Yenadi Roja
From Kattu Roja · 1963
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Kattu Roja1963
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Yenadi rojaa… | Oh rose, why... |
| Yenadi rojaa ennadi sirippu | Oh rose, why this laughter? |
| Edhanai kandaayo | What did you see? |
| Andru ponaval indru | Thinking that she who left back then |
| Vandhu vittaal endru | Has returned today, |
| Punnagai seidhaayo | Did you smile? |
| Female | |
| Yenadi rojaa ennadi sirippu | Oh rose, why this laughter? |
| Edhanai kandaayo | What did you see? |
| Andru ponaval indru | Thinking that she who left back then |
| Vandhu vittaal endru | Has returned today, |
| Punnagai seidhaayo | Did you smile? |
| Female | |
| Mottaaga nindravalae | You who stood like a flower bud, |
| Mullodu vandhavalae | You who came along with thorns, |
| Mottaaga nindravalae | You who stood like a flower bud, |
| Mullodu vandhavalae | You who came along with thorns, |
| Muthu nagaigalai kotti alandhidum | Showering and measuring pearl-like smiles, |
| Mugathai kondavalae | O woman with such a face! |
| Muthu nagaigalai kotti alandhidum | Showering and measuring pearl-like smiles, |
| Mugathai kondavalae | O woman with such a face! |
| Female | |
| Kattaana raani endru | Calling yourself a majestic queen, |
| Kattaalum saelai kondu | Draped in a fine saree, |
| Kattaana raani endru | Calling yourself a majestic queen, |
| Kattaalum saelai kondu | Draped in a fine saree, |
| Kangal mayangida kannam sivandhida | With swooning eyes and blushing red cheeks, |
| Thaluthu nindravalae | You who stood trembling with emotion, |
| Kangal mayangida kannam sivandhida | With swooning eyes and blushing red cheeks, |
| Thaluthu nindravalae | You who stood trembling with emotion, |
| Female | |
| Yenadi rojaa… | Oh rose, why... |
| Yenadi rojaa ennadi sirippu | Oh rose, why this laughter? |
| Edhanai kandaayo | What did you see? |
| Andru ponaval indru | Thinking that she who left back then |
| Vandhu vittaal endru | Has returned today, |
| Punnagai seidhaayo | Did you smile? |
| Female | |
| {Rathina kambalamae | {O carpet of gems, |
| Adi muthirai modhiramae | O signet ring, |
| Nee naalai pozhudhirkkul | Before tomorrow's day, |
| Vaadi vizhundhidum | You will wither and fall, |
| Maaya kadhaiyadiyo} (2) | Isn't this an illusory story?} (2) |
| Female | |
| Naan sithira penmaiyadi | I am a picture-perfect woman, |
| Idhu dheiva paruvamadi | This is a divine age of youth, |
| Naan sithira penmaiyadi | I am a picture-perfect woman, |
| Idhu dheiva paruvamadi | This is a divine age of youth, |
| Ethanai kolangal maariya podhilum | No matter how many roles or forms change, |
| Endrum ilamaiyadi enakku endrum ilamaiyadi | I have eternal youth, eternal youth is mine! |
| Ethanai kolangal maariya podhilum | No matter how many roles or forms change, |
| Endrum ilamaiyadi enakku endrum ilamaiyadi | I have eternal youth, eternal youth is mine! |
| Female | |
| Yenadi rojaa… | Oh rose, why... |
| Yenadi rojaa ennadi sirippu | Oh rose, why this laughter? |
| Edhanai kandaayo | What did you see? |
| Andru ponaval indru | Thinking that she who left back then |
| Vandhu vittaal endru | Has returned today, |
| Punnagai seidhaayo | Did you smile? |
| Female | |
| Yenadi rojaa ennadi sirippu | Oh rose, why this laughter? |
| Edhanai kandaayo | What did you see? |
| Andru ponaval indru | Thinking that she who left back then |
| Vandhu vittaal endru | Has returned today, |
| Punnagai seidhaayo | Did you smile? |
ஏனடி ரோஜா.......
ஏனடி ரோஜா என்னடி சிரிப்பு
எதனைக் கண்டாயோ
அன்று போனவள் இன்று
வந்து விட்டாள் என்று
புன்னகை செய்தாயோ
Oh rose, why...
Oh rose, why this laughter?
What did you see?
Thinking that she who left back then
Has returned today,
Did you smile?
