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Lyrics & meaning

Rathirikku Rathiri

From Manidharil Manikkam · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Manidharil Manikkam1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Raaththirikku raaththiriNight after night,
En ninaippu varavenumMy thoughts should come to you.
Raaththirikku raaththiriNight after night,
En ninaippu varavenumMy thoughts should come to you.
Rajan mattum raniyaiththaanOnly the king should touch the queen,
Ragasiyamaa thodavenumSecretly and intimately.
Female
Raaththirikku raaththiriNight after night,
En ninaippu varavenumMy thoughts should come to you.
Rajan mattum raniyaiththaanOnly the king should touch the queen,
Ragasiyamaa thodavenumSecretly and intimately.
Female
Pooththirukku pooththirukkuBlooming, blooming,
panneer poo pooththirukkuThe rose-water flower has bloomed.
Kaaththirukku kaaththirukkuWaiting, waiting,
kann parikka kaaththirukkuWaiting to dazzle the eyes.
Female
Raaththirikku raaththiriNight after night,
En ninaippu varavenumMy thoughts should come to you.
Rajan mattum raniyaiththaanOnly the king should touch the queen,
Ragasiyamaa thodavenumSecretly and intimately.
Female
Pazhaniyilae mayilaattamLike the peacock dance in Palani,
Paruva pennin oyilaattamIs the graceful movement of a young girl.
Pazhaniyilae mayilaattamLike the peacock dance in Palani,
Paruva pennin oyilaattamIs the graceful movement of a young girl.
Female
Kazhaniyilae kadhiraattammLike the swaying grain in the lush field,
Kanni pennin sathiraattaamIs the classical dance of a maiden.
Kazhaniyilae kadhiraattammLike the swaying grain in the lush field,
Kanni pennin sathiraattaamIs the classical dance of a maiden.
Female
Paanjaali beemanukkuPanchali belongs to Bhima,
Meenaatchi somanukkuMeenakshi belongs to Soman,
Janagiyo ramanukkuJanaki belongs to Rama,
Naano en mamanukkuAnd I belong to my beloved uncle.
Female
Raaththirikku raaththiriNight after night,
En ninaippu varavenumMy thoughts should come to you.
Rajan mattum raniyaiththaanOnly the king should touch the queen,
Ragasiyamaa thodavenum thodavenumSecretly, intimately, touch her.
Female
Maduraiyilae vaangi vachchaBought in Madurai,
Marikkozhunthu vaadum munnaeBefore the marjoram flower fades,
Maduraiyilae vaangi vachchaBought in Madurai,
Marikkozhunthu vaadum munnaeBefore the marjoram flower fades,
Female
Kudhiraiyilae yaeri inguRiding high on a horse,
Maman vanthaan enakku munnaeMy beloved arrived before me.
Kudhiraiyilae yaeri inguRiding high on a horse,
Maman vanthaan enakku munnaeMy beloved arrived before me.
Female
Mookkuththi mookkoduThe nose-stud on the nose,
Moongil valai kaiyoduThe bamboo-patterned bangles on the wrist,
Attigaiyo kazhuthoduThe necklace resting against the neck,
Aasai mattum nenjoduAnd desire alone dwelling in the heart.
Female
Raaththirikku raaththiriNight after night,
En ninaippu varavenumMy thoughts should come to you.
Rajan mattum raniyaiththaanOnly the king should touch the queen,
Ragasiyamaa thodavenumSecretly and intimately.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Raaththirikku raaththiri is a romantic track from the 1973 film Manidharil Manikkam, composed by M. S. Viswanathan and written by Vaali. Expressed through the expressive voice of L. R. Eswari, the song captures a woman's deep passion, affection, and longing for her partner. She uses metaphors of kings and queens, iconic pairs from mythology and history such as Rama-Sita and Bhima-Draupadi, to affirm her exclusive devotion to her beloved.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)

Pooththirukku pooththirukku

Repetition of words like 'Pooththirukku pooththirukku' and 'Kaaththirukku kaaththirukku' creates rhythm and emotional emphasis.

Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Pazhaniyilae mayilaattam / Kazhaniyilae kadhiraattamm

The second consonant sound matches between 'Pazhaniyilae' and 'Kazhaniyilae', creating lyrical harmony.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Mookkuththi mookkodu / Moongil valai kaiyodu

The suffix '-odu' rhymes across lines 'mookkodu', 'kaiyodu', 'kazhuthodu', and 'nenjodu'.

Allusion (Arivuraip Polippu / Purana Kurippu)

Paanjaali beemanukku / Meenaatchi somanukku / Janagiyo ramanukku

References mythological divine and legendary couples like Panchali-Bhima, Meenakshi-Soma, and Janaki-Rama to highlight devotion.

Did you know?

Trivia

Manidharil Manikkam (1973) stars Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa. The song highlights L. R. Eswari's distinct ability to blend romantic sensuality with classic Tamil folk melodic structures under M. S. Viswanathan's composition.

Keep listening

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