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Isaimozhi
Baba album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Rajyama Illai Emaiyama

From Baba · 2002

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Jayachandran
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Baba
Movie release year
2002
Lyrics added on
20 Jun 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Rajyama illai imayama
Engivan naalai engivan
Mannana illai moulviya
Yaarivan naalai yaarivan
Aayiram adhisayam
Amainthathu baba jaadhagam
Aayiram adhisayam
Amainthathu baba jaadhagam
Kelviyaai vaazhgiraan
Mounathai aalghiraan
Rajyama illai imayama
Rajyama illai imayama
Maganillai maganillai
Enum naalil
Madiyil vandha rajavai
Thamizharkal manayengum
Manam veesa
Deivam thantha rojavai
Mudhuhinil pughazhinai thookamal
Mootai thooka paarthaalae
Vidhiyithu vidhiyithu ena enni
Moochi vaangi verthaalae
Thozhil enna seithaalum
Izhivillai enbaanae
Uzhaikaamal undaalthaan
Pizhai endru solvaanae
Yetramo irakkamo
Edhayumae yerpavan
Aayiram kodi adhisayam
Amainthathu baba jaadhagam
Kadavulai maruthu
Ivan naalthorum
Koorinaanae naatheegam
Paghutharivaalanin nenjinilae
Pootha thenna aatheegham
Thirumagan varugira
Thiruneerai
Netri meethu dhinam poosi
Adhisayam adhisayam
Periyaar thaan
Aanathenna raajaaji
Thanathu anbu thaayai
Kai thozhum baba thaan
Sinthayil ennaalum
Chinnanchiru paapaa than
Yezhaigal paarvayil
Muzhu manithanaai therigiraan
Rajyama illai imayama
Rajyama illai imayama
A kingdom or the Himalayas?
Where will he be tomorrow? Where will he be?
A king or a holy ascetic?
Who will he be tomorrow? Who will he be?
A thousand wonders
are written in Baba's destiny.
A thousand wonders
are written in Baba's destiny.
He lives as a riddle,
he rules over silence.
A kingdom or the Himalayas?
A kingdom or the Himalayas?
"No son, I have no son,"
on such days of sorrow,
the king who arrived in her lap;
across every Tamil home
to spread sweet fragrance,
the rose that God gifted;
Instead of carrying glory on his back,
she saw him carrying sacks of heavy loads.
Thinking, "This is fate, this is fate,"
she gasped for breath and broke into a sweat.
"Whatever work you do,
there is no shame in it," he would say.
"Only eating without working
is a sin," he would say.
Be it highs or lows,
he accepts whatever comes.
Ten million wonders
are written in Baba's destiny.
Denying God's existence,
day after day,
he spoke of atheism.
In the heart of this rationalist,
how did faith in God blossom?
As this blessed son
applies sacred ash
upon his forehead every day,
wonder of wonders,
has Periyar (rationalist icon)
turned into Rajaji (devout statesman)?
Bowing with folded hands
to his beloved mother, Baba
remains in his inner heart
forever a little child.
In the eyes of the poor,
he appears as a true, complete human being.
A kingdom or the Himalayas?
A kingdom or the Himalayas?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from the film Baba contemplates the enigmatic nature and dual destiny of the protagonist Baba, questioning whether his future holds worldly royal power ('Rajyama') or spiritual renunciation in the mountains ('Imayama'). The lyrics trace his journey from an innocent child brought into a humble home to a man who embodies the dignity of labor, rejecting idle living and accepting life's highs and lows with equanimity. Vaali highlights a striking transformation in Baba's persona—from an atheist/rationalist to a spiritual seeker—symbolically comparing this shift to the atheist leader Periyar morphing into the devout statesman Rajaji. Through all his miraculous traits, Baba remains a devoted son and a complete human being in the eyes of the poor.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question

“Rajyama illai imayama”

Poses a dramatic dilemma asking whether Baba's destiny lies in ruling a earthly kingdom or attaining enlightenment in the Himalayas.

Metaphor

“Deivam thantha rojavai”

Compares the born child to a divine rose sent by God to bring joy and fragrance to households.

Contrast / Cultural Allusion

“Periyaar thaan Aanathenna raajaaji”

Juxtaposes the extreme atheist icon Dravidar Kazhagam founder Periyar with devout spiritual statesman Rajaji to illustrate a drastic inner transformation.

Monaai (Initial Rhyme/Alliteration)

“Aayiram adhisayam / Amainthathu baba jaadhagam”

Uses matching initial vowel sound ('Aa') across words in consecutive lines for rhythmic appeal.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song was composed by A.R. Rahman for Rajinikanth's 2002 film Baba, sung by Shankar Mahadevan and Iqbal. Lyricist Vaali famously incorporated references to Periyar and Rajaji, echoing Rajinikanth's real-life unique blend of rationalism, spiritualism, and political ambiguity.

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