Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Pillai Nila album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Raja Magal Roja Magal Child Version

From Pillai Nila · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Pillai Nila
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
3 Jul 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Raajaa magal… rojaa magal…
Raajaa magal rojaa magal
Vaanil varum vennilaa
Vaazhum indha kannilaa
Konjum mozhi paadidum solai kuyilaa
Raajaa magal rojaa magal
Mullodu thaan kallodu thaan
Rojaakkalum pookkalaam
Ammaadi naan aththodu thaan
Un peraiyum serkkalaam
Kattil vara ennam ittu
Thottil vandhu serndhaval
Mannavanae un ninaivil
Vennilavaai thaeindhaval
Kobam oru kannil
Dhaabam oru kannil
Vandhu vandhu sella
Vindhai enna solla
Endhan uyirae… ae…ae…ae..ae…ae..ae…
Raajaa magal rojaa magal
A royal princess... a rose-like girl...
A royal princess, a rose-like girl,
Does the bright moon in the sky
live within these eyes?
Is she a garden cuckoo singing sweet, tender words?
A royal princess, a rose-like girl.
With thorns and intoxicating nectar,
roses may bloom.
Oh my dear, along with them,
I can add your name too.
She hoped to reach the marriage bed,
yet ended up in a cradle instead.
My king, lost in thoughts of you,
she faded away like the moon.
Anger in one eye,
deep longing in the other,
as they come and go,
how can I explain this wonder?
Oh, my very life...
A royal princess, a rose-like girl.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from 'Pillai Nila' expresses deeply tender yet tragic emotions towards a beloved girl who is cherished like a princess and as delicate as a rose. The singer compares her to the moon and a singing cuckoo, marveling at her delicate beauty while reflecting on the hardships she endures, symbolized by roses blooming amongst thorns and stones. The lyricist captures a painful transition between romantic aspirations and life's unexpected turns, portraying a woman torn between anger and deep affection, waning emotionally in the lingering memories of her beloved.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyming)

Kattil vara ennam ittu / Thottil vandhu serndhaval

Rhyming of the second consonant sound in adjacent lines like 'Raajaa' and 'rojaa', or 'Kattil' and 'Thottil'.

Uvamai (Metaphor / Simile)

Vaanil varum vennilaa

Comparing the precious girl to a blooming rose, a grove nightingale ('solai kuyil'), and the bright white moon ('vennilaa').

Antithesis / Irony

Kobam oru kannil / Dhaabam oru kannil

Contrasting the dream of reaching the nuptial bed ('Kattil') with the reality of ending up at a cradle ('Thottil'), as well as conflicting emotions of anger ('Kobam') and longing ('Dhaabam').

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Pillai Nila' (1985) is a renowned Tamil horror-thriller directed by Manobala, starring Mohan, Radhika, and Nalini. Despite the song's tender lullaby-like tone written by Vaali, the musical score by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja seamlessly serves the haunting, supernatural narrative context of the film.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Pillai Nila

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.