Raasa Kannu
From Maamannan · 2023
- Lyricist
- Yugabharathi
- Singer
- Vadivelu
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Maamannan2023
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thanthana thaana | Thanthana thaana |
| Thana thanthana thaana | Thana thanthana thaana |
| Thanthana thaana | Thanthana thaana |
| Thana thanthana thaana | Thana thanthana thaana |
| Male | |
| Thanthana thaana | Thanthana thaana |
| Thana thanthana thaana | Thana thanthana thaana |
| Thanthana thaana | Thanthana thaana |
| Thana thanthana thaana | Thana thanthana thaana |
| Male | |
| Malaiyiladhaan thee pidikidhu raasa | The mountain catches fire, my dear king |
| En manasukulla vedi vedikidhu raasa | A bomb explodes inside my mind, my dear king |
| Malaiyiladhaan thee pidikidhu raasa | The mountain catches fire, my dear king |
| En manasukulla vedi vedikidhu raasa | A bomb explodes inside my mind, my dear king |
| Male | |
| Thavuleduthu thaalam adi raasa na | Pick up the tavil drum and strike the beat, my dear king |
| Thannanaa thannanaa paaduven raasa | And I shall sing 'Thannanaa Thannanaa', my dear king |
| Thavuleduthu thaalam adi raasa na | Pick up the tavil drum and strike the beat, my dear king |
| Thannanaa thannanaa paaduven raasa | And I shall sing 'Thannanaa Thannanaa', my dear king |
| Male | |
| Kuchchikulla kedandha sanam | The people who stayed inside small huts |
| Koni saakula surnda sanam | The people who curled up inside gunny sacks |
| Panjam pasi paartha sanam | The people who endured famine and hunger |
| Padai irundhum bayandha sanam | The people who feared despite having numerical strength |
| Male | |
| Patta kaayam ethanaiyo raasa | So many are the wounds we suffered, my dear king |
| Adha solliputta aaridumo raasa | Will speaking about them heal those wounds, my dear king? |
| Aaridumo raasa aaridumo raasa | Will it heal, my dear king? Will it heal, my dear king? |
| Aaridumooo… raasa kannu | Will it heal... oh my beloved king! |
| Male | |
| Kaatukulla karuvamulla raasa | In the forest filled with babool thorns, my dear king |
| Naama kaal nadakka paadhaiaache raasa | As we walked, a path was made, my dear king |
| Kaatukulla karuvamulla raasa | In the forest filled with babool thorns, my dear king |
| Naama kaal nadakka paadhaiaache raasa | As we walked, a path was made, my dear king |
| Male | |
| Nadandha paadha athanaiyilum raasa | On every path where we walked, my dear king |
| Adhul vaelipottu marichadhaaru raasa | Who erected fences and blocked us, my dear king? |
| Thikkudesa theriyalaye raasa | Directions and locations are no longer visible, my dear king |
| Adha thedi thedi thiriyirome rasa | Searching endlessly for them, we wander, my dear king |
| Male | |
| Patta kaayam ethanaiyo raasa | So many are the wounds we suffered, my dear king |
| Adha solliputta aaridumo raasa | Will speaking about them heal those wounds, my dear king? |
| Aaridumo raasa aaridumo raasa | Will it heal, my dear king? Will it heal, my dear king? |
| Aaridumooo… raasa kannu | Will it heal... oh my beloved king! |
| Male | |
| Malaiyiladhaan thee pidikidhu raasa | The mountain catches fire, my dear king |
| En manasukulla vedi vedikidhu raasa | A bomb explodes inside my mind, my dear king |
| Malaiyiladhaan thee pidikidhu raasa | The mountain catches fire, my dear king |
| En manasukulla vedi vedikidhu raasa | A bomb explodes inside my mind, my dear king |
| Male | |
