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Pongi Varum Kaveri album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Indha Raasava Nambi

From Pongi Varum Kaveri · 1989

Lyricist
Ilaiyaraja
Singers
Ilayaraja, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Pongi Varum Kaveri
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
16 Mar 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Indha raasaava
Nambi vandha yaarum
Indha raasaava
Nambi vandha yaarum
Ada mosamae poga poradhillae
Indha raasaava
Nambi vandha yaarum
Ada mosamae poga poradhillae
Hey suttham ulla evanum
Kuttham cholli paaru
Utthamanum yaaru
Unna neeyae kelu
Dakkaru dakkaru dhaan
Indha raasaava
Indha raasaava
Nambi vandha yaarum
Indha raasaava
Nambi vandha yaarum
Ada mosamae poga poradhillae..
Hey hei hei
Indha raasaava
Nambi vandha yaarum
Ada mosamae poga poradhillae..hey
Kaiya ooni karanam pottu
Naanum vizhundhen
Ennai evan thookki vittaan
Yaarum illada
Chorus :Hoi
Poiya meiya cholli cholli
Dhinam valarndhen
Ippa enna paarkka varaan
Paththu peruda
Chorus :Hoi
Keezhirundha raasa annikku
Poiya ellaam
Chorus :Paathuputtan
Male :Mela vandha raasa innaikku
Unamaiya pottu
Chorus :Odaikkiraan
Naan paartha ulagatthilae
Manashunukku pechchu irukku
Ada ellarkkum eppodhum
Kaasuladhaan moochu irukku
Ada ulladha solluren
Nalladha seiyuren
Dakkaru dakkaru dhaan
Indha raasaava
Indha raasaava
Nambi vandha yaarum
Ada mosamae poga poradhillae..
Hey hei hei
Indha raasaava
Nambi vandha yaarum
Ada mosamae poga poradhillae..hey
Hey suttham ulla evanum
Kuttham cholli paaru
Utthamanum yaaru
Unna neeyae kelu
Dakkaru dakkaru dhaan
Dhinasari vaazhkkayilae
Poiya sollurom
Chinna chinna vishayam idhil
Kuththamum illai
Chorus :Hoi
Seerthiruththam pesugindra
Kavignyan ellaam
Poi ezhudhi paatta viththu
Kaasu vaanguraan
Chorus :Hoi
Kavignyan enna thalaivan enna
Ongitta dhaan
Chorus :Puluguraan
Male :Mela yeri osandha pinnae
Unnai yeikka
Chorus :Azhuguraan
Keezhirikkum ezhaigathaan
Moththathilae ilichcha vaayan daa
Yemaathuraven eththana per
Idha maathuravan yaarum illa daa
Indha unmaiyae solluren
Oththukka oththukka
Dakkaru dakkaru thaan
Indha raasaava
Indha raasaava
Nambi vandha yaarum
Ada mosamae poga poradhillae..
Illae..hey hey
Indha raasaava
Nambi vandha yaarum
Ada mosamae poga poradhillae..
Illae illae hey
Hey hey
Hey hey hey hey hey…..
In this Raja,
whoever placed their trust,
in this Raja,
whoever placed their trust,
hey, they will never be ruined!
In this Raja,
whoever placed their trust,
hey, they will never be ruined!
Hey, let anyone who is pure
try finding fault with me!
Who is truly righteous anyway?
Ask that to yourself!
It is totally top-notch!
In this Raja,
in this Raja,
whoever placed their trust,
in this Raja,
whoever placed their trust,
hey, they will never be ruined...
Hey hey hey!
In this Raja,
whoever placed their trust,
hey, they will never be ruined... hey!
Slipping and making excuses,
I too fell down once;
who was there to lift me up?
Nobody at all, man!
Chorus: Hoy!
Mingling lies and truth,
I grew up day by day;
now to come and see me,
people line up in groups, man!
Chorus: Hoy!
Back when he was down, that day, this Raja—
all the lies—
Chorus: Saw right through them!
Male: Having risen to the top today, this Raja—
laying out the plain truth—
Chorus: Smashes it wide open!
In this world that I have seen,
humans have plenty of big talk,
but hey, for everyone, always,
their very breath lives in money!
Hey, I speak what is real,
and I do what is good!
It is totally top-notch!
In this Raja,
in this Raja,
whoever placed their trust,
hey, they will never be ruined...
Hey hey hey!
In this Raja,
whoever placed their trust,
hey, they will never be ruined... hey!
Hey, let anyone who is pure
try finding fault with me!
Who is truly righteous anyway?
Ask that to yourself!
It is totally top-notch!
In our daily lives,
we tell small lies;
in such petty matters,
there is really no fault!
Chorus: Hoy!
All the poets who preach
about social reform—
they write lies, sell their songs,
and pocket the money!
Chorus: Hoy!
Be it a poet or be it a leader,
right to your face,
Chorus: He lies through his teeth!
Male: Once he climbs up and rises high,
just to deceive you,
Chorus: He sheds fake tears!
The poor folks at the bottom
are made fools of in the end, man!
There are so many who deceive,
but no one to change this, man!
I am speaking this truth,
admit it, just admit it!
It is totally top-notch!
In this Raja,
in this Raja,
whoever placed their trust,
hey, they will never be ruined...
No, never... hey hey!
In this Raja,
whoever placed their trust,
hey, they will never be ruined...
No never, no never, hey!
Hey hey!
Hey hey hey hey hey...!
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This energetic song from Pongi Varum Kaveri revolves around themes of trust, social awareness, and self-assertion. The protagonist, referred to as 'Raasa' (king), assures those around him that trusting him will never lead to ruin. He reflects on his humble beginnings, the struggles he faced alone without support, and how people only gravitated towards him once he achieved success. The lyrics critique society's obsession with money, hypocrisy among leaders and poets, and the plight of the poor who are constantly exploited. Despite these harsh realities, the protagonist remains committed to truthfulness and doing good.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Hey suttham ulla evanum / Kuttham cholli paaru

Matching second consonants across lines, e.g., 'suttham' and 'kuttham'.

Monaai (Alliteration / Initial Rhyme)

Keezhirundha raasa annikku / Mela vandha raasa innaikku

Matching initial sounds across adjacent lines or words, e.g., 'Keezhirundha' and 'Mela'.

Repetition / Refrain

Dakkaru dakkaru dhaan

Reiteration of the main catchphrase 'Dakkaru dakkaru dhaan' and 'Indha raasaava' to establish rhythm and emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

Pongi Varum Kaveri is a 1989 Tamil film starring Ramarajan and Gautami. The song features a vibrant folk rhythm composed with Ilaiyaraaja's signature rustic musical arrangement and lyrics reflecting social commentary.

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