Raja Raja Chozhan
From Rettai Vaal Kuruvi · 1987
- Lyricist
- Mu. Metha
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Rettai Vaal Kuruvi1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Raaja raaja chozhan naan | I am Raja Raja Chola, |
| Enai aazhum kaadhal dhesam nee thaan | You are the kingdom of love that rules over me. |
| Male | |
| Raaja raaja chozhan naan | I am Raja Raja Chola, |
| Enai aazhum kaadhal dhesam nee thaan | You are the kingdom of love that rules over me. |
| Poovae kaadhal theevae | Oh flower! Oh island of love! |
| Mann meedhu sorgam vandhu pennaaga aanadhae | Heaven came down to Earth and transformed into a woman, |
| Ullaasa boomi inghu undaanathae | A land of joy has been created right here. |
| Male | |
| Raaja raaja chozhan naan | I am Raja Raja Chola, |
| Enai aazhum kaadhal dhesam nee thaan | You are the kingdom of love that rules over me. |
| Poovae kaadhal theevae | Oh flower! Oh island of love! |
| Male | |
| Kannodu kangal yettrum karpoora deepamae | The camphor lamp lit when eyes meet eyes, |
| Kai theendum podhu paayum minsaaramae | The electricity that surges when hands touch. |
| Ullaasa medai melae orangha naadagam | A one-act play upon a stage of joy, |
| Inbangal paadam sollum en thaayagam | My motherland that teaches lessons of happiness. |
| Male | |
| Ingangu oonjalaaga naan pogiren | I swing back and forth like a cradle here and there, |
| Angangu aasai theeyil naan vegiren | I burn in the fire of desire everywhere. |
| Un raaga moganam en kaadhal vaaganam | Your Mohanam raga is my vehicle of love, |
| Senthaamarai senthaen mazhai en aavi neeyae devi | Red lotus, rain of sweet honey, you are my life force, my goddess! |
| Male | |
| Raaja raaja chozhan naan | I am Raja Raja Chola, |
| Enai aazhum kaadhal dhesam nee thaan | You are the kingdom of love that rules over me. |
| Poovae kaadhal theevae | Oh flower! Oh island of love! |
| Male | |
| Kalloora paarrkkum paarvai ulloora paayumae | An intoxicating glance pierces deep within, |
| Thullaamal thullum ullam sallaabamae | A playful heart leaps softly in delight. |
| Villodu ambu rendu kollaamal kolludhae | Two bow-like eyes shoot arrows that slay without killing, |
| Penpaavai kangal endru poi solluthae | Falsely claiming they are merely a woman's eyes. |
| Male | |
| Mundhaanai moodum raani selvaakkilae | Under the royal influence of the queen draped in her saree, |
| En kaadhal kangal pogum pallaakkilae | My loving eyes ride in a royal palanquin. |
| Thaenodai oramae neeraadum neramae | By the bank of the honey stream, during the bath, |
| Pullanguzhal thallaadumae pon meni kelaai raani | The flute staggers; listen, queen with a golden body! |
| Male | |
| Raaja raaja chozhan naan | I am Raja Raja Chola, |
| Enai aazhum kaadhal dhesam nee thaan | You are the kingdom of love that rules over me. |
| Male | |
| Raaja raaja chozhan naan | I am Raja Raja Chola, |
| Enai aazhum kaadhal dhesam nee thaan | You are the kingdom of love that rules over me. |
| Poovae kaadhal theevae | Oh flower! Oh island of love! |
| Mann meedhu sorgam vandhu pennaaga aanadhae | Heaven came down to Earth and transformed into a woman, |
| Ullaasa boomi inghu undaanathae | A land of joy has been created right here. |
| Male | |
| Raaja raaja chozhan naan | I am Raja Raja Chola, |
| Enai aazhum kaadhal dhesam nee thaan | You are the kingdom of love that rules over me. |
| Poovae kaadhal theevae | Oh flower! Oh island of love! |
ராஜ ராஜ
சோழன் நான் எனை
ஆளும் காதல் தேசம்
நீ தான்
I am Raja Raja Chola,
You are the kingdom of love that rules over me.
ராஜ ராஜ
சோழன் நான் எனை
ஆளும் காதல் தேசம்
நீ தான் பூவே காதல்
தீவே மண் மீது சொர்க்கம்
வந்து பெண்ணாக ஆனதே
உல்லாச பூமி இங்கு
உண்டானதே
I am Raja Raja Chola,
You are the kingdom of love that rules over me.
