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Lyrics & meaning

Azhagana Ratchashiyae

From Mudhalvan · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Harini, G. V. Prakash Kumar
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Mudhalvan1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Mm mm…mm mm mm mm… mm mm…Humming sounds...
Male
{Azhaghaana raatchasiyaeOh beautiful demoness,
Adinenjil gudhikkiriyaeYou jump into the depths of my heart!
Muttaasu vaarthayilaeWith sweet candy-like words,
Pattaasu vedikkiriyaeYou burst like firecrackers!
Adi manasa aruvaamanaiyil narukkuriyae..} (2)Oh, you chop my heart on a vegetable cutter knife...
Female
Arugampullukku aruka theriyumaaDoes Bermuda grass know how to cut?
Kozhandha kumari naan aamaaYes, I am an innocent young girl!
Ayira meenudhaan kokka muzhungumaaCan a tiny Ayira fish swallow a crane?
AdukkumaaIs that fair?
Female
Veliya poothu nee ulla kaaikkiraFlowering outside while bearing fruit inside,
Kadalakkaadu nee aamaaYes, you are a peanut field!
Uyira urichu nee kayira thirikkiraPeeling away my life and twisting it into a rope,
Sugam sugamaaHow blissfully sweet it feels!
Male
Kiliyae aalangiliyaeOh parrot, banyan tree parrot!
Kuyilae yelanguyilaeOh cuckoo, tender cuckoo!
Azhaghaana raatchasiyaeOh beautiful demoness,
Adinenjil gudhikkiriyaeYou jump into the depths of my heart!
Adi manasa aruvaamanaiyil narukkuriyae..Oh, you chop my heart on a vegetable cutter knife...
Chorus
Mm mm…mm mm mm mm… mm mm…Humming sounds...
Male
Sooriyana rendu thunduIs she the one who split the sun into two pieces
Senju kannil kondavalo oh ohAnd placed them in her eyes? Oh oh
Chorus :Oh ohChorus: Oh oh
Male :Chandhirana kallukkullaIs she the woman who soaked the moon
Oora vecha pennivaloInside a stone?
Chorus :Oh oh ohChorus: Oh oh oh
Male
Rathiriya thattithattiPatting night into a solid mass
Getti senji maiyidavo ah ahTo apply it as kohl? Ah ah
Chorus :Oh ohChorus: Oh oh
Male :Minminiya kannathulaSticking fireflies on her cheeks
Otta vechu kaithattavoTo clap her hands in joy?
Chorus :Oh oh ohChorus: Oh oh oh
Female
Thoravi enna tholachiputtaThe key has been lost,
Thookkam ippa dhooramaiyaaSleep is now far away, sir!
Thalaikku vechi naan padukkaFor me to place under my head and sleep,
Azhukku vetti thaarumaiyaaPlease give me a worn veshti cloth, sir!
Thoonghum thookkam kanavaa…aaah…Is sleeping sleep just a dream? Ah...
Male
Kiliyae aalangiliyaeOh parrot, banyan tree parrot!
Kuyilae yelanguyilaeOh cuckoo, tender cuckoo!
Azhaghaana raatchasiyaeOh beautiful demoness,
Adinenjil gudhikkiriyaeYou jump into the depths of my heart!
Muttaasu vaarthayilaeWith sweet candy-like words,
Pattaasu vedikkiriyaeYou burst like firecrackers!
Adi manasa aruvaamanaiyil narukkuriyae..Oh, you chop my heart on a vegetable cutter knife...
Chorus
Solakkolla bommaiyodaPlaying in pair with a scarecrow,
Sodi serndhu aadum pullaOh girl who dances along!
Chorus :Puliyam poovaeChorus: Tamarind flower!
Chorus :Solakkolla bommaiyodaChorus: Playing in pair with a scarecrow,
Sodi serndhu aadum pullaOh girl who dances along!
Chorus :Maghizam poovaeChorus: Mulsari flower!
Female
Thaen kootta pichi pichiTearing apart the honeycomb piece by piece,
Yechi vekka latchiyamaa.. ah ahIs your goal to make it impure with saliva? Ah ah
Chorus :Oh ohChorus: Oh oh
Female :Kaadhal yenna katchi vittuFemale: Is love something like defecting
Katchi maarum kaariyamaaFrom one political party to another?
Chorus :Oh oh ohChorus: Oh oh oh
Female
Ponnu sonna thalakeezhaaJust because a girl said so, can you turn everything
Okkippoda mudiyumaa ah ahUpside down? Ah ah
Chorus :Oh ohChorus: Oh oh
Female :Naan nadakkum nizhalukkulFemale: Within the shadow where I walk,
Nee vasikka sammadhamaa…Do you agree to dwell?
Male
Neeraagha naan irundhaalNeeraagha naan irundhaal
Un neththiyila naan iranghiDescending upon your forehead,
Kooraana un nenjilInto your sharp heart,
Kudhichi anga kudi iruppenI would jump and make my home there!
Kaadaa veenaa ponenI became wasted like wild forest land!
Female
Arugampullukku aruka theriyumaaDoes Bermuda grass know how to cut?
Kozhandha kumari naan aamaaYes, I am an innocent young girl!
Ayira meenudhaan kokka muzhungumaaCan a tiny Ayira fish swallow a crane?
AdukkumaaIs that fair?
Female
Veliya poothu nee ulla kaaikkiraFlowering outside while bearing fruit inside,
Kadalakkaadu nee aamaaYes, you are a peanut field!
Uyira urichu nee kayira thirikkiraPeeling away my life and twisting it into a rope,
Sugam sugamaaHow blissfully sweet it feels!
Chorus
Mm mm…mm mm mm mm… mm mm…Humming sounds...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Azhaghaana Raatchasiyae from Mudhalvan (1999) is a playful, folk-infused romantic duet written by Vairamuthu and composed by A. R. Rahman. The song presents an endearing verbal duel between the lovers, filled with witty rural metaphors and vivid imagery. The male protagonist affectionately addresses his beloved as a beautiful demoness whose fiery words and charm cut straight through his heart, while she responds with innocent protests and rustic analogies.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Metaphor/Simile)

Muttaasu vaarthayilae / Pattaasu vedikkiriyae

Comparing sweet words to candy (Muttaasu vaarthai) and their impact to bursting firecrackers (Pattaasu vedikkiriyae).

Hyperbole (Exaggeration)

Sooriyana rendu thundu / Senju kannil kondavalo

Exaggerating the heroine's brightness by imagining her splitting the sun into two to place in her eyes.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Azhaghaana raatchasiyae / Adinenjil gudhikkiriyae

Rhyming of second consonant letters in Tamil poetry ('zza' / 'di' sound patterns across consecutive lines).

Rhetorical Question

Ayira meenudhaan kokka muzhungumaa / Adukkumaa

Asking whether tiny Ayira fish can swallow a crane to playfully demonstrate impossibility.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman for Shankar's blockbuster political thriller 'Mudhalvan' (1999), this song features vocals by Shankar Mahadevan, Harini, and G. V. Prakash Kumar (as a child vocalist in the intro/humming sections).

Keep listening

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