Ramanin Naayagi
From Engal Thaai · 1973
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Engal Thaai1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| ………………. | ... |
| Male :…………… | [Male vocal prelude] |
| Female :…………… | [Female vocal prelude] |
| Male | |
| Ramanin naayagi kambanin kaaviyam | Rama's heroine, Kamban's epic poem, |
| Ramanin naayagi kambanin kaaviyam | Rama's heroine, Kamban's epic poem, |
| Poomagal vannamo ravi varama oviyam | Is her complexion that of Goddess Lakshmi, or a painting by Raja Ravi Varma? |
| Poomagal vannamo ravi varama oviyam | Is her complexion that of Goddess Lakshmi, or a painting by Raja Ravi Varma? |
| Female | |
| Pon maanai theda sollum | To ask you to search for the golden deer... |
| Thalaivi alla naan | ...I am not that kind of heroine. |
| Potta kottai thaandi sellum | To cross the line that was drawn... |
| Manaivi alla naan…. | ...I am not that kind of wife. |
| Female | |
| Pon maanai theda sollum | To ask you to search for the golden deer... |
| Thalaivi alla naan | ...I am not that kind of heroine. |
| Potta kottai thaandi sellum | To cross the line that was drawn... |
| Manaivi alla naan…. | ...I am not that kind of wife. |
| Engu nee angu naan edhilumae pangu naan | Wherever you are, there I am; I share in everything. |
| Vaazhvilum thaazhvilum paadhi nee paathi naan | In life's highs and lows, half is yours and half is mine. |
| Female | |
| Sri ramanin naayagi kambanin kaaviyam | Lord Rama's heroine, Kamban's epic poem, |
| Naayagan kannilae aayiram naadagam | In the hero's eyes, a thousand dramas play out. |
| Ramanin naayagi kambanin kaaviyam | Rama's heroine, Kamban's epic poem, |
| Male | |
| Villaaga nee irukka naan valaikkavo | If you stand like a bow, shall I bend you? |
| Nenjodu aasai ennum kanai thodukkavo | Shall I launch the arrow of desire from my heart? |
| Villaaga nee irukka naan valaikkavo | If you stand like a bow, shall I bend you? |
| Nenjodu aasai ennum kanai thodukkavo | Shall I launch the arrow of desire from my heart? |
| Male | |
| Mangai un kaigali maalaigal allavo | Oh maiden, aren't your hands like flower garlands? |
| Mai idum kangalo dheepamaai sollavo | Should I say your kohl-lined eyes light up like lamps? |
| Male | |
| Ramanin naayagi kambanin kaaviyam | Rama's heroine, Kamban's epic poem, |
| Female | |
| Theeyilitta pothum thangam thangamallavo | Even when placed in fire, gold remains pure gold, doesn't it? |
| Devanukku sontham intha angamallavo | Doesn't this body belong entirely to my lord? |
| Male :Vaazhmeegi paattil sonna penmaiyallavaa | Male: Isn't this the true womanhood described in Valmiki's poetry? |
| Vaithegi poovai minjum menmaiyallavaa | Isn't her gentleness greater than Vaidehi's flower-like softness? |
| Female | |
| Karpilum porppilum | In chastity and moral strength, |
| Seedhaipol pavai naan | I am a maiden like Sita. |
| Male :Anbilum panbilum | Male: In love and noble character, |
| Andril pol mannan naan | I am a king devoted like the Andril bird. |
| Male | |
| Ramanin naayagi kambanin kaaviyam | Rama's heroine, Kamban's epic poem, |
| Poomagal vannamo ravi varama oviyam | Is her color that of Goddess Lakshmi, or a painting by Raja Ravi Varma? |
| Female | |
| Sri ramanin naayagi kambanin kaaviyam | Lord Rama's heroine, Kamban's epic poem. |
.........................
ஆண் : .................................
பெண் : .........................
...
[Male vocal prelude]
[Female vocal prelude]
ராமனின் நாயகி கம்பனின் காவியம்
ராமனின் நாயகி கம்பனின் காவியம்
பூமகள் வண்ணமோ ரவிவர்மா ஓவியம்
பூமகள் வண்ணமோ ரவிவர்மா ஓவியம்
Rama's heroine, Kamban's epic poem,
Rama's heroine, Kamban's epic poem,
Is her complexion that of Goddess Lakshmi, or a painting by Raja Ravi Varma?
Is her complexion that of Goddess Lakshmi, or a painting by Raja Ravi Varma?
பொன் மானை தேட சொல்லும்
தலைவி அல்ல நான்
போட்ட கோட்டை தாண்டி செல்லும்
மனைவி அல்ல நான்....
To ask you to search for the golden deer...
...I am not that kind of heroine.
To cross the line that was drawn...
...I am not that kind of wife.
பொன் மானை தேட சொல்லும்
தலைவி அல்ல நான்
போட்ட கோட்டை தாண்டி செல்லும்
மனைவி அல்ல நான்....
எங்கு நீ அங்கு நான் எதிலுமே பங்கு நான்
வாழ்விலும் தாழ்விலும் பாதி நீ பாதி நான்
To ask you to search for the golden deer...
...I am not that kind of heroine.
To cross the line that was drawn...
...I am not that kind of wife.
Wherever you are, there I am; I share in everything.
In life's highs and lows, half is yours and half is mine.
ஸ்ரீ ராமனின் நாயகி கம்பனின் காவியம்
நாயகன் கண்ணிலே ஆயிரம் நாடகம்
ராமனின் நாயகி கம்பனின் காவியம்
Lord Rama's heroine, Kamban's epic poem,
In the hero's eyes, a thousand dramas play out.
