Rasamilladha Kannadi
From Kalyanikku Kalyanam · 1959
- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singer
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Kalyanikku Kalyanam1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Mannadhi mannar ellaam | Even great kings of kings |
| Mannai kavvum kaalathilae | At a time when they bite the dust |
| Ada ennaang kaanum unallu | Hey, look at what state you are in |
| Ilamvettu vendirukku | You still desire a young bride |
| Engappa..engappa…aaa…aa | My father... my father... ah... ah |
| Yei jaalra..otraa | Hey, strike the cymbals! |
| Male | |
| Rasamillaadha kannadi | A mirror without mercury coating (a useless mirror) |
| Raaraa nainaa munnadi | Come forward, my dear friend |
| Haei rasamillaadha kannadi | Hey, a mirror without mercury coating |
| Raaraa nainaa munnadi | Come forward, my dear friend |
| Un laadam illaa kudhirai ippo | Your horse without shoes on its hooves now |
| Odudhadaa pinnaadi | Is running backward! |
| Un laadam illaa kudhirai ippo | Your horse without shoes on its hooves now |
| Odudhadaa pinnaadi | Is running backward! |
| Odudhadaa pinnaadi | Is running backward! |
| Rasamillaadha kannadi | A mirror without mercury coating |
| Raaraa nainaa munnadi | Come forward, my dear friend |
| Male | |
| Oorai adichuu ulaiyil potta | Robbing the whole town and putting it into the pot |
| Oodhaari machaan ..oodhaari machaan | You spendthrift scoundrel... you spendthrift scoundrel |
| Oorai adichu ulaiyil potta | Robbing the whole town and putting it into the pot |
| Oodhaari machaan | You spendthrift scoundrel |
| Unakku yendaa kudi kodukkura | Why on earth did the Creator give you a brain |
| Moolaiyum vechaan | That only ruins households? |
| Unakku yendaa kudi kodukkura | Why on earth did the Creator give you a brain |
| Moolaiyum vechaan | That only ruins households? |
| Male | |
| Indha soorapulikku yaaruthaan ippadi | Who stitched such a fine shirt |
| Sokkaaiyum thechaan | For this mighty tiger? |
| Soorapulikku yaaruthaan ippadi | Who stitched such a fine shirt |
| Sokkaaiyum thechaan | For this mighty tiger? |
| Unnai suttaalum paavamillae | There is no sin even if you are shot down |
| Kottaapuli raaja | Oh king of paper tigers! |
| Unnai suttaalum paavamillae | There is no sin even if you are shot down |
| Kottaapuli raaja | Oh king of paper tigers! |
| Male | |
| Hoii | Hoii! |
| Rasamillaadha kannadi | A mirror without mercury coating |
| Chorus :Raaraa nainaa munnadi | Chorus: Come forward, my dear friend |
| Male :Haei rasamillaadha kannadi | Male: Hey, a mirror without mercury coating |
| Raaraa nainaa munnadi | Come forward, my dear friend |
| Male | |
| Thaedhiyum kooda | Even as your age advances |
| Chinna ponnu venumaa | Do you still want a young girl? |
| Indha thiruttu moonji melae edhuvum kannu podumaa | Will anyone even cast an evil eye on this thieving face? |
| Huu nainaa huu neena huu nainaa hoo | Huu nainaa huu neena huu nainaa hoo |
| Huu nainaa huu neena huu nainaa hoo | Huu nainaa huu neena huu nainaa hoo |
| Thaedhiyum kooda | Even as your age advances |
| Chinna ponnu venumaa | Do you still want a young girl? |
| Indha thiruttu moonji melae edhuvum kannu podumaa | Will anyone even cast an evil eye on this thieving face? |
