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Vaidehi Kathirunthal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Raasavae Unnai

From Vaidehi Kathirunthal · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Vaidehi Kathirunthal
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
15 Feb 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Laalaa…laalaaaa..
Laalaalaa..laalaaa
Laalaalaa..laalaaa
Laalaa…laalaaaa..
Laalaa…laalaaaa..
Raasaavae onna
Kaanaadha nenju
Kaaththaadi polaaduthu
Raasaavae onna
Kaanaadha nenju
Kaaththaadi polaaduthu
Sree raamanoda
Poo maalai poda
Vaidehi ullam vaaduthu
Raasaavae onna
Kaanaadha nenju
Kaaththaadi polaaduthu
{Kannukkoru vannakkili
Kaadhukkoru gaana kuyil
Nenjukkoru vanji kodi
Naan dhaanaiyaa} (2)
Thaththi thavazhum
Thanga chimizh naan
Pongi perugum
Sanga thamizh naan
Muththam thara
Niththam varum
Natchaththiram
Yaarodu ingu
Enakkenna pechchu
Nee thaane kannaa
Naan vaangum moochchu
Vaazhndhaaga vendum
Vaa vaa kannaa
Raasaavae onna
Kaanaadha nenju
Kaaththaadi polaaduthu
Sree raamanoda
Poo maalai poda
Vaidehi ullam vaaduthu
Raasaavae onna
Kaanaadha nenju
Kaaththaadi polaaduthu
{Mangai oru gangai ena
Mannan oru kannan ena
Kaadhil oru kaadhal kadhai
Sonnaal enna} (2)
Aththai magano
Maaman magano
Sondham yedhuvo
Bandham yedhuvo
Sandhiththadhum
Sindhiththadhum
Thiththiththida
Ammaadi nee dhaan
Illaadha naanum
Venmegam vandhu
Theendaadha vaanam
Thaangaadha yekkam
Podhum podhum
Raasaavae onna
Kaanaadha nenju
Kaaththaadi polaaduthu
Sree raamanoda
Poo maalai poda
Vaidehi ullam vaaduthu
Raasaavae onna
Kaanaadha nenju
Kaaththaadi polaaduthu
Kaaththaadi polaaduthu..
La la… la la aa…
La la la… la la aa
La la la… la la aa
La la… la la aa…
La la… la la aa…
Oh my beloved king,
without seeing you, my heart
flutters like a kite in the wind.
Oh my beloved king,
without seeing you, my heart
flutters like a kite in the wind.
To exchange flower garlands
with Lord Rama,
Vaidehi's heart is longing.
Oh my beloved king,
without seeing you, my heart
flutters like a kite in the wind.
A colorful parrot to your eyes,
a sweet singing cuckoo to your ears,
a graceful vine to your heart—
am I not the one, my love?
A little golden casket
toddling gently, I am;
an overflowing stream
of Sangam (ancient Tamil) poetry, I am;
To give you a sweet kiss,
a star that appears
every single night, I am.
With anyone else here,
what conversation do I have?
Aren't you, my darling,
the very breath I take?
I must live my life with you,
so come to me, my love!
Oh my beloved king,
without seeing you, my heart
flutters like a kite in the wind.
To exchange flower garlands
with Lord Rama,
Vaidehi's heart is longing.
Oh my beloved king,
without seeing you, my heart
flutters like a kite in the wind.
Saying this girl is like the pure Ganga,
saying her king is like Lord Krishna,
what if you whisper a tale of love
softly into my ears?
Are you my aunt's son,
or my uncle's son?
Whatever our kinship may be,
whatever our bond may be,
our meeting each other,
and thinking of each other,
feels so very sweet.
Oh my love, without you,
I am nothing but
a sky where white clouds
never come to touch.
This unbearable longing—
enough, it is enough!
Oh my beloved king,
without seeing you, my heart
flutters like a kite in the wind.
To exchange flower garlands
with Lord Rama,
Vaidehi's heart is longing.
Oh my beloved king,
without seeing you, my heart
flutters like a kite in the wind.
It flutters like a kite in the wind...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Raasaave Unna Kaanaadha Nenju' is an iconic classical-pop fusion track from the 1984 Tamil film Vaidehi Kathirunthal. The song expresses the deep, agonizing yearning of a young woman longing for her beloved. She compares her anxious heart to a kite flitting uncontrollably in the wind and draws a poetic parallel between her waiting and Vaidehi's (Sita's) devotion to Lord Rama. Across the verses, she describes her beauty and devotion using rich metaphors—calling herself a golden jewel box, fluent Sangam Tamil, and a cloudless sky without her lover. The melody seamlessly weaves folk elements with Carnatic ragas, expressing the bittersweet pain of separation and romantic devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uwamai)

“Kaaththaadi polaaduthu”

'Kaaththaadi polaaduthu' compares the unstable, restless heart to a kite flying erratically in the wind.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Sanga thamizh naan”

'Sanga thamizh naan' compares the heroine's sweetness and rich essence directly to classical Sangam Tamil literature.

Alliteration & Rhyme (Edhugai / Mona)

“Thaththi thavazhum / Thanga chimizh naan”

Matching second consonant sounds ('th' in Thaththi/Thanga, 'ng' in Pongi/Sanga) creating rhythmic poetic flow.

Mythological Allusion

“Sree raamanoda / Poo maalai poda / Vaidehi ullam vaaduthu”

References Sita (Vaidehi) longing to garland Rama, symbolizing pure, dedicated love.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for the blockbuster movie Vaidehi Kathirunthal ( directed by R. Sundarrajan ), this song features legendary renditions by S. Janaki and P. Susheela across different album versions. Set predominantly in the serene Carnatic raga Saramati, it remains one of the most celebrated solo melodies in Tamil cinema history.

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From the same album

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