Rama's heroine, Kamban's epic poem,
வில்லாக நீ இருக்க நான் வளைக்கவோ
நெஞ்சோடு ஆசை என்னும் கணை தொடுக்கவோ
வில்லாக நீ இருக்க நான் வளைக்கவோ
நெஞ்சோடு ஆசை என்னும் கணை தொடுக்கவோ
If you stand like a bow, shall I bend you?
Shall I launch the arrow of desire from my heart?
If you stand like a bow, shall I bend you?
Shall I launch the arrow of desire from my heart?
மங்கை உன் கைகளே மாலைகள் அல்லவோ
மை இடும் கண்களே தீபமாய் சொல்லவோ
Oh maiden, aren't your hands like flower garlands?
Should I say your kohl-lined eyes light up like lamps?
ராமனின் நாயகி கம்பனின் காவியம்
Rama's heroine, Kamban's epic poem,
தீயிலிட்ட போதும் தங்கம் தங்கமல்லவோ
தேவனுக்கு சொந்தம் இந்த அங்கமல்லவோ
வால்மீகி பாட்டில் சொன்ன பெண்மையல்லவா
வைதேகி பூவை மிஞ்சும் மென்மையல்லவா
Even when placed in fire, gold remains pure gold, doesn't it?
Doesn't this body belong entirely to my lord?
Male: Isn't this the true womanhood described in Valmiki's poetry?
Isn't her gentleness greater than Vaidehi's flower-like softness?
கற்பிலும் பொற்ப்பிலும்
சீதைப்போல் பாவை நான்
ஆண் : அன்பிலும் பண்பிலும்
அன்றில் போல் மன்னன் நான்
In chastity and moral strength,
I am a maiden like Sita.
Male: In love and noble character,
I am a king devoted like the Andril bird.
ராமனின் நாயகி கம்பனின் காவியம்
பூமகள் வண்ணமோ ரவிவர்மா ஓவியம்
Rama's heroine, Kamban's epic poem,
Is her color that of Goddess Lakshmi, or a painting by Raja Ravi Varma?
ஸ்ரீ ராமனின் நாயகி கம்பனின் காவியம்
Lord Rama's heroine, Kamban's epic poem.
……………….
...
Male :……………
[Male vocal prelude]
Female :……………
[Female vocal prelude]
Ramanin naayagi kambanin kaaviyam
Rama's heroine, Kamban's epic poem,
Ramanin naayagi kambanin kaaviyam
Rama's heroine, Kamban's epic poem,
Poomagal vannamo ravi varama oviyam
Is her complexion that of Goddess Lakshmi, or a painting by Raja Ravi Varma?
Poomagal vannamo ravi varama oviyam
Is her complexion that of Goddess Lakshmi, or a painting by Raja Ravi Varma?
Pon maanai theda sollum
To ask you to search for the golden deer...
Thalaivi alla naan
...I am not that kind of heroine.
Potta kottai thaandi sellum
To cross the line that was drawn...
Manaivi alla naan….
...I am not that kind of wife.
Pon maanai theda sollum
To ask you to search for the golden deer...
Thalaivi alla naan
...I am not that kind of heroine.
Potta kottai thaandi sellum
To cross the line that was drawn...
Manaivi alla naan….
...I am not that kind of wife.
Engu nee angu naan edhilumae pangu naan
Wherever you are, there I am; I share in everything.
Vaazhvilum thaazhvilum paadhi nee paathi naan
In life's highs and lows, half is yours and half is mine.
Sri ramanin naayagi kambanin kaaviyam
Lord Rama's heroine, Kamban's epic poem,
Naayagan kannilae aayiram naadagam
In the hero's eyes, a thousand dramas play out.
Ramanin naayagi kambanin kaaviyam
Rama's heroine, Kamban's epic poem,
Villaaga nee irukka naan valaikkavo
If you stand like a bow, shall I bend you?
Nenjodu aasai ennum kanai thodukkavo
Shall I launch the arrow of desire from my heart?
Villaaga nee irukka naan valaikkavo
If you stand like a bow, shall I bend you?
Nenjodu aasai ennum kanai thodukkavo
Shall I launch the arrow of desire from my heart?
Mangai un kaigali maalaigal allavo
Oh maiden, aren't your hands like flower garlands?
Mai idum kangalo dheepamaai sollavo
Should I say your kohl-lined eyes light up like lamps?
Ramanin naayagi kambanin kaaviyam
Rama's heroine, Kamban's epic poem,
Theeyilitta pothum thangam thangamallavo
Even when placed in fire, gold remains pure gold, doesn't it?
Devanukku sontham intha angamallavo
Doesn't this body belong entirely to my lord?
Male :Vaazhmeegi paattil sonna penmaiyallavaa
Male: Isn't this the true womanhood described in Valmiki's poetry?
Vaithegi poovai minjum menmaiyallavaa
Isn't her gentleness greater than Vaidehi's flower-like softness?
Karpilum porppilum
In chastity and moral strength,
Seedhaipol pavai naan
I am a maiden like Sita.
Male :Anbilum panbilum
Male: In love and noble character,
Andril pol mannan naan
I am a king devoted like the Andril bird.
Ramanin naayagi kambanin kaaviyam
Rama's heroine, Kamban's epic poem,
Poomagal vannamo ravi varama oviyam
Is her color that of Goddess Lakshmi, or a painting by Raja Ravi Varma?
Sri ramanin naayagi kambanin kaaviyam
Lord Rama's heroine, Kamban's epic poem.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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