| Thavuleduthu thaalam adi raasa na | Pick up the tavil drum and strike the beat, my dear king |
| Thannanaa thannanaa paaduven raasa | And I shall sing 'Thannanaa Thannanaa', my dear king |
| Thavuleduthu thaalam adi raasa na | Pick up the tavil drum and strike the beat, my dear king |
| Thannanaa thannanaa paaduven raasa | And I shall sing 'Thannanaa Thannanaa', my dear king |
| Male | |
| Kuchchikulla kedandha sanam | The people who stayed inside small huts |
| Koni saakula surnda sanam | The people who curled up inside gunny sacks |
| Panjam pasi paartha sanam | The people who endured famine and hunger |
| Padai irundhum bayandha sanam | The people who feared despite having numerical strength |
| Male | |
| Patta kaayam ethanaiyo raasa | So many are the wounds we suffered, my dear king |
| Adha solliputta aaridumo raasa | Will speaking about them heal those wounds, my dear king? |
| Aaridumo raasa aaridumo raasa | Will it heal, my dear king? Will it heal, my dear king? |
| Aaridumooo… raasa kannu | Will it heal... oh my beloved king! |
| Male | |
| Thanthana thaana | Thanthana thaana |
| Thana thanthana thaana | Thana thanthana thaana |
| Thanthana thaana | Thanthana thaana |
| Thana thanthana thaana | Thana thanthana thaana |
| Male | |
| Thanthana thaana | Thanthana thaana |
| Thana thanthana thaana | Thana thanthana thaana |
| Thanthana thaana | Thanthana thaana |
| Thana thanthana thaana | Thana thanthana thaana |
தந்தனா தானா
தன தந்தனா தானா
தந்தனா தானா
தன தந்தனா தானா
Thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
Thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
தந்தனா தானா
தன தந்தனா தானா
தந்தனா தானா
தன தந்தனா தானா
Thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
Thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
மலையிலதான் தீ பிடிக்கீது ராசா
என் மனசுக்குள்ள வெடி வெடிக்கீது ராசா
மலையிலதான் தீ பிடிக்கீது ராசா
என் மனசுக்குள்ள வெடி வெடிக்கீது ராசா
The mountain catches fire, my dear king
A bomb explodes inside my mind, my dear king
The mountain catches fire, my dear king
A bomb explodes inside my mind, my dear king
தவுலெடுத்து தாளம் அடி ராசா நா
தன்னனா தன்னனா பாடுவேன் ராசா
தவுலெடுத்து தாளம் அடி ராசா நா
தன்னனா தன்னனா பாடுவேன் ராசா
Pick up the tavil drum and strike the beat, my dear king
And I shall sing 'Thannanaa Thannanaa', my dear king
Pick up the tavil drum and strike the beat, my dear king
And I shall sing 'Thannanaa Thannanaa', my dear king
குச்சிக்குள்ள கெடந்த சனம்
கோனி சாக்குலா சுருண்ட சனம்
பஞ்சம் பசி பார்த்த சனம்
படை இருந்தும் பயந்த சனம்
The people who stayed inside small huts
The people who curled up inside gunny sacks
The people who endured famine and hunger
The people who feared despite having numerical strength
பட்ட காயம் எத்தனையோ ராசா
அட சொல்லிப்புட்டா ஆறிடுமோ ராசா
ஆறிடுமோ ராசா ஆறிடுமோ ராசா
ஆறிடுமோ… ராசா கண்ணு
So many are the wounds we suffered, my dear king
Will speaking about them heal those wounds, my dear king?
Will it heal, my dear king? Will it heal, my dear king?
Will it heal... oh my beloved king!
காட்டுக்குள்ள கருவமுள்ள ராசா
நம்ம கால் நடக்க பாதையாச்சே ராசா
காட்டுக்குள்ள கருவமுள்ள ராசா
நம்ம கால் நடக்க பாதையாச்சே ராசா
In the forest filled with babool thorns, my dear king
As we walked, a path was made, my dear king
In the forest filled with babool thorns, my dear king
As we walked, a path was made, my dear king
நடந்த பாதை அத்தனையிலும் ராசா
அதுல் வேலிப்போட்டு மறிச்சதாரு ராசா
திக்குதெச தெரியலயே ராசா
அட தேடி திரியுரமே ராசா
On every path where we walked, my dear king
Who erected fences and blocked us, my dear king?
