Rathirikku Thookkam
From Neengalum Herothan · 1990
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singers
- Mano, K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Neengalum Herothan1990
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Ahaa haha aa aa aa ahaa | Ahaa haha aa aa aa ahaa |
| Ahaa haha aa aa aa ahaa | Ahaa haha aa aa aa ahaa |
| Hae hae ahaa aa aa aa | Hae hae ahaa aa aa aa |
| Female | |
| Raathirikku thookkam pochaiyaa en rasa | Have you lost your sleep at night, my king? |
| Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa mm mm mm | Has the queen become filled with longing? Mm mm mm |
| Raathirikku thookkam pochaiyaa en rasa | Have you lost your sleep at night, my king? |
| Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa mm mm mm | Has the queen become filled with longing? Mm mm mm |
| Female | |
| Idhu thaana adangaathu vandhu | This passion will not subside on its own, |
| Needhaan thazhuvaadhu raasaa | Only you must come and embrace me, my king. |
| Raathirikku thookkam pochaiyaa en rasa | Have you lost your sleep at night, my king? |
| Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa mm mm mm | Has the queen become filled with longing? Mm mm mm |
| Female | |
| Maedai katti kaathirukken | I am waiting after setting up the stage, |
| Maeni ellam poothirukken | My whole body has blossomed, |
| Jaadaiyilae sammadham thaan sollidavae | Just to express my consent through mere glances. |
| Male :Thaali onnu kattivida | Male: To tie the sacred thread around you, |
| Thaamaraiya thottu vidu | To touch this delicate lotus flower, |
| Velai onnu kittum vara kaathida venum | We must wait until the right moment arrives. |
| Female | |
| Sakku sonnakka podhuma | Is it enough if you just make excuses? |
| Yekkam thannala poguma | Will this intense longing fade away on its own? |
| Male :Oru kaalam vara venum | Male: The proper time must come, |
| Mana maalai vizha venum maanae | The grand wedding garland ceremony must happen, my dear! |
| Female | |
| Raathirikku raathirikku | At night, at night... |
| Raathirikku thookkam pochaiya en rasa | Have you lost your sleep at night, my king? |
| Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa | Has the queen become filled with longing? |
| Male :Mm mm mm | Male: Mm mm mm |
| Male | |
| Moodi vecha aasaiellam | All the desires that were kept hidden, |
| Sollikittu poguthadi | Are now speaking out and drifting by, my girl. |
| Paadi veikkum raagamellam kettuttu podi | Listen to all the melodies I have composed before you go, my girl. |
| Female :Aang maaman magal sengarumbhu | Female: Ah, the uncle's daughter is sweet sugarcane, |
| Maaman ippo katterumbhu | But the uncle has now become a biting ant! |
| Manasu vechu oora ippo edhukku veembhu | Why unnecessarily pick a fight with the whole town with intention? |
| Male | |
| Enakkum yedho pol aanadhu | Something strange happened to me as well, |
| Kanakkum neraaga thonudhu | Even the calculations seem straightforward to me now. |
| Female :En maaman onnu kettaa | Female: If my uncle asks for something, |
| Kodukkaama vidamatta kannaatha | Kannatha will never refuse to give it! |
| Female | |
| Raathirikku raathirikku | At night, at night... |
| Raathirikku thookkam pochaiyaa en maama | Have you lost your sleep at night, my uncle? |
| Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa | Has the queen become filled with longing? |
| Female | |
| Raathirikku raathirikku | At night, at night... |
| Raathirikku thookkam pochaiyaa en maama | Have you lost your sleep at night, my uncle? |
| Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa | Has the queen become filled with longing? |
| Female | |
| Idhu thaana adangaathu vandhu | This passion will not subside on its own, |
| Needhaan thazhuvaadhu maama | Only you must come and embrace me, my uncle. |
| Raathirikku thookkam pochaiya en maama | Have you lost your sleep at night, my uncle? |
| Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa | Has the queen become filled with longing? |
ஆஹா ஹாஹா ஆஆஆ ஆஹா
ஆஹா ஹாஹா ஆஆஆ ஆஹா
Ahaa haha aa aa aa ahaa
Ahaa haha aa aa aa ahaa
Hae hae ahaa aa aa aa
ராத்திரிக்கு தூக்கம் போச்சுய்யா என் ராசா
ராணிக்கொரு ஏக்கம் ஆச்சய்யா ம்ம்ம்ம்
ராத்திரிக்கு தூக்கம் போச்சுய்யா என் ராசா
ராணிக்கொரு ஏக்கம் ஆச்சய்யா...
