Radhaikketra Kannano
From Sumai Thangi · 1962
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Sumai Thangi1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Raadhaikkettra kannano | Is he the Krishna suitable for Radha? |
| Seethaikkettra raamano | Is he the Rama suitable for Sita? |
| Kothaikkettra kovalan yaaro | Who is the Kovalan suitable for Kothai? |
| Azhagu kottaikkettra kaavalan yaaro | Who is the guard suitable for the fortress of beauty? |
| Female | |
| Raadhaikkettra kannano | Is he the Krishna suitable for Radha? |
| Seethaikkettra raamano | Is he the Rama suitable for Sita? |
| Kothaikkettra kovalan yaaro | Who is the Kovalan suitable for Kothai? |
| Azhagu kottaikkettra kaavalan yaaro | Who is the guard suitable for the fortress of beauty? |
| Female | |
| Kaathaliththavano | Is he one who has loved deeply? |
| Athil pereduthavano | Is he one who earned fame in love? |
| Kannirandil penn inathai | Is he one who imprisons womanhood |
| Kaithu seibavano | With his pair of eyes? |
| Female | |
| Aatharippavano | Is he one who will support you? |
| Unnai anusarippavano | Is he one who will adjust to you? |
| Illai aasai theerumbothu | Or is he someone whose heart changes |
| Nenjam maarugindravano | Once his desires are satisfied? |
| Haha haha haha haha | Haha haha haha haha |
| Female | |
| Raadhaikkettra kannano | Is he the Krishna suitable for Radha? |
| Seethaikkettra raamano | Is he the Rama suitable for Sita? |
| Kothaikkettra kovalan yaaro | Who is the Kovalan suitable for Kothai? |
| Azhagu kottaikkettra kaavalan yaaro | Who is the guard suitable for the fortress of beauty? |
| Female | |
| {Siriththa mugathai | {His smiling face, |
| Oruthikkaaga thiranthu vaippaano | Will he keep it reserved for just one woman? |
| Avan thaekku marathaipola | Like a sturdy teak tree, |
| Urundu thirandu nirppaano} (2) | Will he stand strong and well-built?} (2) |
| Female | |
| Mookkum muzhiyum | Do his facial features |
| Paarkka paarkka mogathai tharumo | Evoke passion the more you look at him? |
| Illai munnazhagai paarthavudam | Or upon looking at his striking front, |
| Moochchu nindridumo | Does one's breath stop? |
| Haha haha haha haha | Haha haha haha haha |
| Female | |
| Raadhaikkettra kannano | Is he the Krishna suitable for Radha? |
| Seethaikkettra raamano | Is he the Rama suitable for Sita? |
| Kothaikkettra kovalan yaaro | Who is the Kovalan suitable for Kothai? |
| Azhagu kottaikkettra kaavalan yaaro | Who is the guard suitable for the fortress of beauty? |
| Female | |
| Aaaaa…..aaaaa….aaa….aaaa… | Aaaaa…..aaaaa….aaa….aaaa… |
| {Sarasakkalaa saalaiyilae | {In the school of romantic arts, |
| Pattam pettravano | Is he someone who earned a degree? |
| Avan saagasa kalai koodaththilae | In the academy of adventurous skills, |
| Paadam kattravano} | Is he someone who learned his lessons?} |
| Female | |
| Ilaiya kanni unnai enni | Thinking of you, young maiden, |
| Yengi nirppavano | Will he stand longing for you? |
| Illai innum veru yaaraiyenum | Or is he someone who loves |
| Kaadhalippavano | Yet another woman? |
| Female | |
| Raadhaikkettra kannano | Is he the Krishna suitable for Radha? |
| Seethaikkettra raamano | Is he the Rama suitable for Sita? |
| Kothaikkettra kovalan yaaro | Who is the Kovalan suitable for Kothai? |
| Azhagu kottaikkettra kaavalan yaaro | Who is the guard suitable for the fortress of beauty? |
ராதைக்கேற்ற கண்ணனோ
சீதைக்கேற்ற ராமனோ
கோதைக்கேற்ற கோவலன் யாரோ
அழகு கோட்டைக்கேற்ற
காவலன் யாரோ
Is he the Krishna suitable for Radha?
Is he the Rama suitable for Sita?
Who is the Kovalan suitable for Kothai?
Who is the guard suitable for the fortress of beauty?
ராதைக்கேற்ற கண்ணனோ
சீதைக்கேற்ற ராமனோ
கோதைக்கேற்ற கோவலன் யாரோ
அழகு கோட்டைக்கேற்ற
காவலன் யாரோ
Is he the Krishna suitable for Radha?