ஏனடி ரோஜா என்னடி சிரிப்பு
எதனைக் கண்டாயோ
அன்று போனவள் இன்று
வந்து விட்டாள் என்று
புன்னகை செய்தாயோ
Oh rose, why this laughter?
What did you see?
Thinking that she who left back then
Has returned today,
Did you smile?
மொட்டாக நின்றவளே
முள்ளோடு வந்தவளே
மொட்டாக நின்றவளே
முள்ளோடு வந்தவளே
You who stood like a flower bud,
You who came along with thorns,
You who stood like a flower bud,
You who came along with thorns,
Showering and measuring pearl-like smiles,
O woman with such a face!
Showering and measuring pearl-like smiles,
O woman with such a face!
முத்து நகைகளை கொட்டி அளந்திடும்
முகத்தைக் கொண்டவளே
முத்து நகைகளை கொட்டி அளந்திடும்
முகத்தைக் கொண்டவளே
Calling yourself a majestic queen,
Draped in a fine saree,
Calling yourself a majestic queen,
Draped in a fine saree,
With swooning eyes and blushing red cheeks,
You who stood trembling with emotion,
With swooning eyes and blushing red cheeks,
You who stood trembling with emotion,
கட்டான ராணி என்று
கட்டாளம் சேலைக் கொண்டு
கட்டான ராணி என்று
கட்டாளம் சேலைக் கொண்டு
கண்கள் மயங்கிட கன்னம் சிவந்திட
தளுத்து நின்றவளே
கண்கள் மயங்கிட கன்னம் சிவந்திட
தளுத்து நின்றவளே
Oh rose, why...
Oh rose, why this laughter?
What did you see?
Thinking that she who left back then
Has returned today,
Did you smile?
ஏனடி ரோஜா.......
ஏனடி ரோஜா என்னடி சிரிப்பு
எதனைக் கண்டாயோ
அன்று போனவள் இன்று
வந்து விட்டாள் என்று
புன்னகை செய்தாயோ
{O carpet of gems,
O signet ring,
Before tomorrow's day,
You will wither and fall,
Isn't this an illusory story?} (2)
{இரத்தின கம்பளமே
அடி முத்திரை மோதிரமே
நீ நாளைப் பொழுதுக்குள்
வாடி விழுந்திடும்
மாயக் கதையடியோ} (2)
I am a picture-perfect woman,
This is a divine age of youth,
I am a picture-perfect woman,
This is a divine age of youth,
No matter how many roles or forms change,
I have eternal youth, eternal youth is mine!
No matter how many roles or forms change,
I have eternal youth, eternal youth is mine!
நான் சித்திர பெண்மையடி
இது தெய்வ பருவமடி
நான் சித்திர பெண்மையடி
இது தெய்வ பருவமடி
Oh rose, why...
Oh rose, why this laughter?
What did you see?
Thinking that she who left back then
Has returned today,
Did you smile?
எத்தனை காலங்கள் மாறிய போதிலும்
என்றும் இளமையடி எனக்கு
என்றும் இளமையடி
எத்தனை காலங்கள் மாறிய போதிலும்
என்றும் இளமையடி எனக்கு
என்றும் இளமையடி
Oh rose, why this laughter?
What did you see?
Thinking that she who left back then
Has returned today,
Did you smile?
ஏனடி ரோஜா.......
ஏனடி ரோஜா என்னடி சிரிப்பு
எதனைக் கண்டாயோ
அன்று போனவள் இன்று
வந்து விட்டாள் என்று
புன்னகை செய்தாயோ
ஏனடி ரோஜா என்னடி சிரிப்பு
எதனைக் கண்டாயோ
அன்று போனவள் இன்று
வந்து விட்டாள் என்று
புன்னகை செய்தாயோ
Yenadi rojaa…
Oh rose, why...
Yenadi rojaa ennadi sirippu
Oh rose, why this laughter?
Edhanai kandaayo
What did you see?
Andru ponaval indru
Thinking that she who left back then
Vandhu vittaal endru
Has returned today,
Punnagai seidhaayo
Did you smile?
Yenadi rojaa ennadi sirippu
Oh rose, why this laughter?
Edhanai kandaayo
What did you see?
Andru ponaval indru
Thinking that she who left back then
Vandhu vittaal endru
Has returned today,
Punnagai seidhaayo
Did you smile?
Mottaaga nindravalae
You who stood like a flower bud,
Mullodu vandhavalae
You who came along with thorns,
Mottaaga nindravalae
You who stood like a flower bud,
Mullodu vandhavalae
You who came along with thorns,
Muthu nagaigalai kotti alandhidum
Showering and measuring pearl-like smiles,
Mugathai kondavalae
O woman with such a face!
