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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Raathiri Nerathil

From Anjali · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Anjali1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oh.. raathiri nerathilOh.. in the night time
Raakshasa peigalin starwarsIt is a star wars of demonic ghosts
Thirumbi paarTurn around and look
Aathiram kondadhuFilled with rage
Adhisaya piraanigal starwarsIt is a star wars of miraculous creatures
Nerungi paarCome closer and look
Male
Thidum thidum thidumThidum thidum thidum (thudding sound)
Ena adikkumIt beats like that
Thedeer thedeer thedeerSuddenly suddenly suddenly
Ena vedikkumIt explodes like that
Male
Oh.. raathiri nerathilOh.. in the night time
Raakshasa peigalin starwarsIt is a star wars of demonic ghosts
Thirumbi paarTurn around and look
Aathiram kondadhuFilled with rage
Adhisaya piraanigal starwarsIt is a star wars of miraculous creatures
Nerungi paarCome closer and look
Male
Thidum thidum thidumThidum thidum thidum (thudding sound)
Ena adikkumIt beats like that
Thedeer thedeer thedeerSuddenly suddenly suddenly
Ena vedikkumIt explodes like that
Male
Thingal sevvai vyaazhanMonday, Tuesday, Thursday
Velli budhan endruFriday and Wednesday
Engal vargam engum vaazhumOur race lives everywhere
Idam unduThere is a place for us
Male
Akkam pakkamAll around
Rum bum bumRum bum bum
Aaru kadandhaalIf crossing six rivers
Thingal kakkumSpits out the moon
Rum bum bumRum bum bum
Dhaagam adaindhaalIf feeling thirsty
Male
Ettu thikkumIn all eight directions
Rum bum bumRum bum bum
Aedhum elidhaaIs anything easy?
Ingae vandhaalIf you come here
Rum bum bumRum bum bum
Yaarum balidhaanAnyone will be a sacrifice
Male
Munnum pinnum innumIn front, behind, and further ahead
Mullum kallumthaan ha.. haThere are only thorns and stones, ha.. ha
Manidhanai uyirudan vizhunguvomWe will swallow humans alive
Male
Oh.. raathiri nerathilOh.. in the night time
Raakshasa peigalin starwarsIt is a star wars of demonic ghosts
Thirumbi paarTurn around and look
Aathiram kondadhuFilled with rage
Adhisaya piraanigal starwarsIt is a star wars of miraculous creatures
Nerungi paarCome closer and look
Male
Thidum thidum thidumThidum thidum thidum (thudding sound)
Ena adikkumIt beats like that
Thedeer thedeer thedeerSuddenly suddenly suddenly
Ena vedikkumIt explodes like that
Male
Oh.. raathiri nerathilOh.. in the night time
Raakshasa peigalin starwarsIt is a star wars of demonic ghosts
Thirumbi paarTurn around and look
Aathiram kondadhuFilled with rage
Adhisaya piraanigal starwarsIt is a star wars of miraculous creatures
Nerungi paarCome closer and look
Male
Munbum pinbumIn front and behind
Engum embumLeaping everywhere
Perum bimbamHuge silhouettes
Muttum kombumHorns that butt
Kollum pallumTeeth that kill
Kodum rambamCruel saws
Male
Naangal dhaanaeWe are the ones
Rum bum bumRum bum bum
Paadhi mirugamHalf animal
Engal vaazhkkaiOur lifespan
Rum bum bumRum bum bum
Kodi varushamIs ten million years
Male
Naangal thottaalIf we touch
Rum bum bumRum bum bum
Bhoomi eriyumThe Earth will burn
Engal sakthiOur power
Rum bum bumRum bum bum
Paaru theriyumLook and you will see
Male
Vanjam endru kenjumBegging that it is cruelty
Panjum nenjumdhaanFragile cotton-like hearts
Ethiriyin mugangalaiThe faces of our enemies
KalakkuvomWe will shake up and defeat
Male
Oh.. raathiri nerathilOh.. in the night time
Raakshasa peigalin starwarsIt is a star wars of demonic ghosts
Thirumbi paarTurn around and look
Aathiram kondadhuFilled with rage
Adhisaya piraanigal starwarsIt is a star wars of miraculous creatures
Nerungi paarCome closer and look
Male
Thidum thidum thidumThidum thidum thidum (thudding sound)
Ena adikkumIt beats like that
Thedeer thedeer thedeerSuddenly suddenly suddenly
Ena vedikkumIt explodes like that
Male
Oh.. raathiri nerathilOh.. in the night time
Raakshasa peigalin starwarsIt is a star wars of demonic ghosts
Thirumbi paarTurn around and look
Aathiram kondadhuFilled with rage
Adhisaya piraanigal starwarsIt is a star wars of miraculous creatures
Nerungi paarCome closer and look

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Raathiri Nerathil is an energetic, high-concept children's fantasy track from Mani Ratnam's iconic film Anjali (1990). Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vaali, the song captures the vivid imagination of a group of apartment kids who engage in late-night fantasy play, envisioning themselves as supernatural creatures, aliens, and cosmic warriors battling in a galactic Star Wars setting. Through rhythmic chants, dramatic sound effects, and exaggerated villainous boasts about eating humans, burning the earth, and living for millions of years, the song playfully portrays the boundless creativity and energetic world-building characteristic of childhood games.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia (Oli-kurippu)

Thidum thidum thidum

Use of rhythmic phonetic words like 'Thidum thidum' and 'Rum bum bum' to simulate thumping sounds and futuristic mechanical beats.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navorchi)

Bhoomi eriyum / Kodi varusham

Extravagant exaggerations about monsters burning the earth upon touch and living for ten million years.

Rhyme & Rhythm (Iyaibu)

Perum bimbam / Muttum kombum

Matching end-rhymes such as 'bimbam', 'kombum', and 'rambam' creating a catchy rhythmic cadence suitable for a children's chorus.

Did you know?

Trivia

In the movie Anjali, this song features a visually creative sequence where the neighborhood kids construct sci-fi monster costumes, ride bicycles decorated with lights, and stage a galactic battle in their apartment complex courtyard at night. The track was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam alongside a children's chorus.

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