| Un saedhi yaavumae sandhiyilae sirikkaamal pogumaa | Can all your secret deeds pass in public square without being mocked? |
| Un saedhi yaavumae sandhiyilae sirikkaamal pogumaa | Can all your secret deeds pass in public square without being mocked? |
| Nee sirichi sirichi kazhuthai arutha paavam vidumada | Will the sin of slitting throats while smiling ever leave you? |
| Nee sirichi sirichi kazhuthai arutha paavam vidumada | Will the sin of slitting throats while smiling ever leave you? |
| Unnai summaa vidumaadaa | Will it ever leave you unpunished? |
| Male | |
| Haei | Haei! |
| Male and Chorus :Haei | Male and Chorus: Haei! |
| Rasamillaadha kannadi | A mirror without mercury coating |
| Raaraa nainaa munnadi | Come forward, my dear friend |
| Haei rasamillaadha kannadi | Hey, a mirror without mercury coating |
| Raaraa nainaa munnadi | Come forward, my dear friend |
| Un laadam illaa kudhirai ippo | Your horse without shoes on its hooves now |
| Odudhadaa pinnaadi | Is running backward! |
| Un laadam illaa kudhirai ippo | Your horse without shoes on its hooves now |
| Odudhadaa pinnaadi | Is running backward! |
| Odudhadaa pinnaadi | Is running backward! |
| Haei rasamillaadha kannadi | Hey, a mirror without mercury coating |
| Raaraa nainaa munnadi | Come forward, my dear friend |
மன்னாதி மன்னரெல்லாம்
மண்ணைக் கவ்வும் காலத்திலே
அட என்னாங் காணும் உனக்கு
இளம்வெட்டு வேண்டிருக்கு
எங்கப்பா ..எங்கப்பா ...ஆஆ
ஏய் ஜால்ரா ..ஓட்றா
Even great kings of kings
At a time when they bite the dust
Hey, look at what state you are in
You still desire a young bride
My father... my father... ah... ah
Hey, strike the cymbals!
ரசமில்லாத கண்ணாடி
ராரா நைனா முன்னாடி
ஹேய் ரசமில்லாத கண்ணாடி
ராரா நைனா முன்னாடி
உன் லாடமில்லா குதிரை இப்போ
ஓடுதடா பின்னாடி
உன் லாடமில்லா குதிரை இப்போ
ஓடுதடா பின்னாடி
ரசமில்லாத கண்ணாடி
ராரா நைனா முன்னாடி
A mirror without mercury coating (a useless mirror)
Come forward, my dear friend
Hey, a mirror without mercury coating
Come forward, my dear friend
Your horse without shoes on its hooves now
Is running backward!
Your horse without shoes on its hooves now
Is running backward!
Is running backward!
A mirror without mercury coating
Come forward, my dear friend
ஊரை அடிச்சு உலையில் போட்ட
ஊதாரி மச்சான்..ஊதாரி மச்சான்
ஊரை அடிச்சு உலையில் போட்ட
ஊதாரி மச்சான்
உனக்கு ஏண்டா குடி கெடுக்குற
மூளையும் வச்சான்
உனக்கு ஏண்டா குடி கெடுக்குற
மூளையும் வச்சான்
Robbing the whole town and putting it into the pot
You spendthrift scoundrel... you spendthrift scoundrel
Robbing the whole town and putting it into the pot
You spendthrift scoundrel
Why on earth did the Creator give you a brain
That only ruins households?
Why on earth did the Creator give you a brain
That only ruins households?
இந்த சூரப்புலிக்கு யாருதான் இப்படி
சொக்காயும் தச்சான்
சூரப்புலிக்கு யாருதான் இப்படி
சொக்காயும் தச்சான்
உன்னை சுட்டாலும் பாவமில்லே
கொட்டாப்புளி ராஜா
உன்னை சுட்டாலும் பாவமில்லே
கொட்டாப்புளி ராஜா
Who stitched such a fine shirt
For this mighty tiger?
Who stitched such a fine shirt
For this mighty tiger?
There is no sin even if you are shot down
Oh king of paper tigers!
There is no sin even if you are shot down
Oh king of paper tigers!
ஹோய்
ரசமில்லாத கண்ணாடி
குழு :
ராரா நைனா முன்னாடி
ஹேய் ரசமில்லாத கண்ணாடி
ராரா நைனா முன்னாடி
Hoii!