Muthu nagaigalai kotti alandhidum
Showering and measuring pearl-like smiles,
Mugathai kondavalae
O woman with such a face!
Kattaana raani endru
Calling yourself a majestic queen,
Kattaalum saelai kondu
Draped in a fine saree,
Kattaana raani endru
Calling yourself a majestic queen,
Kattaalum saelai kondu
Draped in a fine saree,
Kangal mayangida kannam sivandhida
With swooning eyes and blushing red cheeks,
Thaluthu nindravalae
You who stood trembling with emotion,
Kangal mayangida kannam sivandhida
With swooning eyes and blushing red cheeks,
Thaluthu nindravalae
You who stood trembling with emotion,
Yenadi rojaa…
Oh rose, why...
Yenadi rojaa ennadi sirippu
Oh rose, why this laughter?
Edhanai kandaayo
What did you see?
Andru ponaval indru
Thinking that she who left back then
Vandhu vittaal endru
Has returned today,
Punnagai seidhaayo
Did you smile?
{Rathina kambalamae
{O carpet of gems,
Adi muthirai modhiramae
O signet ring,
Nee naalai pozhudhirkkul
Before tomorrow's day,
Vaadi vizhundhidum
You will wither and fall,
Maaya kadhaiyadiyo} (2)
Isn't this an illusory story?} (2)
Naan sithira penmaiyadi
I am a picture-perfect woman,
Idhu dheiva paruvamadi
This is a divine age of youth,
Naan sithira penmaiyadi
I am a picture-perfect woman,
Idhu dheiva paruvamadi
This is a divine age of youth,
Ethanai kolangal maariya podhilum
No matter how many roles or forms change,
Endrum ilamaiyadi enakku endrum ilamaiyadi
I have eternal youth, eternal youth is mine!
Ethanai kolangal maariya podhilum
No matter how many roles or forms change,
Endrum ilamaiyadi enakku endrum ilamaiyadi
I have eternal youth, eternal youth is mine!
Yenadi rojaa…
Oh rose, why...
Yenadi rojaa ennadi sirippu
Oh rose, why this laughter?
Edhanai kandaayo
What did you see?
Andru ponaval indru
Thinking that she who left back then
Vandhu vittaal endru
Has returned today,
Punnagai seidhaayo
Did you smile?
Yenadi rojaa ennadi sirippu
Oh rose, why this laughter?
Edhanai kandaayo
What did you see?
Andru ponaval indru
Thinking that she who left back then
Vandhu vittaal endru
Has returned today,
Punnagai seidhaayo
Did you smile?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Yenadi Rojaa' from Kattu Roja (1963) features a poignant poetic conversation between a protagonist and a rose flower, serving as a metaphor for womanhood, beauty, and the passage of time. The lyrics address a rose that seems to mock or smile at the return of a woman who had left long ago. Through vivid imagery, Kannadasan contrasts physical impermanence—represented by the rose that blooms with thorns and withers away tomorrow—with the enduring spirit and divine grace of womanhood. The second stanza asserts a philosophical defiance against decay and transience. While nature and outer forms inevitably wither and change, true inner grace and womanhood ('sithira penmai') retain an eternal youthfulness ('endrum ilamaiyadi'). It is a reflective composition blending melancholy, pride, and deep Tamil poetic traditions.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification (Urubagam / Thani-Thanmai)
“Yenadi rojaa ennadi sirippu”
Addressing the rose directly as 'rojaa' and asking why it is laughing ('ennadi sirippu') personifies nature with human emotion.
Alliteration (Moonaai / Adhi-Monai)
“Mottaaga nindravalae / Mullodu vandhavalae”
Repetition of initial consonant 'M' sound in 'Mottaaga' and 'Mullodu' creates a lyrical and rhythmic flow.
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Muthu nagaigalai kotti alandhidum”
Comparing a radiant smile to scattering and measuring precious pearls ('muthu nagaigalai kotti alandhidum').
Antithesis / Contrast (Edhirnillai)
“Andru ponaval indru / Vandhu vittaal endru”
Contrasting 'Andru' (that past day) with 'Indru' (present day) highlights time passage and change in situation.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kattu Roja (1963) was directed by A. Subbarao and featured S. S. Rajendran and Devika in lead roles. The film's music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, and the immortal lyrics were penned by Kannadasan, who often used floral allegories to represent human life and transience.
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