Retakili Rekkai
From Bharathi Kannamma · 1997
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| …………….. | |
| Female | |
| Rettakili rekkai virikkum | A pair of parrots spreads their wings |
| Intha vetta veli alakka | To measure this wide open expanse |
| Chorus :Sam sam sam sam | Chorus :Sam sam sam sam |
| Male :Ettu thisai etti parakkum | Male :Flying far across eight directions |
| Manam kattavizhnthu kidakka | As the untethered heart lies free |
| Chorus :Sam sam sam sam | Chorus :Sam sam sam sam |
| Female | |
| Ninaiththaal pothum neelam pooththa | Just a thought is enough, the blue-blossomed |
| Neduvaanam nam kaikettum | Vast sky will come within our reach |
| Male :Niraiveraathu kadhal endru | Male :Saying that our love will never be fulfilled |
| Pirar pesum sol poikkattum | Let the words spoken by others be proven false |
| Female :Ammaadiyo neeyindri naan ennaavatho | Female :Oh my, what would become of me without you? |
| Female | |
| Rettakili rekkai virikkum | A pair of parrots spreads their wings |
| Intha vetta veli alakka | To measure this wide open expanse |
| Chorus :Sam sam sam sam | Chorus :Sam sam sam sam |
| Chorus | |
| ………………. | |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna thooralgalai | Tiny, gentle drizzles |
| Thenpothigai megam | Brought by the clouds of Thenpothigai |
| Sintha sintha silendruthaan sillittathu thegam | As they scatter, the body chills coolly |
| Pinni pinni nee anaiththaal pullariththu pogum | When you embrace me tightly, goosebumps rise |
| Innum innum enna sugamo | What more pleasures await? |
| Male | |
| Vandu vanthu vaayai vaiththu | Like a bee that rests its mouth |
| Oothukindra poovae | And hums upon the flower |
| Vinnai vittu mannai thotta | Leaving the sky and touching the earth |
| Vatta vennilavae | O round full moon |
| Unnai vittu naanirunthaal vaazhkkai oru theevae | If I live apart from you, life is an isolated island |
| Female | |
| Piravi varum yaezhu tharam | Across seven upcoming births |
| Nee thoda naan varuvaen | I will come as you touch me |
| Male :Aa…..iniyum oru thanimaiyillai | Male :Ah... there is no more solitude |
| Vaazhnthidum naal varaithaan | Until the end of our living days |
| Female :Pookkolam raakkolam podaamal viduvenaa | Female :Will I refrain from decorating our nights with flower patterns? |
| Female | |
| Rettakili rekkai virikkum | A pair of parrots spreads their wings |
| Intha vetta veli alakka | To measure this wide open expanse |
| Chorus :Sam sam sam sam | Chorus :Sam sam sam sam |
| Chorus | |
| ………………. | |
| Male | |
| Vanna mani chiththiramae | O colorful artistic portrait |
| Unnidaththil kettu | Asked and borrowed from you |
| Vaangi konda muththangalai | The kisses I took |
| Vattigalai pottu | With added interest |
| Thanthuvida vanthiruken kannangalai kaattu | I have come to return them, show me your cheeks |
| Ovonnaaga enni tharavaa | Shall I count and give them back one by one? |
| Female | |
| Muththamittu muththamittu | The wounds received from repeated kisses |
| Patta kaayam pothum | Are enough now |
| Manjalaiththaan naan araiththu | Only if I grind and apply turmeric |
| Poosinaalthaan pogum | Will the aching fade away |
| Meal udhadum keezh udhadum | The upper lip and the lower lip |
| Maelum maelum nogum | Ache more and more |
| Indru sendru naalai varavaa | Shall I leave today and return tomorrow? |
| Male | |
| Othunguvathaen padhunguvathaen | Why hesitate, why hide away? |
| Kooradi maanguyilae | Tell me, O sweet cuckoo bird! |
| Female: Haa….unarchiyilae narambugalae | Female: Ah... in intense emotion, my nerves |
| Oduthu maalaiyilae | Are racing in the evening breeze |
| Male :Yaenendru naanindru sollaamal puriyaathaa | Male :Don't you understand today without me having to say why? |
| Female | |
| Rettakili rekkai virikkum | A pair of parrots spreads their wings |
| Intha vetta veli alakka | To measure this wide open expanse |
| Chorus :Sam sam sam sam | Chorus :Sam sam sam sam |
| Male :Ettu thisai etti parakkum | Male :Flying far across eight directions |
| Manam kattavizhnthu kidakka | As the untethered heart lies free |
| Chorus :Sam sam sam sam | Chorus :Sam sam sam sam |
| Female | |
| Ninaiththaal pothum neelam pooththa | Just a thought is enough, the blue-blossomed |
| Neduvaanam nam kaikettum | Vast sky will come within our reach |
| Male :Niraiveraathu kadhal endru | Male :Saying that our love will never be fulfilled |
| Pirar pesum sol poikkattum | Let the words spoken by others be proven false |
| Female :Ammaadiyo neeyindri naan ennaavatho | Female :Oh my, what would become of me without you? |
........................................
