Rani Maharani
From Saraswathi Sabatham · 1966
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Saraswathi Sabatham1966
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Raani magaaraani | Queen, great queen |
| Rajiyaththin raani | Queen of the kingdom |
| Vegavega maaga vandha | She who came very hastily |
| Naagareega raani | The modern, stylish queen |
| Male | |
| {Raani magaaraani | {Queen, great queen |
| Rajiyaththin raani | Queen of the kingdom |
| Vegavega maaga vandha | She who came very hastily |
| Naagareega raani} (2) | The modern, stylish queen} (2) |
| Chorus | |
| Vegavega maaga vandha | She who came very hastily |
| Naagareega raani | The modern, stylish queen |
| Male | |
| {Netru varai veedhiyilae | {Until yesterday, on the street |
| Nindrirundha raani | The queen who stood |
| Nilaimaigalai marandhu vitta | Forgetting her true situation |
| Thalaiganaththa raani} (2) | The arrogant, proud queen} (2) |
| Male | |
| {Yaanai maalai potadhaalae | {Just because an elephant crowned her with a garland |
| Aala vandha raani | The queen who came to rule |
| Azhagu bommai pola vandhu | Coming like a beautiful doll |
| Goluvirukum raani} (2) | The queen who sits on the throne} (2) |
| Chorus | |
| Azhagu bommai pola vandhu | Coming like a beautiful doll |
| Goluvirukum raani | The queen who sits on the throne |
| Male | |
| Raani magaaraani | Queen, great queen |
| Chorus :Rajiyaththin raani | Chorus: Queen of the kingdom |
| Male :Vegavega maaga vandha | Male: She who came very hastily |
| Naagareega raani | The modern, stylish queen |
| Chorus :Naagareega raani | Chorus: The modern, stylish queen |
| Male | |
| Pongi vandha selvaththaalae | Because of overflowing wealth |
| Budhdhi ponadhaal | Losing her intellect |
| Pongi vandha selvaththaalae | Because of overflowing wealth |
| Budhdhi ponadhaal | Losing her intellect |
| Pulamaiyodum kavidhaiyodum | With scholarship and poetry |
| Porida vandhaal | She came to wage a war |
| Chorus | |
| Pulamaiyodum kavidhaiyodum | With scholarship and poetry |
| Porida vandhaal | She came to wage a war |
| Male :Porida vandhaal | Male: She came to wage a war |
| Male | |
| Raani magaaraani | Queen, great queen |
| Rajiyaththin raani | Queen of the kingdom |
| Vegavega maaga vandha | She who came very hastily |
| Naagareega raani | The modern, stylish queen |
| Chorus | |
| Vegavega maaga vandha | She who came very hastily |
| Naagareega raani | The modern, stylish queen |
| Male | |
| {Kaviyarasai puviyarasu | {Has an earthly king ever defeated |
| Vetri kondadhundaa | The king of poets? |
| Kalaimagalai thirumagal dhaan | Has Lakshmi, goddess of wealth |
| Vettri kandadhundaa} (2) | Ever conquered Saraswathi?} (2) |
| Male | |
| {Sabai arindha pulavanukku | {For a scholar who knows the court assembly |
| Siraiyum oru veedu | Even a prison is a home |
| Arivizhandha arasiyarkku | For an arrogant queen who lost her wisdom |
| Naadum oru kaadu} (2) | Even her kingdom is a forest} (2) |
| Male | |
| Raani magaaraani | Queen, great queen |
| Male 2 :Raani magaaraani | Male 2: Queen, great queen |
| Male :Rajiyaththin raani | Male: Queen of the kingdom |
| Male 2 :Rajiyaththin raani | Male 2: Queen of the kingdom |
| Male :Vegavega maaga vandha | Male: She who came very hastily |
| Naagareega raani | The modern, stylish queen |
| Male 2 :Vegavega maaga vandha | Male 2: She who came very hastily |
| Naagareega raani | The modern, stylish queen |
ராணி மகாராணி
ராஜ்யத்தின் ராணி வேக
வேக மாக வந்த நாகரீக
ராணி
Queen, great queen
Queen of the kingdom
She who came very hastily
The modern, stylish queen
