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Neengalum Herothan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Rathirikku Thookkam

From Neengalum Herothan · 1990

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Mano, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Movie name
Neengalum Herothan
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
15 Nov 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ahaa haha aa aa aa ahaa
Ahaa haha aa aa aa ahaa
Hae hae ahaa aa aa aa
Raathirikku thookkam pochaiyaa en rasa
Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa mm mm mm
Raathirikku thookkam pochaiyaa en rasa
Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa mm mm mm
Idhu thaana adangaathu vandhu
Needhaan thazhuvaadhu raasaa
Raathirikku thookkam pochaiyaa en rasa
Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa mm mm mm
Maedai katti kaathirukken
Maeni ellam poothirukken
Jaadaiyilae sammadham thaan sollidavae
Male :Thaali onnu kattivida
Thaamaraiya thottu vidu
Velai onnu kittum vara kaathida venum
Sakku sonnakka podhuma
Yekkam thannala poguma
Male :Oru kaalam vara venum
Mana maalai vizha venum maanae
Raathirikku raathirikku
Raathirikku thookkam pochaiya en rasa
Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa
Male :Mm mm mm
Moodi vecha aasaiellam
Sollikittu poguthadi
Paadi veikkum raagamellam kettuttu podi
Female :Aang maaman magal sengarumbhu
Maaman ippo katterumbhu
Manasu vechu oora ippo edhukku veembhu
Enakkum yedho pol aanadhu
Kanakkum neraaga thonudhu
Female :En maaman onnu kettaa
Kodukkaama vidamatta kannaatha
Raathirikku raathirikku
Raathirikku thookkam pochaiyaa en maama
Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa
Raathirikku raathirikku
Raathirikku thookkam pochaiyaa en maama
Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa
Idhu thaana adangaathu vandhu
Needhaan thazhuvaadhu maama
Raathirikku thookkam pochaiya en maama
Ranikkoru yekkam aachaiyaa
Aaha haha aa aa aa aaha
Aaha haha aa aa aa aaha
Hey hey aaha aa aa aa
I lost my sleep at night, my king!
Your queen has grown full of longing, mm mm mm!
I lost my sleep at night, my king!
Your queen has grown full of longing, mm mm mm!
This passion won't calm down on its own,
unless you come and hold me close, my king!
I lost my sleep at night, my king!
Your queen has grown full of longing, mm mm mm!
I have prepared the bed and I am waiting,
my whole body is blooming with desire,
signaling my consent to you through glances.
Male: Let me tie the sacred thali (wedding knot) first,
and only then touch this lotus.
You must wait until the right moment arrives.
Is it enough to just make excuses?
Will this longing fade away on its own?
Male: The right time has to come,
we must have our wedding garland celebration, my sweet!
In the night, in the night...
I lost my sleep at night, my king!
Your queen has grown full of longing!
Male: Mm mm mm
All the desires kept hidden so long
are speaking out loud now, girl!
Listen to all the melodies I sing before you go!
Female: Ah, your cousin is sweet sugarcane,
and you, my man, are like an ant drawn to it!
Why put on this stubborn act when our hearts are willing?
Something stirs inside me too,
and it all feels so right to me!
Female: If my beloved asks for anything,
this Kannatha will never let him go empty-handed!
In the night, in the night...
I lost my sleep at night, my man!
Your queen has grown full of longing!
In the night, in the night...
I lost my sleep at night, my man!
Your queen has grown full of longing!
This passion won't calm down on its own,
unless you come and hold me close, my man!
I lost my sleep at night, my man!
Your queen has grown full of longing!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'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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