ரெட்டகிளி ரெக்கை விரிக்கும்
இந்த வெட்டவெளி அளக்க
குழு :
சம் சம் சம் சம்
எட்டு திசை எட்டி பறக்கும்
மணம் கட்டவிழ்ந்து கிடக்க
குழு :
சம் சம் சம் சம்
A pair of parrots spreads their wings
To measure this wide open expanse
Chorus :Sam sam sam sam
Male :Flying far across eight directions
As the untethered heart lies free
Chorus :Sam sam sam sam
நினைத்தால் போதும் நீலம் பூத்த
நெடுவானம் நம் கைக்கெட்டும்
நிறைவேறாது காதல் என்று
பிறர் பேசும் சொல் பொய்க்கட்டும்
அம்மாடியோ நீயின்றி நான் என்னாவதோ
Just a thought is enough, the blue-blossomed
Vast sky will come within our reach
Male :Saying that our love will never be fulfilled
Let the words spoken by others be proven false
Female :Oh my, what would become of me without you?
ரெட்டகிளி ரெக்கை விரிக்கும்
இந்த வெட்டவெளி அளக்க
குழு :
சம் சம் சம் சம்
A pair of parrots spreads their wings
To measure this wide open expanse
Chorus :Sam sam sam sam
...............................
சின்ன சின்ன தூறல்களை
தென்பொதிகை மேகம்
சிந்த சிந்த சில்லென்றுதான் சில்லிட்டது தேகம்
பின்னி பின்னி நீ அணைத்தால் புல்லரித்து போகும்
இன்னும் இன்னும் என்ன சுகமோ
Tiny, gentle drizzles
Brought by the clouds of Thenpothigai
As they scatter, the body chills coolly
When you embrace me tightly, goosebumps rise
What more pleasures await?
வண்டு வந்து வாயை வைத்து
ஊதுகின்ற பூவே
விண்ணை விட்டு மண்ணை தொட்ட
வட்ட வெண்ணிலாவே
உன்னை விட்டு நானிருந்தால் வாழ்க்கை ஒரு தீவே
ஒட்டி ஒட்டி வந்த உறவோ
Like a bee that rests its mouth
And hums upon the flower
Leaving the sky and touching the earth
O round full moon
If I live apart from you, life is an isolated island
பிறவி வரும் ஏழு தரம்
நீ தொட நான் வருவேன்
ஆ.....இனியும் ஒரு தனிமையில்லை
வாழ்ந்திடும் நாள் வரைதான்
பூக்கோலம் ராக்கோலம் போடாமல் விடுவேனா
Across seven upcoming births
I will come as you touch me
Male :Ah... there is no more solitude
Until the end of our living days
Female :Will I refrain from decorating our nights with flower patterns?
ரெட்டகிளி ரெக்கை விரிக்கும்
இந்த வெட்டவெளி அளக்க
குழு :
சம் சம் சம் சம்
A pair of parrots spreads their wings
To measure this wide open expanse
Chorus :Sam sam sam sam
...........................