Oh flower! Oh island of love!
Heaven came down to Earth and transformed into a woman,
A land of joy has been created right here.
ராஜ ராஜ
சோழன் நான் எனை
ஆளும் காதல் தேசம்
நீ தான் பூவே காதல்
தீவே
I am Raja Raja Chola,
You are the kingdom of love that rules over me.
Oh flower! Oh island of love!
கண்ணோடு
கண்கள் ஏற்றும் கற்பூர
தீபமே கை தீண்டும் போது
பாயும் மின்சாரமே உல்லாச
மேடை மேலே ஓரங்க நாடகம்
இன்பங்கள் பாடம் சொல்லும்
என் தாயகம்
The camphor lamp lit when eyes meet eyes,
The electricity that surges when hands touch.
A one-act play upon a stage of joy,
My motherland that teaches lessons of happiness.
இங்கங்கு
ஊஞ்சலாக நான்
போகிறேன் அங்கங்கு
ஆசை தீயில் நான்
வேகிறேன் உன் ராக
மோகனம் என் காதல்
வாகனம் செந்தாமரை
செந்தேன் மழை என்
ஆவி நீயே தேவி
I swing back and forth like a cradle here and there,
I burn in the fire of desire everywhere.
Your Mohanam raga is my vehicle of love,
Red lotus, rain of sweet honey, you are my life force, my goddess!
ராஜ ராஜ
சோழன் நான் எனை
ஆளும் காதல் தேசம்
நீ தான் பூவே காதல்
தீவே
I am Raja Raja Chola,
You are the kingdom of love that rules over me.
Oh flower! Oh island of love!
கள்ளுர பார்க்கும்
பார்வை உள்ளுர பாயுமே
துள்ளாமல் துள்ளும்
உள்ளம் சல்லாபமே
வில்லோடு அம்பு ரெண்டு
கொல்லாமல் கொல்லுதே
பெண் பாவை கண்கள் என்று
பொய் சொல்லுதே
An intoxicating glance pierces deep within,
A playful heart leaps softly in delight.
Two bow-like eyes shoot arrows that slay without killing,
Falsely claiming they are merely a woman's eyes.
முந்தானை மூடும்
ராணி செல்வாக்கிலே என்
காதல் கண்கள் போகும்
பல்லாக்கிலே தேனோடை
ஓரமே நீராடும் நேரமே
புல்லாங்குழல் தள்ளாடுமே
பொன் மேனி கேளாய் ராணி
Under the royal influence of the queen draped in her saree,
My loving eyes ride in a royal palanquin.
By the bank of the honey stream, during the bath,
The flute staggers; listen, queen with a golden body!
ராஜ ராஜ
சோழன் நான் எனை
ஆளும் காதல் தேசம்
நீ தான்
I am Raja Raja Chola,
You are the kingdom of love that rules over me.
ராஜ ராஜ
சோழன் நான் எனை
ஆளும் காதல் தேசம்
நீ தான் பூவே காதல்
தீவே மண் மீது சொர்க்கம்
வந்து பெண்ணாக ஆனதே
உல்லாச பூமி இங்கு
உண்டானதே
I am Raja Raja Chola,
You are the kingdom of love that rules over me.
Oh flower! Oh island of love!
Heaven came down to Earth and transformed into a woman,
A land of joy has been created right here.
ராஜ ராஜ
சோழன் நான் எனை
ஆளும் காதல் தேசம்
நீ தான் பூவே காதல்
தீவே
I am Raja Raja Chola,
You are the kingdom of love that rules over me.
Oh flower! Oh island of love!
Raaja raaja chozhan naan
I am Raja Raja Chola,
Enai aazhum kaadhal dhesam nee thaan
You are the kingdom of love that rules over me.
Raaja raaja chozhan naan
I am Raja Raja Chola,
Enai aazhum kaadhal dhesam nee thaan
You are the kingdom of love that rules over me.
Poovae kaadhal theevae
Oh flower! Oh island of love!
Mann meedhu sorgam vandhu pennaaga aanadhae
Heaven came down to Earth and transformed into a woman,
Ullaasa boomi inghu undaanathae
A land of joy has been created right here.
Raaja raaja chozhan naan
I am Raja Raja Chola,
Enai aazhum kaadhal dhesam nee thaan
You are the kingdom of love that rules over me.
