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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Rajarama Ragurama

From Pennai Nambungal · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Kovai Soundararajan
Music director
V. Kumar
Details
Pennai Nambungal1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Raja rama raghu ramaKing Rama, Raghu Rama
En ragasiyam veliyae varalaamaaShould my secret come out into the open?
Haei…..raja rama raghu ramaHey, King Rama, Raghu Rama
En ragasiyam veliyae varalaamaaShould my secret come out into the open?
Male
Seetharama srirama….aa…Seetharama, Srirama...
Chorus :RamaChorus: Rama
Male :Kothandarama kalyaanaramaKothandarama, Kalyandarama
Anantharama ayoththiramaAnantharama, Ayoththirama
Male
Seethaaraama srirama…..Seetharama, Srirama...
Intha sappaattu ramanai vidalaamaaCan we leave this gluttonous Rama alone?
Intha sappaattu ramanai vidalaamaaCan we leave this gluttonous Rama alone?
Male
AabathpaanthavaaO Savior in times of danger!
Male :AnantharatsagaO Eternal Protector!
Male :Enna mattum kaappaththu kadavulaeGod, please save only me!
Male :Aiyyayaiyyo…..Oh no, alas!
Chorus
Ramajeyam sriramajeyamVictory to Rama, Victory to Sri Rama
Ramajeyam sriramajeyamVictory to Rama, Victory to Sri Rama
Male
Kadhariya yaanaiyai kaappaththaTo save the crying elephant
Andru mudhalaiyai kondra raghuramaO Raghurama, who killed the crocodile that day
Male :RaghuramaRaghurama
Male :En udhavikku ippo varalaamaaCan you come to help me now?
Male :Varalaamaa….aa….aa….aa….aa…ma…aaa…Can you come?
Male
Jai janaki ramaas smaranamRemembrance of Jai Janaki Rama
Male :Sambhar oru karandi varanumA ladle of sambar should come!
Chorus
Ramajeyam sriramajeyamVictory to Rama, Victory to Sri Rama
Ramajeyam sriramajeyamVictory to Rama, Victory to Sri Rama
Male
Edhir veettukaaranai kollai adithaenI robbed the house opposite mine
Antha veettukku naanae vellai adithaenAnd then I whitewashed that very house myself
Male :Visiri mattaiyai pudicha kaiyaalaeWith the hands that held a palm-leaf fan
Chunnaambu mattaiyai naan pudichaenI picked up the lime bucket to whitewash
Male
Erumaiyil yaerum emappayalaeO Yama-like fellow who rides a buffalo
En marumaganaaga vanthaanaDid he come as my son-in-law?
Male
Un marumaganaaga vanthaanaDid he come as your son-in-law?
Aa….aa….aa….aa….aaaa….aa…aa…….Vocalizations
Male
Erumaiyil yaerum emappayalaeO Yama-like fellow who rides a buffalo
En marumaganaaga vanthaanaDid he come as my son-in-law?
Male
Irukkira soththu ippadi karainjaaIf the remaining wealth melts away like this
Adiyaen paadu thunthanaa thunthanaa thunthanaa…My plight will turn into utter misery!
Male
Erumaiyil yaerum emappayalaeO Yama-like fellow who rides a buffalo
En marumaganaaga vanthaanaDid he come as my son-in-law?
Male
Yaezhazhu jenmam eduththaalumEven if I take seven times seven births
Naan emanukku mamanaar aagamattaenI will not become the father-in-law to Lord Yama
Ippadi maattikittu saagamaattaenI will not die trapped like this
Male
Antha paththu thalai ravanan unakedhiriThat ten-headed Ravana was your enemy
Intha otha thalai ravanan enakedhiriThis single-headed Ravana is my enemy
Antha paththu thalai ravanan unakedhiriThat ten-headed Ravana was your enemy
Intha otha thalai ravanan enakedhiriThis single-headed Ravana is my enemy
Male
Nee villai eduththu adhil ambai thoduththuYou pick up your bow and notch an arrow on it
Nee villai eduththu adhil ambai thoduththuYou pick up your bow and notch an arrow on it
Thalai udaikkaamal vidalaamaaShould you leave without smashing his head?
Male
Ivan thalai udaikkaamal vidalaamaaShould you leave without smashing his head?
Un bakthan avasthai padalaamaaShould your devotee suffer like this?
Male
Un bakthan avasthai padalaamaaShould your devotee suffer like this?
Chorus
Ramajeyam sriramajeyamVictory to Rama, Victory to Sri Rama
Ramajeyam sriramajeyamVictory to Rama, Victory to Sri Rama

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This lighthearted comedy track from 'Pennai Nambungal' (1973) presents a comical prayer addressed to Lord Rama. The singer humorously laments his domestic troubles, particularly complaining about a troublesome relative whom he compares to a single-headed Ravana and Lord Yama riding a buffalo. He interleaves standard devotional chanting with funny personal anecdotes, such as asking for a ladle of sambar during prayer. Blending traditional mythological references like Gajendra Moksham with comic situational dialogue, the protagonist urges Lord Rama to step in with his bow and arrow to solve his financial and family woes.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Contrast / Antithesis (Muran)

Antha paththu thalai ravanan unakedhiri / Intha otha thalai ravanan enakedhiri

Compares the legendary ten-headed Ravana of the Ramayana with a modern single-headed adversary.

Second-Syllable Rhyme (Ethirai)

Edhir veettukaaranai kollai adithaen / Antha veettukku naanae vellai adithaen

The second syllables 'kollai' and 'vellai' rhyme to create rhythmic flow.

Mythological Allusion (Purana Kurippu)

Kadhariya yaanaiyai kaappaththa / Andru mudhalaiyai kondra raghurama

Refers to the story of Gajendra Moksham, where Lord Vishnu/Rama saved the elephant from the crocodile.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by V. Kumar with lyrics by Vaali, 'Pennai Nambungal' features comedic vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam alongside Kovai Soundararajan. The song parodies classical Hindu devotional stothrams by interjecting mundane culinary requests like 'sambar' into sacred chants.

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