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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Raja Raja Maha Raja Veeraprathaaban

From Navarathri · 1964

Lyricist
Sankaradas Swamigal
Singers
P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan, S. C. Krishnan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Navarathri1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Raaja raaja mahaa…King of kings, great...
Raaja dheera praadhabanMighty and valiant king
Vandhenae…ae…ae….ae…I have arrived...
Vandhenae… ae…I have arrived...
Vandhenae… ae… ae… oo…I have arrived...
Vandhenae… ae…I have arrived...
Aamaa…Yes...
Male
Raajaadhi raaja mahaaKing of kings, great
Raaja dheera pradhaabaMighty and valiant king
Raajaadhi raaja mahaaKing of kings, great
Raaja dheera pradhaabaMighty and valiant king
Raajaadhi raajan vandhenaeThe king of kings has arrived
Vandhen aiyaaI have arrived, sir
Vandhanam thandhen aiyaaI offer my greetings, sir
Vandhu ninnu sabaikkuHaving come and stood before the assembly
Vandhanam thandhen aiyaaI offer my greetings, sir
Vandhu ninnu sabaikkuHaving come and stood before the assembly
Vandhanam thandhen aiyaaI offer my greetings, sir
Male
Thajjom thaga jomThajjom thaga jom (rhythmic syllables)
Thagha thighu thomThagha thighu thom (rhythmic syllables)
Thighi thom thighi thaghaThighi thom thighi thagha (rhythmic syllables)
Thatthalaanghu thaghaThatthalaanghu thagha (rhythmic syllables)
Thighi thagha thighi thaghaThighi thagha thighi thagha (rhythmic syllables)
Kida thagha kida thagha junu thagha junu thaghaKida thagha kida thagha junu thagha junu thagha (rhythmic syllables)
Thatthit thaghajunu thaaThatthit thaghajunu thaa (rhythmic syllables)
Thaghathit thaghajunu thaaThaghathit thaghajunu thaa (rhythmic syllables)
Thalaanghu thaghajunu thaa aa…aa….aaa….Thalaanghu thaghajunu thaa... (rhythmic syllables)
Male
Sabaiyorgalae periyorgalaeRespected members of the assembly and elders
Indraiya koothilaeIn today's play performance
Sor kuttram poru kuttramErrors of words or errors of meaning
Ek kuttram iruppinumWhatever faults there may be
Kuttratthai mannithuForgiving those faults
Gunathai mattum kollum padiyaagaTo accept only the virtues
Migha thaazhmaiyudanWith utmost humility
Mandiyittu dhandalittu kettuk kolgirenKneeling down and prostrating, I beg of you
Vara sollu vara solluAsk her to come, ask her to come
Female
Thanga sariga chaela… ae..Saree with golden zari work...
Engum pala palakka… .ae…ae….ae…ae…Glittering everywhere...
Vandhenae…I have arrived...
Male
Ae vandhenae… ae.. ae…Hey, I have arrived...
Ae vandhenae… ae.. ae…Hey, I have arrived...
Female
Thanga sariga chaela…Saree with golden zari work...
Engum pala palakkaGlittering everywhere
Thanga sariga chaela…Saree with golden zari work...
Engum pala palakkaGlittering everywhere
Thaniyaalaa vandhen aiyaaI have come alone, sir
Vandhen aiyaaI have arrived, sir
Vandhanam thandhen aiyaaI offer my greetings, sir
Vandhu nindru sabaikkuHaving come and stood before the assembly
Vandhanam thandhenaiyaaI offer my greetings, sir
Male
Swaami vandhu ninnu sabaikkuLord, having come and stood before the assembly
Vandhanam thandhenaiyaaI offer my greetings, sir
Female
Thanga sariga chaelaSaree with golden zari work
Male
Engum pala palakkaGlittering everywhere
Female
Thanga sariga chaelaSaree with golden zari work
Male
Engum pala palakkaGlittering everywhere
Female
Thanga sariga chaelaSaree with golden zari work
Male
Engum pala palakkaGlittering everywhere
Female
Thanga sariga chaelaSaree with golden zari work
Male
Engum pala palakkaGlittering everywhere
Thajjom thagha jom thagha dhimiThajjom thagha jom thagha dhimi (rhythmic solkattu)
Female
Dhit thom dhighi thomDhit thom dhighi thom (rhythmic solkattu)
Dhighi thaghaDhighi thagha (rhythmic solkattu)
Male
That thalaanghu thaghaThat thalaanghu thagha (rhythmic solkattu)
Dhimi thadha dhimi thaghaDhimi thadha dhimi thagha (rhythmic solkattu)
Female
Kida thagha kida thaghaKida thagha kida thagha (rhythmic solkattu)
Male
Junu thagha junu thaghaJunu thagha junu thagha (rhythmic solkattu)
Female
AdhaagappattadhuAs it happened...
Madhuraapuri mannan aswapathi magalDaughter of King Ashwapathi of Mathurapuri
Saavithriyaagiya yaanMyself, Savitri
Enakku urimaiyaanaBelonging to me
Indha sondha nandha vanathilaeIn this personal flower garden
Ulaavi varu kaalaiyilaeWhile strolling in the morning
Kaattu raajan ena solla koodiyaKnown as the king of the forest
SingamaagappattadhuA majestic lion
Enna veratti thorathiChasing and pursuing me
Meratti varugaiyilaeAnd coming at me menacingly
Veera purushanaagappattavarA courageous man
Vandhu nindru adhai kondruCame, stood, killed it
Pin sendru vittaaraeAnd then walked away
Avan yaaraaga irukkalaamWho could he be?
Nalladhu thaedi varuvomLet us go search for him
Female
Aahaa ivarae thaanAh, it is him!
Andha magaanubaavarThat great noble soul
Adadaa ivar urangum podhaeOh my, if he is this handsome while sleeping
Ithanai azhagendraalIf he wakes up, oh my goodness...
Vizhithezhundhaal haiyo…Who could he be?
Ivar yaaraaga irukkalaamIs he Kamadeva worshipped by the heavens?
Female
Andar thozhum maaranoNo...
Male
No…Is he the lord who wears sacred basil?
Female
Thandulaba vannaloNo...
Male
Lo…Is he the joyful Cupid who delights beloved Rathi?
Female
Anbu radhi endrum maghizhOh Cupid...
Inba madhanoHe is young in age, with a fine appearance
Male
O madhano…Just as I desired, granted by Lord Shiva
Female
Ilam paruvathaan nalla uruvathaanHe is young in age, with a fine appearance
Naanum virumba thaan eesan tharuvithaanJust as I desired, granted by Lord Shiva
