Rettaikili
From Gramatthu Minnal · 1987
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singers
- Ilayaraja, K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Gramatthu Minnal1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ae… vidiyaadha pozhudhaachu… | Hey... the night has become endless without dawn... |
| Adiyae… vizhi kooda sumaiyaachu | Oh dear... even my eyes have become a heavy burden. |
| Kanneeru kadalaachu | Tears have turned into an ocean, |
| Un ennam padagaachu… | And your thoughts have become a boat... |
| Nee ulla manam thaanae | The heart where you reside... |
| Eppodhum siraiyaachu… | Has permanently turned into a prison... |
| Female | |
| Retta kili suthi vandha | Where a pair of parrots used to circle around, |
| Thoppukkulla | Inside the grove, |
| Othaiyila indha kili suthudhammaa | Now this single parrot wanders all alone, oh lady. |
| Thaniyaa idhu irundhaa | If it remains all alone like this, |
| Manam urangaadhu | The heart will know no sleep. |
| Thunaiyae unna izhandhaa | Having lost you, my companion, |
| Ingu vaazhvedhu | What kind of life is left here? |
| En aasa raasaa anbenna laesaa | My beloved king, is love such a simple thing? |
| En aasa raasaa iva anbenna laesaa | My beloved king, is this woman's love such a simple thing? |
| Female | |
| Retta kili suthi vandha | Where a pair of parrots used to circle around, |
| Thoppukkulla | Inside the grove... |
| Othaiyila indha kili suthudhammaa | Now this single parrot wanders all alone, oh lady. |
| Male | |
| O… oo… hoo… oo… hoo… oo… | (Vocalizing melodies) |
| Hoo oo oo hoo | (Vocalizing melodies) |
| Female | |
| {Kaathaalae aadi varum | {Dancing gently in the wind, |
| Siru ola kaathaadi | The tiny palm-leaf pinwheel, |
| Kairu arundhu ponadhenna | Why did its string snap, |
| Raasaa un kaiyaalae} (2) | My king, at your very hands?} (2) |
| Male | |
| Ae… thaenae onnaala thaanae | Oh my sweet honey, only because of you, |
| Punnaagi thaan ponen ippodhu naanae | I have now turned into a walking wound. |
| Female | |
| Poovaana nenjam idhu | This flower-like heart of mine, |
| Veenaachu unnaala | Was ruined because of you. |
| Poo maala veyilila sarugaachu thannaala | Like a flower garland in the scorching sun, it withered on its own. |
| Male | |
| En veettu rosaa anbenna laesaa | The rose of my home, is love such a simple thing? |
| En veettu rosaa en anbenna laesaa | The rose of my home, is my love such a simple thing? |
| Female | |
| Retta kili suthi vandha | Where a pair of parrots used to circle around, |
| Thoppukkulla | Inside the grove... |
| Male | |
| {Kanneeru vandhu vandhu | {Tears kept flowing continuously, |
| Kaaveri polaachu | Becoming like the vast Kaveri river. |
| Kannaana pon manasu | A precious, golden heart like an eye, |
| Kallaagi poyaachu} (2) | Has turned hard like stone} (2) |
| Female | |
| Poongaathu ippa enna paathu | The gentle breeze now looks at me, |
| Vadhaikkiradhu | And torments my soul. |
| Enna eenna koothu | What kind of strange drama is this? |
| Thanni konjam ootthu | Pour a little water to revive me. |
| Male | |
| Poraadum nenjukkullae | Inside this struggling heart of mine, |
| Yedhaedho undaachu | Unexplained anguish has arisen. |
| Neerodum gangai nadhi | The flowing river Ganges, |
| Yen ippo rendaachu | Why has it split into two streams now? |
| Female | |
| En aasa raasaa anbenna laesaa | My beloved king, is love such a simple thing? |
| En aasa raasaa iva anbenna laesaa | My beloved king, is this woman's love such a simple thing? |
| Female | |
| Retta kili suthi vandha | Where a pair of parrots used to circle around, |
| Thoppukkulla | Inside the grove, |
| Othaiyila indha kili suthudhammaa | Now this single parrot wanders all alone, oh lady. |
| Thaniyaa idhu irundhaa | If it remains all alone like this, |
| Manam urangaadhu | The heart will know no sleep. |
| Thunaiyae unna izhandhaa | Having lost you, my companion, |
| Ingu vaazhvedhu | What kind of life is left here? |
| En aasa raasaa anbenna laesaa | My beloved king, is love such a simple thing? |
| En aasa raasaa iva anbenna laesaa | My beloved king, is this woman's love such a simple thing? |
ஏ.....விடியாத பொழுதாச்சு...
அடியே.......விழி கூட சுமையாச்சு...
கண்ணீரு கடலாச்சு
உன் எண்ணம் படகாச்சு...
நீ உள்ள மனம் தானே
எப்போதும் சிறையாச்சு...
Hey... the night has become endless without dawn...
Oh dear... even my eyes have become a heavy burden.
Tears have turned into an ocean,
And your thoughts have become a boat...