Directions and locations are no longer visible, my dear king
Searching endlessly for them, we wander, my dear king
பட்ட காயம் எத்தனையோ ராசா
அட சொல்லிப்புட்டா ஆறிடுமோ ராசா
ஆறிடுமோ ராசா ஆறிடுமோ ராசா
ஆறிடுமோ… ராசா கண்ணு
So many are the wounds we suffered, my dear king
Will speaking about them heal those wounds, my dear king?
Will it heal, my dear king? Will it heal, my dear king?
Will it heal... oh my beloved king!
மலையிலதான் தீ பிடிக்கீது ராசா
என் மனசுக்குள்ள வெடி வெடிக்கீது ராசா
மலையிலதான் தீ பிடிக்கீது ராசா
என் மனசுக்குள்ள வெடி வெடிக்கீது ராசா
The mountain catches fire, my dear king
A bomb explodes inside my mind, my dear king
The mountain catches fire, my dear king
A bomb explodes inside my mind, my dear king
தவுலெடுத்து தாளம் அடி ராசா நா
தன்னனா தன்னனா பாடுவேன் ராசா
தவுலெடுத்து தாளம் அடி ராசா நா
தன்னனா தன்னனா பாடுவேன் ராசா
Pick up the tavil drum and strike the beat, my dear king
And I shall sing 'Thannanaa Thannanaa', my dear king
Pick up the tavil drum and strike the beat, my dear king
And I shall sing 'Thannanaa Thannanaa', my dear king
குச்சிக்குள்ள கெடந்த சனம்
கோனி சாக்குலா சுருண்ட சனம்
பஞ்சம் பசி பார்த்த சனம்
படை இருந்தும் பயந்த சனம்
The people who stayed inside small huts
The people who curled up inside gunny sacks
The people who endured famine and hunger
The people who feared despite having numerical strength
பட்ட காயம் எத்தனையோ ராசா
அட சொல்லிப்புட்டா ஆறிடுமோ ராசா
ஆறிடுமோ ராசா ஆறிடுமோ ராசா
ஆறிடுமோ… ராசா கண்ணு
So many are the wounds we suffered, my dear king
Will speaking about them heal those wounds, my dear king?
Will it heal, my dear king? Will it heal, my dear king?
Will it heal... oh my beloved king!
தந்தனா தானா
தன தந்தனா தானா
தந்தனா தானா
தன தந்தனா தானா
Thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
Thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
தந்தனா தானா
தன தந்தனா தானா
தந்தனா தானா
தன தந்தனா தானா
Thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
Thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
Thanthana thaana
Thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
Thanthana thaana
Thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
Thanthana thaana
Thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
Thanthana thaana
Thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
Malaiyiladhaan thee pidikidhu raasa
The mountain catches fire, my dear king
En manasukulla vedi vedikidhu raasa
A bomb explodes inside my mind, my dear king
Malaiyiladhaan thee pidikidhu raasa
The mountain catches fire, my dear king
En manasukulla vedi vedikidhu raasa
A bomb explodes inside my mind, my dear king
Thavuleduthu thaalam adi raasa na
Pick up the tavil drum and strike the beat, my dear king
Thannanaa thannanaa paaduven raasa
And I shall sing 'Thannanaa Thannanaa', my dear king
Thavuleduthu thaalam adi raasa na
Pick up the tavil drum and strike the beat, my dear king
Thannanaa thannanaa paaduven raasa
And I shall sing 'Thannanaa Thannanaa', my dear king
Kuchchikulla kedandha sanam
The people who stayed inside small huts
Koni saakula surnda sanam
The people who curled up inside gunny sacks
Panjam pasi paartha sanam
The people who endured famine and hunger
Padai irundhum bayandha sanam
The people who feared despite having numerical strength
Patta kaayam ethanaiyo raasa
So many are the wounds we suffered, my dear king
Adha solliputta aaridumo raasa
Will speaking about them heal those wounds, my dear king?
Aaridumo raasa aaridumo raasa
Will it heal, my dear king? Will it heal, my dear king?
Aaridumooo… raasa kannu
Will it heal... oh my beloved king!