Ilam paruvathaan nalla uruvathaanSeeing him, my heart overflows with joy
Naanum virumba thaan eesan tharuvithaanYouthful one...
Ivanai kanda udan en ullam maghizhudhaeEven if we stand here
Paruvathaan…And describe him for an entire era
Female
Naam ingu nindruWe cannot describe even a fraction
Indha yugam muzhuvadhaiyum varnithaalumOf his radiant form
Ivar angathil oru baagathai koodaAlright, let me go near
Varnikka mudiyaadhu pol irukkiradhuAnd wake him from his sleep
Nalladhu arugil sendruAh... is what I see a dream
Urakkatthil irundhu neekkuvomOr reality?
Male
Aahaa… naan kaanbadhenna kanavaaStanding right before my eyes
Illai nanavaaIs she an earthly maiden
Enadhu kannedhirae nirpadhuOr a heavenly nymph?
Mannulaga mangaiyaa alladhuWhat beauty, what beauty!
Vinnulaga nangaiyaaHer slender waist, graceful walk,
Enna azhagu enna azhaguAnd lovely attire
Ivaladhu idai azhagum nadai azhagumHer beautiful eyes, sculpted form,
Udai azhagumAnd fine forehead mark
Ivaladhu kannazhagum kattazhagumUnwaveringly remain in my heart
PottazhagumWho could she be... ha... ha...
Enadhu nenjai vittagalaa nirkkiradhaeIs she Urvashi?
Ival yaaraaga irukka koodum… haa… haa…Is she Rambha or Rathi?
Male
Oorvasiyum ival thaanoDid Brahma create her to conquer the world?
Rambai thaano radhi thaanoIs she Urvashi?
Bramman ulagai vella padaithaanoIs she Rambha or Rathi?
Oorvasiyum ival thaanoDid Brahma create her to conquer the world?
Rambai thaano radhi thaanoChorus: Sir, did Brahma create her to conquer the world?
Bramman ulagai vella padaithaanoWhat is her town, what is her name?
Chorus :Aiyaa bramman ulagai vella padaithaanoWho could possibly know?
Male
Ival oor thaan yedhu paer thaan yedhuEminently she arrived and stood here
Yaar thaan arivaar thaanadhuGiving a vision that brings delight to the heart
Unnadhamaagavae vandhaal vandhu nindraalAh, even the thousand-tongued
Nenjil uvagai pera kaatchi thandhaalLord Adisesha himself
Male
Aahaa aayiram naavai padaithaCannot describe her divine beauty
Andha aadhi saeshanaalum ival azhagaiHow could a mere single-tongued mortal like me
Varnikka mudiyaadhendraalEver accomplish it?
Kaevalam yaega naavai padaithaLet me go near and inquire who she is
Nammaal eppadi mudiyumO precious jewel among women
Arugil sendru yaar yendru visaarippomMy Lord...
Male
Naaree maniyaeAs it happened, in this cool breeze-swept
Female
Swaami…Flower garden
Male
Adhaagappattadhu thendral veesum indhaForgetting myself
Udhyaana vanathilaeWhile I was sleeping in the morning
Ennai marandhu naanAs it happened...
Urangi kondirukkum kaalaiyilaeFear, modesty, shyness, and refined nurture
AdhaagappattadhuSaid to be the four qualities
Acham madam naanam payirppuCharacteristic of women
Endru sollak koodiyaSetting aside those attributes
Andha naangu vidhamaanaYou came near me
Pengalukkuriya gunangalai vittuStood and touched me
Nee en arugilae vandhuWhy did you awaken me?
Nindru ennai thottuGentle doe-like maiden
Male
Yaeno enai ezhuppal aanaaiYou must tell me the reason
Mada maanae mada maanaeI shall willingly listen, yes I shall
Enakkadhanai uraikka venumBy the lion
Isaindhu ketppen naanae yae naanaeBy the lion
Female
SingathaalFrom the lion, the trouble I faced
Male
SingathaalBecause you resolved it
Female
Singathaal naan adaindhaRemembering that gratitude, I came
Thunbam theerthadhaalaeOut of bound love
Seidha nandri enni vandhenWhich town is yours, where do you reside, what is your name?
Saerndha anbaalaeWho is your father?
Male
Endha ooro iruppadhaedhu paerIf you tell me this
Yaar thandhaiMy mind will feel great joy
Endrenakku nee uraithaalBeautiful Mathurapuri
Inbam kollum sindhaiDaughter of Ashwapathi
Female
Azhaghiya madhuraapuriDaughter
Ashvapathi puthriPeople around me
Male
PuthriCall me by the name Savitri
Female
Akkam pakkatthorgal ennaiSavitri
Azhaikkum peyar saavithriAre you married yet, oho...?
Male
SaavithriAre you married yet
Innum manam aanadho oho…Or not, tell me
Innum manam aanadhoI desired to ask
Illaiyo solluModesty should not hold me back
Ichai konden ketpadharkkuI feel shy to say...
Lajjaiyum aagaadhuOho...
Female
Solla vekkam aagudhae…I feel shy to say
Male
Oho…I am not married yet
Female
Solla vekkam aagudhaeOwn father and mother
Innum manam illaiAre not with me either
Sondhamaana thandhai thaayaarNot with you
Ennidavum illaiAs it happened, my Lord
Male
IllaiO fair maiden
Female
Idhaagappattadhu praboRegarding my marriage
Male
PenpaavaaiMy parents
Female
En thirumanathai pattriHave not even thought about it
En thaai thandhaiyargalEven I, until yesterday, about it
Ninaikkavum illaiHave not contemplated
Naanum naettru varai adhai pattriToday, somehow...
Sindhikkavum illaiNeed I state it explicitly?
Male
IndrennavoMy Lord...
Female
Adhai naan solli theriya vendumaaHa ha!
Swaami…Beautiful picture-like cuckoo of the mango tree!
Male
Haa haaTo tell you a word
Male
Rooba chithira maamara kuyilaeDoes your heart yearn?
Unakkoru vaasagathinai naan uraithidaCome here with love and joy!
Naadi nirkkiradhaaWhat hesitation is there, here I come near!
Anbinaal inbamaai ingu vaaI have gone mad for you, come close!
Female
Attil yaedhu idho kitti vaarenO King, do not forget my desire!
Male
Pithamaanen sameebathil nee vaaMy friend, I shall never forget your desire!
Female
Mannaa en aasai marandhidaadheerOh King, do not forget my desire!
Male
Unnasai naanum marappadhillaiDear friend, I shall never forget your desire!
Female
Haiyo mannaa en aasai marandhidaadheerDo not forget!
Male
Sagi unnasai naanum marappadhillaiI will not forget!
Female
MarandhidaadheerDo not forget!
Male
MarappadhillaiI will not forget!
Female
Marandhidaadheer
Male
Marappadhillai

