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Isaimozhi
Ethir Kaatru album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Raja Illa

From Ethir Kaatru · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Arun Mozhi, Uma Ramanan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ethir Kaatru
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
2 Feb 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Raajaa illaa raani endrum
Raani thaan
Raani illaa raajaa endrum
Raajaa thaan
Raajaa illaa raani endrum
Raani thaan
Raani illaa raajaa endrum
Raajaa thaan
Oru dhesam undu unakku
Adhu unakku podhumae
Oru naesam undu enakku
Adhu enakku podhumae
Hooo…ooo….oo….ooo….
Raani illaa raajaa endrum
Raajaa thaan hoo oo
Raajaa illaa raani endrum
Raani thaan
Natpu enum yededuthu
Naan varaindha mudhal ezhuthu
Unnai andri yaarum illai oorilae
Ethanaiyo koyil kondu
Ingirukkum dheivam undu
Unnai pol vandhadhillai nerilae
Chinna malar kaavalukku
Nindrirundha thendralukku
Vittu vilagum pozhudhum vandhadhae
Aasaiyaai… poovidu…
Vaai varaadha oomai kuyil
Pola naanum vaazhgiren
Raani illaa raajaa endrum
Raajaa thaan oo ho
Raajaa illaa raani endrum
Raani thaan
Raajaa illaa raani endrum
Raani thaan
Raani illaa raajaa endrum
Raajaa thaan
Ingirundha kaalangalum
Anbu konda kolangalum
Eppozhudhum vaazhum
Indha kannilae
Ennudaiya ennangalum
Karpanaiyin vannangalum
Ennavendru naanum solla
Sol illae
Nalla manam kondirukkum
Nangai vizhi kandirukkum
Enna kanavu yedhuvo koorammaa
Vaanam pol un manam
Paal nilaavai pola adhil
Naanum vaazha paarkkiren
Raani illaa raajaa endrum
Raajaa thaan oo ho
Raajaa illaa raani endrum
Raani thaan
Oru dhesam undu enakku
Adhu enakku podhumae
Oru naesam undu unakku
Adhu unakku podhumae
Hoo oo oo hoo ooo ooo…
Raajaa illaa raani endrum
Raani thaan ho
Raani illaa raajaa endrum
Raajaa thaan
A queen without a king
is always a queen.
A king without a queen
is always a king.
A queen without a king
is always a queen.
A king without a queen
is always a king.
You have a kingdom of your own,
and that is enough for you.
I have a heart full of love,
and that is enough for me.
Hoo... ooo... oo... ooo...
A king without a queen
is always a king, oh ho!
A queen without a king
is always a queen.
Opening the page of friendship,
the very first name I wrote was yours;
there is no one else like you in this world.
Though there are so many gods
dwelling in temples all around,
none have ever appeared in person like you.
For the gentle breeze that stood guard
over the tender little flower,
the time to part has now arrived.
Longing so dearly to blossom...
Like a mute cuckoo unable to sing,
I too am living my life.
A king without a queen
is always a king, oh ho!
A queen without a king
is always a queen.
A queen without a king
is always a queen.
A king without a queen
is always a king.
The happy times spent here
and the beautiful bond of love we shared
will forever live on
in these eyes.
All of my thoughts
and the colorful dreams in my heart—
to explain what they really are,
I have no words.
What kind of dream has formed
in the eyes of this kind-hearted woman?
Please tell me.
Your heart is as vast as the sky,
and like the milky moonlight,
I only wish to live within it.
A king without a queen
is always a king, oh ho!
A queen without a king
is always a queen.
I have a kingdom of my own,
and that is enough for me.
You have a heart full of love,
and that is enough for you.
Hoo oh oh hoo oh oh...
A queen without a king
is always a queen, oh!
A king without a queen
is always a king.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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