வண்ண மணி சித்திரமே
உன்னிடத்தில் கேட்டு
வாங்கிக் கொண்ட முத்தங்களை
வட்டிகளை போட்டு
தந்துவிட வந்திருக்கேன் கன்னங்களை காட்டு
ஒவ்வொன்னாக எண்ணி தரவா
O colorful artistic portrait
Asked and borrowed from you
The kisses I took
With added interest
I have come to return them, show me your cheeks
Shall I count and give them back one by one?
முத்தமிட்டு முத்தமிட்டு
பட்ட காயம் போதும்
மஞ்சளைத்தான் நான் அரைத்து
பூசினால்தான் போகும்
மேல் உதடும் கீழ் உதடும்
மேலும் மேலும் நோகும்
இன்று சென்று நாளை வரவா
The wounds received from repeated kisses
Are enough now
Only if I grind and apply turmeric
Will the aching fade away
The upper lip and the lower lip
Ache more and more
Shall I leave today and return tomorrow?
ஒதுங்குவதேன் பதுங்குவதேன்
கூறடி மாங்குயிலே
ஹா.. உணர்ச்சியிலே நரம்புகளே
ஓடுது மாலையிலே
ஏனென்று நானின்று சொல்லாமல் புரியாதா
Why hesitate, why hide away?
Tell me, O sweet cuckoo bird!
Female: Ah... in intense emotion, my nerves
Are racing in the evening breeze
Male :Don't you understand today without me having to say why?
ரெட்டகிளி ரெக்கை விரிக்கும்
இந்த வெட்டவெளி அளக்க
குழு :
சம் சம் சம் சம்
எட்டு திசை எட்டி பறக்கும்
மணம் கட்டவிழ்ந்து கிடக்க
குழு :
சம் சம் சம் சம்
A pair of parrots spreads their wings
To measure this wide open expanse
Chorus :Sam sam sam sam
Male :Flying far across eight directions
As the untethered heart lies free
Chorus :Sam sam sam sam
நினைத்தால் போதும் நீலம் பூத்த
நெடுவானம் நம் கைக்கெட்டும்
நிறைவேறாது காதல் என்று
பிறர் பேசும் சொல் பொய்க்கட்டும்
அம்மாடியோ நீயின்றி நான் என்னாவதோ
Just a thought is enough, the blue-blossomed
Vast sky will come within our reach
Male :Saying that our love will never be fulfilled
Let the words spoken by others be proven false
Female :Oh my, what would become of me without you?
……………..
Rettakili rekkai virikkum
A pair of parrots spreads their wings
Intha vetta veli alakka
To measure this wide open expanse
Chorus :Sam sam sam sam
Chorus :Sam sam sam sam
Male :Ettu thisai etti parakkum
Male :Flying far across eight directions
Manam kattavizhnthu kidakka
As the untethered heart lies free
Chorus :Sam sam sam sam
Chorus :Sam sam sam sam
Ninaiththaal pothum neelam pooththa
Just a thought is enough, the blue-blossomed
Neduvaanam nam kaikettum
Vast sky will come within our reach
Male :Niraiveraathu kadhal endru
Male :Saying that our love will never be fulfilled
Pirar pesum sol poikkattum
Let the words spoken by others be proven false
Female :Ammaadiyo neeyindri naan ennaavatho
Female :Oh my, what would become of me without you?
Rettakili rekkai virikkum
A pair of parrots spreads their wings
Intha vetta veli alakka
To measure this wide open expanse
Chorus :Sam sam sam sam
Chorus :Sam sam sam sam
……………….
Chinna chinna thooralgalai
Tiny, gentle drizzles
Thenpothigai megam
Brought by the clouds of Thenpothigai
Sintha sintha silendruthaan sillittathu thegam
As they scatter, the body chills coolly
Pinni pinni nee anaiththaal pullariththu pogum
When you embrace me tightly, goosebumps rise
Innum innum enna sugamo
What more pleasures await?
