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Engal Thaai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ramanin Naayagi

From Engal Thaai · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Engal Thaai
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
9 Jul 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
……………….
Male :……………
Female :……………
Ramanin naayagi kambanin kaaviyam
Ramanin naayagi kambanin kaaviyam
Poomagal vannamo ravi varama oviyam
Poomagal vannamo ravi varama oviyam
Pon maanai theda sollum
Thalaivi alla naan
Potta kottai thaandi sellum
Manaivi alla naan….
Pon maanai theda sollum
Thalaivi alla naan
Potta kottai thaandi sellum
Manaivi alla naan….
Engu nee angu naan edhilumae pangu naan
Vaazhvilum thaazhvilum paadhi nee paathi naan
Sri ramanin naayagi kambanin kaaviyam
Naayagan kannilae aayiram naadagam
Ramanin naayagi kambanin kaaviyam
Villaaga nee irukka naan valaikkavo
Nenjodu aasai ennum kanai thodukkavo
Villaaga nee irukka naan valaikkavo
Nenjodu aasai ennum kanai thodukkavo
Mangai un kaigali maalaigal allavo
Mai idum kangalo dheepamaai sollavo
Ramanin naayagi kambanin kaaviyam
Theeyilitta pothum thangam thangamallavo
Devanukku sontham intha angamallavo
Male :Vaazhmeegi paattil sonna penmaiyallavaa
Vaithegi poovai minjum menmaiyallavaa
Karpilum porppilum
Seedhaipol pavai naan
Male :Anbilum panbilum
Andril pol mannan naan
Ramanin naayagi kambanin kaaviyam
Poomagal vannamo ravi varama oviyam
Sri ramanin naayagi kambanin kaaviyam
...
Male: ...
Female: ...
Rama's beloved is Kamban's epic poem,
Rama's beloved is Kamban's epic poem,
Is the earth goddess's beauty a painting by Ravi Varma?
Is the earth goddess's beauty a painting by Ravi Varma?
Asking you to chase a golden deer—
I am not that kind of woman.
Crossing the line drawn for me—
I am not that kind of wife...
Asking you to chase a golden deer—
I am not that kind of woman.
Crossing the line drawn for me—
I am not that kind of wife...
Wherever you are, I am there; I share in everything of yours.
Through life's highs and lows, half is you and half is me.
Lord Rama's beloved is Kamban's epic poem,
In my hero's eyes, a thousand dramas unfold.
Rama's beloved is Kamban's epic poem,
When you stand like a bow, shall I bend you?
Shall I aim an arrow of desire straight at your heart?
When you stand like a bow, shall I bend you?
Shall I aim an arrow of desire straight at your heart?
Sweet girl, aren't your arms gentle flower garlands?
Shall I say your kohl-lined eyes shine like glowing lamps?
Rama's beloved is Kamban's epic poem,
Even when tested in fire, gold is still pure gold, isn't it?
Doesn't my entire body belong only to my lord?
Male: Aren't you the woman portrayed in Valmiki's verses?
Vaidehi (Sita), aren't you softer than any flower?
In devotion and golden grace,
I am a woman like Sita.
Male: In deep love and noble character,
I am a king as devoted as the andril bird (a legendary bird known for inseparable love).
Rama's beloved is Kamban's epic poem,
Is the earth goddess's beauty a painting by Ravi Varma?
Lord Rama's beloved is Kamban's epic poem.
Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Ramanin Naayagi from the 1973 film Engal Thaai is an iconic romantic duet celebrating ideal love, loyalty, and companionship. Lyricist Vaali elegantly constructs the song around mythological themes from the Ramayana, drawing parallels between the lead couple and Rama and Sita. The heroine asserts her steadfast loyalty, promising not to repeat the tragic mistakes of legend—such as asking for the alluring golden deer or stepping across the Lakshman Rekha—and promises to stand by her husband in both prosperity and hardship. In response, the hero praises her virtue, comparing her grace to Valmiki's descriptions and her visual beauty to a masterpiece painting by Raja Ravi Varma.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

“Villaaga nee irukka naan valaikkavo”

Compares the hero to a bow ('Villaaga nee irukka') and the heroine's eyes to shining lamps ('Mai idum kangalo dheepamaai').

Rupakam (Metaphor)

“Poomagal vannamo ravi varama oviyam”

Compares the heroine's complexion directly to a painting by Raja Ravi Varma and Goddess Lakshmi ('Poomagal').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Vaazhvilum thaazhvilum paadhi nee paathi naan”

Classic Tamil rhyming convention where second letters match across lines ('Vaazhvilum' / 'Thaazhvilum').

Mythological Allusion

“Pon maanai theda sollum Thalaivi alla naan”

References key Ramayana lore such as Valmiki, Kamban, Sita (Vaithegi), the golden deer ('Pon maan'), and the protective boundary ('Potta kottai').

Did you know?

Trivia

Engal Thaai (1973) stars M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Jayalalithaa. The song is famed for Vaali's ingenious lyricism, which cleverly references iconic Ramayana tropes while asserting that modern love transcends those mythological tragic errors. The musical composition by M. S. Viswanathan remains one of the finest classical-pop duets rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela.

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