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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aadi Maasam Kaathadikka

From Paayum Puli – 1983 · 1983

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Paayum Puli – 19831983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Heyyy…eyyy…eyy…Heyyy…eyyy…eyy…
{Aadi maasa kaathadikkaAs the breeze blows in the month of Aadi,
Vaadi konjam serthanaikkaCome my dear, let me embrace you close,
Maanae maangkuyilae} (2)My deer, my sweet mango-cuckoo.
Adi naanae aan kuyilaeAs the breeze blows in the month of Aadi,
Male
Adi kaanja maaduCome my dear, let me embrace you close,
Nalla kambulathaanMy deer, my sweet mango-cuckoo.
Vandhu vilundhaa polaHey, I am the male cuckoo.
Un anbula naanLike a starved bull,
Pudavaiyum parakuraEntering a rich, green grass field,
Male
Aadi maasa kaathadikkaAnd plunging right into it,
Vaadi konjam serthanaikkaIn your love, I have fallen,
Maanae maangkuyilaeEven the saree flutters in the wind.
Adi naanae aan kuyilaeAs the breeze blows in the month of Aadi,
Male
{Eecham ola paai virichiCome my dear, let me embrace you close,
Elani vetti thanni kudichiMy deer, my sweet mango-cuckoo.
Koocham vittu kaiyanaichiHey, I am the male cuckoo.
Naan pesaSpreading out a woven date-palm mat,
Nee pesa ammaa } (2)Cutting open tender coconut to drink water,
Male
Maamangaaran paartha ennaShedding shy hesitation to hold each other tight,
Moochu vaanga vertha ennaAs I speak,
Vakkaali maamangaaran paartha ennaAs you speak, my love.
Moochu vaanga vertha ennaSpreading out a woven date-palm mat,
Female
Thottaa enna pattaa ennaCutting open tender coconut to drink water,
Kettaa pogum..ammiyum asanjida….Shedding shy hesitation to hold each other tight,
Female
Aadi maasa kaathadikkaAs I speak,
Vanthenaiyaa serthanaikkaAs you speak, my love.
Naanthaan maangkuyilu..What if the uncle or suitor sees us?
Ada neethaan aan kuyilaeWhat if we get breathless and drenched in sweat?
Male
Ootha venum nayanathaWhat if that darn uncle or suitor sees us?
Odha venum mandhirathaWhat if we get breathless and drenched in sweat?
Poda venum poosarathaWhat if we touch, what if we embrace?
Kannaalam kacheri eppo…Things will go wild, even a heavy grinding stone would shift...
Female
Haan haan haanAs the breeze blows in the month of Aadi,
Male
Ootha venum pee pee peeI have come, my dear, to embrace you close,
Dudu dudum pee pee peeI am indeed the female cuckoo,
Dudu dudum pee pee peeAnd you are the male cuckoo.
Kannaalam kacheri eppoThe nadaswaram needs to be played,
Female
Nerangaalam nalla irukkuThe sacred mantras need to be chanted,
Nee illaaati dullarukkuThe temple rituals need to be performed,
Nerangaalam nalla irukkuWhen is the wedding celebration music?
Nee illaaati dullarukkuHaan haan haan
Male
Vaadi pulla vaasamullaBlow the pipe, pee pee pee,
Nenjai allum manja kollaDudu dudum, pee pee pee,
………………………………..Dudu dudum, pee pee pee,
Female
Otti ninnaa katti ninnaaWhen is the wedding celebration music?
Kuthamilla odambadhu valikidhuThe auspicious time is looking good,
Male
Aadi maasa kaathadikkaWithout you, everything feels dull,
Vaadi konjam serthanaikkaThe auspicious time is looking good,
Maanae maangkuyilaeWithout you, everything feels dull,
Adi naanae aan kuyilae..haCome girl, filled with fragrance,
Male
Emmaa emmaaCaptivating the heart like a field of yellow turmeric.
Emmaa emmaa(Instrumental Interlude)
Yemmaa emmaaWhen standing close and embracing tightly,
Chorus :Yemmaa emmaaThere's no fault, yet the body aches with desire.
Male :Yemmaa emmaaAs the breeze blows in the month of Aadi,
Chorus :Yemmaa emmaaCome my dear, let me embrace you close,
Male :{Yemmaa emmaaMy deer, my sweet mango-cuckoo,
EmmamooiHey, I am the male cuckoo..ha
Chorus :Yemmaa emmaaOh my, oh my,
Emmamooi} (2)Oh my, oh my,
Male
{Mela maasi veedhiyilaOh my, oh my,
Maadi veetu methayilaChorus: Oh my, oh my,
Ora kannaal paarthavalaeMale: Oh my, oh my,
Oyaari singaari neethaan }(2)Chorus: Oh my, oh my,
Male
Aalum aagi naalaachuthaanMale: Oh my, oh my,
Azhagu maeni noolaachuthaanOh my love,
Aalum aagi naalaachuthaanChorus: Oh my, oh my,
Azhagu maeni noolaachuthaanOh my love,
Female
Aadi maasa kaathadikkaOn Mela Maasi Street,
Vanthenaiyaa serthanaikkaOn the terrace of the two-story house,
Naanthaan maangkuyilu..You who looked at me with side-glances,
Ada neethaan aan kuyilaeYou are the stylish, alluring beauty.
Male
Aadi maasa kaathadikkaIt has been days since I became a full-grown person,
Vaadi konjam serthanaikkaMy beautiful body has become thin like a thread,
Maanae maangkuyilae..ye ye yeIt has been days since I became a full-grown person,
Adi naanae aan kuyilae..My beautiful body has become thin like a thread,
Maanae maangkuyilae..As the breeze blows in the month of Aadi,
Adi naanae aan kuyilae..I have come, my dear, to embrace you close,
Maanae maangkuyilae..I am indeed the female cuckoo,
Kuyilae kuyilae kuyilae..And you are the male cuckoo.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

"Aadi Maasa Kaathadikka" is a vibrant and playful Tamil duet from the 1983 film Paayum Puli, composed by Ilaiyaraaja and written by Vaali, sung brilliantly by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki. Set against the breezy, romantic mood of the Tamil month of Aadi, the song expresses the flirtatious banter and deep longing between two lovers eager to be united in wedlock. Using rich rural metaphors—such as palm-leaf mats, tender coconuts, and lush turmeric fields—the lyrics bring out the rustic charm and passionate intensity of youth. The couple teases each other about family chatter, anticipates the traditional music and rituals of their upcoming wedding, and describes the sweet aches of yearning.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamaani)

Adi kaanja maadu / Nalla kambulathaan / Vandhu vilundhaa pola

Compares falling deeply in love to a hungry, starved bull stumbling into a lush green field.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Maanae maangkuyilae / Adi naanae aan kuyilae

Refers to the beloved female as a deer/cuckoo and the male lover as the male cuckoo.

Rhyming and Rhythm (Edhugai / Iyaibu)

Eecham ola paai virichi / Elani vetti thanni kudichi / Koocham vittu kaiyanaichi

Rhyming line-endings and mid-word consonances that give the song a fast folk rhythm.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Kettaa pogum..ammiyum asanjida….

An exaggeration highlighting intense physical attraction by stating even a heavy grinding stone would shift.

Did you know?

Trivia

Paayum Puli (1983) starred Rajinikanth and Radha, directed by S. P. Muthuraman. Inspired by martial arts cinema of the era, the film was a massive commercial hit. The track 'Aadi Maasa Kaathadikka' remains one of Ilaiyaraaja's most popular folk-inspired romantic duets, noted for SPB and S. Janaki's expressive and energetic vocal chemistry.

Keep listening

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