Vandu vanthu vaayai vaiththu
Like a bee that rests its mouth
Oothukindra poovae
And hums upon the flower
Vinnai vittu mannai thotta
Leaving the sky and touching the earth
Vatta vennilavae
O round full moon
Unnai vittu naanirunthaal vaazhkkai oru theevae
If I live apart from you, life is an isolated island
Piravi varum yaezhu tharam
Across seven upcoming births
Nee thoda naan varuvaen
I will come as you touch me
Male :Aa…..iniyum oru thanimaiyillai
Male :Ah... there is no more solitude
Vaazhnthidum naal varaithaan
Until the end of our living days
Female :Pookkolam raakkolam podaamal viduvenaa
Female :Will I refrain from decorating our nights with flower patterns?
Rettakili rekkai virikkum
A pair of parrots spreads their wings
Intha vetta veli alakka
To measure this wide open expanse
Chorus :Sam sam sam sam
Chorus :Sam sam sam sam
……………….
Vanna mani chiththiramae
O colorful artistic portrait
Unnidaththil kettu
Asked and borrowed from you
Vaangi konda muththangalai
The kisses I took
Vattigalai pottu
With added interest
Thanthuvida vanthiruken kannangalai kaattu
I have come to return them, show me your cheeks
Ovonnaaga enni tharavaa
Shall I count and give them back one by one?
Muththamittu muththamittu
The wounds received from repeated kisses
Patta kaayam pothum
Are enough now
Manjalaiththaan naan araiththu
Only if I grind and apply turmeric
Poosinaalthaan pogum
Will the aching fade away
Meal udhadum keezh udhadum
The upper lip and the lower lip
Maelum maelum nogum
Ache more and more
Indru sendru naalai varavaa
Shall I leave today and return tomorrow?
Othunguvathaen padhunguvathaen
Why hesitate, why hide away?
Kooradi maanguyilae
Tell me, O sweet cuckoo bird!
Female: Haa….unarchiyilae narambugalae
Female: Ah... in intense emotion, my nerves
Oduthu maalaiyilae
Are racing in the evening breeze
Male :Yaenendru naanindru sollaamal puriyaathaa
Male :Don't you understand today without me having to say why?
Rettakili rekkai virikkum
A pair of parrots spreads their wings
Intha vetta veli alakka
To measure this wide open expanse
Chorus :Sam sam sam sam
Chorus :Sam sam sam sam
Male :Ettu thisai etti parakkum
Male :Flying far across eight directions
Manam kattavizhnthu kidakka
As the untethered heart lies free
Chorus :Sam sam sam sam
Chorus :Sam sam sam sam
Ninaiththaal pothum neelam pooththa
Just a thought is enough, the blue-blossomed
Neduvaanam nam kaikettum
Vast sky will come within our reach
Male :Niraiveraathu kadhal endru
Male :Saying that our love will never be fulfilled
Pirar pesum sol poikkattum
Let the words spoken by others be proven false
Female :Ammaadiyo neeyindri naan ennaavatho
Female :Oh my, what would become of me without you?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic romantic duet from Bharathi Kannamma expresses boundless love and devotion between two souls breaking free from worldly constraints. Using rich poetical motifs—such as paired parrots flying across the vast open sky—the lovers illustrate their unyielding bond that defies societal doubts and pessimistic predictions of their separation.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monaai (Alliteration)
“Rettakili rekkai virikkum”
Repetition of the 'R' consonant sound at the start of adjacent words.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Unnai vittu naanirunthaal vaazhkkai oru theevae”
Comparing a life spent apart from one's lover to an isolated, deserted island.
Visual Imagery
“Rettakili rekkai virikkum / Intha vetta veli alakka”
Paints a vivid picture of two parrots spreading their wings across an infinite sky to represent freedom in love.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Ettu thisai etti parakkum / Manam kattavizhnthu kidakka”
Agreement of the second letter 'tt' in 'Ettu' and 'kattavizhnthu' across consecutive lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
Bharathi Kannamma (1997), directed by Cheran, featured iconic music composed by Deva with lyrics written by the celebrated poet Vaali. The track 'Rettakili Rekkai' was rendered by K. J. Yesudas / Unni Krishnan and Swarnalatha, becoming popular for its melodic rhythm and evocative rural romantic poetry.
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