Raja Chinna Raja
From Poonthalir · 1979
- Lyricist
- Panchu Arunachalam
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Poonthalir1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Aa… aa…aa…aa…aaa… | Ah... ah... ah... ah... ah... |
| Aa… aa…aa…aa…aaa… | Ah... ah... ah... ah... ah... |
| Haa..aaa…aa…aa..haa…aaa… | Hah... ah... ah... ah... hah... ah... |
| Female | |
| Raajaa chinna raajaa | Oh King, my little king, |
| Poonthalirae inba kaniyae | Oh tender blossom, sweet fruit of joy, |
| Unnai nenjil serthu kolla | To embrace you close to my heart, |
| Yengum thaayin ullam | A mother's heart yearns endlessly. |
| Kaakkum dheivam unnai | The divine protector shall guard you. |
| Female | |
| Raajaa chinna raajaa | Oh King, my little king, |
| Poonthalirae inba kaniyae | Oh tender blossom, sweet fruit of joy, |
| Unnai nenjil serthu kolla | To embrace you close to my heart, |
| Yengum thaayin ullam | A mother's heart yearns endlessly. |
| Kaakkum dheivam unnai | The divine protector shall guard you. |
| Female | |
| Yaarum indri kaaval indri | Without anyone, without any protection, |
| Thanimaiyaaga vaazhgiraai | You live all alone in loneliness. |
| Veedum indri koorai indri | Without a house, without even a roof, |
| Paadhai oram thoongugindraai | You sleep by the side of the road. |
| Aravanaikka unavalikka | To embrace you and to feed you, |
| Thudikkudhendhan ullamae | My heart throbs in agony. |
| Vazhi yaedhu thunai yaedhu | Which is the way, where is the companion? |
| Unnai kaakka dheivam vandhu serum | God will come to protect you. |
| Female | |
| Raajaa chinna raajaa | Oh King, my little king, |
| Poonthalirae inba kaniyae | Oh tender blossom, sweet fruit of joy, |
| Unnai nenjil serthu kolla | To embrace you close to my heart, |
| Yengum thaayin ullam | A mother's heart yearns endlessly. |
| Kaakkum dheivam unnai | The divine protector shall guard you. |
| Chorus | |
| Ha… aa…aa…aa…aaa… | Ha... ah... ah... ah... ah... |
| Haa… aa…aa…aa…aaa… | Haa... ah... ah... ah... ah... |
| Haa… aa…aa…aa…aaa… | Haa... ah... ah... ah... ah... |
| Haa..aaa…aa…aa..haa…aaa… | Haa... ah... ah... ah... haa... ah... |
| Female | |
| Aaviyaaga vandha annai | For the mother who has returned as a spirit, |
| Azhudhu enna laabamo | What is the point of crying? |
| Paaviyaana pillai unnai | To look after you, child of a sinner, |
| Paarkka vendum dheivamae | Oh Lord, you must look after him. |
| Kaalamenum perungadalil | In the vast ocean called Time, |
| Siru padagae pogiraai | You sail along like a tiny boat. |
| Karai saerum vazhi kaanum | Finding the way to reach the shore, |
| Thirunaalum unnai vandhu serum | That auspicious day will surely arrive for you. |
| Female | |
| Raajaa chinna raajaa | Oh King, my little king, |
| Poonthalirae inba kaniyae | Oh tender blossom, sweet fruit of joy, |
| Unnai nenjil serthu kolla | To embrace you close to my heart, |
| Yengum thaayin ullam | A mother's heart yearns endlessly. |
| Kaakkum dheivam unnai | The divine protector shall guard you. |
ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ...
ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ...
Ah... ah... ah... ah... ah...
Ah... ah... ah... ah... ah...
Hah... ah... ah... ah... hah... ah...
ராஜா சின்ன ராஜா
பூந்தளிரே இன்பக் கனியே
உன்னை நெஞ்சில் சேர்த்துக் கொள்ள
ஏங்கும் தாயின் உள்ளம்
காக்கும் தெய்வம் உன்னை
Oh King, my little king,
Oh tender blossom, sweet fruit of joy,
To embrace you close to my heart,
A mother's heart yearns endlessly.
The divine protector shall guard you.
ராஜா சின்ன ராஜா
பூந்தளிரே இன்பக் கனியே
உன்னை நெஞ்சில் சேர்த்துக் கொள்ள
ஏங்கும் தாயின் உள்ளம்
காக்கும் தெய்வம் உன்னை
Oh King, my little king,
Oh tender blossom, sweet fruit of joy,
To embrace you close to my heart,
A mother's heart yearns endlessly.
The divine protector shall guard you.
யாரும் இன்றி காவல் இன்றி
தனிமையாக வாழ்கிறாய்
வீடும் இன்றி கூரை இன்றி
பாதை ஓரம் தூங்குகின்றாய்
அரவணைக்க உணவளிக்க
துடிக்குதெந்தன் உள்ளமே
வழி ஏது துணை ஏது
உன்னைக் காக்க தெய்வம் வந்து சேரும்
Without anyone, without any protection,
You live all alone in loneliness.
Without a house, without even a roof,
You sleep by the side of the road.
To embrace you and to feed you,
My heart throbs in agony.
Which is the way, where is the companion?
God will come to protect you.
ராஜா சின்ன ராஜா
பூந்தளிரே இன்பக் கனியே
உன்னை நெஞ்சில் சேர்த்துக் கொள்ள
ஏங்கும் தாயின் உள்ளம்
காக்கும் தெய்வம் உன்னை
Oh King, my little king,
Oh tender blossom, sweet fruit of joy,
To embrace you close to my heart,
A mother's heart yearns endlessly.
The divine protector shall guard you.
ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ...
ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ...