Kaatukulla karuvamulla raasa
In the forest filled with babool thorns, my dear king
Naama kaal nadakka paadhaiaache raasa
As we walked, a path was made, my dear king
Kaatukulla karuvamulla raasa
In the forest filled with babool thorns, my dear king
Naama kaal nadakka paadhaiaache raasa
As we walked, a path was made, my dear king
Nadandha paadha athanaiyilum raasa
On every path where we walked, my dear king
Adhul vaelipottu marichadhaaru raasa
Who erected fences and blocked us, my dear king?
Thikkudesa theriyalaye raasa
Directions and locations are no longer visible, my dear king
Adha thedi thedi thiriyirome rasa
Searching endlessly for them, we wander, my dear king
Patta kaayam ethanaiyo raasa
So many are the wounds we suffered, my dear king
Adha solliputta aaridumo raasa
Will speaking about them heal those wounds, my dear king?
Aaridumo raasa aaridumo raasa
Will it heal, my dear king? Will it heal, my dear king?
Aaridumooo… raasa kannu
Will it heal... oh my beloved king!
Malaiyiladhaan thee pidikidhu raasa
The mountain catches fire, my dear king
En manasukulla vedi vedikidhu raasa
A bomb explodes inside my mind, my dear king
Malaiyiladhaan thee pidikidhu raasa
The mountain catches fire, my dear king
En manasukulla vedi vedikidhu raasa
A bomb explodes inside my mind, my dear king
Thavuleduthu thaalam adi raasa na
Pick up the tavil drum and strike the beat, my dear king
Thannanaa thannanaa paaduven raasa
And I shall sing 'Thannanaa Thannanaa', my dear king
Thavuleduthu thaalam adi raasa na
Pick up the tavil drum and strike the beat, my dear king
Thannanaa thannanaa paaduven raasa
And I shall sing 'Thannanaa Thannanaa', my dear king
Kuchchikulla kedandha sanam
The people who stayed inside small huts
Koni saakula surnda sanam
The people who curled up inside gunny sacks
Panjam pasi paartha sanam
The people who endured famine and hunger
Padai irundhum bayandha sanam
The people who feared despite having numerical strength
Patta kaayam ethanaiyo raasa
So many are the wounds we suffered, my dear king
Adha solliputta aaridumo raasa
Will speaking about them heal those wounds, my dear king?
Aaridumo raasa aaridumo raasa
Will it heal, my dear king? Will it heal, my dear king?
Aaridumooo… raasa kannu
Will it heal... oh my beloved king!
Thanthana thaana
Thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
Thanthana thaana
Thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
Thanthana thaana
Thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
Thanthana thaana
Thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
Thana thanthana thaana
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Raasa Kannu from Maamannan is a deeply mournful yet resonant anthem reflecting generational oppression, societal exclusion, and historic pain. Sung with raw emotional intensity by Vadivelu in his pivotal dramatic role, the song laments how marginalized communities have survived extreme poverty, living in cramped huts and facing hunger, while constantly having their paths forward blocked by oppressive structures. Through vivid visual metaphors—such as fires raging on mountains, blocked forest paths, and deep unhealing wounds—lyricist Yugabharathi captures the profound psychological trauma of oppressed lives. Set to A. R. Rahman's understated, haunting folk melody, the track becomes a soulful plea questioning whether merely speaking about past wounds can ever truly heal them.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam / உருவகம்)
“En manasukulla vedi vedikidhu raasa”
Compares internal psychological distress and anger to a bomb exploding or a mountain catching fire.
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Ani)
“Adha solliputta aaridumo raasa”
Questions whether expressing past suffering in words can truly heal deep-seated historical trauma.
Etukai (Second letter rhyme in Tamil prosody)
“Kuchchikulla kedandha sanam / Koni saakula surnda sanam”
Rhymes the second letter across consecutive lines ('Kuchchikulla', 'Koni', 'Panjam', 'Padai') to create rhythmic folk momentum.
Epiphora (Refrain repetition)
“Malaiyiladhaan thee pidikidhu raasa”
Ending lines consistently with 'raasa' (king/dear one) adds an affectionate, desperate, and mournful tone of direct address.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Raasa Kannu' marked a historic collaboration where actor-comedian Vadivelu sang a soul-stirring, serious dramatic track composed by A. R. Rahman. Director Mari Selvaraj mentioned in interviews that Vadivelu wept while recording the track, drawing directly from his own lived experiences and rural background.
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