Have you lost your sleep at night, my king?
Has the queen become filled with longing? Mm mm mm
Have you lost your sleep at night, my king?
Has the queen become filled with longing? Mm mm mm
இது தானா அடங்காது வந்து
நீதான் தழுவாது ராசா
ராத்திரிக்கு தூக்கம் போச்சுய்யா என் ராசா
ராணிக்கொரு ஏக்கம் ஆச்சய்யா...
This passion will not subside on its own,
Only you must come and embrace me, my king.
Have you lost your sleep at night, my king?
Has the queen become filled with longing? Mm mm mm
மேடை கட்டி காத்திருக்கேன்
மேனியெல்லாம் பூத்திருக்கேன்
ஜாடையிலே சம்மதம் தான் சொல்லிடவே
தாலி ஒண்ணு கட்டிவிட
தாமரைய தொட்டு விட
வேளை ஒண்ணு கிட்டும் வர காத்திட வேணும்
I am waiting after setting up the stage,
My whole body has blossomed,
Just to express my consent through mere glances.
Male: To tie the sacred thread around you,
To touch this delicate lotus flower,
We must wait until the right moment arrives.
சாக்கு சொன்னாக்க போதுமா
ஏக்கம் தன்னால போகுமா
ஒரு காலம் வர வேணும்
மணமாலை விழ வேணும் மானே
Is it enough if you just make excuses?
Will this intense longing fade away on its own?
Male: The proper time must come,
The grand wedding garland ceremony must happen, my dear!
ராத்திரிக்கு ராத்திரிக்கு
ராத்திரிக்கு தூக்கம் போச்சுய்யா என் ராசா
ராணிக்கொரு ஏக்கம் ஆச்சய்யா..
ம்ம்ம்
At night, at night...
Have you lost your sleep at night, my king?
Has the queen become filled with longing?
Male: Mm mm mm
மூடி வச்ச ஆசையெல்லாம்
சொல்லிக் கிட்டு போகுதடி
பாடி வைக்கும் ராகமெல்லாம் கேட்டுட்டு போடி
ஆங்...மாமன் மகள் செங்கரும்பு
மாமன் இப்போ கட்டெறும்பு
மனசு வச்சு ஊர இப்போ எதுக்கு வீம்பு
All the desires that were kept hidden,
Are now speaking out and drifting by, my girl.
Listen to all the melodies I have composed before you go, my girl.
Female: Ah, the uncle's daughter is sweet sugarcane,
But the uncle has now become a biting ant!
Why unnecessarily pick a fight with the whole town with intention?
எனக்கும் ஏதோ போல் ஆனது
கணக்கும் நேராக தோணுது
என் மாமன் ஒண்ணு கேட்டா
கொடுக்காம விடமாட்டா கண்ணாத்தா
Something strange happened to me as well,
Even the calculations seem straightforward to me now.
Female: If my uncle asks for something,
Kannatha will never refuse to give it!
ராத்திரிக்கு ராத்திரிக்கு
ராத்திரிக்கு தூக்கம் போச்சுய்யா என் மாமா
ராணிக்கொரு ஏக்கம் ஆச்சய்யா..
At night, at night...
Have you lost your sleep at night, my uncle?
Has the queen become filled with longing?
ராத்திரிக்கு ராத்திரிக்கு
ராத்திரிக்கு தூக்கம் போச்சுய்யா என் மாமா
ராணிக்கொரு ஏக்கம் ஆச்சய்யா..
At night, at night...
Have you lost your sleep at night, my uncle?
Has the queen become filled with longing?
இது தானா அடங்காது வந்து
நீதான் தழுவாது மாமா
ராத்திரிக்கு தூக்கம் போச்சுய்யா என் மாமா
ராணிக்கொரு ஏக்கம் ஆச்சய்யா
This passion will not subside on its own,
Only you must come and embrace me, my uncle.
Have you lost your sleep at night, my uncle?
Has the queen become filled with longing?
Ahaa haha aa aa aa ahaa
Ahaa haha aa aa aa ahaa
Ahaa haha aa aa aa ahaa
Ahaa haha aa aa aa ahaa
Hae hae ahaa aa aa aa
Hae hae ahaa aa aa aa
Raathirikku thookkam pochaiyaa en rasa
Have you lost your sleep at night, my king?
Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa mm mm mm
Has the queen become filled with longing? Mm mm mm
Raathirikku thookkam pochaiyaa en rasa
Have you lost your sleep at night, my king?
Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa mm mm mm
Has the queen become filled with longing? Mm mm mm
Idhu thaana adangaathu vandhu
This passion will not subside on its own,
Needhaan thazhuvaadhu raasaa
Only you must come and embrace me, my king.
Raathirikku thookkam pochaiyaa en rasa
Have you lost your sleep at night, my king?
Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa mm mm mm
Has the queen become filled with longing? Mm mm mm
Maedai katti kaathirukken
I am waiting after setting up the stage,
Maeni ellam poothirukken
My whole body has blossomed,
Jaadaiyilae sammadham thaan sollidavae
Just to express my consent through mere glances.
Male :Thaali onnu kattivida
Male: To tie the sacred thread around you,
Thaamaraiya thottu vidu
To touch this delicate lotus flower,
Velai onnu kittum vara kaathida venum
We must wait until the right moment arrives.
Sakku sonnakka podhuma
Is it enough if you just make excuses?
Yekkam thannala poguma
Will this intense longing fade away on its own?
Male :Oru kaalam vara venum
Male: The proper time must come,
Mana maalai vizha venum maanae
The grand wedding garland ceremony must happen, my dear!
Raathirikku raathirikku
At night, at night...
Raathirikku thookkam pochaiya en rasa
Have you lost your sleep at night, my king?
Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa
Has the queen become filled with longing?
Male :Mm mm mm
Male: Mm mm mm
Moodi vecha aasaiellam
All the desires that were kept hidden,
Sollikittu poguthadi
Are now speaking out and drifting by, my girl.
Paadi veikkum raagamellam kettuttu podi
Listen to all the melodies I have composed before you go, my girl.
Female :Aang maaman magal sengarumbhu
Female: Ah, the uncle's daughter is sweet sugarcane,
Maaman ippo katterumbhu
But the uncle has now become a biting ant!
Manasu vechu oora ippo edhukku veembhu
Why unnecessarily pick a fight with the whole town with intention?
Enakkum yedho pol aanadhu
Something strange happened to me as well,
Kanakkum neraaga thonudhu
Even the calculations seem straightforward to me now.
Female :En maaman onnu kettaa
Female: If my uncle asks for something,
Kodukkaama vidamatta kannaatha
Kannatha will never refuse to give it!
Raathirikku raathirikku
At night, at night...
Raathirikku thookkam pochaiyaa en maama
Have you lost your sleep at night, my uncle?
Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa
Has the queen become filled with longing?
Raathirikku raathirikku
At night, at night...
Raathirikku thookkam pochaiyaa en maama
Have you lost your sleep at night, my uncle?
Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa
Has the queen become filled with longing?
Idhu thaana adangaathu vandhu
This passion will not subside on its own,
Needhaan thazhuvaadhu maama
Only you must come and embrace me, my uncle.
Raathirikku thookkam pochaiya en maama
Have you lost your sleep at night, my uncle?
Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa
Has the queen become filled with longing?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Raathirikku Thookkam Pochaiyaa' is a playful and romantic rural duet from the film 'Neengalum Herothan' (1990), written by Gangai Amaran. The song depicts a romantic banter between a young woman and her partner (her cousin/uncle in Tamil tradition). The woman expresses her sleepless nights, physical yearning, and affection, metaphorically calling herself a 'queen' waiting for her 'king'. The man lovingly restrains her, insisting on cultural decorum and waiting for the right moment to tie the 'thaali' (wedding knot) before giving in to passion. The lyrics mix flirtatious folk metaphors—such as comparing sweet love to 'sengarumbhu' (sugarcane) and teasing obstacles as 'katterumbhu' (biting ants)—with traditional values regarding marriage. It captures the charm of rural Tamil romantic song structures prevalent in late 1980s and early 1990s cinema.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa mm mm mm”
The heroine compares herself to a queen ('Rani') and a lotus flower ('Thaamarai'), while describing her cousin's sweet nature as sugarcane ('Sengarumbhu').
Contrast / Antithesis
“Aang maaman magal sengarumbhu / Maaman ippo katterumbhu”
Contrasts sweet sugarcane ('Sengarumbhu') with a biting ant ('Katterumbhu') to playfully depict her lover's current strict behavior.
Rhyme & Assonance (Edhugai / Monai)
“Maedai katti kaathirukken / Maeni ellam poothirukken”
The lines use matching initial and second-letter sounds ('Maedai' / 'Maeni') to create rhythmic flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Neengalum Herothan' (1990) is a Tamil film directed by V. Shekhar. The film features lyrics written by Gangai Amaran, who frequently collaborated on folk-infused, catchy rural duets during this era of Tamil cinema.
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