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Ram Lakshman album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nadakkattum

From Ram Lakshman · 1981

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ram Lakshman
Movie release year
1981
Lyrics added on
21 Oct 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nadakattum raja namma raajiyam
Namakkoru korachchalillai
Papapapapam nadakattum raja namma raajiyam
Namakkoru korachchalillai
Unakum oru thumbikkai irukkirathu
Enakkum oru nambikkai irukkirathu
Nadakattum raja namma raajiyam
Namakkoru korachchalillai
Idhuthaanae thambi naam katra palli
Idhu illaiyendraal namakedhu kalvi
Vaa vaa raja vanakkam solvom
Appappaa nee chinnappillai
appa seitha anbuthollai
Innumkooda nenjil irukku
Nallathu nadakattum raja namma raajiyam
Namakkoru korachchalillai
Unnodu serththu nam kaalgal aaru
Munnaerum nammai thaduppaargal yaaru
Vazhiyum irukkum kuzhiyum irukkum
Kandukolla puththiyundu
Mutti motha sakthiyundu
Enthapaya enna pannuvaan
Nallathu nadakattum raja namma raajiyam
Namakkoru korachchalillai
Oru thaayin pillai naamaagavillai
Aanaalum anbil pirivaedhumillai
Raaman naanthaan lakshman neethaan
Annan thambi sonthamidhu
Endrumulla panthamithu
Ondraiyondru vittu vidumo
Nallathu nadakattum raja namma raajiyam
Namakkoru korachchalillai
Unakum oru thumbikkai irukkirathu
Enakkum oru nambikkai irukkirathu
Pampampam….pam….lallalalal laalla lalalaa….
Let our kingdom reign, my friend!
We lack nothing at all!
Pa-pa-pa-pa-bam! Let our kingdom reign, my friend!
We lack nothing at all!
You have a trunk,
And I have hope!
Let our kingdom reign, my friend!
We lack nothing at all!
Isn't this the school where we learned, little brother?
Without this, what learning would we have?
Come, come, my friend, let's offer our greetings!
Oh my, when you were just a little child,
All the sweet mischief you stirred up back then,
Still stays fresh in my heart!
All will be well! Let our kingdom reign, my friend!
We lack nothing at all!
Together with yours, we have six legs in all,
Who can stop us as we forge ahead?
There will be paths and there will be pit-holes,
We have the wits to spot them,
And the strength to charge right through!
What fool can ever harm us?
All will be well! Let our kingdom reign, my friend!
We lack nothing at all!
We were not born of the same mother,
Yet in our love, there is no divide.
I am Ram and you are Lakshman,
This is the bond of brothers,
A tie that lasts forever.
Could one ever abandon the other?
All will be well! Let our kingdom reign, my friend!
We lack nothing at all!
You have a trunk,
And I have hope!
Bam-bam-bam... bam... la-la-la-la lal-la la-la-la
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Nadakattum Raja Namma Raajiyam' is a heartwarming, joyous track from the movie Ram Lakshman (1981) celebrating the deep bond between the protagonist and his beloved pet elephant, Raja. The song portrays their companionship as an eternal brotherhood, comparing themselves to the epic brothers Rama and Lakshmana, proving that true affection transcends species and birth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (Rhyming / Wordplay)

Unakum oru thumbikkai irukkirathu / Enakkum oru nambikkai irukkirathu

Clever pairing of 'thumbikkai' (elephant trunk) and 'nambikkai' (faith/hope) emphasizing complementary strengths.

Internal Rhyme (Emoni / Iyaibu)

Vazhiyum irukkum kuzhiyum irukkum

Rhyming of 'Vazhiyum' (path) and 'Kuzhiyum' (pit) to highlight life's ups and downs.

Metaphor / Allusion

Raaman naanthaan lakshman neethaan

Compares the bond between a man and an elephant to the sacred brotherhood of Rama and Lakshmana.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film Ram Lakshman (1981) stars Kamal Haasan alongside a trained elephant. The music for this film was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with popular vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and lyrics by Vaali.

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