Raathiriyil Poothirukum
From Thanga Magan (1983 film) · 1983
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Thanga Magan (1983 film)1983
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Raathiriyil poothirukkum | Is this woman a lotus blooming in the night? |
| Thaamarai thaan penno | Is she a lotus that has bloomed in the dark? |
| Raajasugam thedivara | Seeking royal pleasures, |
| Thoodhuvidum kanno | are her eyes sending a message? |
| Male | |
| Selai cholaiyae | Oh garden draped in a saree! |
| Paruvasugam thaedum maalaiyae | Oh evening seeking youthful bliss! |
| Selai solaiyae | Oh garden draped in a saree! |
| Paruvasugam thedum maalaiye | Oh evening seeking youthful bliss! |
| Pagalum urangidum | Even the day falls asleep... |
| Male | |
| Raathiriyil poothirukkum | Is this woman a lotus blooming in the night? |
| Thaamarai thaan penno | Is she a lotus that has bloomed in the dark? |
| Raajasugam thedivara | Seeking royal pleasures, |
| Thoodhuvidum kanno | are her eyes sending a message? |
| Chorus | |
| Haa……aaaa…..aaa….. | (Melodic vocalization) |
| Haa…..aaa.a….aaa….. | (Melodic vocalization) |
| Aaa….aaaa… | (Melodic vocalization) |
| Aaaa…aaaa….aaa.a…aaa…aaa…. | (Melodic vocalization) |
| Female | |
| {Veenai yenum maeniyilae | On this body likened to a Veena, |
| Thanthiyinai meettum | plucking the strings, |
| Male :Kai viralil oru vegam | Male: speed in the fingertips, |
| Kan asaivil oru baavam} (2) | an emotion in the subtle blink of the eyes. |
| Female | |
| Vaanulagae boomiyilae | Making it feel as though heaven |
| Vanthathu pol kaattum | has descended upon the earth, |
| Vaanulagae boomiyilae | Making it feel as though heaven |
| Vanthathu pol kaattum | has descended upon the earth. |
| Male :Jeeva nadhi nenjinilae | Male: A living river in the heart |
| Aadum odum modhum | dances, flows, and surges forward, |
| Pudhiya anubavam | a brand new experience! |
| Male | |
| Raathiriyil poothirukkum | Is this woman a lotus blooming in the night? |
| Thaamarai thaan penno | Is she a lotus that has bloomed in the dark? |
| Raajasugam thedivara | Seeking royal pleasures, |
| Thoodhuvidum kanno | are her eyes sending a message? |
| Chorus | |
| Haa……aaaa…..aaa….. | (Melodic vocalization) |
| Haa…..aaa.a….aaa….. | (Melodic vocalization) |
| Aaa….aaaa… | (Melodic vocalization) |
| Aaaa…aaaa….aaa.a…aaa…aaa…. | (Melodic vocalization) |
| Male | |
| {Maanganigal thottililae | Mango fruits in the cradle |
| Thoonguthadi angae | are sleeping over there, |
| Female :Mannavanin pasi aara | Female: To satisfy the king's hunger, |
| Maalaiyilae parimaara} (2) | to serve him in the evening. |
| Male | |
| Vaazhai ilai neer thelithu | Sprinkle water on the banana leaf |
| Podadi en kannae | and lay it out, my beloved! |
| Vaazhai ilai neer thelithu | Sprinkle water on the banana leaf |
| Podadi en kannae | and lay it out, my beloved! |
| Female :Naadhasvaram oodhum varai | Female: Until the Nadaswaram plays, |
| Nenjam innum konjam | the heart needs a little bit |
| Porumai avasiyam | more patience. |
| Female | |
| Raathiriyil poothirukkum | Is this woman a lotus blooming in the night? |
| Thaamarai thaan penno | Is she a lotus that has bloomed in the dark? |
| Raajasugam thedivara | Seeking royal pleasures, |
| Thoodhuvidum kanno | are her eyes sending a message? |
| Male | |
| Selai cholaiyae | Oh garden draped in a saree! |
| Paruvasugam thaedum maalaiyae | Oh evening seeking youthful bliss! |
| Selai solaiyae | Oh garden draped in a saree! |
| Paruvasugam thedum maalaiye | Oh evening seeking youthful bliss! |
| Pagalum urangidum | Even the day falls asleep... |
| Male | |
| Raathiriyil poothirukkum | Is this woman a lotus blooming in the night? |
| Thaamarai thaan penno | Is she a lotus that has bloomed in the dark? |
| Female :Raajasugam thedivara | Female: Seeking royal pleasures, |
| Thoodhuvidum kanno | are her eyes sending a message? |
ராத்திரியில் பூத்திருக்கும்
தாமரைதான் பெண்ணோ
ராஜசுகம் தேடி வரத்
தூது விடும் கண்ணோ
Is this woman a lotus blooming in the night?
Is she a lotus that has bloomed in the dark?
Seeking royal pleasures,
are her eyes sending a message?
