Vai Raja Vai
From Thirumanam · 1958
- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singers
- Sirkazhi Govindarajan, Rathnamala
- Music directors
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, T. G. Lingappa
- Details
- Thirumanam1958
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ae…. | Hey... |
| Male | |
| Lavaalavaa lavaalavaa lavaalavaa ladhirstam | Great fortune, grand luck! |
| Female : Avaalavaa avaalavaa avaalavaa ladhirstam | Desire and longing, a grand stroke of luck! |
| Female | |
| Vai raja vai | Place your bet, king, place it! |
| Male :Hai | Male: Hey! |
| Female :Vai raja vai | Female: Place your bet, king, place it! |
| Athila vai ithila vai | Place it on that, place it on this! |
| Edhila vaenunaalum vai | Place it on whichever you want! |
| Both :Vai raja vai | Both: Place your bet, king, place it! |
| Hai vai raja vai… | Hey, place your bet, king, place it... |
| Male | |
| Adichcha adichchathu | If you hit the target, it is a win! |
| Asanthaa asanthathu…oo….oo… | If you slip up, you lose it... oh... oh... |
| Female :Pudichchaa pudichchathu ponaa ponathu | Female: What you catch is yours, what is lost is gone! |
| Both :Vai raja vai hai vai raja vai | Both: Place your bet, king, hey place your bet, king! |
| Athila vai idhila vai | Place it on that, place it on this! |
| Edhila vaenunaalum vai | Place it on whichever you want! |
| Vai raja vai hai vai raja vai…. | Place your bet, king, hey place your bet, king... |
| Male | |
| Raja…. | King... |
| Female | |
| Kuruvi josiyam kettu paaru avasiyam | Be sure to try listening to the bird fortune teller! |
| Aiyaa kuruvi josiyam kettu paaru avasiyam | Sir, be sure to try listening to the bird fortune teller! |
| Male | |
| Thagara kuvalaikullae…ae….ae…ae… | Inside the tin container... ae... ae... ae... |
| Thagara kuvalaikullae…. | Inside the tin container... |
| Intha kuvalaikullae…. | Inside this container... |
| Thagara kuvalaikullae.. | Inside the tin container... |
| Kullae kullae kullae kullae | Inside, inside, inside, inside! |
| Male | |
| Thagara kuvalaikullae… | Inside the tin container... |
| Irukkuthaiyaa ragasiyam | There lies a secret, sir! |
| Aiyaa ragasiyam | Sir, a secret! |
| Female | |
| Kushelanum kuberenaa aagalaam | Even poor Kuchela can turn into wealthy Kubera! |
| Male :Adi kummaa langadi kirikiri jil | Male: Oh wild celebration and playful chaos! |
| Kolaalamboor vadakari | Kuala Lumpur spicy vadakari dish! |
| Both :Vai raja vai hai vai raja vai | Both: Place your bet, king, hey place your bet, king! |
| Male :Raja… | Male: King... |
| Male | |
| Karupadichchaa maruppu illae | If black lands, there is no denial! |
| Kaasai chumma podu | Just toss your money in! |
| Sarithaan podu nainaa | Alright, toss it in, pal! |
| Female | |
| Sigapadichcha sillaarai thaaraen | If red lands, I will hand you the change! |
| Thairiyamaa aadu nee thariyama aadu | Play boldly, you play with courage! |
| Male | |
| Appadi karuppum sigappum kalanthadichchaa | If black and red land together like that, |
| Aduththa aattam aadi paaru | Try playing the next round too! |
| Both :Vai raja vai hai vai raja vai | Both: Place your bet, king, hey place your bet, king! |
| Female | |
| Kaaththirunthavan pensathiyai…ae….ae…ae… | The patient man's wife... ae... ae... ae... |
| Naeththu vanthavan naeththu vanthavan | The newcomer who arrived yesterday, the newcomer who arrived yesterday, |
| Naeththu vanthavan naeththu vanthavan | The newcomer who arrived yesterday, the newcomer who arrived yesterday, |
| Naeththu vanthavan kondu povaan | The newcomer who arrived yesterday will take her away! |
| Kaariyaththilae kannu vai | Keep your eyes focused on your objective! |
| Male | |
| Appadi kaariyaththilae meeri vantha | If someone interferes with your goal like that, |
| Moonchi maelae kaiyai vai | Put your hand right across their face! |
| Both :Vai raja vai hai vai raja vai | Both: Place your bet, king, hey place your bet, king! |
ஓஒ.....ஓஒ.....ஓ.....ஓஒ......ஹோ.....
ஓ ஹோ ஹோ ஹோ ஹோ.....
Hey...
ஏ.......
Great fortune, grand luck!
Desire and longing, a grand stroke of luck!
