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Lyrics & meaning

Roja Malare Rajakumari

From Veerathirumagan · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. B. Sreenivas, P. Susheela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Veerathirumagan1962

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Haha haaa…haha haa…..Haha haaa...haha haa.....
Male
Roja malarae rajakumariO Rose flower! O Princess!
Aasai kiliyae azhagiya raniO beloved parrot! O beautiful queen!
Arugil varalaamaaaaaa….. hoiMay I come near you? Oh!
Varuvadhum sari thaanaIs it right for you to come near?
Uravum murai thaana….Is this relationship appropriate according to custom?
Female
Vaarai arugae mannavan neeyaeCome near, for you are my king!
Kaadhal ganam andro..oooIs love not grand and sublime?
Petham ilai andro..oooDoes love not lack discrimination or divide?
Kaadhal nilai andro..ooooIs this not the true state of love?
Female
Ezhai endralum rajakumaranThough poor, he is a prince to me,
Raja magalin kaadhal thalaivanThe king's daughter's master of love.
Unmai idhuvandrooo… hoIs this not the absolute truth?
Ulagin murai andro…oooIs this not the way of the world?
Endrum nilai andro..oooIs this not eternal and permanent?
Chorus
Hoi hoi hoi hoi hoooHoi hoi hoi hoi hooo
Hoi hoi hoi hoi hoooHoi hoi hoi hoi hooo
Hoi hoi hoi hoi hoooHoi hoi hoi hoi hooo
Ho..ho..ho..ho..ho…Ho..ho..ho..ho..ho...
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha…Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...
Male
Vaanathin meethu paranthalumEven if it flies high in the sky,
Kaakai kiliyaai maarathuA crow will never transform into a parrot.
Kottayin melae nindralumEven if standing atop a grand fort,
Ezhayin perumai uyarathuA poor man's stature does not elevate.
Male
{Odi alainthu kaadhalil kalanthu{Wandering endlessly and getting lost in love,
Naatai izhanthavar palar andro…ooo} (2)Haven't many lost their kingdoms?} (2)
Female :Aa…aaaa…aaaa..ahaaa..Female: Aa...aaaa...aaaa..ahaaa..
Female
Mannavar naadum mani mudiyumA king's kingdom and his jewel-studded crown,
Maaligai vaazhum thozhiyarumThe maidservants residing in the palace,
Panjanai sugamum paal pazhamumThe comfort of soft beds, milk, and fruits,
Padayum udayum sevagarum…The army, royal attire, and servants...
Female
{Ondrai inaiyum kaadhalar munnae{Before lovers who unite as one,
Kaanal neer pol maraiyadho..}(2)Do they not disappear like a mirage?} (2)
Male
Roja malarae rajakumariO Rose flower! O Princess!
Aasai kiliyae azhagiya raniO beloved parrot! O beautiful queen!
Arugil varalaamaaaaaa….. hoiMay I come near you? Oh!
Varuvadhum sari thaanaIs it right for you to come near?
Uravum murai thaana….Is this relationship appropriate according to custom?
Chorus
Ho ho ho ho hoiHo ho ho ho hoi
Ha ha ha a haHa ha ha a ha
Ho ho ho ho hoiHo ho ho ho hoi
Ha ha ha a haHa ha ha a ha
Ho ho ho ho ho ho hoiHo ho ho ho ho ho hoi
Ho ho ho hoi.. ho ho ho hoiHo ho ho hoi.. ho ho ho hoi
ho ho ho ho ho hoi…..ho ho ho ho ho hoi.....
Male
Paadum paravai koottangalaeO flocks of singing birds!
Pachai aadai thottangaleO gardens clad in green attire!
Female
Vinnil thavazhum raagangalaeO melodies floating across the sky!
Vegam pogum megangalaeO fast-moving clouds!
Male
Roja malarae rajakumari…O Rose flower! O Princess!...
Female
Ezhai endralum rajakumaran…Though poor, he is a prince to me...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Roja Malare Rajakumari from the film Veerathirumagan (1962) is an iconic romantic duet that contrasts social standing with true love. The male protagonist questions whether it is right for a poor man like him to approach a princess, using metaphors like a crow unable to become a parrot even when flying high. However, the heroine counters that true love transcends wealth and royal stature, stating that crowns, kingdoms, and luxuries disappear like a mirage before genuine love. Written with lyrical depth by Kannadasan, the song concludes with the lovers appealing to nature—birds, green gardens, skies, and clouds—to bear witness to their timeless and unyielding love that looks past all worldly inequality.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

Roja malarae rajakumari

Comparing the beloved princess directly to a rose flower ('Roja malarae') and a cherished parrot ('Aasai kiliyae'), as well as lush gardens to green attire ('Pachai aadai thottangale').

Analogy / Simile (உவமை)

Vaanathin meethu paranthalum Kaakai kiliyaai maarathu

Comparing class distinction to natural species—a crow flying high in the sky still cannot turn into a parrot, emphasizing the perceived barrier of social status.

Simile (உவமை)

Kaanal neer pol maraiyadho

Comparing royal luxuries (crowns, palaces, armies) to a mirage ('Kaanal neer') that fades away in the presence of true love.

Monai / Alliteration (மோனை)

Mannavar naadum mani mudiyum / Maaligai vaazhum thozhiyarum

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'M' across line starters to create rhythmic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the legendary music duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy with lyrics by Kaviarasu Kannadasan, this classic track was rendered by P. B. Sreenivas and P. Susheela. Picturised on C. L. Anandan and Sachu (in her early romantic lead role) in Veerathirumagan (1962), the song remains one of Tamil cinema's most timeless romantic duets.

Keep listening

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