A mirror without mercury coating
Chorus: Come forward, my dear friend
Male: Hey, a mirror without mercury coating
Come forward, my dear friend
தேதியாகியும் கூட
சின்னப் பொண்ணு வேணுமா
இந்த திருட்டு மூஞ்சி மேலே எதுவும் கண்ணு போடுமா
ஹூ நைனா ஹூ நினா ஹூ நைனா ஹோ
ஹூ நைனா ஹூ நினா ஹூ நைனா ஹோ
தேதியாகியும் கூட
சின்னப் பொண்ணு வேணுமா
இந்த திருட்டு மூஞ்சி மேலே எதுவும் கண்ணு போடுமா
உன் சேதி யாவுமே சந்தியிலே சிரிக்காமல் போகுமா
உன் சேதி யாவுமே சந்தியிலே சிரிக்காமல் போகுமா
நீ சிரிச்சி சிரிச்சி கழுத்தை அறுத்த பாவம் விடுமாடா
நீ சிரிச்சி சிரிச்சி கழுத்தை அறுத்த பாவம் விடுமாடா
உன்னை சும்மா விடுமாடா
Even as your age advances
Do you still want a young girl?
Will anyone even cast an evil eye on this thieving face?
Huu nainaa huu neena huu nainaa hoo
Huu nainaa huu neena huu nainaa hoo
Even as your age advances
Do you still want a young girl?
Will anyone even cast an evil eye on this thieving face?
Can all your secret deeds pass in public square without being mocked?
Can all your secret deeds pass in public square without being mocked?
Will the sin of slitting throats while smiling ever leave you?
Will the sin of slitting throats while smiling ever leave you?
Will it ever leave you unpunished?
ஹேய்.....
ஆண் மற்றும் குழு :
ஹேய் ரசமில்லாத கண்ணாடி
ராரா நைனா முன்னாடி
ஹேய் ரசமில்லாத கண்ணாடி
ராரா நைனா முன்னாடி
உன் லாடமில்லா குதிரை இப்போ
ஓடுதடா பின்னாடி
உன் லாடமில்லா குதிரை இப்போ
ஓடுதடா பின்னாடி
ஹேய் ரசமில்லாத கண்ணாடி
ராரா நைனா முன்னாடி
Haei!
Male and Chorus: Haei!
A mirror without mercury coating
Come forward, my dear friend
Hey, a mirror without mercury coating
Come forward, my dear friend
Your horse without shoes on its hooves now
Is running backward!
Your horse without shoes on its hooves now
Is running backward!
Is running backward!
Hey, a mirror without mercury coating
Come forward, my dear friend
Mannadhi mannar ellaam
Even great kings of kings
Mannai kavvum kaalathilae
At a time when they bite the dust
Ada ennaang kaanum unallu
Hey, look at what state you are in
Ilamvettu vendirukku
You still desire a young bride
Engappa..engappa…aaa…aa
My father... my father... ah... ah
Yei jaalra..otraa
Hey, strike the cymbals!
Rasamillaadha kannadi
A mirror without mercury coating (a useless mirror)
Raaraa nainaa munnadi
Come forward, my dear friend
Haei rasamillaadha kannadi
Hey, a mirror without mercury coating
Raaraa nainaa munnadi
Come forward, my dear friend
Un laadam illaa kudhirai ippo
Your horse without shoes on its hooves now
Odudhadaa pinnaadi
Is running backward!
Un laadam illaa kudhirai ippo
Your horse without shoes on its hooves now
Odudhadaa pinnaadi
Is running backward!
Odudhadaa pinnaadi
Is running backward!
Rasamillaadha kannadi
A mirror without mercury coating
Raaraa nainaa munnadi
Come forward, my dear friend
Oorai adichuu ulaiyil potta
Robbing the whole town and putting it into the pot
Oodhaari machaan ..oodhaari machaan
You spendthrift scoundrel... you spendthrift scoundrel
Oorai adichu ulaiyil potta
Robbing the whole town and putting it into the pot
Oodhaari machaan
You spendthrift scoundrel
Unakku yendaa kudi kodukkura
Why on earth did the Creator give you a brain
Moolaiyum vechaan
That only ruins households?
Unakku yendaa kudi kodukkura
Why on earth did the Creator give you a brain
Moolaiyum vechaan
That only ruins households?
Indha soorapulikku yaaruthaan ippadi
Who stitched such a fine shirt
Sokkaaiyum thechaan
For this mighty tiger?
Soorapulikku yaaruthaan ippadi
Who stitched such a fine shirt
Sokkaaiyum thechaan
For this mighty tiger?