சேலைச் சோலையே
பருவ சுகம் தேடும் மாலையே
சேலைச் சோலையே
பருவ சுகம் தேடும் மாலையே
பகலும் உறங்கிடும்
Oh garden draped in a saree!
Oh evening seeking youthful bliss!
Oh garden draped in a saree!
Oh evening seeking youthful bliss!
Even the day falls asleep...
ராத்திரியில் பூத்திருக்கும்
தாமரைதான் பெண்ணோ
ராஜசுகம் தேடி வரத்
தூது விடும் கண்ணோ
Is this woman a lotus blooming in the night?
Is she a lotus that has bloomed in the dark?
Seeking royal pleasures,
are her eyes sending a message?
ஹா....ஆஅ....ஆஅ.....
ஹா....ஆஅ....ஆஅ.....
ஆஆ.....ஆஆ.....
ஹா....ஆஅ....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ....ஆஅ...
(Melodic vocalization)
(Melodic vocalization)
(Melodic vocalization)
(Melodic vocalization)
{வீணையெனும் மேனியிலே
தந்தியினை மீட்டும்
கை விரலில் ஒரு வேகம்
கண்ணசைவில் ஒரு பாவம்} (2)
On this body likened to a Veena,
plucking the strings,
Male: speed in the fingertips,
an emotion in the subtle blink of the eyes.
வானுலகே பூமியிலே
வந்தது போல் காட்டும்
வானுலகே பூமியிலே
வந்தது போல் காட்டும்
ஜீவ நதி நெஞ்சினிலே
ஆடும் ஓடும்
மோதும் புதிய அனுபவம்
Making it feel as though heaven
has descended upon the earth,
Making it feel as though heaven
has descended upon the earth.
Male: A living river in the heart
dances, flows, and surges forward,
a brand new experience!
ராத்திரியில் பூத்திருக்கும்
தாமரைதான் பெண்ணோ
ராஜசுகம் தேடி வரத்
தூது விடும் கண்ணோ
Is this woman a lotus blooming in the night?
Is she a lotus that has bloomed in the dark?
Seeking royal pleasures,
are her eyes sending a message?
ஹா....ஆஅ....ஆஅ.....
ஹா....ஆஅ....ஆஅ.....
ஆஆ.....ஆஆ.....
ஹா....ஆஅ....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ....ஆஅ...
(Melodic vocalization)
(Melodic vocalization)
(Melodic vocalization)
(Melodic vocalization)
{மாங்கனிகள் தொட்டிலிலே
தூங்குதடி அங்கே
மன்னவனின் பசியாற
மாலையிலே பரிமாற} (2)
Mango fruits in the cradle
are sleeping over there,
Female: To satisfy the king's hunger,
to serve him in the evening.
வாழையிலை நீர் தெளித்து
போடடி என் கண்ணே
வாழையிலை நீர் தெளித்து
போடடி என் கண்ணே
நாதசுரம் ஊதும் வரை
நெஞ்சம் இன்னும் கொஞ்சம்
பொறுமை அவசியம்
Sprinkle water on the banana leaf
and lay it out, my beloved!
Sprinkle water on the banana leaf
and lay it out, my beloved!
Female: Until the Nadaswaram plays,
the heart needs a little bit
more patience.
ராத்திரியில் பூத்திருக்கும்
தாமரைதான் பெண்ணோ
ராஜசுகம் தேடி வரத்
தூது விடும் கண்ணோ
Is this woman a lotus blooming in the night?
Is she a lotus that has bloomed in the dark?
Seeking royal pleasures,
are her eyes sending a message?
சேலைச் சோலையே
பருவ சுகம் தேடும் மாலையே
சேலைச் சோலையே
பருவ சுகம் தேடும் மாலையே
பகலும் உறங்கிடும்
Oh garden draped in a saree!
Oh evening seeking youthful bliss!
Oh garden draped in a saree!
Oh evening seeking youthful bliss!
Even the day falls asleep...
ராத்திரியில் பூத்திருக்கும்
தாமரைதான் பெண்ணோ
ராஜசுகம் தேடி வரத்
தூது விடும் கண்ணோ
Is this woman a lotus blooming in the night?
Is she a lotus that has bloomed in the dark?
Female: Seeking royal pleasures,
are her eyes sending a message?
Raathiriyil poothirukkum
Is this woman a lotus blooming in the night?
Thaamarai thaan penno
Is she a lotus that has bloomed in the dark?
Raajasugam thedivara
Seeking royal pleasures,
Thoodhuvidum kanno
are her eyes sending a message?
Selai cholaiyae
Oh garden draped in a saree!
Paruvasugam thaedum maalaiyae
Oh evening seeking youthful bliss!
Selai solaiyae
Oh garden draped in a saree!
Paruvasugam thedum maalaiye
Oh evening seeking youthful bliss!
Pagalum urangidum
Even the day falls asleep...
Raathiriyil poothirukkum
Is this woman a lotus blooming in the night?
Thaamarai thaan penno
Is she a lotus that has bloomed in the dark?
Raajasugam thedivara
Seeking royal pleasures,
Thoodhuvidum kanno
are her eyes sending a message?
