Rasave Unnai Naan
From Thanikattu Raja · 1982
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Sailaja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Thanikattu Raja1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| { Raasavae unna | { Oh king, thinking of you |
| Naan ennithaan pala raathiri | Thinking about you for many nights |
| Moodala kannathaan | I could not close my eyes |
| Female | |
| Yea poo vachen | Yes, I adorned flowers |
| Pottum vachen vaazhathaan | And placed the bindi to live together with you |
| Naan poovodu naarapolae serathaan } (2) | So that I unite with you like the fiber bound to flowers } (2) |
| Female | |
| Raasavae raasavae raasavae | Oh king, my king, my king |
| Female | |
| …………………………….. | [Music / Interlude] |
| Female | |
| { Aavaaram poovu | { Like the yellow Aavaaram flower |
| Adhukoru novu | It suffers a quiet pain |
| Unna nenachu usiriruku } (2) | My life remains only in thinking of you } (2) |
| Female | |
| { Aagayam boomi aandavan saatchi } (2) | { The sky, the earth, and God himself are witnesses } (2) |
| Poothadhu vaaduthu nee varathaan | What has blossomed is wilting waiting for your arrival |
| Female | |
| Raasavae unna | Oh king, thinking of you |
| Naan ennithaan pala raathiri | Thinking about you for many nights |
| Moodala kannathaan | I could not close my eyes |
| Female | |
| Yea poo vachen | Yes, I adorned flowers |
| Pottum vachen vaazhathaan | And placed the bindi to live together with you |
| Naan poovodu naarapolae serathaan | So that I unite with you like the fiber bound to flowers |
| Female | |
| …………………………….. | [Music / Interlude] |
| Female | |
| { Maakolam potu maavelakethi | { Drawing rice-flour patterns and lighting flour lamps |
| Nee kedaika nendhikiten } (2) | I made solemn vows so I could win you } (2) |
| { Paathaalae aatha manakura theetha } (2) | { Just looking at Goddess Mariamman purifies all grievances } (2) |
| Kedachadhu maalayum manjalumthaan | All I received in return was the sacred garland and turmeric |
| Female | |
| Raasavae unna | Oh king, thinking of you |
| Naan ennithaan pala raathiri | Thinking about you for many nights |
| Moodala kannathaan | I could not close my eyes |
| Female | |
| Yea poo vachen | Yes, I adorned flowers |
| Pottum vachen vaazhathaan | And placed the bindi to live together with you |
| Naan poovodu naarapolae serathaan | So that I unite with you like the fiber bound to flowers |
| Female | |
| Raasavae raasavae raasavae | Oh king, my king, my king |
{ ராசாவே உன்ன
நான் எண்ணித்தான் பல
ராத்திரி மூடல கண்ணத்தான்
{ Oh king, thinking of you
Thinking about you for many nights
I could not close my eyes
ஏ பூ வச்சேன்
பொட்டும் வச்சேன்
வாழத்தான் நான்
பூவோடு நாரப்போல
சேரத்தான் } (2)
Yes, I adorned flowers
And placed the bindi to live together with you
So that I unite with you like the fiber bound to flowers } (2)
ராசாவே
ராசாவே ராசாவே
Oh king, my king, my king
..........................
[Music / Interlude]
{ ஆவாரம்பூவு
அதுக்கொரு நோவு
உன்ன நெனச்சு
உசிரிருக்கு } (2)
{ Like the yellow Aavaaram flower
It suffers a quiet pain
My life remains only in thinking of you } (2)
{ ஆகாயம் பூமி
ஆண்டவன் சாட்சி } (2)
பூத்தது வாடுது நீ வரத்தான்
{ The sky, the earth, and God himself are witnesses } (2)
What has blossomed is wilting waiting for your arrival
ராசாவே உன்ன
நான் எண்ணித்தான் பல
ராத்திரி மூடல கண்ணத்தான்
Oh king, thinking of you
Thinking about you for many nights
I could not close my eyes
ஏ பூ வச்சேன்
பொட்டும் வச்சேன்
வாழத்தான் நான்
பூவோடு நாரப்போல
சேரத்தான்
Yes, I adorned flowers
And placed the bindi to live together with you
So that I unite with you like the fiber bound to flowers
..........................
