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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Rajavukku Raja

From Padikathavan (1985 Film) · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Padikathavan (1985 Film)1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Rajavukku raja naandaI am the king of kings!
Enakku mandhiringa yaarum ilaI have no ministers.
Adhanaaal rajavukku raja naandaThat is why I am the king of kings!
Enakku mandhiringa yaarum ilaI have no ministers.
Male
Aduthavana keduthadhillaI have never ruined anyone else's life,
Vayithila thaan adichadhillaNor have I stolen anyone's livelihood.
Aduthavana keduthadhillaI have never ruined anyone else's life,
Vayithila thaan adichadhillaNor have I stolen anyone's livelihood.
Male
Uzhaipa nambi polachirukirenI survive by trusting my own hard work,
Naan unmaiyaaga oorukullaTruthfully in this town.
Rajavukku raja naandaI am the king of kings!
Enakku mandhiringa yaarum ilaI have no ministers.
Male
Padikaadha muttaalnuCalling me an uneducated fool,
Pala peru sonnaanungaMany people spoke ill of me.
Adhanaala kutham enna annachiWhat fault is there in that, brother?
Padichaalum vela vettiIn a country where even if you study,
Kedaikaadha desathilaYou cannot find a decent job,
Arivaali aana mattum ennachiWhat is the point of merely being a scholar?
Male
Thappu thanda pannaamaWithout committing any wrong,
Thanda choru thinnaamaWithout eating unearned food,
En pola porraaduFight hard just like me,
Inbam varum pinnoduHappiness will surely follow behind!
Male
Nalla thaan kaiyum kaalum vechaanaeGod gave you good hands and legs,
Ennaatum paadu padu machaanaeSo work hard at all times, my friend!
Appavum solluven ippovum solluvenI said it then, I say it now,
eppovum naan oru uththama puthiranAnd forever I say: I am a righteous man!
Male
Rajavukku raja naandaI am the king of kings!
Enakku mandhiringa yaarum ilaI have no ministers.
Aduthavana keduthadhillaI have never ruined anyone else's life,
Aduthavana keduthadhillaI have never ruined anyone else's life,
Vayithila thaan adichadhillaNor have I stolen anyone's livelihood.
Male
Uzhaipa nambi polachirukirenI survive by trusting my own hard work,
Naan unmaiyaaga oorukullaTruthfully in this town.
Rajavukku raja naanda…doiI am the king of kings... hey!
Enakku mandhiringa yaarum ila..I have no ministers...
Eh eh eh heyEh eh eh hey
Chorus
Lal laala laalalaaaaLal laala laalalaaaa
Lal laala laalalaaaaLal laala laalalaaaa
Lal laala laalalaaaaLal laala laalalaaaa
Lal laala laa lala laaa…..Lal laala laa lala laaa…..
Male
Thaaiyattum anbu vechaIf you show love like a mother,
Thambhinnu aasa vechaAnd cherish me as a brother,
Naayattum vandhu nippen pinnaadiI will stand behind you loyally like a dog.
Evanaachum vambiluthaBut if anyone picks a fight with me,
En mela kaiya vechaOr lays a hand on me,
Emanaatum ninnuduven munnadiI will stand before them like Lord Yama, the god of death!
Male
Villanukku villan thaanA villain to a villain,
Veeranukku veran thaan doi…A hero to a brave man... hey!
Sandaiyinnu vandhaakaWhen a battle presents itself,
Thozha thattum sooranthaanI am the brave warrior rolling up his sleeves!
Male
Ezhainga kaneer sindha koodathuThe poor should never shed tears,
Aathaadi namma nenjam thangaadhuOh my, our heart cannot bear that pain!
Kannula eramum nenjula baramumAnyone with compassion in their eyes and concern in their heart,
Ullavan yaarukum nallathu pannuvenI will do good for them.
Male
Rajavukku raja naandaI am the king of kings!
Enakku mandhiringa yaarum ilaI have no ministers.
Aduthavana keduthadhillaI have never ruined anyone else's life,
Aduthavana keduthadhillaI have never ruined anyone else's life,
Vayithila thaan adichadhillaNor have I stolen anyone's livelihood.
Male
Uzhaipa nambi polachirukirenI survive by trusting my own hard work,
Hahahaha..Hahahaha..
Naan unmaiyaaga oorukulla…doi…Truthfully in this town... hey...
Male
{Rajavukku raja naanda{I am the king of kings!
Enakku mandhiringa yaarum ila} (2)I have no ministers.} (2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

"Rajavukku Raja Naanda" from the 1985 movie Padikkadavan is an iconic Tamil hero-introduction song performed by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam with music by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics by Vaali. The protagonist, played by Rajinikanth, proudly declares that even though he is uneducated and has no authority figures or advisors, he considers himself a "king of kings" because he lives honestly on his own hard labor without harming or exploiting anyone.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamaani)

Thaaiyattum anbu vecha / Thambhinnu aasa vecha / Naayattum vandhu nippen pinnaadi

Compares himself to a loyal dog ('naayattum') standing behind someone who gives affection, demonstrating unwavering loyalty.

Simile / Hyperbole (Uvamaani)

Emanaatum ninnuduven munnadi

Compares himself to Lord Yama ('emanaatum'), the god of death, taking a formidable stand against adversaries who pick a fight.

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Thappu thanda pannaama / Thanda choru thinnaama

Demonstrates Tamil poetic rhythm matching the second consonant 'pp' across consecutive lines (Thappu / Thanda).

Did you know?

Trivia

Padikkadavan (1985), directed by Rajasekhar and starring Rajinikanth alongside Shivaji Ganesan, was a massive box office hit. The song 'Rajavukku Raja Naanda' set the benchmark for Rajinikanth's signature mass introduction anthems during the 1980s.

Keep listening

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