Unnai suttaalum paavamillae
There is no sin even if you are shot down
Kottaapuli raaja
Oh king of paper tigers!
Unnai suttaalum paavamillae
There is no sin even if you are shot down
Kottaapuli raaja
Oh king of paper tigers!
Hoii
Hoii!
Rasamillaadha kannadi
A mirror without mercury coating
Chorus :Raaraa nainaa munnadi
Chorus: Come forward, my dear friend
Male :Haei rasamillaadha kannadi
Male: Hey, a mirror without mercury coating
Raaraa nainaa munnadi
Come forward, my dear friend
Thaedhiyum kooda
Even as your age advances
Chinna ponnu venumaa
Do you still want a young girl?
Indha thiruttu moonji melae edhuvum kannu podumaa
Will anyone even cast an evil eye on this thieving face?
Huu nainaa huu neena huu nainaa hoo
Huu nainaa huu neena huu nainaa hoo
Huu nainaa huu neena huu nainaa hoo
Huu nainaa huu neena huu nainaa hoo
Thaedhiyum kooda
Even as your age advances
Chinna ponnu venumaa
Do you still want a young girl?
Indha thiruttu moonji melae edhuvum kannu podumaa
Will anyone even cast an evil eye on this thieving face?
Un saedhi yaavumae sandhiyilae sirikkaamal pogumaa
Can all your secret deeds pass in public square without being mocked?
Un saedhi yaavumae sandhiyilae sirikkaamal pogumaa
Can all your secret deeds pass in public square without being mocked?
Nee sirichi sirichi kazhuthai arutha paavam vidumada
Will the sin of slitting throats while smiling ever leave you?
Nee sirichi sirichi kazhuthai arutha paavam vidumada
Will the sin of slitting throats while smiling ever leave you?
Unnai summaa vidumaadaa
Will it ever leave you unpunished?
Haei
Haei!
Male and Chorus :Haei
Male and Chorus: Haei!
Rasamillaadha kannadi
A mirror without mercury coating
Raaraa nainaa munnadi
Come forward, my dear friend
Haei rasamillaadha kannadi
Hey, a mirror without mercury coating
Raaraa nainaa munnadi
Come forward, my dear friend
Un laadam illaa kudhirai ippo
Your horse without shoes on its hooves now
Odudhadaa pinnaadi
Is running backward!
Un laadam illaa kudhirai ippo
Your horse without shoes on its hooves now
Odudhadaa pinnaadi
Is running backward!
Odudhadaa pinnaadi
Is running backward!
Haei rasamillaadha kannadi
Hey, a mirror without mercury coating
Raaraa nainaa munnadi
Come forward, my dear friend
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Rasamillaadha Kannadi' is a satirical social commentary song sung by Seerkazhi Govindarajan for the 1959 Tamil movie 'Kalyanikku Kalyanam'. Written by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass and set to music by G. Ramanathan, the song employs sharp wit and folk-style colloquialisms to mock a deceitful, elderly, and vain man who attempts to act beyond his status and age. Metaphors like a mirror missing its reflective mercury backing (rendering it worthless) and a shoeless horse running backwards symbolize his utter lack of character, decline in fortune, and foolish pretentions.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvameyam)
“Rasamillaadha kannadi”
'Rasamillaadha kannadi' (mirror without mercury coating) serves as a metaphor for a worthless person who has lost all moral reflection and substance.
Irony / Satire (Nindha Stuthi)
“Indha soorapulikku yaaruthaan ippadi”
The lyricist sarcastically addresses a cowardly or fake man as 'Soorapuli' (brave tiger) and 'Kottaapuli raaja' (paper/yawning tiger) to highlight his hypocrisy.
Rhyme / Assonance (Monai & Ethirai)
“Un laadam illaa kudhirai ippo”
Repetition of second letter sound in 'Rasamillaadha' and 'Raaraa', as well as rhythmic cadence in 'Un laadam illaa kudhirai ippo / Odudhadaa pinnaadi'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is famous for Seerkazhi Govindarajan's energetic vocal delivery, blending classical agility with theatrical folk satire typical of 1950s Tamil cinema comedy tracks.
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