[Music / Interlude]
{ மாகோலம்
போட்டு மாவிளக்கேத்தி
நீ கிடைக்க நேந்திகிட்டேன் } (2)
{ பாத்தாளே ஆத்தா
மனக்குற தீத்தா } (2)
கெடச்சது மாலையும்
மஞ்சளும்தான்
{ Drawing rice-flour patterns and lighting flour lamps
I made solemn vows so I could win you } (2)
{ Just looking at Goddess Mariamman purifies all grievances } (2)
All I received in return was the sacred garland and turmeric
ராசாவே உன்ன
நான் எண்ணித்தான் பல
ராத்திரி மூடல கண்ணத்தான்
Oh king, thinking of you
Thinking about you for many nights
I could not close my eyes
ஏ பூ வச்சேன்
பொட்டும் வச்சேன்
வாழத்தான் நான்
பூவோடு நாரப்போல
சேரத்தான்
Yes, I adorned flowers
And placed the bindi to live together with you
So that I unite with you like the fiber bound to flowers
ராசாவே
ராசாவே ராசாவே
Oh king, my king, my king
{ Raasavae unna
{ Oh king, thinking of you
Naan ennithaan pala raathiri
Thinking about you for many nights
Moodala kannathaan
I could not close my eyes
Yea poo vachen
Yes, I adorned flowers
Pottum vachen vaazhathaan
And placed the bindi to live together with you
Naan poovodu naarapolae serathaan } (2)
So that I unite with you like the fiber bound to flowers } (2)
Raasavae raasavae raasavae
Oh king, my king, my king
……………………………..
[Music / Interlude]
{ Aavaaram poovu
{ Like the yellow Aavaaram flower
Adhukoru novu
It suffers a quiet pain
Unna nenachu usiriruku } (2)
My life remains only in thinking of you } (2)
{ Aagayam boomi aandavan saatchi } (2)
{ The sky, the earth, and God himself are witnesses } (2)
Poothadhu vaaduthu nee varathaan
What has blossomed is wilting waiting for your arrival
Raasavae unna
Oh king, thinking of you
Naan ennithaan pala raathiri
Thinking about you for many nights
Moodala kannathaan
I could not close my eyes
Yea poo vachen
Yes, I adorned flowers
Pottum vachen vaazhathaan
And placed the bindi to live together with you
Naan poovodu naarapolae serathaan
So that I unite with you like the fiber bound to flowers
……………………………..
[Music / Interlude]
{ Maakolam potu maavelakethi
{ Drawing rice-flour patterns and lighting flour lamps
Nee kedaika nendhikiten } (2)
I made solemn vows so I could win you } (2)
{ Paathaalae aatha manakura theetha } (2)
{ Just looking at Goddess Mariamman purifies all grievances } (2)
Kedachadhu maalayum manjalumthaan
All I received in return was the sacred garland and turmeric
Raasavae unna
Oh king, thinking of you
Naan ennithaan pala raathiri
Thinking about you for many nights
Moodala kannathaan
I could not close my eyes
Yea poo vachen
Yes, I adorned flowers
Pottum vachen vaazhathaan
And placed the bindi to live together with you
Naan poovodu naarapolae serathaan
So that I unite with you like the fiber bound to flowers
Raasavae raasavae raasavae
Oh king, my king, my king
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Raasavae Unna from the 1982 movie Thanikattu Raja is a soul-stirring Tamil romantic melody that expresses a young woman's deep devotion, yearning, and sleepless nights spent thinking of her beloved. She compares her bond with him to the natural togetherness of flowers bound together by a fiber (naaru), symbolising an inseparable and destiny-driven love.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamai)
“Naan poovodu naarapolae serathaan”
Compares the intimacy of lovers to flowers tied together with a fiber thread (naaru), depicting an inseparable closeness.
Metaphor / Ethirai (Rhyme)
“Aavaaram poovu / Adhukoru novu”
Uses the yellow Aavaaram flower to represent delicate emotional suffering and longing, paired with end-rhyming symmetry (poovu/novu).
Cultural Symbolism
“Maakolam potu maavelakethi”
References traditional Tamil spiritual practices like drawing Maakolam, lighting Maavelakku, and receiving wedding symbols like turmeric (manjal) and garland (maalai).
Did you know?
Trivia
Although listed with unknown music credits in some records, this memorable folk-style track from Thanikattu Raja (1982) was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. Janaki, featuring lyrics by Vaali.
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