{ ராணி மகாராணி
ராஜ்யத்தின் ராணி வேக
வேக மாக வந்த நாகரீக
ராணி } (2)
{Queen, great queen
Queen of the kingdom
She who came very hastily
The modern, stylish queen} (2)
வேக வேக
மாக வந்த நாகரீக
ராணி
She who came very hastily
The modern, stylish queen
{ நேற்று வரை
வீதியிலே நின்றிருந்த
ராணி நிலைமைகளை
மறந்து விட்ட தலைகனத்த
ராணி } (2)
{Until yesterday, on the street
The queen who stood
Forgetting her true situation
The arrogant, proud queen} (2)
{ யானை மாலை
போட்டதாலே ஆள வந்த
ராணி அழகு பொம்மை
போல வந்து கொலுவிருக்கும்
ராணி } (2)
{Just because an elephant crowned her with a garland
The queen who came to rule
Coming like a beautiful doll
The queen who sits on the throne} (2)
அழகு பொம்மை
போல வந்து கொலுவிருக்கும்
ராணி
Coming like a beautiful doll
The queen who sits on the throne
ராணி மகாராணி
குழு :
ராஜ்யத்தின் ராணி
வேக வேக மாக
வந்த நாகரீக ராணி
குழு :
நாகரீக ராணி
Queen, great queen
Chorus: Queen of the kingdom
Male: She who came very hastily
The modern, stylish queen
Chorus: The modern, stylish queen
{ அங்கமெங்கும்
தங்க வைரம் போட்டு
விட்டதால் அறிவினோடு
படை எடுத்து போரிட
வந்தால் } (2)
Because of overflowing wealth
Losing her intellect
Because of overflowing wealth
Losing her intellect
With scholarship and poetry
She came to wage a war
பொங்கி வந்த
செல்வத்தாலே புத்தி
போனதால் பொங்கி
வந்த செல்வத்தாலே
புத்தி போனதால்
புலமையோடும்
கவிதையோடும்
போரிட வந்தால்
With scholarship and poetry
She came to wage a war
Male: She came to wage a war
புலமையோடும்
கவிதையோடும் போரிட
வந்தால்
போரிட வந்தால்
Queen, great queen
Queen of the kingdom
She who came very hastily
The modern, stylish queen
ராணி மகாராணி
ராஜ்யத்தின் ராணி வேக
வேக மாக வந்த நாகரீக
ராணி
She who came very hastily
The modern, stylish queen
வேக வேக
மாக வந்த நாகரீக
ராணி
{Has an earthly king ever defeated
The king of poets?
Has Lakshmi, goddess of wealth
Ever conquered Saraswathi?} (2)
{ கவியரசை
புவியரசு வெற்றி
கொண்டதுண்டா
கலைமகளை
திருமகள் தான்
வெற்றி கண்டதுண்டா } (2)
{For a scholar who knows the court assembly
Even a prison is a home
For an arrogant queen who lost her wisdom
Even her kingdom is a forest} (2)
{ சபை அறிந்த
புலவனுக்கு சிறையும்
ஒரு வீடு அறிவிழந்த
அரசியர்க்கு நாடும்
ஒரு காடு } (2)
Queen, great queen
Male 2: Queen, great queen
Male: Queen of the kingdom
Male 2: Queen of the kingdom
Male: She who came very hastily
The modern, stylish queen
Male 2: She who came very hastily
The modern, stylish queen
ராணி மகாராணி
ஆண் 2 :
ராணி மகாராணி
ராஜ்யத்தின் ராணி
ஆண் 2 :
ராஜ்யத்தின் ராணி
வேக வேக மாக
வந்த நாகரீக ராணி
ஆண் 2 :
வேக வேக மாக
வந்த நாகரீக ராணி
ஆண் & குழு :
ராணி மகாராணி
ராஜ்யத்தின் ராணி வேக
வேக மாக வந்த நாகரீக
ராணி
குழு :
{ வேக வேக
மாக வந்த நாகரீக
ராணி } (2)
Raani magaaraani
Queen, great queen
Rajiyaththin raani
Queen of the kingdom
Vegavega maaga vandha
She who came very hastily
Naagareega raani
The modern, stylish queen
{Raani magaaraani
{Queen, great queen
Rajiyaththin raani
Queen of the kingdom
Vegavega maaga vandha
She who came very hastily
Naagareega raani} (2)
The modern, stylish queen} (2)
Vegavega maaga vandha
She who came very hastily
Naagareega raani
The modern, stylish queen
{Netru varai veedhiyilae
{Until yesterday, on the street
Nindrirundha raani
The queen who stood
Nilaimaigalai marandhu vitta
Forgetting her true situation
Thalaiganaththa raani} (2)
The arrogant, proud queen} (2)
{Yaanai maalai potadhaalae
{Just because an elephant crowned her with a garland
Aala vandha raani
The queen who came to rule
Azhagu bommai pola vandhu
Coming like a beautiful doll
Goluvirukum raani} (2)
The queen who sits on the throne} (2)
Azhagu bommai pola vandhu
Coming like a beautiful doll
Goluvirukum raani