லவாலவா லவாலவா லவாலவா லதிர்ஷ்டம்
அவாளவா அவாளவா அவாளவா ளதிர்ஷ்டம்
Place your bet, king, place it!
Male: Hey!
Female: Place your bet, king, place it!
Place it on that, place it on this!
Place it on whichever you want!
Both: Place your bet, king, place it!
Hey, place your bet, king, place it...
வை ராஜா வை
ஹை
வை ராஜா வை
அதில வை இதில வை
எதில வேணுனாலும் வை
இருவர் :
வை ராஜா வை
ஹை வை ராஜா வை.....
If you hit the target, it is a win!
If you slip up, you lose it... oh... oh...
Female: What you catch is yours, what is lost is gone!
Both: Place your bet, king, hey place your bet, king!
Place it on that, place it on this!
Place it on whichever you want!
Place your bet, king, hey place your bet, king...
அடிச்சா அடிச்சது
அசந்தா அசந்தது......ஊ.....ஊ
புடிச்சா புடிச்சது போனா போனது
இருவர் :
வை ராஜா வை ஹை வை ராஜா வை
அதில வை இதில வை
எதில வேணுனாலும் வை
வை ராஜா வை ஹை வை ராஜா வை......
King...
ராஜா.....
Be sure to try listening to the bird fortune teller!
Sir, be sure to try listening to the bird fortune teller!
குருவி ஜோசியம் கேட்டுப் பாரு அவசியம்
ஐயா குருவி ஜோசியம் கேட்டுப் பாரு அவசியம்
Inside the tin container... ae... ae... ae...
Inside the tin container...
Inside this container...
Inside the tin container...
Inside, inside, inside, inside!
தகர குவளைக்குள்ளே.....ஏ.....ஏ......ஏ....
தகர குவளைக்குள்ளே..
இந்த குவளைக்குள்ளே.....
தகர குவளைக்குள்ளே.....
குள்ளே குள்ளே குள்ளே குள்ளே
Inside the tin container...
There lies a secret, sir!
Sir, a secret!
தகர குவளைக்குள்ளே..
இருக்குதய்யா ரகசியம்
அய்யா ரகசியம்
Even poor Kuchela can turn into wealthy Kubera!
Male: Oh wild celebration and playful chaos!
Kuala Lumpur spicy vadakari dish!
Both: Place your bet, king, hey place your bet, king!
Male: King...
குசேலனும் குபேரனா ஆகலாம்
அடி கும்மா லங்கடி கிரிகிரி ஜில்
கோலாலம்பூர் வடகறி......
இருவர் :
வை ராஜா வை ஹை வை ராஜா வை.....
ராஜா.....
If black lands, there is no denial!
Just toss your money in!
Alright, toss it in, pal!
கருப்படிச்சா மறுப்பு இல்லே
காசைச் சும்மா போடு
சரிதான் போடு நைனா.....
If red lands, I will hand you the change!
Play boldly, you play with courage!
சிகப்படிச்சா சில்லரை தாரேன்
தைரியமா ஆடு நீ தைரியமா ஆடு
If black and red land together like that,
Try playing the next round too!
Both: Place your bet, king, hey place your bet, king!
அப்படி கருப்பும் சிகப்பும் கலந்தடிச்சா
அடுத்த ஆட்டம் ஆடிப் பாரு
இருவர் :
வை ராஜா வை ஹை வை ராஜா வை
The patient man's wife... ae... ae... ae...
The newcomer who arrived yesterday, the newcomer who arrived yesterday,
The newcomer who arrived yesterday, the newcomer who arrived yesterday,
The newcomer who arrived yesterday will take her away!
Keep your eyes focused on your objective!
காத்திருந்தவன் பெண்சாதியை...ஏ....ஏ...ஏ....
நேத்து வந்தவன் நேத்து வந்தவன்
நேத்து வந்தவன் நேத்து வந்தவன்
நேத்து வந்தவன் கொண்டு போவான்
காரியத்திலே கண்ணு வை
If someone interferes with your goal like that,
Put your hand right across their face!
Both: Place your bet, king, hey place your bet, king!
அப்படி காரியத்திலே மீறி வந்தா
மூஞ்சி மேலே கையை வை
இருவர் :
வை ராஜா வை ஹை வை ராஜா வை
Ae….
Hey...
Lavaalavaa lavaalavaa lavaalavaa ladhirstam
Great fortune, grand luck!
Female : Avaalavaa avaalavaa avaalavaa ladhirstam
Desire and longing, a grand stroke of luck!
Vai raja vai
Place your bet, king, place it!
Male :Hai
Male: Hey!
Female :Vai raja vai
Female: Place your bet, king, place it!
Athila vai ithila vai
Place it on that, place it on this!
Edhila vaenunaalum vai
Place it on whichever you want!
Both :Vai raja vai
Both: Place your bet, king, place it!
