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Poruthathu Podhum album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Rathiri Thookkam Kettu

From Poruthathu Podhum · 1989

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Poruthathu Podhum
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
24 Aug 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
……………………
Male :…………………..
Raathiri thookam kettu pochu
Eera nilavu suttu pochu
Raathiri thookam kettu pochu
Eera nilavu suttu pochu
Hae hae hae hae vaa raaja vaa
Kingu thaan queen thaan rammi aaduvom
Mummiya daddyaa aattam poduvom
Kingu thaan queen thaan rammi aaduvom
Mummiya daddyaa aattam poduvom
Raathiri thookam kettu pochu
Eera nilavu suttu pochu
{Aazhang kaanatha aasai kadal thaan
Aadai kondaadum vanji udal thaan
Kanni thaan thaavum thanga maanu
Kannu thaan rendu vaazha meenu} (2)
Sindhu paadum sittu thaan vaada
Vandhu thaan saeru sinna maama
Saethil molacha naathu irukku
Saethu anaikka kaathu irukka
Rendumae konjanum onnaaga thaan
Veppam aana soppanam undaaga thaan
Raathiri thookam kettu pochu
Eera nilavu suttu pochu
Hae hae hae hae vaa raani vaa
Kingu thaan queen thaan rammi aaduvom
Mummiya daddyaa aattam poduvom
Ada kingu thaan queen thaan rammi aaduvom
Mummiya daddyaa aattam poduvom
……………………….
Melam undaachu thaalamadikka
Mogam vandhaachu paattu padikka
Andhiyil paadum indha ragam
Manmadhan kaadhil sonna raagam
Melam undaachu thaalamadikka
Mogam vandhaachu paattu padikka
Thakka thina thaa
Andhiyil paadum indha ragam
Manmadhan kaadhil sonna raagam
Sengani thaangum solai thaan aada
Ingu naan vandhu thaangalaama
Nooru koduthaa kodi eduppen
Maala koduthaa paayai virippen
Rendumae konjanum onnaaga thaan
Veppamaana soppanam undaaga thaan
Raathiri thookam kettu pochu
Eera nilavu suttu pochu
Male :Ada hae hae hae vaa raani vaa
Kingu thaan queen thaan rammi aaduvom
Mummiya daddyaa aattam poduvom
Female :Haei kingu thaan queen thaan rammi aaduvom
Mummiya daddyaa aattam poduvom
Raathiri thookam kettu pochu
Female :Eera nilavu suttu pochu
...
Male: ...
I lost my sleep tonight,
The cool moon is burning hot!
I lost my sleep tonight,
The cool moon is burning hot!
Hey hey hey hey, come, my king, come!
As king and queen, let's play rummy,
Like mummy and daddy, let's dance and play!
As king and queen, let's play rummy,
Like mummy and daddy, let's dance and play!
I lost my sleep tonight,
The cool moon is burning hot!
An ocean of fathomless desire,
A slender body celebrated by her dress,
She is a golden deer leaping about,
Her two eyes are like darting fish!
Come, little bird who sings sweet tunes!
Come and join me, my handsome lover!
There is a tender shoot grown in fertile soil,
Waiting for you to gather and embrace it.
The two of us must cuddle as one,
So a burning dream can come to life!
I lost my sleep tonight,
The cool moon is burning hot!
Hey hey hey hey, come, my queen, come!
As king and queen, let's play rummy,
Like mummy and daddy, let's dance and play!
Ah, as king and queen, let's play rummy,
Like mummy and daddy, let's dance and play!
...
The drum is ready to beat the rhythm,
Desire has arrived to sing a song!
This melody sung at twilight,
Is the tune Manmathan (the god of love) whispered in the ear!
The drum is ready to beat the rhythm,
Desire has arrived to sing a song!
Thakka dhina thaa!
This melody sung at twilight,
Is the tune Manmathan (the god of love) whispered in the ear!
When the garden bearing ripe red fruit sways,
May I come here and hold it gently?
If you give me a hundred, I will take ten million!
If you give me the wedding garland, I will spread the mat!
The two of us must cuddle as one,
So a burning dream can come to life!
I lost my sleep tonight,
The cool moon is burning hot!
Male: Ah, hey hey hey, come, my queen, come!
As king and queen, let's play rummy,
Like mummy and daddy, let's dance and play!
Female: Hey, as king and queen, let's play rummy,
Like mummy and daddy, let's dance and play!
I lost my sleep tonight,
Female: The cool moon is burning hot!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Poruthathu Podhum is a playful and romantic duet depicting the passionate longing of two lovers during a sleepless night. The lyrics express how the intensity of their romantic desire makes even the cool night moon feel like burning fire, disrupting their sleep and drawing them together in playful intimacy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Metaphor / Simile)

Kannu thaan rendu vaazha meenu

Compares the maiden's lively eyes to active, living fish.

Paradox / Oxymoron

Eera nilavu suttu pochu

Contrasts cool moisture ('eera nilavu') with burning heat ('suttu pochu') to illustrate the heat of passion.

Etukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Raathiri thookam kettu pochu / Eera nilavu suttu pochu

The second letters 'th' in 'Raathiri' and 'e' in 'Eera' follow rhythmic sound patterns in Tamil poetry across lines.

Mythological Imagery

Manmadhan kaadhil sonna raagam

References Manmadhan (the Hindu deity of love and desire) to emphasize the romantic mood of the song.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by legendary lyricist Vaali for the 1989 film Poruthathu Podhum starring Vijayakanth and Kanaka, the song is notable for Vaali's signature blending of modern English words like 'King', 'Queen', 'Mummiya', and 'Daddyaa' with traditional Tamil metaphors.

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