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Lyrics & meaning

Kaattu Raja Ayya Kaattu Raja

From Thangamalai Ragasiyam · 1957

Lyricist
Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
Singers
Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, A. G. Rathnamala
Music director
T. G. Lingappa
Details
Thangamalai Ragasiyam1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Sengarumbhu solaiyilae..ae…ae…In the red sugarcane garden..
Sithaanai poothathu polaeLike a small elephant blooming into view,
Chinna chinna ponnugalaTo tease the young girls,
Saettai panna vandhavarae..ae…ae..O one who came to play pranks..
Female
Kattu raja aiyaa kaattu rajaKing of the forest, oh sir, king of the forest,
Unga kai varisai podhum kambhi neeetu rajaEnough of your tricks, now beat a retreat, king!
Kambhi neeetu rajaBeat a retreat, king!
Chorus
Kattu raja aiyaa kaattu rajaKing of the forest, oh sir, king of the forest,
Unga kai varisai podhum kambhi neeetu rajaEnough of your tricks, now beat a retreat, king!
Kambhi neeetu rajaBeat a retreat, king!
Female
Podavai mattum uduthi kittaa podhumaaIs it enough to merely drape a saree?
Ilam ponna pola kannai katta theriyumaDo you know how to entrance eyes like a young maiden?
Podavai mattum uduthi kittaa podhumaaIs it enough to merely drape a saree?
Ilam ponna pola kannai katta theriyumaDo you know how to entrance eyes like a young maiden?
Female
Nadakkum podhu iduppu summa odiyumaWill your waist sway effortlessly when you walk?
Nadakkum podhu iduppu summa odiyumaWill your waist sway effortlessly when you walk?
Ippadi nani koni nadanamaada mudiyumaCan you dance coyly and gracefully like this?
Ippadi nani koni nadanamaada mudiyumaCan you dance coyly and gracefully like this?
Chorus
Kattu raja aiyaa kaattu rajaKing of the forest, oh sir, king of the forest,
Unga kai varisai podhum kambhi neeetu rajaEnough of your tricks, now beat a retreat, king!
Kambhi neeetu rajaBeat a retreat, king!
Female
Panai marathaal pallu velakkuraBrushing teeth with a palm tree trunk,
Paga sooran vamsamA descendant of the grand demon lineage,
Chorus :Paga sooran vamsamChorus: A descendant of the grand demon lineage,
Female
Yaanai paalai kuduchi valarnthathinaalHaving grown up drinking elephant's milk,
Paarthathellam thuvamsamDestroying everything in sight,
Female
Panai marathaal pallu velakkuraBrushing teeth with a palm tree trunk,
Paga sooran vamsamA descendant of the grand demon lineage,
Female
Yaanai paalai kuduchi valarnthathinaalHaving grown up drinking elephant's milk,
Paarthathellam thuvamsamDestroying everything in sight,
Female
Kanakkillamae thinnu therkumEating endlessly and voraciously,
Ganesanin amsamAn aspect of Lord Ganesha,
Chorus :Kanakkillamae thinnu therkumChorus: Eating endlessly and voraciously,
Ganesanin amsamAn aspect of Lord Ganesha,
Female
Kandavudan kadhi kalangumTerrifying all who set eyes upon him,
Kaliyugathin hamsanA epitome of the Kali Yuga,
Yaarum kandavudan kadhi kalangumAnyone who sees him trembles in panic,
Kaliyugathin hamsanA epitome of the Kali Yuga,
Chorus
Kattu raja aiyaa kaattu rajaKing of the forest, oh sir, king of the forest,
Unga kai varisai podhum kambhi neeetu rajaEnough of your tricks, now beat a retreat, king!
Kambhi neeetu rajaBeat a retreat, king!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and humorous song from 'Thangamalai Ragasiyam' (1957) is a teasing banter directed at an overconfident character boasting in the woods. The singers mock his attempt to disguise himself or show off in front of women, sarcastically addressing him as 'Kaattu Raja' (King of the Forest) and telling him that his tricks are no longer working, so he should run away.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Panai marathaal / Paga sooran vamsam

Matching second consonants across lines ('Kattu' and 'Unga' or 'Panai' and 'Paga' / 'Yaanai').

Monaai (Alliteration)

Chinna chinna ponnugala Saettai panna vandhavarae

Repetition of initial consonants like 'ch' in 'Chinna chinna' and 's' in 'Saettai'.

Simile (Upamai)

Sithaanai poothathu polae

Comparing the person's appearance to a small elephant blooming like a flower in the sugarcane field.

Hyperbole (Uvachol / Adayalam)

Panai marathaal pallu velakkura... Yaanai paalai kuduchi valarnthathinaal

Humorous exaggeration describing the character brushing teeth with a palm tree trunk and drinking elephant milk.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Thangamalai Ragasiyam' (1957) was a hit adventure-fantasy film starring Sivaji Ganesan and T. R. Rajakumari, composed by T. G. Lingappa. The song features spirited vocal performances by Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi and A. G. Rathnamala, adding comedic flair to the film's narrative.

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