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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Kaatu Rani

From Thayai Katha Thanayan · 1962

Lyricist: Lyricist Not Known
Singers: T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director: K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name: Thayai Katha Thanayan
Movie release year: 1962
Lyrics added on: 25 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Kaatu rani

Kaatu rani

Naatu raja

Naatu raja

{ Kaatu

Rani mugathai

Kaatu rani } (2)

Nee

Kathiri pol

Kan thirandhu

Kaatu rani

Mugathai

Kaatu rani kaatu rani

Mugathai kaatu rani

{ Naatu

Raja manasai naatu

Raja } (2)

Indha

Kaatukullae

Kaadhal kodi

Naatu raja

Manasai naatu raja

Naatu

Raja manasai naatu

Raja

Angam

Muzhudhum thanga

Thagadu minnida

Kanden angae alli poo

Angam

Muzhudhum thanga

Thagadu minnida

Kanden angae alli poovum

Mella

Ennai azhaithida kanden

{ Vandu

Parandhu poovil

Irundhu mayangida

Kanden

Then

Undu magizhndhu

Poovin melae urangida kanden } (2)

Kaatu rani

Mugathai kaatu rani

{ Ulagam

Muzhudhum

Iruvarukullae

Adangida kanden

Ondril

Ondrai vizhigal

Irandum odhungida

Kanden } (2)

Kanni

Kanigal thammai

Marandhu kalandhida

Kandaen kaala kadalil

Kaadhal padagu nadandhida kanden

{ Naatu

Raja manasai naatu

Raja } (2)

Indha

Kaatukullae

Kaadhal kodi

Naatu raja

Manasai naatu raja

Kaatu

Rani mugathai

Kaatu rani

Jungle queen!

Jungle queen!

King of the land!

King of the land!

Show me,

show your queenly face,

show it, jungle queen!

As you

open your sharp,

scissor-like eyes,

show me, jungle queen!

Your face,

show it, jungle queen, jungle queen,

show your face, jungle queen!

Plant,

king, plant your heart,

king!

Inside this

forest,

the vine of love,

plant it, king of the land,

plant your heart, king of the land!

Plant,

king, plant your heart,

king!

All over

your body, like a golden

sheet gleaming,

I saw a water lily there;

All over

your body, like a golden

sheet gleaming,

I saw a water lily there,

softly

calling out to me, I saw!

A bee

flying to the flower

and being enchanted,

I saw!

Nectar

drinking and enjoying,

sleeping upon the flower, I saw!

Jungle queen,

show your face, jungle queen!

The world

in its entirety,

between the two of us,

fitting within, I saw!

In each

other's gaze, both our

eyes resting,

I saw!

Tender

fruits forgetting

themselves and mingling,

I saw; on the ocean of time,

the boat of love sailing, I saw!

Plant,

king, plant your heart,

king!

Inside this

forest,

the vine of love,

plant it, king of the land,

plant your heart, king of the land!

Show me,

show your queenly face,

show it, jungle queen!

Male

Female

Male

Male

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male

Male

Male

Female

Female

Male

Male

Male

Female

Female

Male

Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a playful and romantic duel of words between a 'Forest Queen' (Kaatu Rani) and a 'King of the Land' (Naatu Raja). The lyrics feature rich clever wordplay on 'Kaatu' (which means both 'forest' and 'show/reveal') and 'Naatu' (which means both 'country/land' and 'plant/establish'). The characters express their blooming love amid nature, drawing parallels with honeybees drinking nectar from flowers and a boat sailing smoothly across the ocean of time.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Siledai (Double Entendre / Pun)

“Kaatu rani mugathai kaatu rani / Naatu raja manasai naatu raja”

The word 'Kaatu' is used dual-purpose to mean 'Forest' and 'Show/Reveal' (Kaatu rani = Forest queen / Show your face, Queen). Similarly, 'Naatu' means 'Country/Land' as well as 'Plant/Establish' (Naatu raja = King of the land / Plant the heart, King).

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

“Kandaen kaala kadalil kaadhal padagu nadandhida kanden”

Comparing the boat sailing on the sea of time to the journey of romance ('kaala kadalil kaadhal padagu').

Simile (Uvamai)

“Nee kathiri pol kan thirandhu”

Comparing eyes opening brightly to a ray of light ('kathiri pol kan thirandhu').

Anaphora / Emoni (Yugam)

“Kaatu rani ... Naatu raja”

Repetition of opening sounds and words ('Kaatu rani', 'Naatu raja') to create rhythmic symmetry across alternating lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song from the 1962 movie 'Thayai Katha Thanayan' starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi relies heavily on Tamil wordplay ('Kaatu' vs 'Naatu') crafted specifically for a forest-and-royalty courtship sequence typical of 1960s Tamil cinema.

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