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Macha Rekai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Raja En Mel

From Macha Rekai · 1950

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
A. P. Komala
Music director
C. R. Subbaraman
Movie name
Macha Rekai
Movie release year
1950
Lyrics added on
12 Dec 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Raja en mel kobama
Kobam kolladhae nee vaa vaa summa
Jaalam seiyaadhae nee vaa
O raaja ingae odi vaa
Raja en mel kobama
Kobam kolladhae nee vaa vaa summa
Maappillai polae modi seiyaadhae
Mann aandhai polae summa muzhikkadhae
Raja en mel kobama
Kobam kolladhae nee vaa vaa summa
Kattayama sol kaaya nee pazhama
Kallu pillaiyaarae sella pillaiyaarae
Raja en mel kobama
Kobam kolladhae nee vaa vaa summa
Jaalam seiyaadhae nee vaa
O raaja ingae odi vaa
My king, are you angry with me?
Don't hold this anger, just come, come to me!
Don't play tricks on me, come!
Oh... my king, run over here!
My king, are you angry with me?
Don't hold this anger, just come, come to me!
Don't put on airs like a haughty bridegroom!
Don't just stare blankly like a clay owl!
My king, are you angry with me?
Don't hold this anger, just come, come to me!
Tell me for sure, are you raw or ripe?
O stone Ganesha, my darling Ganesha!
My king, are you angry with me?
Don't hold this anger, just come, come to me!
Don't play tricks on me, come!
Oh... my king, run over here!
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful Tamil song features a heroine lightheartedly coaxing her lover to drop his sulking attitude and join her. She affectionately teases him, telling him not to act proud like a bridegroom or stand motionless like a mud owl or a stone deity. Through charming folk-style metaphors and persistent cajoling, she tries to bring a smile to his face and draw him back to her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Maappillai polae modi seiyaadhae / Mann aandhai polae summa muzhikkadhae

The lyricist compares the partner's stubborn attitude to a bridegroom's pomp ('Maappillai polae') and a motionless mud owl ('Mann aandhai polae') using the comparative marker 'polae'.

Antithesis (Muran)

Kattayama sol kaaya nee pazhama

Contrasting terms 'kaaya' (unripe/sour) and 'pazhama' (ripe/sweet) are juxtaposed to ask whether his mood is sour or sweet.

Second-letter Rhyme (Edhukai) & Metaphor

Kallu pillaiyaarae sella pillaiyaarae

Rhyming pair 'Kallu' and 'Sella' provides melodic harmony while metaphorically comparing him to a quiet stone Pillaiyar (Ganesha idol).

Did you know?

Trivia

Macha Rekai (1950) featured music by the legendary composer C. R. Subbaraman, who was a mentor to famous duo M. S. Viswanathan and T. K. Ramamoorthy. Lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass was celebrated for incorporating colloquial Tamil idioms and street-play rhythms into early Tamil cinema music.

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