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Thaali Dhanam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Raman Illadhu

From Thaali Dhanam · 1987

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
M. S. Vishwanathan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Thaali Dhanam
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
21 Jan 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Raman illadhu sreedevi ponaal
Kaatrodu pogindra megangal aanaal
Raman illadhu sreedevi ponaal
Kaatrodu pogindra megangal aanaal
Imaiyae mullaagum kaalangal undu
Imaiyae mullaagum kaalangal undu
Poi alla un vaazhkai aadhaaram indru
Poi alla un vaazhkai aadhaaram indru
Raman illadhu sreedevi ponaal
Kaatrodu pogindra megangal aanaal
Guhanae ippodhu than pillai aanaan
Dharmathin thaaiyodu pinnaalae ponaan
Guhanae ippodhu than pillai aanaan
Dharmathin thaaiyodu pinnaalae ponaan
Ulagil ennaalum saagaathu paasam
Ulagil ennaalum saagaathu paasam
Engaenum or nenjil maaradhu vaazhum
Engaenum or nenjil maaradhu vaazhum
Raman illadhu sreedevi ponaal
Kaatrodu pogindra megangal aanaal
Kaalai nerathil keezhvaanam sivakkum
Ponmaalai nerathil mel vaanam sivakkum
Kaalai nerathil keezhvaanam sivakkum
Ponmaalai nerathil mel vaanam sivakkum
Kaalam yaar yaarai engengu serkkum
Kaalam yaar yaarai engengu serkkum
Theermaanamaai solla aagathu yaarkkum
Theermaanamaai solla aagathu yaarkkum
Raman illadhu sreedevi ponaal
Kaatrodu pogindra megangal aanaal
Imaiyae mullaagum kaalangal undu
Imaiyae mullaagum kaalangal undu
Poi alla un vaazhkai aadhaaram indru
Poi alla un vaazhkai aadhaaram indru
Raman illadhu sreedevi ponaal
Kaatrodu pogindra megangal aanaal
Without Rama, Sridevi went away,
Becoming like clouds drifting with the wind.
Without Rama, Sridevi went away,
Becoming like clouds drifting with the wind.
There are times when even eyelids turn into thorns,
There are times when even eyelids turn into thorns.
It is no lie, this is the reality of your life today.
It is no lie, this is the reality of your life today.
Without Rama, Sridevi went away,
Becoming like clouds drifting with the wind.
Now Guhan has become her own child,
And followed behind the mother of righteousness.
Now Guhan has become her own child,
And followed behind the mother of righteousness.
In this world, love never dies,
In this world, love never dies.
Somewhere, in some heart, it lives on unchanged.
Somewhere, in some heart, it lives on unchanged.
Without Rama, Sridevi went away,
Becoming like clouds drifting with the wind.
In the morning, the eastern sky turns red,
In the golden evening, the western sky turns red.
In the morning, the eastern sky turns red,
In the golden evening, the western sky turns red.
Whom time will bring together and where,
Whom time will bring together and where,
No one can ever say for certain.
No one can ever say for certain.
Without Rama, Sridevi went away,
Becoming like clouds drifting with the wind.
There are times when even eyelids turn into thorns,
There are times when even eyelids turn into thorns.
It is no lie, this is the reality of your life today.
It is no lie, this is the reality of your life today.
Without Rama, Sridevi went away,
Becoming like clouds drifting with the wind.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant philosophical track explores themes of vulnerability, destiny, devotion, and the unyielding nature of love through rich epic symbolism. Drawing analogies from the Ramayana—comparing a woman separated from her soulmate to Sita wandering without Rama—the song expresses the helplessness of drifting through life without one's emotional anchor. It observes that in adverse times, even things meant to protect us (like an eyelash) can cause grief, yet the enduring foundation of righteousness and maternal affection remains eternal.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

“Kaatrodu pogindra megangal aanaal”

Compares a woman left without her companion to clouds being blown aimlessly by the wind.

Metaphor (Urvagam)

“Imaiyae mullaagum kaalangal undu”

Uses the image of an eyelash turning into a thorn to represent how protective figures or moments can unexpectedly cause deep pain during bad times.

Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippu)

“Guhanae ippodhu than pillai aanaan / Dharmathin thaaiyodu pinnaalae ponaan”

References the mythological figures Raman, Sreedevi (Sita), and Guhan from the Ramayana to accentuate virtue, devotion, and destiny.

Visual Contrast & Imagery

“Kaalai nerathil keezhvaanam sivakkum / Ponmaalai nerathil mel vaanam sivakkum”

Contrasts the morning sky reddening in the east with the evening sky reddening in the west to illustrate time's perpetual shifts.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the eminent Tamil poet Pulamaipithan for the 1987 film 'Thaali Dhanam', this song weaves classical Ramayana motifs (such as Guhan's filial devotion to Sita as a mother) into a contemporary social narrative about fate and endurance.

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From the same album

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Thaali DhanamDevotional

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