Raamanukke Seethai
From Anbu Karangal · 1965
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- R. Sudharsanam
- Details
- Anbu Karangal1965
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Raamanukkae seethai endru | That Sita lived only for Rama |
| Vaazhndhadhu thaan penmai | is the very essence of womanhood. |
| Raamanukkae seethai endru | That Sita lived only for Rama |
| Vaazhndhadhu thaan penmai | is the very essence of womanhood. |
| Seethai vazhi naan thodara | For me to follow in Sita's footsteps, |
| Aasai vaithen unmai | I wished, that is the truth. |
| Aasai vaithen unmai | I wished, that is the truth. |
| Female | |
| Raamanukkae seethai endru | That Sita lived only for Rama |
| Vaazhndhadhu thaan penmai | is the very essence of womanhood. |
| Seethai vazhi naan thodara | For me to follow in Sita's footsteps, |
| Aasai vaithen unmai | I wished, that is the truth. |
| Aasai vaithen unmai | I wished, that is the truth. |
| Female | |
| Nilavillaamal yedhu vandhaalum | Without the moon, no matter what else arrives, |
| Alli malarumaa | will the night lily bloom? |
| Nilavillaamal yedhu vandhaalum | Without the moon, no matter what else arrives, |
| Alli malarumaa | will the night lily bloom? |
| Adhu nilavai thavira veru yaarum | Except for that moon, can anyone else |
| Solli malarumaa | ask it to bloom? |
| Adhu nilavai thavira veru yaarum | Except for that moon, can anyone else |
| Solli malarumaa solli malarumaa… | ask it to bloom? Ask it to bloom... |
| Female | |
| Raamanukkae seethai endru | That Sita lived only for Rama |
| Vaazhndhadhu thaan penmai | is the very essence of womanhood. |
| Seethai vazhi naan thodara | For me to follow in Sita's footsteps, |
| Aasai vaithen unmai | I wished, that is the truth. |
| Aasai vaithen unmai | I wished, that is the truth. |
| Female | |
| Uravu endra nooleduthu | Taking the thread called relationship, |
| Uyir malarai thoduthaen | I strung together the flower of my soul. |
| Uravu endra nooleduthu | Taking the thread called relationship, |
| Uyir malarai thoduthaen | I strung together the flower of my soul. |
| Thodutha malarai iraivan kaiyil | To offer the strung flower into the hands of God, |
| Koduppadharkkae thudithaen | I yearned with urgency. |
| Thodutha malarai iraivan kaiyil | To offer the strung flower into the hands of God, |
| Koduppadharkkae thudithaen | I yearned with urgency. |
| Female | |
| Iraivanillaa aalayathil | In a temple where God does not reside, |
| Yetri vaitha dheepam | a lamp that has been lit... |
| Iraivanillaa aalayathil | In a temple where God does not reside, |
| Yetri vaitha dheepam | a lamp that has been lit... |
| Iravu pagal erivadhanaal | If it burns day and night, |
| Yevarukkenna laabam | who stands to gain anything? |
| Iravu pagal erivadhanaal | If it burns day and night, |
| Yevarukkenna… laabam… | who stands to gain... anything? |
ராமனுக்கே சீதை என்று
வாழ்ந்ததுதான் பெண்மை
ராமனுக்கே சீதை என்று
வாழ்ந்ததுதான் பெண்மை
சீதை வழி நான் தொடர
ஆசை வைத்தேன் உண்மை
ஆசை வைத்தேன் உண்மை
That Sita lived only for Rama
is the very essence of womanhood.
That Sita lived only for Rama
is the very essence of womanhood.
For me to follow in Sita's footsteps,
I wished, that is the truth.
I wished, that is the truth.
ராமனுக்கே சீதை என்று
வாழ்ந்ததுதான் பெண்மை
சீதை வழி நான் தொடர
ஆசை வைத்தேன் உண்மை
ஆசை வைத்தேன் உண்மை
That Sita lived only for Rama
is the very essence of womanhood.
For me to follow in Sita's footsteps,
I wished, that is the truth.
I wished, that is the truth.
நிலவில்லாமல் எது வந்தாலும்
அல்லி மலருமா
நிலவில்லாமல் எது வந்தாலும்
அல்லி மலருமா
அது நிலவைத் தவிர வேறு யாரும்
சொல்லி மலருமா
அது நிலவைத் தவிர வேறு யாரும்
சொல்லி மலருமா சொல்லி மலருமா
Without the moon, no matter what else arrives,
will the night lily bloom?
Without the moon, no matter what else arrives,
will the night lily bloom?
Except for that moon, can anyone else
ask it to bloom?
Except for that moon, can anyone else
ask it to bloom? Ask it to bloom...
ராமனுக்கே சீதை என்று
வாழ்ந்ததுதான் பெண்மை
சீதை வழி நான் தொடர
ஆசை வைத்தேன் உண்மை
ஆசை வைத்தேன் உண்மை
That Sita lived only for Rama
is the very essence of womanhood.
For me to follow in Sita's footsteps,
I wished, that is the truth.
I wished, that is the truth.
உறவு என்ற நூலெடுத்து
உயிர் மலரைத் தொடுத்தேன்
உறவு என்ற நூலெடுத்து
உயிர் மலரைத் தொடுத்தேன்
தொடுத்த மலரை இறைவன் கையில்
கொடுப்பதெற்கே துடித்தேன்
தொடுத்த மலரை இறைவன் கையில்
கொடுப்பதெற்கே துடித்தேன்
Taking the thread called relationship,
I strung together the flower of my soul.
