Idhu Raja Gopura
From Taxi Driver · 1978
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Taxi Driver1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Idhu raja gopura deepam agal vilakku alla | This is the grand lamp on the temple tower, not a humble clay lamp. |
| Idhu raja gopura deepam agal vilakku alla | This is the grand lamp on the temple tower, not a humble clay lamp. |
| Mazhai moodum aippasi megam pani thuli alla | This is the rain cloud of the Aippasi month, not a mere dewdrop. |
| Mazhai moodum aippasi megam pani thuli alla | This is the rain cloud of the Aippasi month, not a mere dewdrop. |
| Pongum nilavu pothigai thendral | Rising radiant moon and breeze from the Podhigai hills, |
| Mangai pallaandu vaazhga vaazhga | May this young maiden live for many long years! |
| Male | |
| Idhu raja gopura deepam agal vilakku alla | This is the grand lamp on the temple tower, not a humble clay lamp. |
| Male | |
| Idhu raja gopura deepam agal vilakku alla | This is the grand lamp on the temple tower, not a humble clay lamp. |
| Male | |
| Vairam amarvathu thangaththun meedhu | A diamond resting upon a pedestal of gold, |
| Maadhvan thunaithaan thirumagal maathu | Just as Lakshmi is the eternal consort of Lord Madhava, |
| Mangaiyin azhagukku inai ondru yaedhu | What could ever compare to the beauty of this maiden? |
| Manmathanae kandu mayangidum pothu | Even Manmatha himself would swoon upon seeing her. |
| Male | |
| Maanikka veenaiyil aayiram raagam | A thousand ragas waiting inside a gem-encrusted veena, |
| Vaasikka povathu yaaro evaro | Who is the fortunate one destined to play it? |
| Kaanikkai thanthathu yaezhaiyin karangal | These hands offering tribute belong to a poor man, |
| Kadavul vaguththathu avaravar idangal | For God has already ordained each person's place. |
| Chorus :Pongum nilavu pothigai thendral | Chorus: Rising radiant moon and breeze from the Podhigai hills, |
| Mangai pallaandu vaazhga vaazhga | May this young maiden live for many long years! |
| Chorus | |
| Idhu raja gopura deepam agal vilakku alla | This is the grand lamp on the temple tower, not a humble clay lamp. |
| Mazhai moodum aippasi megam pani thuli alla | This is the rain cloud of the Aippasi month, not a mere dewdrop. |
| Male | |
| Kangal irandum karu vanna pookkal | Both her eyes are like dark blossom flowers, |
| Kaaviyam paadidum kaarmugil koondhal | Her dark, cloud-like hair sings an epic poem. |
| Thennaiyilae oru perinba nadanam | A dance of supreme bliss atop the coconut palm, |
| Piranthaal adhuthaan jaadhiyin jananam | If one is born, such a life is the true birth of grace. |
| Male | |
| Kalangamillaa oru santhiravathani | A moon-faced beauty untainted by any flaw, |
| Kavithaiyilae oru sowndharyalahari | An ocean wave of sublime beauty captured in poetry. |
| Thennampaalai sennira vaazhai | Like the tender coconut blossom and the rich red banana, |
| Siriyavan sonnaen sonnavvan yaezhai | Spoken by a humble man, for the speaker is just a poor man. |
| Chorus :Pongum nilavu pothigai thendral | Chorus: Rising radiant moon and breeze from the Podhigai hills, |
| Mangai pallaandu vaazhga vaazhga | May this young maiden live for many long years! |
| Chorus | |
| Idhu raja gopura deepam agal vilakku alla | This is the grand lamp on the temple tower, not a humble clay lamp. |
| Mazhai moodum aippasi megam pani thuli alla | This is the rain cloud of the Aippasi month, not a mere dewdrop. |
மற்றும் எம். எஸ். விஸ்வநாதன்
This is the grand lamp on the temple tower, not a humble clay lamp.
This is the grand lamp on the temple tower, not a humble clay lamp.
This is the rain cloud of the Aippasi month, not a mere dewdrop.
This is the rain cloud of the Aippasi month, not a mere dewdrop.
Rising radiant moon and breeze from the Podhigai hills,
May this young maiden live for many long years!
