Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaada En Raja

From Rishi Moolam · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Rishi Moolam1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Vaada en raja kannaaCome, my kingly dear child
Vaadaadha roja poovaeUnfading rose flower
Vaada en raja kannaaCome, my kingly dear child
Vaadaadha roja poovaeUnfading rose flower
Thaayum ingae thandhai ingaeMother is here, father is here
Yaarum pettraal thaanaa pillai kannaa…Is a child only one's own if actually born to them, my dear?
Female
Vaada en raja kannaaCome, my kingly dear child
Vaadaadha roja poovaeUnfading rose flower
Female
Mannanai polLike a king
Thandhai pakkam raani illaiThere is no queen beside the father
Kannanai polLike Lord Krishna
Dhaevan pakkam raadhai illaiThere is no Radha beside God
Oomai nenjil kodi ennamTen million thoughts in a mute heart
Dhaevan vandhaal podhum solvaalShe will speak if God arrives
Female
Yaezhai kanavae kaalam varumaaOh poor dream, will the time come?
Endraavadhu vandhaal adhaiIf it ever arrives, that moment
Kondaadum nenjamThe heart will celebrate
Female
Vaada en raja kannaaCome, my kingly dear child
Vaadaadha roja poovaeUnfading rose flower
Thaayum ingae thandhai ingaeMother is here, father is here
Yaarum pettraal thaanaa pillai kannaa…Is a child only one's own if actually born to them, my dear?
Female
Vaada en raja kannaa….Come, my kingly dear child....
Female
Vaanaththaiyae maegam moodum vindhai yennaWhat is the wonder of clouds covering the sky?
Maeganghalil minnal podum vannam ennaWhat is the beauty of lightning flashing through clouds?
Maegathai pol pennum unduThere are women like clouds
Minnalai pol pennum unduThere are women like lightning
Female
Vaanil nilavaai naanae irundhaalIf I remain like the moon in the sky
En vaazhvilum un vaazhvilumIn my life, in your life
Avar vaazhvilum maenmaiAnd in his life, there will be greatness
Female
Vaada en raja kannaaCome, my kingly dear child
Vaadaadha roja poovaeUnfading rose flower
Thaayum ingae thandhai ingaeMother is here, father is here
Yaarum pettraal thaanaa pillai kannaa…Is a child only one's own if actually born to them, my dear?
Female
Vaada en raja kannaaCome, my kingly dear child
Mmmhheem hhim mmheheem hahimm[Humming vocalizations]

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This emotional song highlights the deep theme of non-biological maternal love and care. The singer addresses the child lovingly as an unfading rose, asserting that parental affection and duty are not defined merely by biological birth. She reflects on loneliness and absent partners through metaphors of a king without a queen and Krishna without Radha, while holding onto the hope that better days will bring joy to her silent longings. Comparing different nature of women to clouds and lightning, she aspires to be like the gentle moon, bringing warmth, illumination, and dignity into the lives of everyone around her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile / Metaphor)

Vaadaadha roja poovae

Compares the child affectionately to an unfading rose ('Vaadaadha roja poovae') and compares figures in life to kings and Lord Krishna ('Mannanai pol', 'Kannanai pol').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Mannanai pol / Kannanai pol

Rhyming of the second letter 'n' in 'Mannanai' and 'Kannanai', creating melodic rhythm in Tamil poetry.

Metaphorical Nature Analogy

Maegathai pol pennum undu / Minnalai pol pennum undu

Uses nature elements like clouds (maegam), lightning (minnal), and the moon (nilavu) to categorize human traits and express a desire to bring gentle light to life.

Rhetorical Question

Yaarum pettraal thaanaa pillai kannaa…

Questions the conventional idea of parenthood, emphasizing that love, not biological birth, defines a real parent-child bond.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Vaada En Raja Kannaa' from the 1980 Tamil movie 'Rishi Moolam' features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics written by the legendary poet Kannadasan. Sung expressively by S. Janaki, the song powerfully captures the emotional core of the film starring Sivaji Ganesan.

Keep listening

More from Rishi Moolam