Haa……aaaa…..aaa…..
(Melodic vocalization)
Haa…..aaa.a….aaa…..
(Melodic vocalization)
Aaa….aaaa…
(Melodic vocalization)
Aaaa…aaaa….aaa.a…aaa…aaa….
(Melodic vocalization)
{Veenai yenum maeniyilae
On this body likened to a Veena,
Thanthiyinai meettum
plucking the strings,
Male :Kai viralil oru vegam
Male: speed in the fingertips,
Kan asaivil oru baavam} (2)
an emotion in the subtle blink of the eyes.
Vaanulagae boomiyilae
Making it feel as though heaven
Vanthathu pol kaattum
has descended upon the earth,
Vaanulagae boomiyilae
Making it feel as though heaven
Vanthathu pol kaattum
has descended upon the earth.
Male :Jeeva nadhi nenjinilae
Male: A living river in the heart
Aadum odum modhum
dances, flows, and surges forward,
Pudhiya anubavam
a brand new experience!
Raathiriyil poothirukkum
Is this woman a lotus blooming in the night?
Thaamarai thaan penno
Is she a lotus that has bloomed in the dark?
Raajasugam thedivara
Seeking royal pleasures,
Thoodhuvidum kanno
are her eyes sending a message?
Haa……aaaa…..aaa…..
(Melodic vocalization)
Haa…..aaa.a….aaa…..
(Melodic vocalization)
Aaa….aaaa…
(Melodic vocalization)
Aaaa…aaaa….aaa.a…aaa…aaa….
(Melodic vocalization)
{Maanganigal thottililae
Mango fruits in the cradle
Thoonguthadi angae
are sleeping over there,
Female :Mannavanin pasi aara
Female: To satisfy the king's hunger,
Maalaiyilae parimaara} (2)
to serve him in the evening.
Vaazhai ilai neer thelithu
Sprinkle water on the banana leaf
Podadi en kannae
and lay it out, my beloved!
Vaazhai ilai neer thelithu
Sprinkle water on the banana leaf
Podadi en kannae
and lay it out, my beloved!
Female :Naadhasvaram oodhum varai
Female: Until the Nadaswaram plays,
Nenjam innum konjam
the heart needs a little bit
Porumai avasiyam
more patience.
Raathiriyil poothirukkum
Is this woman a lotus blooming in the night?
Thaamarai thaan penno
Is she a lotus that has bloomed in the dark?
Raajasugam thedivara
Seeking royal pleasures,
Thoodhuvidum kanno
are her eyes sending a message?
Selai cholaiyae
Oh garden draped in a saree!
Paruvasugam thaedum maalaiyae
Oh evening seeking youthful bliss!
Selai solaiyae
Oh garden draped in a saree!
Paruvasugam thedum maalaiye
Oh evening seeking youthful bliss!
Pagalum urangidum
Even the day falls asleep...
Raathiriyil poothirukkum
Is this woman a lotus blooming in the night?
Thaamarai thaan penno
Is she a lotus that has bloomed in the dark?
Female :Raajasugam thedivara
Female: Seeking royal pleasures,
Thoodhuvidum kanno
are her eyes sending a message?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Raathiriyil Poothirukkum is a classic romantic duet from the 1983 Tamil film Thanga Magan, composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki. The lyrics, penned by Pulamaipithan, use rich metaphors of nature, music, and royal elegance to depict the intimate romance between two lovers at night. The woman is paradoxically compared to a night-blooming lotus, and her grace is likened to the delicate notes of a veena played with skill and passion. Throughout the song, the lovers exchange seductive, poetic banter. The male protagonist compares her physical beauty to a garden clad in a saree and a veena waiting to be played, while the female lover poetically delays full intimacy until the auspicious sound of the Nadaswaram, emphasizing patience and sweet anticipation. The song captures a blend of sensuality, traditional Tamil poetic motifs, and exquisite musical orchestration.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uruvam (Metaphor)
“Veenai yenum maeniyilae”
Comparing the female protagonist's body to a Veena ('Veenai yenum maeniyilae') and her clothing/figure to a garden ('Selai cholaiyae').
Oxymoron / Paradox
“Raathiriyil poothirukkum Thaamarai thaan penno”
Lotuses typically bloom during the day in sunlight; calling her a lotus blooming at night ('Raathiriyil poothirukkum thaamarai') is a poetic paradox highlighting her extraordinary radiance in the dark.
Monae (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Selai cholaiyae”
Repetition of initial consonant and vowel sounds such as 'Selai' and 'Solai'.
Ezhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Vaanulagae boomiyilae / Vanthathu pol kaattum”
Matching second sound across consecutive words/lines, such as 'Vaanulagae' and 'Vanthathu'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Ilaiyaraaja, 'Raathiriyil Poothirukkum' is celebrated as one of the most sensual yet artistically refined melodies in Tamil cinema history. The track relies heavily on soft classical orchestration, featuring intricate veena and flute interludes paired with luscious vocal improvisations by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki.
Keep listening
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