Raja Illa
From Ethir Kaatru · 1990
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Arun Mozhi, Uma Ramanan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Ethir Kaatru1990
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Raajaa illaa raani endrum | A queen without a king is always |
| Raani thaan | Just a queen |
| Raani illaa raajaa endrum | A king without a queen is always |
| Raajaa thaan | Just a king |
| Female | |
| Raajaa illaa raani endrum | A queen without a king is always |
| Raani thaan | Just a queen |
| Raani illaa raajaa endrum | A king without a queen is always |
| Raajaa thaan | Just a king |
| Female | |
| Oru dhesam undu unakku | You have a country of your own |
| Adhu unakku podhumae | That is enough for you |
| Oru naesam undu enakku | I have an affection of my own |
| Adhu enakku podhumae | That is enough for me |
| Hooo…ooo….oo….ooo…. | Hooo…ooo….oo….ooo…. |
| Male | |
| Raani illaa raajaa endrum | A king without a queen is always |
| Raajaa thaan hoo oo | Just a king hoo oo |
| Raajaa illaa raani endrum | A queen without a king is always |
| Raani thaan | Just a queen |
| Male | |
| Natpu enum yededuthu | Opening the pages of friendship |
| Naan varaindha mudhal ezhuthu | The very first letter I drew |
| Unnai andri yaarum illai oorilae | There is no one besides you in this town |
| Female | |
| Ethanaiyo koyil kondu | Despite having so many temples |
| Ingirukkum dheivam undu | And gods residing here |
| Unnai pol vandhadhillai nerilae | None came in person like you did |
| Male | |
| Chinna malar kaavalukku | For the gentle breeze that stood guard |
| Nindrirundha thendralukku | Over the small blossom |
| Vittu vilagum pozhudhum vandhadhae | The moment to part away has arrived |
| Female | |
| Aasaiyaai… poovidu… | With longing... bid farewell... |
| Vaai varaadha oomai kuyil | Like a mute cuckoo whose voice does not sound |
| Pola naanum vaazhgiren | I too am living my life |
| Male | |
| Raani illaa raajaa endrum | A king without a queen is always |
| Raajaa thaan oo ho | Just a king oo ho |
| Raajaa illaa raani endrum | A queen without a king is always |
| Raani thaan | Just a queen |
| Female | |
| Raajaa illaa raani endrum | A queen without a king is always |
| Raani thaan | Just a queen |
| Raani illaa raajaa endrum | A king without a queen is always |
| Raajaa thaan | Just a king |
| Male | |
| Ingirundha kaalangalum | The moments spent together here |
| Anbu konda kolangalum | And the affection filled forms |
| Eppozhudhum vaazhum | Will live forever |
| Indha kannilae | In these eyes |
| Female | |
| Ennudaiya ennangalum | My deep thoughts |
| Karpanaiyin vannangalum | And the colors of my imagination |
| Ennavendru naanum solla | To express what they truly are |
| Sol illae | I have no words |
| Male | |
| Nalla manam kondirukkum | Possessing a noble heart |
| Nangai vizhi kandirukkum | What the young woman's eyes have seen |
| Enna kanavu yedhuvo koorammaa | What dream could it be, please tell me, lady |
| Female | |
| Vaanam pol un manam | Your heart is vast like the sky |
| Paal nilaavai pola adhil | Like the milky moon within it |
| Naanum vaazha paarkkiren | I seek to live |
| Male | |
| Raani illaa raajaa endrum | A king without a queen is always |
| Raajaa thaan oo ho | Just a king oo ho |
| Female | |
| Raajaa illaa raani endrum | A queen without a king is always |
| Raani thaan | Just a queen |
| Male | |
| Oru dhesam undu enakku | I have a country of my own |
| Adhu enakku podhumae | That is enough for me |
| Oru naesam undu unakku | You have an affection of your own |
| Adhu unakku podhumae | That is enough for you |
| Hoo oo oo hoo ooo ooo… | Hoo oo oo hoo ooo ooo… |
| Female | |
| Raajaa illaa raani endrum | A queen without a king is always |
| Raani thaan ho | Just a queen ho |
| Male | |
| Raani illaa raajaa endrum | A king without a queen is always |
| Raajaa thaan | Just a king |
ராஜா இல்லா ராணி
என்றும் ராணி தான்
ராணி இல்லா ராஜா
என்றும் ராஜா தான்
A queen without a king is always
Just a queen
A king without a queen is always
Just a king
ராஜா இல்லா ராணி
என்றும் ராணிதான்
ராணி இல்லா ராஜா
என்றும் ராஜாதான்
A queen without a king is always
Just a queen
A king without a queen is always
Just a king
ஒரு தேசம் உண்டு உனக்கு
அது உனக்குப் போதுமே
ஒரு நேசம் உண்டு எனக்கு
அது எனக்குப் போதுமே
ஓ.....ஓஒ.....ஓஒ.....ஓஒ......
