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Rojavai Killathe album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Yamuna Nathi Karaiyil

From Rojavai Killathe · 1993

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
Deva
Movie name
Rojavai Killathe
Movie release year
1993
Lyrics added on
27 Oct 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Yamunaa nathi karaiyil
Ilavarasi sirai irunthaal
Varuvaan thalaivan endru
Vannamagal uyir sumanthaal
Theeyilae ival thoonginaal
Kannilae uyir thaanginaal
Siriya paravai siraiyil irunthu
Veli varumaa
Yamunaa nathi karaiyil
Ilavarasi sirai irunthaal
Varuvaan thalaivan endru
Vannamagal uyir sumanthaal
En kangalo
Thirai maraivil nee kondathen
Nee kondathai ithu varaiyil
Yaar kandathu…..
Oor kaanavae ilaiya sedi
Poo pooththathu
Poo kaambilae mullu ondru
Yaar paarththathu
Aadi vidda vanthen niththam niththam
Aadugindra kaalil raththam raththam
Kaalaiyarin kannil siththam siththam
Kanni magal nenjil yuththam yuththam
Yamunaa nathi karaiyil
Ilavarasi sirai irunthaal
Varuvaan thalaivan endru
Vannamagal uyir sumanthaal
Vaa mannavaa
Kuthirai ondru nee kondu vaa
Un raaniyai sirai udaiththu
Nee kondu po
Vaa mannavaa
Siragu rendu nee kondu vaa
Un deviyai vaan veliyil
Nee kondu po
Poovukku edhukku sattam sattam
Vaanilae edharkku vattam vattam
Ennidam irukku thittam thittam
Vetrithan unakku kittum kittum
Unathu kayil enathu jeevan
Thiruppi kodu
Yamunaa nathi karaiyil
Ilavarasi sirai irunthaal
Varuvaan thalaivan endru
Vannamagal uyir sumanthaal
Theeyilae ival thoonginaal
Kannilae uyir thaanginaal
Siriya paravai siraiyil irunthu
Veli varumaa
Yamunaa nathi karaiyil
Ilavarasi sirai irunthaal
Varuvaan thalaivan endru
Vannamagal uyir sumanthaal
On the banks of the Yamuna river,
A princess was held captive.
Believing her beloved would come,
The beautiful girl held on to life.
She slept amidst the flames,
Keeping her fading life in her eyes.
Will the little bird from this prison
Ever break free?
On the banks of the Yamuna river,
A princess was held captive.
Believing her beloved would come,
The beautiful girl held on to life.
My eyes...
What did you embrace behind the veil?
And what you hold inside,
Who has ever seen it until now...?
For the whole town to see, the young plant
Blossomed with flowers.
But on that flower's stem, a thorn—
Who ever noticed it?
Day after day, I have come to dance,
Yet these dancing feet bleed and bleed.
In the eyes of young men, there is wild desire,
While in this young girl's heart, a battle rages.
On the banks of the Yamuna river,
A princess was held captive.
Believing her beloved would come,
The beautiful girl held on to life.
Come, my king!
Bring a horse with you,
Break open the prison,
And take your queen away!
Come, my king!
Bring a pair of wings,
And carry your beloved
Into the wide open sky!
Why should there be rules for a flower?
Why draw boundaries across the sky?
I have a plan ready,
And victory will surely be yours!
My life is in your hands,
Give it back to me.
On the banks of the Yamuna river,
A princess was held captive.
Believing her beloved would come,
The beautiful girl held on to life.
She slept amidst the flames,
Keeping her fading life in her eyes.
Will the little bird from this prison
Ever break free?
On the banks of the Yamuna river,
A princess was held captive.
Believing her beloved would come,
The beautiful girl held on to life.
Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Yamunaa Nathi Karaiyil' from the movie 'Rojavai Killathe' is a poignant composition depicting a captive woman who metaphorically views herself as an imprisoned princess waiting on the banks of the Yamuna River. She endures immense anguish and suffering while holding onto hope that her beloved hero will come to break her free from her metaphorical or physical prison. Lyricist Vairamuthu uses striking imagery to convey her plight, contrasting visible beauty like a blooming flower with unseen pain such as the thorn on its stem and bloody feet from continuous dancing. She desperately calls out to her king to rescue her, bring wings or a horse, and grant her freedom in the open sky.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Siriya paravai siraiyil irunthu / Veli varumaa”

Compares the heroine longing for rescue to a small bird trapped in a cage.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme / Repetition)

“Aadi vidda vanthen niththam niththam / Aadugindra kaalil raththam raththam”

Uses repetitive rhyming words at line ends (niththam/raththam/siththam/yuththam) to create strong rhythm and emphasize suffering.

Contrast / Imagery

“Poo pooththathu / Poo kaambilae mullu ondru”

Juxtaposes the beauty of a blooming flower with the unseen pain of the thorn on its stem.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie 'Rojavai Killathe' was released in 1993, starring Action King Arjun and Shobana in lead roles. The film features music composed by Deva, with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu.

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