Poovae kaadhal theevae
Oh flower! Oh island of love!
Kannodu kangal yettrum karpoora deepamae
The camphor lamp lit when eyes meet eyes,
Kai theendum podhu paayum minsaaramae
The electricity that surges when hands touch.
Ullaasa medai melae orangha naadagam
A one-act play upon a stage of joy,
Inbangal paadam sollum en thaayagam
My motherland that teaches lessons of happiness.
Ingangu oonjalaaga naan pogiren
I swing back and forth like a cradle here and there,
Angangu aasai theeyil naan vegiren
I burn in the fire of desire everywhere.
Un raaga moganam en kaadhal vaaganam
Your Mohanam raga is my vehicle of love,
Senthaamarai senthaen mazhai en aavi neeyae devi
Red lotus, rain of sweet honey, you are my life force, my goddess!
Raaja raaja chozhan naan
I am Raja Raja Chola,
Enai aazhum kaadhal dhesam nee thaan
You are the kingdom of love that rules over me.
Poovae kaadhal theevae
Oh flower! Oh island of love!
Kalloora paarrkkum paarvai ulloora paayumae
An intoxicating glance pierces deep within,
Thullaamal thullum ullam sallaabamae
A playful heart leaps softly in delight.
Villodu ambu rendu kollaamal kolludhae
Two bow-like eyes shoot arrows that slay without killing,
Penpaavai kangal endru poi solluthae
Falsely claiming they are merely a woman's eyes.
Mundhaanai moodum raani selvaakkilae
Under the royal influence of the queen draped in her saree,
En kaadhal kangal pogum pallaakkilae
My loving eyes ride in a royal palanquin.
Thaenodai oramae neeraadum neramae
By the bank of the honey stream, during the bath,
Pullanguzhal thallaadumae pon meni kelaai raani
The flute staggers; listen, queen with a golden body!
Raaja raaja chozhan naan
I am Raja Raja Chola,
Enai aazhum kaadhal dhesam nee thaan
You are the kingdom of love that rules over me.
Raaja raaja chozhan naan
I am Raja Raja Chola,
Enai aazhum kaadhal dhesam nee thaan
You are the kingdom of love that rules over me.
Poovae kaadhal theevae
Oh flower! Oh island of love!
Mann meedhu sorgam vandhu pennaaga aanadhae
Heaven came down to Earth and transformed into a woman,
Ullaasa boomi inghu undaanathae
A land of joy has been created right here.
Raaja raaja chozhan naan
I am Raja Raja Chola,
Enai aazhum kaadhal dhesam nee thaan
You are the kingdom of love that rules over me.
Poovae kaadhal theevae
Oh flower! Oh island of love!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Raja Raja Chozhan Naan is a celebrated romantic track from the 1987 Tamil film Rettai Vaal Kuruvi, composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, written by lyricist Mu. Metha, and sung by K. J. Yesudas. In this song, the protagonist playfully compares his pride and stature to the great emperor Raja Raja Chola, while humbly surrendering to his beloved, whom he designates as the sovereign kingdom of love ruling over his soul. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of romantic passion, describing the beloved as heaven descended upon earth in female form, her glances as sharp as arrows, and her presence as an intoxicating melody.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Raaja raaja chozhan naan / Enai aazhum kaadhal dhesam nee thaan”
The speaker compares himself to Emperor Raja Raja Chola and his lover to a reigning kingdom of love.
Hyperbole (Adukarinutpam)
“Mann meedhu sorgam vandhu pennaaga aanadhae”
Exaggerating the beauty of the beloved by claiming heaven itself descended to Earth as a woman.
Rhyme & Alliteration (Emonai / Etukai)
“Ingangu oonjalaaga naan pogiren / Angangu aasai theeyil naan vegiren”
Rhythmic initial and internal word pairing across lines (Ingangu / Angangu).
Paradox / Oxymoron
“Villodu ambu rendu kollaamal kolludhae”
Describing eyes/arrows that kill without actually taking a life.
Did you know?
Trivia
Set to the classical pentatonic Carnatic scale Mohanam, this song is considered one of Ilaiyaraaja's finest melodic compositions. Director Balu Mahendra picturised the song featuring actor Mohan in the romantic comedy Rettai Vaal Kuruvi.
Keep listening
More from Rettai Vaal Kuruvi
Rettai Vaal Kuruvi
Rettai Vaal Kuruvi
Rettai Vaal Kuruvi