You have a country of your own
That is enough for you
I have an affection of my own
That is enough for me
Hooo…ooo….oo….ooo….
ராணி இல்லா ராஜா
என்றும் ராஜாதான் ஓஒ....
ராஜா இல்லா ராணி
என்றும் ராணி தான்
A king without a queen is always
Just a king hoo oo
A queen without a king is always
Just a queen
நட்பு எனும் ஏடெடுத்து
நான் வரைந்த முதல் எழுத்து
உன்னை அன்றி யாரும்
இல்லை ஊரிலே
Opening the pages of friendship
The very first letter I drew
There is no one besides you in this town
எத்தனையோ
கோயில் கொண்டு
இங்கிருக்கும் தெய்வம் உண்டு
உன்னைப் போல் வந்ததில்லை நேரிலே
Despite having so many temples
And gods residing here
None came in person like you did
சின்ன மலர்க் காவலுக்கு
என்றிருந்த தென்றலுக்கு
விட்டு விலகும் பொழுதும் வந்ததே
For the gentle breeze that stood guard
Over the small blossom
The moment to part away has arrived
ஆசையாய்... பூவிடு...
வாய் வராத ஊமைக் குயில் போல
நானும் வாழ்கிறேன்
With longing... bid farewell...
Like a mute cuckoo whose voice does not sound
I too am living my life
ராணி இல்லா ராஜா
என்றும் ராஜாதான் ஓஒ....
ராஜா இல்லா ராணி
என்றும் ராணி தான்
A king without a queen is always
Just a king oo ho
A queen without a king is always
Just a queen
ராஜா இல்லா ராணி
என்றும் ராணிதான்
ராணி இல்லா ராஜா
என்றும் ராஜாதான்
A queen without a king is always
Just a queen
A king without a queen is always
Just a king
இங்கிருந்த காலங்களும்
அன்பு கொண்ட கோலங்களும்
எப்பொழுதும் வாழும்
இந்த கண்ணிலே
The moments spent together here
And the affection filled forms
Will live forever
In these eyes
என்னுடைய எண்ணங்களும்
கற்பனையின் வண்ணங்களும்
என்னவென்று நானும் சொல்ல
சொல் இல்லே
My deep thoughts
And the colors of my imagination
To express what they truly are
I have no words
நல்ல மனம் கொண்டிருக்கும்
நங்கை விழி கண்டிருக்கும்
எண்ணக் கனவு எதுவோ கூறம்மா
Possessing a noble heart
What the young woman's eyes have seen
What dream could it be, please tell me, lady
வானம் போல் உன் மனம்
பால் நிலாவைப் போல அதில்
நானும் வாழப் பார்க்கிறேன்
Your heart is vast like the sky
Like the milky moon within it
I seek to live
ராணி இல்லா ராஜா
என்றும் ராஜாதான் ஓஒ....
ராஜா இல்லா ராணி
என்றும் ராணி தான்
A king without a queen is always
Just a king oo ho
ஒரு தேசம் உண்டு எனக்கு
அது எனக்குப் போதுமே
ஒரு நேசம் உண்டு உனக்கு
அது உனக்குப் போதுமே
ஓ.....ஓஒ.....ஓஒ.....ஓஒ......
A queen without a king is always
Just a queen
ராஜா இல்லா ராணி
என்றும் ராணிதான்
ராணி இல்லா ராஜா
என்றும் ராஜாதான்
I have a country of my own
That is enough for me
You have an affection of your own
That is enough for you
Hoo oo oo hoo ooo ooo…
A queen without a king is always
Just a queen ho
A king without a queen is always
Just a king
Raajaa illaa raani endrum
A queen without a king is always
Raani thaan
Just a queen
Raani illaa raajaa endrum
A king without a queen is always
Raajaa thaan
Just a king
Raajaa illaa raani endrum
A queen without a king is always
Raani thaan
Just a queen
Raani illaa raajaa endrum
A king without a queen is always
Raajaa thaan
Just a king
Oru dhesam undu unakku
You have a country of your own
Adhu unakku podhumae
That is enough for you
Oru naesam undu enakku
I have an affection of my own
Adhu enakku podhumae
That is enough for me
Hooo…ooo….oo….ooo….
