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Thanikattu Raja album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Rasave Unnai Naan

From Thanikattu Raja · 1982

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Thanikattu Raja
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
9 Apr 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Raasavae unna
Naan ennithaan pala raathiri
Moodala kannathaan
Yea poo vachen
Pottum vachen vaazhathaan
Naan poovodu naarapolae serathaan } (2)
Raasavae raasavae raasavae
……………………………..
{ Aavaaram poovu
Adhukoru novu
Unna nenachu usiriruku } (2)
{ Aagayam boomi aandavan saatchi } (2)
Poothadhu vaaduthu nee varathaan
Raasavae unna
Naan ennithaan pala raathiri
Moodala kannathaan
Yea poo vachen
Pottum vachen vaazhathaan
Naan poovodu naarapolae serathaan
……………………………..
{ Maakolam potu maavelakethi
Nee kedaika nendhikiten } (2)
{ Paathaalae aatha manakura theetha } (2)
Kedachadhu maalayum manjalumthaan
Raasavae unna
Naan ennithaan pala raathiri
Moodala kannathaan
Yea poo vachen
Pottum vachen vaazhathaan
Naan poovodu naarapolae serathaan
Raasavae raasavae raasavae
My beloved king, thinking of you,
For so many nights,
I haven't closed my eyes in sleep.
I wore flowers in my hair,
And put on a pottu, all to share a life with you,
To be joined together like flowers bound with a thread.
My king, my king, oh my king!
...
Like the yellow aavaram flower,
That carries a quiet ache,
My life lingers on, thinking only of you.
The sky, the earth, and God are my witnesses,
What blossomed is fading now, waiting for you to come.
My beloved king, thinking of you,
For so many nights,
I haven't closed my eyes in sleep.
I wore flowers in my hair,
And put on a pottu, all to share a life with you,
To be joined together like flowers bound with a thread.
...
Drawing sacred patterns and lighting rice-flour lamps,
I prayed and made vows to have you as mine.
The Mother Goddess looked upon me and answered my prayers,
Blessing me at last with the wedding garland and holy turmeric.
My beloved king, thinking of you,
For so many nights,
I haven't closed my eyes in sleep.
I wore flowers in my hair,
And put on a pottu, all to share a life with you,
To be joined together like flowers bound with a thread.
My king, my king, oh my king!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

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