Is he the Rama suitable for Sita?
Who is the Kovalan suitable for Kothai?
Who is the guard suitable for the fortress of beauty?
காதலித்தவனோ
அதில் பேர் எடுத்தவனோ
கண்ணிரெண்டில் பெண் இனத்தை
கைது செய்பவனோ
Is he one who has loved deeply?
Is he one who earned fame in love?
Is he one who imprisons womanhood
With his pair of eyes?
ஆதரிப்பவனோ
உன்னை அனுசரிப்பவனோ இல்லை
ஆசை தீரும்போது
நெஞ்சம் மாறுகின்றவனோ
ஆஹாஹ்ஹா ஆஹாஹ்ஹா
ஆஹாஹ்ஹா ஆஹாஹ்ஹா
Is he one who will support you?
Is he one who will adjust to you?
Or is he someone whose heart changes
Once his desires are satisfied?
Haha haha haha haha
ராதைக்கேற்ற கண்ணனோ
சீதைக்கேற்ற ராமனோ
கோதைக்கேற்ற கோவலன் யாரோ
அழகு கோட்டைக்கேற்ற
காவலன் யாரோ
Is he the Krishna suitable for Radha?
Is he the Rama suitable for Sita?
Who is the Kovalan suitable for Kothai?
Who is the guard suitable for the fortress of beauty?
{சிரித்த முகத்தை
ஒருத்திக்காக திறந்து வைப்பானோ
அவன் தேக்கு மரத்தை போல
உருண்டு திரண்டு நிற்பானோ} (2)
{His smiling face,
Will he keep it reserved for just one woman?
Like a sturdy teak tree,
Will he stand strong and well-built?} (2)
மூக்கும் முழியும்
பார்க்க பார்க்க மோகத்தை தருமோ
இல்லை முன்னழகை பார்த்தவுடன்
மூச்சு நின்றிடுமோ
ஆஹாஹ்ஹா ஆஹாஹ்ஹா
ஆஹாஹ்ஹா ஆஹாஹ்ஹா
Do his facial features
Evoke passion the more you look at him?
Or upon looking at his striking front,
Does one's breath stop?
Haha haha haha haha
ராதைக்கேற்ற கண்ணனோ
சீதைக்கேற்ற ராமனோ
கோதைக்கேற்ற கோவலன் யாரோ
அழகு கோட்டைக்கேற்ற
காவலன் யாரோ
Is he the Krishna suitable for Radha?
Is he the Rama suitable for Sita?
Who is the Kovalan suitable for Kothai?
Who is the guard suitable for the fortress of beauty?
ஆஆ......ஆஆ.......ஆஆ......ஆஆ
{சரசகலா சாலையிலே
பட்டம் பெற்றவனோ
அவன் சாகசக்கலைக் கூடத்திலே
பாடம் கற்றவனோ} (2)
Aaaaa…..aaaaa….aaa….aaaa…
{In the school of romantic arts,
Is he someone who earned a degree?
In the academy of adventurous skills,
Is he someone who learned his lessons?}
இளைய கன்னி உன்னை எண்ணி
ஏங்கி நிற்பவனோ
இல்லை இன்னும் வேறு யாரையேனும்
காதலிப்பவனோ
ஆஹாஹ்ஹா ஆஹாஹ்ஹா
ஆஹாஹ்ஹா ஆஹாஹ்ஹா
Thinking of you, young maiden,
Will he stand longing for you?
Or is he someone who loves
Yet another woman?
ராதைக்கேற்ற கண்ணனோ
சீதைக்கேற்ற ராமனோ
கோதைக்கேற்ற கோவலன் யாரோ
அழகு கோட்டைக்கேற்ற
காவலன் யாரோ
Is he the Krishna suitable for Radha?
Is he the Rama suitable for Sita?
Who is the Kovalan suitable for Kothai?
Who is the guard suitable for the fortress of beauty?
Raadhaikkettra kannano
Is he the Krishna suitable for Radha?
Seethaikkettra raamano
Is he the Rama suitable for Sita?
Kothaikkettra kovalan yaaro
Who is the Kovalan suitable for Kothai?
Azhagu kottaikkettra kaavalan yaaro
Who is the guard suitable for the fortress of beauty?
Raadhaikkettra kannano
Is he the Krishna suitable for Radha?
Seethaikkettra raamano
Is he the Rama suitable for Sita?
Kothaikkettra kovalan yaaro
Who is the Kovalan suitable for Kothai?
Azhagu kottaikkettra kaavalan yaaro
Who is the guard suitable for the fortress of beauty?
Kaathaliththavano
Is he one who has loved deeply?
Athil pereduthavano
Is he one who earned fame in love?