Hooo…ooo….oo….ooo….
Raani illaa raajaa endrum
A king without a queen is always
Raajaa thaan hoo oo
Just a king hoo oo
Raajaa illaa raani endrum
A queen without a king is always
Raani thaan
Just a queen
Natpu enum yededuthu
Opening the pages of friendship
Naan varaindha mudhal ezhuthu
The very first letter I drew
Unnai andri yaarum illai oorilae
There is no one besides you in this town
Ethanaiyo koyil kondu
Despite having so many temples
Ingirukkum dheivam undu
And gods residing here
Unnai pol vandhadhillai nerilae
None came in person like you did
Chinna malar kaavalukku
For the gentle breeze that stood guard
Nindrirundha thendralukku
Over the small blossom
Vittu vilagum pozhudhum vandhadhae
The moment to part away has arrived
Aasaiyaai… poovidu…
With longing... bid farewell...
Vaai varaadha oomai kuyil
Like a mute cuckoo whose voice does not sound
Pola naanum vaazhgiren
I too am living my life
Raani illaa raajaa endrum
A king without a queen is always
Raajaa thaan oo ho
Just a king oo ho
Raajaa illaa raani endrum
A queen without a king is always
Raani thaan
Just a queen
Raajaa illaa raani endrum
A queen without a king is always
Raani thaan
Just a queen
Raani illaa raajaa endrum
A king without a queen is always
Raajaa thaan
Just a king
Ingirundha kaalangalum
The moments spent together here
Anbu konda kolangalum
And the affection filled forms
Eppozhudhum vaazhum
Will live forever
Indha kannilae
In these eyes
Ennudaiya ennangalum
My deep thoughts
Karpanaiyin vannangalum
And the colors of my imagination
Ennavendru naanum solla
To express what they truly are
Sol illae
I have no words
Nalla manam kondirukkum
Possessing a noble heart
Nangai vizhi kandirukkum
What the young woman's eyes have seen
Enna kanavu yedhuvo koorammaa
What dream could it be, please tell me, lady
Vaanam pol un manam
Your heart is vast like the sky
Paal nilaavai pola adhil
Like the milky moon within it
Naanum vaazha paarkkiren
I seek to live
Raani illaa raajaa endrum
A king without a queen is always
Raajaa thaan oo ho
Just a king oo ho
Raajaa illaa raani endrum
A queen without a king is always
Raani thaan
Just a queen
Oru dhesam undu enakku
I have a country of my own
Adhu enakku podhumae
That is enough for me
Oru naesam undu unakku
You have an affection of your own
Adhu unakku podhumae
That is enough for you
Hoo oo oo hoo ooo ooo…
Hoo oo oo hoo ooo ooo…
Raajaa illaa raani endrum
A queen without a king is always
Raani thaan ho
Just a queen ho
Raani illaa raajaa endrum
A king without a queen is always
Raajaa thaan
Just a king
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Raajaa Illaa Raani' from the 1990 Tamil movie Ethir Kaatru reflects on self-worth, emotional independence, and the poignant dignity of friendship. The core refrain asserts that a king remains a king without a queen, and a queen remains a queen without a king, symbolizing that true identity and self-respect are complete within oneself rather than dependent on romantic completion.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Refrain / Epistrophe
“Raajaa illaa raani endrum / Raani thaan”
The thematic lines 'Raajaa illaa raani endrum Raani thaan' repeat throughout the track to reinforce emotional self-sufficiency.
Metaphor
“Vaai varaadha oomai kuyil / Pola naanum vaazhgiren”
Compares silent emotional suffering and unexpressed thoughts to a mute songbird unable to sing.
Simile
“Vaanam pol un manam / Paal nilaavai pola adhil”
Compares the generous nature of the heart to the expansive sky and existing within it like the pure moonlight.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Ethir Kaatru' (1990) features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Vaali. The song emphasizes emotional maturity and mutual respect in human relationships beyond conventional romantic bounds.
Keep listening
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