The queen who sits on the throne
Raani magaaraani
Queen, great queen
Chorus :Rajiyaththin raani
Chorus: Queen of the kingdom
Male :Vegavega maaga vandha
Male: She who came very hastily
Naagareega raani
The modern, stylish queen
Chorus :Naagareega raani
Chorus: The modern, stylish queen
Pongi vandha selvaththaalae
Because of overflowing wealth
Budhdhi ponadhaal
Losing her intellect
Pongi vandha selvaththaalae
Because of overflowing wealth
Budhdhi ponadhaal
Losing her intellect
Pulamaiyodum kavidhaiyodum
With scholarship and poetry
Porida vandhaal
She came to wage a war
Pulamaiyodum kavidhaiyodum
With scholarship and poetry
Porida vandhaal
She came to wage a war
Male :Porida vandhaal
Male: She came to wage a war
Raani magaaraani
Queen, great queen
Rajiyaththin raani
Queen of the kingdom
Vegavega maaga vandha
She who came very hastily
Naagareega raani
The modern, stylish queen
Vegavega maaga vandha
She who came very hastily
Naagareega raani
The modern, stylish queen
{Kaviyarasai puviyarasu
{Has an earthly king ever defeated
Vetri kondadhundaa
The king of poets?
Kalaimagalai thirumagal dhaan
Has Lakshmi, goddess of wealth
Vettri kandadhundaa} (2)
Ever conquered Saraswathi?} (2)
{Sabai arindha pulavanukku
{For a scholar who knows the court assembly
Siraiyum oru veedu
Even a prison is a home
Arivizhandha arasiyarkku
For an arrogant queen who lost her wisdom
Naadum oru kaadu} (2)
Even her kingdom is a forest} (2)
Raani magaaraani
Queen, great queen
Male 2 :Raani magaaraani
Male 2: Queen, great queen
Male :Rajiyaththin raani
Male: Queen of the kingdom
Male 2 :Rajiyaththin raani
Male 2: Queen of the kingdom
Male :Vegavega maaga vandha
Male: She who came very hastily
Naagareega raani
The modern, stylish queen
Male 2 :Vegavega maaga vandha
Male 2: She who came very hastily
Naagareega raani
The modern, stylish queen
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from Saraswathi Sabatham (1966) expresses the sharp critique and defiance of a learned poet against an arrogant queen who has been blinded by sudden wealth and power. The poet ridicules her vanity, pointing out that mere chance elevated her to royalty, yet she foolishly attempts to challenge scholarly wisdom and poetry. He asserts the supreme truth that material wealth (represented by Lakshmi) can never truly conquer knowledge and arts (represented by Saraswathi). For a person of true intellect, even a prison cell feels comfortable like home, whereas an unwise ruler turns an entire kingdom into a desolate wilderness.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Etuhais / Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Sabai arindha pulavanukku / Siraiyum oru veedu”
Rhyming of second consonant across consecutive lines, such as 'Netru' (ரு) and 'Nindrirundha' (ன்), or 'Sabai' (ப) and 'Sirai' (ர/ப).
Iyaibu (End rhyme)
“Raani magaaraani / Rajiyaththin raani”
Repetition of the word 'Raani' at the end of multiple lines creates a rhythmic, mocking refrain.
Contrast / Metaphor (Puviyarasu vs Kaviyarasu)
“Kaviyarasai puviyarasu / Vetri kondadhundaa”
Direct contrast between earthly power ('Puviyarasu') and intellectual/poetic sovereignty ('Kaviyarasu'), as well as Goddess Lakshmi ('Thirumagal') vs Goddess Saraswathi ('Kalaimagal').
Did you know?
Trivia
Saraswathi Sabatham (1966) features music composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by Kannadasan. This song serves as a crucial narrative pivot in the film, illustrating the central debate between the supremacy of Knowledge (Saraswathi) and Wealth (Lakshmi).
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