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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yaar Veetu Roja

From Idhaya Kovil · 1985

Lyricist
Mu. Metha
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Idhaya Kovil1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Yaar veettil rojaIn whose house did the rose
Poo pooththadhoBlossom into a flower?
Kar kaala kaatrilIn the dark monsoon wind,
Yen vaadudhoWhy is it wilting away?
Male
Megam thannaiCloud colliding with
Megam modhiCloud itself,
Minnal minnudho…hoIs lightning flashing... ho?
Minnal indha neramDoes lightning at this moment
Endhan kannil minnudhoFlash within my eyes?
Male
Oru raagam pudhu raagamA melody, a new melody,
Adhil sogam thaan yenoBut why is there sadness in it?
Yaar veettil rojaIn whose house did the rose
Poo pooththadhoBlossom into a flower?
Male
Raagangal nooruA hundred ragas,
Aval koduththaalShe gave them to me;
Geethangal nooruA hundred songs,
Aval thoduththaalShe composed them.
Male
Jeevan angaeLife is over there,
Ennai thedumSearching for me,
Paadal ingaeWhile the song over here
Kaatril odumFloats away in the wind.
Male
Kaanaamal kangalWithout seeing her, do my eyes
NogindradhoAche with pain?
Kaadhal jodi ondruA pair of lovers
Vaadum neram indruIs wilting today at this hour.
Male
Orr ezhai venpuraa medaiyilOne poor white dove is on stage,
En kaadhal pen puraa veedhiyilMy beloved female dove is on the street.
Poongaatru poraadavaeAs the gentle breeze struggles,
Pooththa poovum aatril odavaeDoes the blossomed flower float away in the river?
Male
Yaar veettil rojaIn whose house did the rose
Poo pooththadhoBlossom into a flower?
Male
Vaan megam modhumSky clouds collide
Mazhai dhanilaeIn that rain,
Naan paadum paadalThe song that I sing
NanaigiradhaeIs getting drenched.
Male
Paadal ingaeBecause the song here
NanaivadhanaalaeIs getting drenched,
Nanaiyum vaarthaiThe soaked words
Karaiyudhu ingaeAre dissolving away here.
Male
Jenmangal yaavumAcross all future births,
Nee vaazhavaeMay you live long!
Kaadhal konda ullamThe heart that holds love
Kaanum anbin illamIs the home where love resides.
Male
Orr kaatrin kaigalum theendumoWill even the hands of the wind touch it?
En kaaval yellaiyai thaandumoWill it cross the boundary of my protection?
Gnyaayangal vaai moodumoWill justice remain silent?
Deivam illai yendru pogumoWill it end with saying God does not exist?
Male
Yaar veettil rojaIn whose house did the rose
Poo pooththadhoBlossom into a flower?
Male
Megam thannaiCloud colliding with
Megam modhiCloud itself,
Minnal minnudho…hoIs lightning flashing... ho?
Minnal indha neramDoes lightning at this moment
Endhan kannil minnudhoFlash within my eyes?
Male
Oru raagam pudhu raagamA melody, a new melody,
Adhil sogam thaan yenoBut why is there sadness in it?
Male
Yaar veettil rojaIn whose house did the rose
Poo pooththadhoBlossom into a flower?
Kar kaala kaatrilIn the dark monsoon wind,
Yen vaadudhoWhy is it wilting away?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Yaar Veettil Roja from the 1985 Tamil film Idhaya Kovil is a deeply emotional ballad expressing heartbreak, helplessness, and the agony of separation. The speaker uses the central metaphor of a delicate rose blooming in someone else's garden—only to wither away in harsh monsoon winds—to portray his helpless love. Despite composing and singing melodies inspired by his beloved, the singer feels immense grief as circumstances force them apart, leaving him performing on stage while his love suffers on the street.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Yaar veettil roja poo pooththadho

Compares the speaker's beloved and her fragile situation to a blooming rose in a house.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

pooththadho / vaadudho / minnudho

Endings of consecutive lines share the same sound pattern ('-o').

Muran (Contrast)

Orr ezhai venpuraa medaiyil / En kaadhal pen puraa veedhiyil

Contrasts the male lover being elevated on a stage while the female beloved is left vulnerable on the street.

Personification

Nanaiyum vaarthai karaiyudhu ingae

Attributes physical traits of dissolving and getting drenched to spoken/sung words.

Did you know?

Trivia

Idhaya Kovil (1985) is a romantic drama directed by Mani Ratnam, starring Mohan, Radha, and Ambika. The film's iconic musical score was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with memorable male vocal renditions by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. J. Yesudas, and lyrics written by the celebrated Tamil poet Mu. Metha.

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