Taking the thread called relationship,
I strung together the flower of my soul.
To offer the strung flower into the hands of God,
I yearned with urgency.
To offer the strung flower into the hands of God,
I yearned with urgency.
இறைவன் இல்லா ஆலயத்தில்
ஏற்றி வைத்த தீபம்
இறைவன் இல்லா ஆலயத்தில்
ஏற்றி வைத்த தீபம்
இரவு பகல் எரிவதனால்
எவருக்கென்ன லாபம்
இரவு பகல் எரிவதனால்
எவருக்கென்ன....... லாபம்.....
In a temple where God does not reside,
a lamp that has been lit...
In a temple where God does not reside,
a lamp that has been lit...
If it burns day and night,
who stands to gain anything?
If it burns day and night,
who stands to gain... anything?
Raamanukkae seethai endru
That Sita lived only for Rama
Vaazhndhadhu thaan penmai
is the very essence of womanhood.
Raamanukkae seethai endru
That Sita lived only for Rama
Vaazhndhadhu thaan penmai
is the very essence of womanhood.
Seethai vazhi naan thodara
For me to follow in Sita's footsteps,
Aasai vaithen unmai
I wished, that is the truth.
Aasai vaithen unmai
I wished, that is the truth.
Raamanukkae seethai endru
That Sita lived only for Rama
Vaazhndhadhu thaan penmai
is the very essence of womanhood.
Seethai vazhi naan thodara
For me to follow in Sita's footsteps,
Aasai vaithen unmai
I wished, that is the truth.
Aasai vaithen unmai
I wished, that is the truth.
Nilavillaamal yedhu vandhaalum
Without the moon, no matter what else arrives,
Alli malarumaa
will the night lily bloom?
Nilavillaamal yedhu vandhaalum
Without the moon, no matter what else arrives,
Alli malarumaa
will the night lily bloom?
Adhu nilavai thavira veru yaarum
Except for that moon, can anyone else
Solli malarumaa
ask it to bloom?
Adhu nilavai thavira veru yaarum
Except for that moon, can anyone else
Solli malarumaa solli malarumaa…
ask it to bloom? Ask it to bloom...
Raamanukkae seethai endru
That Sita lived only for Rama
Vaazhndhadhu thaan penmai
is the very essence of womanhood.
Seethai vazhi naan thodara
For me to follow in Sita's footsteps,
Aasai vaithen unmai
I wished, that is the truth.
Aasai vaithen unmai
I wished, that is the truth.
Uravu endra nooleduthu
Taking the thread called relationship,
Uyir malarai thoduthaen
I strung together the flower of my soul.
Uravu endra nooleduthu
Taking the thread called relationship,
Uyir malarai thoduthaen
I strung together the flower of my soul.
Thodutha malarai iraivan kaiyil
To offer the strung flower into the hands of God,
Koduppadharkkae thudithaen
I yearned with urgency.
Thodutha malarai iraivan kaiyil
To offer the strung flower into the hands of God,
Koduppadharkkae thudithaen
I yearned with urgency.
Iraivanillaa aalayathil
In a temple where God does not reside,
Yetri vaitha dheepam
a lamp that has been lit...
Iraivanillaa aalayathil
In a temple where God does not reside,
Yetri vaitha dheepam
a lamp that has been lit...
Iravu pagal erivadhanaal
If it burns day and night,
Yevarukkenna laabam
who stands to gain anything?
Iravu pagal erivadhanaal
If it burns day and night,
Yevarukkenna… laabam…
who stands to gain... anything?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song expresses a woman's pure, unwavering devotion and the tragedy of unfulfilled love. Drawing inspiration from the epic Ramayana, she considers Sita's absolute devotion to Rama as the pinnacle of womanhood and expresses her deep desire to love her soulmate with the same singular devotion. Through the natural metaphor of a night lily blooming exclusively for the moon, she asserts that her heart can respond to no one else.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Uravu endra nooleduthu / Uyir malarai thoduthaen”
Compares the relationship to a thread ('uravu endra nool') and life/soul to a flower ('uyir malar') that is woven into a garland.
Allegory / Symbolic Parallel
“Nilavillaamal yedhu vandhaalum / Alli malarumaa”
Uses the biological phenomenon of the night lily (alli) blooming only in response to the moon (nilavu) as an allegory for her heart opening only for her beloved.
Extended Metaphor
“Iraivanillaa aalayathil / Yetri vaitha dheepam”
Compares her solitary devotion in an unreciprocated relationship to a lamp burning uselessly inside a temple that lacks a deity.
Second-Letter Rhyme (Etuhais)
“Iraivanillaa aalayathil ... / Iravu pagal erivadhanaal”
Matching second consonants in adjacent lines creating rhythmic flow (Iraivanillaa / Iravu).
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Anbu Karangal' (1965) featured music composed by R. Goverdhanam, with vocals for this emotional track rendered by the legendary P. Susheela and lyrics penned by Vaali.
Keep listening
More from Anbu Karangal
Anbu Karangal
Anbu Karangal
Anbu Karangal
Anbu Karangal
Anbu Karangal