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This theatrical drama sequence from the 1964 Tamil masterpiece 'Navarathri' presents a traditional Therukoothu (street play) / Tamil stage drama performance of the story of Satyavan and Savitri written by the legendary father of Tamil theatre, Sankaradas Swamigal. It opens with the traditional stage announcements, formal greetings to the audience asking forgiveness for any verbal or semantic errors, and rhythmic percussion solkattu (Jathis). The drama unfolds with Princess Savitri describing how a brave hero saved her from a attacking lion, followed by her discovering the sleeping hero (Satyavan) and praising his breathtaking beauty.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Solkattu / Jathi (Rhythmic Syllables)

Thajjom thaga jom Thagha thighu thom

Use of rhythmic spoken percussion syllables characteristic of classical dance and Therukoothu theatre performances.

Sabha Vandhanam (Invocation/Humility Trope)

Sor kuttram poru kuttram Ek kuttram iruppinum

A traditional theatrical convention where performers ask the learned assembly to pardon 'Sor kuttram poru kuttram' (errors of speech and meaning).

Aetukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Thanga sariga chaela… Engum pala palakka

Traditional Tamil poetic rhyme matching the second consonant in consecutive or parallel lines ('Thanga' / 'Engum').

Naalvagai Pengal Gunangal (Cultural Allusion)

Acham madam naanam payirppu Endru sollak koodiya

References the classic four virtuous qualities prescribed for women in traditional Tamil literature: Acham (fear/reserve), Madam (innocence), Naanam (shyness), Payirppu (delicacy).

Did you know?

Trivia

This famous Therukoothu drama sequence within the movie 'Navarathri' (1964) features Sivaji Ganesan in one of his iconic nine roles—playing a drama actor performing on stage alongside actress Savitri. The dialogue-song lyrics were authored by Sankaradas Swamigal (1867–1922), widely revered as the 'Father of Modern Tamil Theatre'.

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