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Rojavin Raja album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Janaganin Magalai

From Rojavin Raja · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Rojavin Raja
Movie release year
1976
Lyrics added on
20 Feb 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Janaganin magalai manamagalaaga
Raman ninaithirunthaan
Janaganin magalai manamagalaaga
Raman ninaithirunthaan
Rajaraman ninaithirunthaan
Aval suyamvaram kolla
Mannavar silarum
Midhilaikku vandhirundhaar
Aval suyamvaram kolla
Mannavar silarum
Midhilaikku vandhirundhaar
Midhilaikku vandhirundhaar
Janaganin magalai manamagalaaga
Raman ninaithirunthaan
Rajaraman ninaithirunthaan
Mani muthu maanikka madathil irunthu
Jaanaki paarthirunthaal
Mani muthu maanikka madathil irunthu
Jaanaki paarthirunthaal
Iru mai vizhi sivakka malaradi kothikka
Ramanai thedi nindraal
Iru mai vizhi sivakka malaradi kothikka
Ramanai thedi nindraal
Naanam oru puram aasai oru puram
Kavalai maru puram aval nilamai thiripuram
Kothikindra moochu maalaiyil vilunthu
Maniyum karugiyathe
Aval koonthalil irundha malarum
Janaki nilamaiku urugiyadhae
Janaganin magalai manamagalaaga
Raman ninaithirunthaan
Nenjai maraithaal ninaivai maraithaal
Kangalai maraikkavillai
Nenjai maraithaal ninaivai maraithaal
Kangalai maraikkavillai
Aval manjal mugathil odiya kanneer
Maraithum maraiya villai
Munivan mun puram sreeraman pinpuram
Seethai thaniyidam aval sindhai avanidam
Mannavar ellaam suyam varam naadi
Mandapam vandhu vittar
Oru mannavan yaaro villai eduthaan
Janaki kalangi vittaal
Janaki kalangi vittaal
Janaganin magalai manamagalaaga
Raman ninaithirunthaan
Rajaraman ninaithirunthaan
To have Janaka's daughter as his bride,
Rama had longed in his heart.
To have Janaka's daughter as his bride,
Rama had longed in his heart,
King Rama had longed in his heart.
For her swayamvaram (contest to choose a groom),
many kings
had arrived in Mithila.
For her swayamvaram,
many kings
had arrived in Mithila,
had arrived in Mithila.
To have Janaka's daughter as his bride,
Rama had longed in his heart,
King Rama had longed in his heart.
From the balcony decorated with pearls and gems,
Janaki stood watching.
From the balcony decorated with pearls and gems,
Janaki stood watching.
With her dark-lined eyes turning red and flower-soft feet burning with anxiety,
she stood searching for Rama.
With her dark-lined eyes turning red and flower-soft feet burning with anxiety,
she stood searching for Rama.
Shyness on one side, longing on the other,
worry all around—her heart was in deep turmoil.
As her feverish breath fell upon her garland,
even its beads seemed scorched.
The flowers in her hair
melted in sorrow at Janaki's plight.
To have Janaka's daughter as his bride,
Rama had longed in his heart.
She hid her feelings, she hid her thoughts,
but she could not hide her eyes.
She hid her feelings, she hid her thoughts,
but she could not hide her eyes.
The tears streaming down her golden face
would not stay hidden, no matter how hard she tried.
The sage walked in front, Lord Rama followed behind;
Sita was all alone, but her thoughts were with him.
All the kings, hoping to win her hand,
had gathered in the hall.
When some unknown king reached to lift the bow,
Janaki's heart trembled with fear.
Janaki's heart trembled with fear...
To have Janaka's daughter as his bride,
Rama had longed in his heart,
King Rama had longed in his heart.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic Kannadasan lyric narrates Sita's intense emotion and anxiety during the Swayamvaram event described in the Ramayana. Rama has set his mind on marrying Janaki (Sita), while kings gather in Mithila to win her hand by attempting to lift the mighty bow. Sita watches the assembly from her balcony, consumed by mixed feelings of love, shyness, and agony over whether Rama will be the one to break the bow and win her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Hyperbole (Uvamai / Uyarchinavarchi)

“Kothikindra moochu maalaiyil vilunthu Maniyum karugiyathe”

Her fiery, anxious breath is hyperbolically described as hot enough to scorch the beads of her necklace.

Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai / Ethirai)

“Nenjai maraithaal ninaivai maraithaal Kangalai maraikkavillai”

Kannadasan utilizes rhythmic rhyme patterns ('maraithaal', 'maraikkavillai') to emphasize Sita's inability to conceal her love through her eyes.

Personification

“Aval koonthalil irundha malarum Janaki nilamaiku urugiyadhae”

The flower residing in her hair is personified as feeling empathy and melting at Sita's distressed state.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by the legendary M. S. Vishwanathan for the film 'Rojavin Raja' (1976), starring Sivaji Ganesan and Vaniisri. Sung flawlessly by P. Susheela, Kannadasan brings traditional epic storytelling from Ramayana into a cinematic context through classical Tamil imagery.

Keep listening

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Enna Ninaithu1967
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From the same album

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