The heart where you reside...
Has permanently turned into a prison...
ரெட்டக்கிளி சுத்தி வந்த
தோப்புக்குள்ள
ஒத்தையில இந்தக்கிளி
சுத்துதம்மா
Where a pair of parrots used to circle around,
Inside the grove,
Now this single parrot wanders all alone, oh lady.
If it remains all alone like this,
The heart will know no sleep.
Having lost you, my companion,
What kind of life is left here?
My beloved king, is love such a simple thing?
My beloved king, is this woman's love such a simple thing?
தனியா இது இருந்தா
மனம் உறங்காது
துணையே உன்னை இழந்தா
இங்கு வாழ்வேது
Where a pair of parrots used to circle around,
Inside the grove...
Now this single parrot wanders all alone, oh lady.
என் ஆசை ராசா
அன்பென்ன லேசா
என் ஆசை ராசா
இவ அன்பென்ன லேசா
(Vocalizing melodies)
(Vocalizing melodies)
ரெட்டக்கிளி சுத்தி வந்த
தோப்புக்குள்ள
ஒத்தையில இந்தக்கிளி
சுத்துதம்மா......
{Dancing gently in the wind,
The tiny palm-leaf pinwheel,
Why did its string snap,
My king, at your very hands?} (2)
ஓஓ....ஓஓ.....ஓஓ...
ஓஓஓ......ஓஓ......ஓஒ.....
Oh my sweet honey, only because of you,
I have now turned into a walking wound.
காத்தாலே ஆடி வரும்
சிறு ஓலைக் காத்தாடி
கயிறு அறுந்து போனதென்ன
ராசா உன் கையாலே
This flower-like heart of mine,
Was ruined because of you.
Like a flower garland in the scorching sun, it withered on its own.
காத்தாலே ஆடி வரும்
சிறு ஓலைக் காத்தாடி
கயிறு அறுந்து போனதென்ன
ராசா உன் கையாலே
The rose of my home, is love such a simple thing?
The rose of my home, is my love such a simple thing?
ஏ... தேனே ஒன்னால தானே
புண்ணாகித்தான்......போனேன்
இப்போது நானே
Where a pair of parrots used to circle around,
Inside the grove...
பூவான நெஞ்சம்
இது வீணாச்சு உன்னால
பூ மாலை வெயிலில
சருகாச்சு தன்னால
{Tears kept flowing continuously,
Becoming like the vast Kaveri river.
A precious, golden heart like an eye,
Has turned hard like stone} (2)
என் வீட்டு ரோசா
அன்பென்ன லேசா
என் வீட்டு ரோசா
என் அன்பென்ன லேசா
The gentle breeze now looks at me,
And torments my soul.
What kind of strange drama is this?
Pour a little water to revive me.
ரெட்டக்கிளி சுத்தி வந்த
தோப்புக்குள்ள
Inside this struggling heart of mine,
Unexplained anguish has arisen.
The flowing river Ganges,
Why has it split into two streams now?
கண்ணீரு வந்து வந்து
காவேரி போலாச்சு
கண்ணான பொண் மனசு
கல்லாகிப் போயாச்சு
My beloved king, is love such a simple thing?
My beloved king, is this woman's love such a simple thing?
கண்ணீரு வந்து வந்து
காவேரி போலாச்சு
கண்ணான பொண் மனசு
கல்லாகிப் போயாச்சு
Where a pair of parrots used to circle around,
Inside the grove,
Now this single parrot wanders all alone, oh lady.
If it remains all alone like this,
The heart will know no sleep.
Having lost you, my companion,
What kind of life is left here?
My beloved king, is love such a simple thing?
My beloved king, is this woman's love such a simple thing?
பூங்........காத்து இப்ப
என்னப் பாத்து வதைக்கிறது
என்ன என்ன கூத்து
தண்ணி கொஞ்சம் ஊத்து
போராடும் நெஞ்சுக்குள்ளே
ஏதேதோ உண்டாச்சு
நீரோடும் கங்கை நதி
ஏன் இப்போ ரெண்டாச்சு
என் ஆசை ராசா
அன்பென்ன லேசா
என் ஆசை ராசா
இவ அன்பென்ன லேசா
ரெட்டக்கிளி சுத்தி வந்த
தோப்புக்குள்ள
ஒத்தையில இந்தக்கிளி
சுத்துதம்மா
தனியா இது இருந்தா
மனம் உறங்காது
துணையே உன்னை இழந்தா
இங்கு வாழ்வேது
என் ஆசை ராசா
அன்பென்ன லேசா
என் ஆசை ராசா
இவ அன்பென்ன லேசா
Ae… vidiyaadha pozhudhaachu…
Hey... the night has become endless without dawn...
Adiyae… vizhi kooda sumaiyaachu
Oh dear... even my eyes have become a heavy burden.
Kanneeru kadalaachu
Tears have turned into an ocean,
Un ennam padagaachu…
And your thoughts have become a boat...
Nee ulla manam thaanae
The heart where you reside...
