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Kanni Rasi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aala Asathum

From Kanni Rasi · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Kanni Rasi
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
17 Feb 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aaa….aaa….aaa….aa…..
Male :Aaa….aaa….aaa….aa…..
Aa….aa….aa….aa….aaa…
Male :Aa….aa….aa….aa….aaa…
Female :Aaa….aaa….aa…aaa…aa…
Aaa….aaa….aa….aaa….
Aala asathum malliyae malliyae
Thookkam enakku valliyae valliyae
Naalu muzhudhum maala mayakkam
Ennavo pannudhu ennaiyae
Hmhum en manam suthudhu unnaiyae
Ennavo pannudhu ennaiyae
Hmhum en manam suthudhu unnaiyae
Aala asathum malli thaan malli thaan
Thookkam enakkum valla thaan valla thaan
Irandu vizhiyil oru kadidham
Nee ezhudhi pottadhu
Padichu padichu manam urugi
Ennai paadaa paduthudhu
Purinjaa vidalaamaa
Ennai nilavum sudalaamaa
Thaniyaa thavichaen thaan
Udal thanalaa kodhichen naan
Haa….aaa…..aaa….
Male :Maeni kodhichaa
Female :Haa aaa..aaa aaaa
Male :Marundhu kodukka
Female :Laala lala laa laala lala laa
Male :Haa…aaa….aa…aa…
Maaman irukka innamum ennadi sangadam
Aehae ippavae sollu nee sammadham
Aala asathum malli thaan malli thaan
Thookkam enakkum valla thaan valla thaan
Naalu muzhudhum maala mayakkam
Ennavo pannudhu ennaiyae
Hmmhum en manam suthudhu unnaiyae
Ennavo pannudhu ennaiyae
Hmmhum en manam suthudhu unnaiyae
Kulathil midhakkum pani poovu
Enna nee thaan parikkanum
Kudathil irukkum pasum paalu
Enna nee thaan kudikkanum
Tharaiyil vizhum meenaa
Unna thaniyae viduvenaa
Kaniyum nee thaanae
Kothum kiliyum naan thaanae
Haa….aaa…..aaa….
Female :Kaadhal kili thaan
Male :Haa….aaa…..aaa….
Female :Kothum pozhudhu
Haa….aaa…..aaa….
Male :Thaanna nanna naa
Thaanna nanna naa }
Female :Haa….aaa…..aaa….
Kaayam varumo
Vanjiyin kannamae anjudhu
Mhum kai viral pattadhum kenjudhu
Aala asathum malliyae malliyae
Thookkam enakku valliyae valliyae
Female :Naalu muzhudhum maala mayakkam
Ennavo pannudhu ennaiyae
Hmhum en manam suthudhu unnaiyae
Male :En manam suthudhu unnaiyae
Hmhum ennavo pannudhu ennaiyae
Aala asathum malli thaan malli thaan
Male :Thookkam enakkum valla thaan valla thaan
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Male: Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aaa...
Male: Aa... aa... aa... aa... aaa...
Female: Aa... aa... aa... aaa... aa...
Aa... aa... aa... aaa...
Captivating jasmine girl, oh jasmine,
Sleep just won't come to me, won't come at all!
All day long, an evening intoxication lingers,
Doing something strange to me...
Mmm, my heart keeps spinning around you!
Doing something strange to me...
Mmm, my heart keeps spinning around you!
I am indeed that captivating jasmine,
And sleep hasn't come to me either, not at all!
The letter written in your two eyes,
That you sent my way—
Reading it again and again, my heart melts,
And it torments me so deeply!
Now that you understand, can you just leave me like this?
Should even the cool moonlight burn me?
I tossed and turned all alone in longing,
My body burning like glowing embers!
Ha... aa... aa...
Male: If your body is burning,
Female: Ha aa... aa aaa
Male: To give you the cure...
Female: La la la la la la la la la
Male: Ha... aa... aa... aa...
When your man is right here, why are you still troubled, girl?
Hey, give me your consent right now!
I am indeed that captivating jasmine,
And sleep hasn't come to me either, not at all!
All day long, an evening intoxication lingers,
Doing something strange to me...
Mmm, my heart keeps spinning around you!
Doing something strange to me...
Mmm, my heart keeps spinning around you!
I am the dewy flower floating on the pond,
Only you must come and pluck me!
I am the fresh milk in the pot,
Only you must come and drink me!
Like a fish fallen onto dry land,
Would I ever leave you alone to suffer?
You are the sweet fruit,
And I am the parrot who pecks at it!
Ha... aa... aa...
Female: When that love-parrot
Male: Ha... aa... aa...
Female: Pecks and nibbles,
Ha... aa... aa...
Male: Thaana nanna naa
Thaana nanna naa
Female: Ha... aa... aa...
Won't it leave a mark?
This young girl's cheek trembles in fear,
Mmm, and pleads the moment your fingers touch it!
Captivating jasmine girl, oh jasmine,
Sleep just won't come to me, won't come at all!
Female: All day long, an evening intoxication lingers,
Doing something strange to me...
Mmm, my heart keeps spinning around you!
Male: My heart keeps spinning around you!
Mmm, doing something strange to me...
I am indeed that captivating jasmine,
Male: And sleep hasn't come to me either, not at all!
Female
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Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Aala Asathum Malliyae' from the 1985 film Kanni Rasi is a playful and seductive romantic duet between two lovers expressing their deep longing and sleepless passion for each other. The female protagonist compares herself to a flower floating in a pond or fresh milk waiting to be enjoyed, while the male protagonist reassures her of his presence and love, describing their romance through metaphors of parrots, fruit, and healing medicine for love's heat. The lyricist Vaali expertly captures the intense sensation of twilight-induced romance and nocturnal longing through folk-infused Tamil poetry, creating an enduring classic set to Ilaiyaraaja's evocative musical composition.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Aala asathum malliyae malliyae / Thookkam enakku valliyae valliyae

Repetition of the second consonant 'la' in consecutive line openings ('Aala' and 'Thookkam' / 'Melliyae' rhyming structure).

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Kulathil midhakkum pani poovu / Enna nee thaan parikkanum

The lead characters compare their yearning selves to a floating lotus, pot milk, and a parrot pecking a fruit.

Hyperbole (Uyirvunavchi Ani)

Ennai nilavum sudalaamaa / Udal thanalaa kodhichen naan

Exaggerating love sickness to a burning ember and moonlight scorching the body.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kanni Rasi' (1985), starring Prabhu and Revathi, features timeless compositions by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vaali. Sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Vani Jairam, this duet is widely remembered for its melodic hummingbird vocalizations and rhythmic folk beats.

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