Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nadakkattum

From Ram Lakshman · 1981

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ram Lakshman1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nadakattum raja namma raajiyamLet it go on, O king, our kingdom!
Namakkoru korachchalillaiWe have no shortage of anything.
Male
Papapapapam nadakattum raja namma raajiyamPa-pa-pa-pa-pam, let it go on, O king, our kingdom!
Namakkoru korachchalillaiWe have no shortage of anything.
Unakum oru thumbikkai irukkirathuYou have a trunk,
Enakkum oru nambikkai irukkirathuAnd I have hope.
Male
Nadakattum raja namma raajiyamLet it go on, O king, our kingdom!
Namakkoru korachchalillaiWe have no shortage of anything.
Male
Idhuthaanae thambi naam katra palliLittle brother, isn't this the school where we learned?
Idhu illaiyendraal namakedhu kalviWithout this, what education would we have?
Vaa vaa raja vanakkam solvomCome, come, O king, let us offer our greetings.
Appappaa nee chinnappillaiAh my! You are a small child,
appa seitha anbuthollaiThe loving mischief caused by father...
Innumkooda nenjil irukkuIs still lingering in my heart.
Male
Nallathu nadakattum raja namma raajiyamGood! Let it go on, O king, our kingdom!
Namakkoru korachchalillaiWe have no shortage of anything.
Male
Unnodu serththu nam kaalgal aaruIncluding you, we have six legs together,
Munnaerum nammai thaduppaargal yaaruWho can stop us as we move forward?
Vazhiyum irukkum kuzhiyum irukkumThere will be paths and there will be pits,
Kandukolla puththiyunduWe have the intellect to notice them,
Mutti motha sakthiyunduAnd the strength to crash through them,
Enthapaya enna pannuvaanWhat can any guy do to us?
Male
Nallathu nadakattum raja namma raajiyamGood! Let it go on, O king, our kingdom!
Namakkoru korachchalillaiWe have no shortage of anything.
Male
Oru thaayin pillai naamaagavillaiWe were not born to the same mother,
Aanaalum anbil pirivaedhumillaiYet, in love, there is no separation between us.
Raaman naanthaan lakshman neethaanI am Rama, and you are Lakshmana,
Annan thambi sonthamidhuThis is the bond between elder and younger brothers,
Endrumulla panthamithuThis is an eternal connection,
Ondraiyondru vittu vidumoWill one ever abandon the other?
Male
Nallathu nadakattum raja namma raajiyamGood! Let it go on, O king, our kingdom!
Namakkoru korachchalillaiWe have no shortage of anything.
Unakum oru thumbikkai irukkirathuYou have a trunk,
Enakkum oru nambikkai irukkirathuAnd I have hope.
Pampampam….pam….lallalalal laalla lalalaa….Pam-pam-pam... pam... la-la-la-la-la laa-lla la-la-laa...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'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.

Keep listening

More from Ram Lakshman