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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naane Raja

From Neengal Kettavai · 1984

Lyricist
Na. Kamarasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Neengal Kettavai1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
{Naanae raajaI am the king,
Nee vaa rojaaYou come, my rose!
Valibaththai tholil vaithuCarrying youth upon our shoulders,
Aada vantha nadagathinFor this play that has come to be performed,
Jodi … vaadi… nallabadi} (2)Come as my partner... properly!
Chorus
………………………..[Interlude]
Male
Kanni paavai ival munnalaeThis young maiden is standing before me,
Thulli payum manam pinnalaeWhile my bounding heart leaps behind her.
Female :Kanni paavai ival munnalaeFemale: This young maiden is standing before me,
Thulli payum manam pinnalaeWhile my bounding heart leaps behind her.
Male
Ingae aasai medaiHere is the stage of desire,
Innum enna jaadaiWhy all these subtle gestures still?
Ingae aasai medaiHere is the stage of desire,
Innum enna jaadaiWhy all these subtle gestures still?
Male
Ennul paayum getham vellamA flood of melody surging inside me,
Unn vannam allumWill gather your beauty,
Reepaba…Reepaba…
Ennul paayum getham vellamA flood of melody surging inside me,
Unn vannam allum idhoo..Will gather your beauty, look here..
Male
Naanae raajaI am the king,
Nee vaa rojaaYou come, my rose!
Valibaththai tholil vaithuCarrying youth upon our shoulders,
Aada vantha nadagathinFor this play that has come to be performed,
Jodi … vaadi… nallabadiCome as my partner... properly!
Chorus
………………………………[Interlude]
Ruru ruru ruru ruththu…aaa..Ruru ruru ruru ruththu…aaa..
Ruru ruru ruru ruththu…aaa..Ruru ruru ruru ruththu…aaa..
Ruru ruru ruru ruththu…aaa..Ruru ruru ruru ruththu…aaa..
Ruru ruru ruru ruththu…aaa..Ruru ruru ruru ruththu…aaa..
Rurur rururuu rurur rururuuRurur rururuu rurur rururuu
Ru rurururururu….Ru rurururururu….
Male
Angam nooru murai thalladaLet the body sway a hundred times,
Thanga poovin udal kondaadaTo celebrate the body of a golden flower.
Female :Angam nooru murai thalladaFemale: Let the body sway a hundred times,
Thanga poovin udal kondaadaTo celebrate the body of a golden flower.
Male
Meththai meedhu kodiTen thousand arts upon the bed,
Viththai solla vaadiCome, girl, to teach those skills!
Meththai meedhu kodiTen thousand arts upon the bed,
Viththai solla vaadiCome, girl, to teach those skills!
Male
Aththai peththa chinna pennaeLittle girl born to my aunt,
En chella kannaeMy darling precious child!
Reebapaabaa…Reebapaabaa…
Aththai peththa chinna pennaeLittle girl born to my aunt,
En chella kannae..ohoooMy darling precious child.. ohooo
Male
Naanae raajaI am the king,
Nee vaa rojaaYou come, my rose!
Valibaththai tholil vaithuCarrying youth upon our shoulders,
Aada vantha nadagathinFor this play that has come to be performed,
Jodi … vaadi… nallabadiCome as my partner... properly!
Chorus
Laa laa laalaaLaa laa laalaa
Male :EverybodyMale: Everybody
Chorus :Laa laa laalaa….Chorus: Laa laa laalaa….

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Naanae Raaja is an upbeat, romantic dance duet from the 1984 Tamil movie Neengal Kettavai, composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and penned by poet Na. Kamarasan. In the song, the hero playfully crowns himself king and invites his lover, likened to a rose, to join him in a dance of youthful romance framed metaphorically as a theatrical performance. The duet blends romantic teasing with energetic rhythmic scatting. The lyrics express ecstatic desire, calling the heroine a golden flower and inviting her to share a world of dance and intimate romance. The music blends modern synth-pop elements with energetic Tamil film orchestration.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Naanae raaja / Nee vaa rojaa

The second consonant sound matches across consecutive lines, such as 'raaja' and 'rojaa' or 'medai' and 'jaadai'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Ennul paayum getham vellam

The flowing music inside the singer is metaphorically described as a surging flood ('getham vellam').

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Thanga poovin udal kondaada

The heroine's delicate physique is metaphorically compared to a golden flower ('Thanga poovu').

Did you know?

Trivia

Neengal Kettavai (1984) was directed by actor-director Thiagarajan and featured music by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. The vocals for this track were delivered by S.P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki, featuring Western pop-influenced scatting that was immensely popular in 1980s Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

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