இது ராஜா கோபுர தீபம் அகல் விளக்கு அல்ல
இது ராஜா கோபுர தீபம் அகல் விளக்கு அல்ல
மழை மூடும் ஐப்பசி மேகம் பனித் துளி அல்ல
மழை மூடும் ஐப்பசி மேகம் பனித் துளி அல்ல
பொங்கும் நிலவு பொதிகை தென்றல்
மங்கை பல்லாண்டு வாழ்க வாழ்க
This is the grand lamp on the temple tower, not a humble clay lamp.
இது ராஜா கோபுர தீபம் அகல் விளக்கு அல்ல
This is the grand lamp on the temple tower, not a humble clay lamp.
காற்றினில் வந்தது பூவில் வாசம்
காட்டுப்பூவென பிறந்தது நேசம்
காற்றினில் வந்தது பூவில் வாசம்
காட்டுப்பூவென பிறந்தது நேசம்
தேவன் மலரென தெரிந்தது இன்று
தேடிய கண்கள் செல்வது எங்கு
A diamond resting upon a pedestal of gold,
Just as Lakshmi is the eternal consort of Lord Madhava,
What could ever compare to the beauty of this maiden?
Even Manmatha himself would swoon upon seeing her.
இது ராஜா கோபுர தீபம் அகல் விளக்கு அல்ல
A thousand ragas waiting inside a gem-encrusted veena,
Who is the fortunate one destined to play it?
These hands offering tribute belong to a poor man,
For God has already ordained each person's place.
Chorus: Rising radiant moon and breeze from the Podhigai hills,
May this young maiden live for many long years!
வைரம் அமர்வது தங்கத்தின் மீது
மாதவன் துணை தான் திருமகள் மாது
மங்கையின் அழகுக்கு இணை ஒன்று ஏது
மன்மதனே கண்டு மயங்கிடும் போது
This is the grand lamp on the temple tower, not a humble clay lamp.
This is the rain cloud of the Aippasi month, not a mere dewdrop.
மாணிக்க வீணையில் ஆயிரம் ராகம்
வாசிக்க போவது யாரோ எவரோ
காணிக்கை தந்தது ஏழையின் கரங்கள்
கடவுள் வகுத்தது அவரவர் இடங்கள்
குழு :
பொங்கும் நிலவு பொதிகை தென்றல்
மங்கை பல்லாண்டு வாழ்க வாழ்க
Both her eyes are like dark blossom flowers,
Her dark, cloud-like hair sings an epic poem.
A dance of supreme bliss atop the coconut palm,
If one is born, such a life is the true birth of grace.
இது ராஜா கோபுர தீபம் அகல் விளக்கு அல்ல
மழை மூடும் ஐப்பசி மேகம் பனித் துளி அல்ல
A moon-faced beauty untainted by any flaw,
An ocean wave of sublime beauty captured in poetry.
Like the tender coconut blossom and the rich red banana,
Spoken by a humble man, for the speaker is just a poor man.
Chorus: Rising radiant moon and breeze from the Podhigai hills,
May this young maiden live for many long years!
கண்கள் இரண்டும் கரு வண்ணப்பூக்கள்
காவியம் பாடிடும் கார்முகில் கூந்தல்
தென்னையிலே ஒரு பேரின்ப நடனம்
பிறந்தால் அதுதான் ஜாதியின் ஜனனம்
This is the grand lamp on the temple tower, not a humble clay lamp.
This is the rain cloud of the Aippasi month, not a mere dewdrop.
களங்கமில்லா ஒரு சந்திரவதனி
கவிதையிலே ஒரு சௌந்தர்யலஹரி
தென்னம்பாளை செந்நிற வாழை
சிறியவன் சொன்னேன் சொன்னவன் ஏழை
குழு :
பொங்கும் நிலவு பொதிகை தென்றல்
மங்கை பல்லாண்டு வாழ்க வாழ்க
இது ராஜா கோபுர தீபம் அகல் விளக்கு அல்ல
மழை மூடும் ஐப்பசி மேகம் பனித் துளி அல்ல
Idhu raja gopura deepam agal vilakku alla
This is the grand lamp on the temple tower, not a humble clay lamp.
Idhu raja gopura deepam agal vilakku alla
This is the grand lamp on the temple tower, not a humble clay lamp.
Mazhai moodum aippasi megam pani thuli alla
This is the rain cloud of the Aippasi month, not a mere dewdrop.
Mazhai moodum aippasi megam pani thuli alla
This is the rain cloud of the Aippasi month, not a mere dewdrop.