Kannirandil penn inathai
Is he one who imprisons womanhood
Kaithu seibavano
With his pair of eyes?
Aatharippavano
Is he one who will support you?
Unnai anusarippavano
Is he one who will adjust to you?
Illai aasai theerumbothu
Or is he someone whose heart changes
Nenjam maarugindravano
Once his desires are satisfied?
Haha haha haha haha
Haha haha haha haha
Raadhaikkettra kannano
Is he the Krishna suitable for Radha?
Seethaikkettra raamano
Is he the Rama suitable for Sita?
Kothaikkettra kovalan yaaro
Who is the Kovalan suitable for Kothai?
Azhagu kottaikkettra kaavalan yaaro
Who is the guard suitable for the fortress of beauty?
{Siriththa mugathai
{His smiling face,
Oruthikkaaga thiranthu vaippaano
Will he keep it reserved for just one woman?
Avan thaekku marathaipola
Like a sturdy teak tree,
Urundu thirandu nirppaano} (2)
Will he stand strong and well-built?} (2)
Mookkum muzhiyum
Do his facial features
Paarkka paarkka mogathai tharumo
Evoke passion the more you look at him?
Illai munnazhagai paarthavudam
Or upon looking at his striking front,
Moochchu nindridumo
Does one's breath stop?
Haha haha haha haha
Haha haha haha haha
Raadhaikkettra kannano
Is he the Krishna suitable for Radha?
Seethaikkettra raamano
Is he the Rama suitable for Sita?
Kothaikkettra kovalan yaaro
Who is the Kovalan suitable for Kothai?
Azhagu kottaikkettra kaavalan yaaro
Who is the guard suitable for the fortress of beauty?
Aaaaa…..aaaaa….aaa….aaaa…
Aaaaa…..aaaaa….aaa….aaaa…
{Sarasakkalaa saalaiyilae
{In the school of romantic arts,
Pattam pettravano
Is he someone who earned a degree?
Avan saagasa kalai koodaththilae
In the academy of adventurous skills,
Paadam kattravano}
Is he someone who learned his lessons?}
Ilaiya kanni unnai enni
Thinking of you, young maiden,
Yengi nirppavano
Will he stand longing for you?
Illai innum veru yaaraiyenum
Or is he someone who loves
Kaadhalippavano
Yet another woman?
Raadhaikkettra kannano
Is he the Krishna suitable for Radha?
Seethaikkettra raamano
Is he the Rama suitable for Sita?
Kothaikkettra kovalan yaaro
Who is the Kovalan suitable for Kothai?
Azhagu kottaikkettra kaavalan yaaro
Who is the guard suitable for the fortress of beauty?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song from Sumai Thangi (1962), penned by Kannadasan, explores a young woman's introspective questions and doubts about her prospective soulmate. Drawing parallels from Indian mythology and literature—Krishna and Radha, Rama and Sita, Kovalan and Kannagi (Kothai)—she wonders if the man destined for her will match these heroic figures in devotion, nobility, and strength. Through playful yet deeply philosophical questioning, the lyrics probe into his true nature: Will he be loyal to a single woman, or will his feelings fade once his desires are fulfilled? Is he genuinely loving, robust in character like a teak tree, and devoted, or merely an accomplished charmer? Kannadasan deftly encapsulates the mixture of anticipation, desire, and emotional caution that accompanies romantic expectations.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethirghai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Raadhaikkettra kannano / Seethaikkettra raamano / Kothaikkettra kovalan yaaro”
The second consonant sound 'tha' repeats across consecutive opening lines (Raadhaikkettra, Seethaikkettra, Kothaikkettra), providing rhythmic harmony.
Uvamai (Simile)
“Avan thaekku marathaipola urundu thirandu nirppaano”
Comparing the physical stature and strength of the man to a firm, well-rounded teak tree ('thaekku marathaipola').
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Azhagu kottaikkettra kaavalan yaaro”
Comparing the woman's beauty and maidenhood to a fortress ('azhagu kottai') that requires a worthy guard ('kaavalan').
Vinaavu (Rhetorical Questioning)
“Illai aasai theerumbothu nenjam maarugindravano”
The entire lyric relies on continuous rhetorical questions to convey curiosity, anxiety, and ideal romantic expectations.
Did you know?
Trivia
Sumai Thangi (1962) was directed by C. V. Sridhar and featured music composed by the iconic duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy. This lively track was sung by S. Janaki and P. Susheela. Lyricist Kannadasan famously integrated epic romantic archetypes (Krishna-Radha, Rama-Sita, Kovalan-Kannagi) into contemporary film songs to highlight timeless emotional themes.
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