Eppodhum siraiyaachu…
Has permanently turned into a prison...
Retta kili suthi vandha
Where a pair of parrots used to circle around,
Thoppukkulla
Inside the grove,
Othaiyila indha kili suthudhammaa
Now this single parrot wanders all alone, oh lady.
Thaniyaa idhu irundhaa
If it remains all alone like this,
Manam urangaadhu
The heart will know no sleep.
Thunaiyae unna izhandhaa
Having lost you, my companion,
Ingu vaazhvedhu
What kind of life is left here?
En aasa raasaa anbenna laesaa
My beloved king, is love such a simple thing?
En aasa raasaa iva anbenna laesaa
My beloved king, is this woman's love such a simple thing?
Retta kili suthi vandha
Where a pair of parrots used to circle around,
Thoppukkulla
Inside the grove...
Othaiyila indha kili suthudhammaa
Now this single parrot wanders all alone, oh lady.
O… oo… hoo… oo… hoo… oo…
(Vocalizing melodies)
Hoo oo oo hoo
(Vocalizing melodies)
{Kaathaalae aadi varum
{Dancing gently in the wind,
Siru ola kaathaadi
The tiny palm-leaf pinwheel,
Kairu arundhu ponadhenna
Why did its string snap,
Raasaa un kaiyaalae} (2)
My king, at your very hands?} (2)
Ae… thaenae onnaala thaanae
Oh my sweet honey, only because of you,
Punnaagi thaan ponen ippodhu naanae
I have now turned into a walking wound.
Poovaana nenjam idhu
This flower-like heart of mine,
Veenaachu unnaala
Was ruined because of you.
Poo maala veyilila sarugaachu thannaala
Like a flower garland in the scorching sun, it withered on its own.
En veettu rosaa anbenna laesaa
The rose of my home, is love such a simple thing?
En veettu rosaa en anbenna laesaa
The rose of my home, is my love such a simple thing?
Retta kili suthi vandha
Where a pair of parrots used to circle around,
Thoppukkulla
Inside the grove...
{Kanneeru vandhu vandhu
{Tears kept flowing continuously,
Kaaveri polaachu
Becoming like the vast Kaveri river.
Kannaana pon manasu
A precious, golden heart like an eye,
Kallaagi poyaachu} (2)
Has turned hard like stone} (2)
Poongaathu ippa enna paathu
The gentle breeze now looks at me,
Vadhaikkiradhu
And torments my soul.
Enna eenna koothu
What kind of strange drama is this?
Thanni konjam ootthu
Pour a little water to revive me.
Poraadum nenjukkullae
Inside this struggling heart of mine,
Yedhaedho undaachu
Unexplained anguish has arisen.
Neerodum gangai nadhi
The flowing river Ganges,
Yen ippo rendaachu
Why has it split into two streams now?
En aasa raasaa anbenna laesaa
My beloved king, is love such a simple thing?
En aasa raasaa iva anbenna laesaa
My beloved king, is this woman's love such a simple thing?
Retta kili suthi vandha
Where a pair of parrots used to circle around,
Thoppukkulla
Inside the grove,
Othaiyila indha kili suthudhammaa
Now this single parrot wanders all alone, oh lady.
Thaniyaa idhu irundhaa
If it remains all alone like this,
Manam urangaadhu
The heart will know no sleep.
Thunaiyae unna izhandhaa
Having lost you, my companion,
Ingu vaazhvedhu
What kind of life is left here?
En aasa raasaa anbenna laesaa
My beloved king, is love such a simple thing?
En aasa raasaa iva anbenna laesaa
My beloved king, is this woman's love such a simple thing?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant folk ballad expresses the deep grief and anguish of a lover separated from her partner. Using evocative rustic metaphors—a solitary parrot wandering in a grove where two once flew together, a broken palm-leaf toy, and a flower garland wilting under the sun—the protagonist laments the painful void left in her life. She questions the true nature and permanence of love, expressing how her tears have swelled into a river and her tender heart has turned to stone. The song captures the unbearable sorrow of a broken bond, comparing their once unified love to the river Ganges that has tragically split into two separated paths.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (உருவகம்)
“Retta kili suthi vandha / Thoppukkulla / Othaiyila indha kili suthudhammaa”
The lovers are metaphorically framed as a pair of parrots roaming together in a grove, emphasizing companionship and the sorrow of single solitude.
Hyperbole (உயர்வு நவிற்சி அணி)
“Kanneeru vandhu vandhu / Kaaveri polaachu”
Exaggerates the magnitude of grief by comparing overflowing tears to the ocean and the surging Kaveri river.
Pastoral Imagery (திணைப் படிமம்)
“Siru ola kaathaadi / Kairu arundhu ponadhenna”
Uses rural elements like a palm-leaf pinwheel with a snapped string and flowers withering in direct sunlight to symbolize broken promises and heartbreak.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by Gangai Amaran for the 1987 village drama 'Gramatthu Minnal', this track uses classic Tamil folk phrasing and imagery to portray rural heartbreak and emotional devastation.
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