Pongum nilavu pothigai thendral
Rising radiant moon and breeze from the Podhigai hills,
Mangai pallaandu vaazhga vaazhga
May this young maiden live for many long years!
Idhu raja gopura deepam agal vilakku alla
This is the grand lamp on the temple tower, not a humble clay lamp.
Idhu raja gopura deepam agal vilakku alla
This is the grand lamp on the temple tower, not a humble clay lamp.
Vairam amarvathu thangaththun meedhu
A diamond resting upon a pedestal of gold,
Maadhvan thunaithaan thirumagal maathu
Just as Lakshmi is the eternal consort of Lord Madhava,
Mangaiyin azhagukku inai ondru yaedhu
What could ever compare to the beauty of this maiden?
Manmathanae kandu mayangidum pothu
Even Manmatha himself would swoon upon seeing her.
Maanikka veenaiyil aayiram raagam
A thousand ragas waiting inside a gem-encrusted veena,
Vaasikka povathu yaaro evaro
Who is the fortunate one destined to play it?
Kaanikkai thanthathu yaezhaiyin karangal
These hands offering tribute belong to a poor man,
Kadavul vaguththathu avaravar idangal
For God has already ordained each person's place.
Chorus :Pongum nilavu pothigai thendral
Chorus: Rising radiant moon and breeze from the Podhigai hills,
Mangai pallaandu vaazhga vaazhga
May this young maiden live for many long years!
Idhu raja gopura deepam agal vilakku alla
This is the grand lamp on the temple tower, not a humble clay lamp.
Mazhai moodum aippasi megam pani thuli alla
This is the rain cloud of the Aippasi month, not a mere dewdrop.
Kangal irandum karu vanna pookkal
Both her eyes are like dark blossom flowers,
Kaaviyam paadidum kaarmugil koondhal
Her dark, cloud-like hair sings an epic poem.
Thennaiyilae oru perinba nadanam
A dance of supreme bliss atop the coconut palm,
Piranthaal adhuthaan jaadhiyin jananam
If one is born, such a life is the true birth of grace.
Kalangamillaa oru santhiravathani
A moon-faced beauty untainted by any flaw,
Kavithaiyilae oru sowndharyalahari
An ocean wave of sublime beauty captured in poetry.
Thennampaalai sennira vaazhai
Like the tender coconut blossom and the rich red banana,
Siriyavan sonnaen sonnavvan yaezhai
Spoken by a humble man, for the speaker is just a poor man.
Chorus :Pongum nilavu pothigai thendral
Chorus: Rising radiant moon and breeze from the Podhigai hills,
Mangai pallaandu vaazhga vaazhga
May this young maiden live for many long years!
Idhu raja gopura deepam agal vilakku alla
This is the grand lamp on the temple tower, not a humble clay lamp.
Mazhai moodum aippasi megam pani thuli alla
This is the rain cloud of the Aippasi month, not a mere dewdrop.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is an eloquent poetic tribute extolling the exalted beauty, purity, and nobility of a woman. Lyricist Kannadasan utilizes striking metaphors to elevate her stature—comparing her not to a humble oil lamp, but to the majestic beacon shining from a temple's spire, and not to a mere drop of dew, but to a generous monsoon cloud. The singer expresses profound admiration while humbly acknowledging his own modest status in comparison to her grandeur.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Idhu raja gopura deepam agal vilakku alla”
Compares the noble lady to a temple tower lamp ('Raja gopura deepam') and a monsoon rain cloud ('Aippasi megam') to signify high stature.
Hyperbole (Athisayokthi)
“Manmathanae kandu mayangidum pothu”
Exaggerates her allure by stating that even Manmatha (the God of Love) would be mesmerized by her beauty.
Alliteration and Rhyme (Edhugai / Monai)
“Kangal irandum karu vanna pookkal / Kaaviyam paadidum kaarmugil koondhal”
Employs classic Tamil poetic rhyming patterns such as 'Kangal' and 'Kaaviyam' or 'Thennampaalai' and 'Siriyavan'.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track from the 1978 film Taxi Driver features a rare dual-vocal dynamic between legendary composer M. S. Viswanathan (MSV) and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam (SPB). MSV's raw, expressive voice juxtaposed with SPB's smooth, melodic tone created a memorable contrast that highlighted Kannadasan's classical Tamil lyrics.
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