹோ ஓ
Oh ho oo
வாரேவா தோழி
வயசான தோழி வாய்
விட்டு சீட்டியடி யே
ஹே யே
Wow, my friend!
My aged friend!
Whistle aloud, yeah hey yeah!
…………………………..
………………………………
Vaarayo thozhi
Won't you come, my friend?
Vaaraai en thozhi vaa
Come, my female friend, come!
Vanthu lootiyadi
Come and let's make merry!
Vaarevaa thozhi
Wow, my friend!
Vayasana thozhi
My aged friend!
Vaai vitu cheetiyadi
Whistle aloud!
Anbuku nee
For affection, you are
Arichuvadi annaiku
the alphabet primer, and for mother
Mel chellamadi
you are even dearer!
Mazhalaiyil
Just as I leaned on you
Naan sainthapadi
during my childhood,
Muthumaiyilum vendumadi
I need you in old age too!
Ye paati en sweety
Hey grandmother, my sweety!
Nee innum beauty beautyadi
You are still beauty, beauty personified!
Vaarayo thozhi
Won't you come, my friend?
Vaaraai en thozhi vaa
Come, my female friend, come!
Vanthu lootiyadi oh yea
Come and let's make merry, oh yeah!
Vaarevaa thozhi
Wow, my friend!
Vayasana thozhi
My aged friend!
Vaai vitu cheetiyadi
Whistle aloud!
Jeansellam matiko
Wear jeans!
Lip sticku potuko poi
Go put on lipstick!
Pesum naraiyellam
All the silver hair that speaks
Maipoosi mathiko oo…..
Dye it and change it!
Adi aathi enna
Oh my goodness, what is this
Koothu en vayasu paathi pochu
mad drama? Half my age is gone!
Clinton number
Clinton's phone number
Potu thaaren kilukilupaaga
I will dial and give you playfully,
I love you nee sollividu
you just say 'I love you'!
Yaar nee endral
If anyone asks who you are,
Miss world alla miss all
tell them you are not Miss World, but Miss All!
Endrae sollividu
Just say so!
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
Vaarayo thozhi
Won't you come, my friend?
Vaaraai en thozhi vaa
Come, my female friend, come!
Vanthu lootiyadi oh ho oh
Come and let's make merry, oh ho oh!
Vaarevaa thozhi
Wow, my friend!
Vayasana thozhi
My aged friend!
Vaai vitu cheetiyadi …….
Whistle aloud!
………………………
Computer paatuku
To computer music
Karagaatam nee aadu
you dance Karagaatam!
M tv channelil
On MTV channel
Sasti kavasam nee paadu ho ……
you sing Sashti Kavasam, ho!
2 piece uda potu
Wear a two-piece dress
Sun bathu edu paati
and take a sunbath, grandma!
Disney landil vaasal
At the entrance of Disneyland
Thelichi arisi maavu
sprinkle water and draw rice flour
Kolam poda vaa paati
Rangoli designs, come grandma!
Nadu roadtil oru
In the middle of the street
Kadaiya potu vada sutu
set up a shop, fry vadas
Vikanum oruvaati oh yea
and sell them once, oh yeah!
Vaarayo thozhi
Won't you come, my friend?
Vaaraai en thozhi vaa
Come, my female friend, come!
Vanthu lootiyadi oh ho oo
Come and let's make merry, oh ho oo!
Vaarevaa thozhi
Wow, my friend!
Vayasana thozhi
My aged friend!
Vaai vitu cheetiyadi yea hey yea
Whistle aloud, yeah hey yeah!
Anbuku nee
For affection, you are
Arichuvadi annaiku
the alphabet primer, and for mother
Mel chellamadi
you are even dearer!
Mazhalaiyil
Just as I leaned on you
Naan sainthapadi
during my childhood,
Muthumaiyilum vendumadi
I need you in old age too!
Oh yea
Oh yeah
Vaarayo thozhi
Won't you come, my friend?
Vaaraai en thozhi vaa
Come, my female friend, come!
Vanthu lootiyadi
Come and let's make merry!
Oh ho oo
Oh ho oo
Vaarevaa thozhi
Wow, my friend!
Vayasana thozhi
My aged friend!
Vaai vitu cheetiyadi yea hey yea …
Whistle aloud, yeah hey yeah!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Vaarayo Thozhi from the film Jeans (1998), composed by A.R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu, is a fun, energetic celebration of a grandmother's vibrant spirit. The song playfully subverts age norms, urging the grandmother to wear jeans, listen to modern music, and enjoy life freely without feeling constrained by societal expectations of growing old. Beneath the lighthearted pop references—such as calling Bill Clinton, broadcasting on MTV, or visiting Disneyland—lies a deep sense of warmth and gratitude. It expresses a timeless bond where the grandmother is revered not just as a guardian, but as a lifelong companion and friend.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monaipathai (Alliteration)
“Vaarayo thozhi / Vaaraai en thozhi vaa”
Repetition of the initial 'V' consonant sound across lines creating a rhythmic, cheerful opening cadence.
Juxtaposition
“M tv channelil / Sasti kavasam nee paadu ho”
Playful contrast pairing traditional Tamil customs (Karagaatam, Sasti Kavasam, Kolam, Vada) with global pop culture icons (MTV, Computer music, Disneyland).
Metaphor
“Anbuku nee / Arichuvadi”
Comparing the grandmother to an 'Arichuvadi' (alphabet primer), symbolizing her as the foundational source of love and warmth.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by A.R. Rahman for Shankar's hit movie Jeans (1998), this playful song uniquely subverts traditional depictions of grandmothers in Indian cinema by blending Carnatic devotional elements (Sashti Kavasam) and traditional folk arts with late-90s global pop cultural tropes.
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