Ha... ah... ah... ah... ah...
Haa... ah... ah... ah... ah...
Haa... ah... ah... ah... ah...
Haa... ah... ah... ah... haa... ah...
ஆவியாக வந்த அன்னை
அழுது என்ன லாபமோ
பாவியான பிள்ளை உன்னை
பார்க்க வேண்டும் தெய்வமே
காலமெனும் பெருங்கடலில்
சிறு படகே போகிறாய்
கரை சேரும் வழி காணும்
திருநாளும் உன்னை வந்து சேரும்
For the mother who has returned as a spirit,
What is the point of crying?
To look after you, child of a sinner,
Oh Lord, you must look after him.
In the vast ocean called Time,
You sail along like a tiny boat.
Finding the way to reach the shore,
That auspicious day will surely arrive for you.
ராஜா சின்ன ராஜா
பூந்தளிரே இன்பக் கனியே
உன்னை நெஞ்சில் சேர்த்துக் கொள்ள
ஏங்கும் தாயின் உள்ளம்
காக்கும் தெய்வம் உன்னை
Oh King, my little king,
Oh tender blossom, sweet fruit of joy,
To embrace you close to my heart,
A mother's heart yearns endlessly.
The divine protector shall guard you.
Aa… aa…aa…aa…aaa…
Ah... ah... ah... ah... ah...
Aa… aa…aa…aa…aaa…
Ah... ah... ah... ah... ah...
Haa..aaa…aa…aa..haa…aaa…
Hah... ah... ah... ah... hah... ah...
Raajaa chinna raajaa
Oh King, my little king,
Poonthalirae inba kaniyae
Oh tender blossom, sweet fruit of joy,
Unnai nenjil serthu kolla
To embrace you close to my heart,
Yengum thaayin ullam
A mother's heart yearns endlessly.
Kaakkum dheivam unnai
The divine protector shall guard you.
Raajaa chinna raajaa
Oh King, my little king,
Poonthalirae inba kaniyae
Oh tender blossom, sweet fruit of joy,
Unnai nenjil serthu kolla
To embrace you close to my heart,
Yengum thaayin ullam
A mother's heart yearns endlessly.
Kaakkum dheivam unnai
The divine protector shall guard you.
Yaarum indri kaaval indri
Without anyone, without any protection,
Thanimaiyaaga vaazhgiraai
You live all alone in loneliness.
Veedum indri koorai indri
Without a house, without even a roof,
Paadhai oram thoongugindraai
You sleep by the side of the road.
Aravanaikka unavalikka
To embrace you and to feed you,
Thudikkudhendhan ullamae
My heart throbs in agony.
Vazhi yaedhu thunai yaedhu
Which is the way, where is the companion?
Unnai kaakka dheivam vandhu serum
God will come to protect you.
Raajaa chinna raajaa
Oh King, my little king,
Poonthalirae inba kaniyae
Oh tender blossom, sweet fruit of joy,
Unnai nenjil serthu kolla
To embrace you close to my heart,
Yengum thaayin ullam
A mother's heart yearns endlessly.
Kaakkum dheivam unnai
The divine protector shall guard you.
Ha… aa…aa…aa…aaa…
Ha... ah... ah... ah... ah...
Haa… aa…aa…aa…aaa…
Haa... ah... ah... ah... ah...
Haa… aa…aa…aa…aaa…
Haa... ah... ah... ah... ah...
Haa..aaa…aa…aa..haa…aaa…
Haa... ah... ah... ah... haa... ah...
Aaviyaaga vandha annai
For the mother who has returned as a spirit,
Azhudhu enna laabamo
What is the point of crying?
Paaviyaana pillai unnai
To look after you, child of a sinner,
Paarkka vendum dheivamae
Oh Lord, you must look after him.
Kaalamenum perungadalil
In the vast ocean called Time,
Siru padagae pogiraai
You sail along like a tiny boat.
Karai saerum vazhi kaanum
Finding the way to reach the shore,
Thirunaalum unnai vandhu serum
That auspicious day will surely arrive for you.
Raajaa chinna raajaa
Oh King, my little king,
Poonthalirae inba kaniyae
Oh tender blossom, sweet fruit of joy,
Unnai nenjil serthu kolla
To embrace you close to my heart,
Yengum thaayin ullam
A mother's heart yearns endlessly.
Kaakkum dheivam unnai
The divine protector shall guard you.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant lullaby and lament from the movie 'Poonthalir' depicts the spirit of a mother watching helplessly over her orphaned young child living on the streets. The mother aches with sorrow as she sees her little boy sleeping by the roadside without food, shelter, or any protection, yet she is unable to physically comfort or feed him. She prays intensely to God to act as a guardian for the innocent child, comparing the child's life to a fragile boat navigating through the immense ocean of time, and holds onto the hope that a bright, safe day will eventually dawn for him.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Urwagakm)
“Poonthalirae inba kaniyae”
In 'Poonthalirae inba kaniyae', the child is affectionately described directly as a tender floral shoot and a sweet fruit of joy.
Extended Metaphor
“Kaalamenum perungadalil Siru padagae pogiraai”
In 'Kaalamenum perungadalil Siru padagae pogiraai', life/time is conceptualized as a vast ocean ('perungadal') while the vulnerable child is metaphorically described as a small boat ('siru padagu') navigating it.
Anaphora / Rhyme (Eshai & Rhyme)
“Veedum indri koorai indri”
Repeated structural phrasing 'Veedum indri koorai indri' creates a rhythmic cadence emphasizing the complete destitution of the child.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although the prompt credits the music as unknown, 'Poonthalir' (1979) was scored by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Panchu Arunachalam. This famous emotional song was sung by S. Janaki and highlights her expressive voice portraying maternal grief.
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