Hai vai raja vai…
Hey, place your bet, king, place it...
Adichcha adichchathu
If you hit the target, it is a win!
Asanthaa asanthathu…oo….oo…
If you slip up, you lose it... oh... oh...
Female :Pudichchaa pudichchathu ponaa ponathu
Female: What you catch is yours, what is lost is gone!
Both :Vai raja vai hai vai raja vai
Both: Place your bet, king, hey place your bet, king!
Athila vai idhila vai
Place it on that, place it on this!
Edhila vaenunaalum vai
Place it on whichever you want!
Vai raja vai hai vai raja vai….
Place your bet, king, hey place your bet, king...
Raja….
King...
Kuruvi josiyam kettu paaru avasiyam
Be sure to try listening to the bird fortune teller!
Aiyaa kuruvi josiyam kettu paaru avasiyam
Sir, be sure to try listening to the bird fortune teller!
Thagara kuvalaikullae…ae….ae…ae…
Inside the tin container... ae... ae... ae...
Thagara kuvalaikullae….
Inside the tin container...
Intha kuvalaikullae….
Inside this container...
Thagara kuvalaikullae..
Inside the tin container...
Kullae kullae kullae kullae
Inside, inside, inside, inside!
Thagara kuvalaikullae…
Inside the tin container...
Irukkuthaiyaa ragasiyam
There lies a secret, sir!
Aiyaa ragasiyam
Sir, a secret!
Kushelanum kuberenaa aagalaam
Even poor Kuchela can turn into wealthy Kubera!
Male :Adi kummaa langadi kirikiri jil
Male: Oh wild celebration and playful chaos!
Kolaalamboor vadakari
Kuala Lumpur spicy vadakari dish!
Both :Vai raja vai hai vai raja vai
Both: Place your bet, king, hey place your bet, king!
Male :Raja…
Male: King...
Karupadichchaa maruppu illae
If black lands, there is no denial!
Kaasai chumma podu
Just toss your money in!
Sarithaan podu nainaa
Alright, toss it in, pal!
Sigapadichcha sillaarai thaaraen
If red lands, I will hand you the change!
Thairiyamaa aadu nee thariyama aadu
Play boldly, you play with courage!
Appadi karuppum sigappum kalanthadichchaa
If black and red land together like that,
Aduththa aattam aadi paaru
Try playing the next round too!
Both :Vai raja vai hai vai raja vai
Both: Place your bet, king, hey place your bet, king!
Kaaththirunthavan pensathiyai…ae….ae…ae…
The patient man's wife... ae... ae... ae...
Naeththu vanthavan naeththu vanthavan
The newcomer who arrived yesterday, the newcomer who arrived yesterday,
Naeththu vanthavan naeththu vanthavan
The newcomer who arrived yesterday, the newcomer who arrived yesterday,
Naeththu vanthavan kondu povaan
The newcomer who arrived yesterday will take her away!
Kaariyaththilae kannu vai
Keep your eyes focused on your objective!
Appadi kaariyaththilae meeri vantha
If someone interferes with your goal like that,
Moonchi maelae kaiyai vai
Put your hand right across their face!
Both :Vai raja vai hai vai raja vai
Both: Place your bet, king, hey place your bet, king!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This lively street-style carnival song uses street gambling ('Vai Raja Vai') and bird fortune-telling ('Kuruvi Josiyam') as metaphors for life's unpredictable nature and streetwise philosophy. The singers entice passersby to try their luck, promising that even a pauper like Kuchela can become as rich as Lord Kubera overnight if luck strikes. At the same time, the lyrics deliver pragmatic, earthy advice on vigilance and taking control of one's destiny: focus on your work, defend what is yours, and act boldly when challenged.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Contrast / Anthesis (எதிரிணை)
“Kushelanum kuberenaa aagalaam”
Contrasts the extreme poverty of Kuchela with the immense wealth of Kubera to highlight the dramatic swing of fortune.
Rhyme / Ethukai (எதுகை)
“Adichcha adichchathu / Pudichchaa pudichchathu”
Matching second letters in consecutive lines ('Adichcha' and 'Pudichchaa').
Repetition / Anaphora (அடுக்குத்தொடர்)
“Naeththu vanthavan naeththu vanthavan”
Repetition of words for dramatic emphasis and rhythmic street-vendor style chanting.
Alliteration / Monai (மோனை)
“Kaaththirunthavan pensathiyai... / Kaariyaththilae kannu vai”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('K' sound in Kaaththirunthavan and Kaariyaththilae).
Did you know?
Trivia
'Vai Raja Vai' is an iconic Tamil street-gambling phrase traditionally used by carnival game hosts to invite people to place bets on colored cards or spinning wheels. The lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass was renowned for incorporating authentic Tamil folk idiom, street street-slang, and proverbs into cinematic songs during the 1950s.
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