Aaru Oduthu Oduthu
From Pannaipurathu Pandavargal · 1982
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. P. Sailaja
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Pannaipurathu Pandavargal1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aaru oduthu oduthu yaaraiyo theduthu | The river flows and flows, searching for someone. |
| Mamano illaiyo machchinana thaano | Is it the maternal uncle, or is it the brother-in-law? |
| Aaru oduthu oduthu yaaraiyo theduthu | The river flows and flows, searching for someone. |
| Mamano illaiyo machchinana thaano…aaru…. | Is it the maternal uncle, or is it the brother-in-law? ... The river... |
| Female | |
| Vaazhai thandu kaalilae thandaigal pottu | Wearing anklets on plantain-stem-like legs, |
| Vaasalil paadanum themmaangu paattu | One should sing a folk song at the doorstep. |
| Katti katti aaduthu poo anbu kaaththu | The flower-scented wind of love swirls and dances, |
| Kalyaanam pannaama idhu enna kooththu | Without getting married, what kind of antics is this? |
| Female | |
| Ullaththukku ullae antha aalu nalla aalu | Deep inside the heart, that man is a good man, |
| Oorkolam poga ippa naalum nalla naalu | Now is a good day for the wedding procession to proceed. |
| Nedhamum enakku nenachchaa inikkum | Every day, thinking of him fills me with sweetness, |
| Aana mattum paarththaen enga rasa pola yaaru | I looked as far as I could, who is there quite like our prince? |
| Female | |
| Aaru oduthu oduthu yaaraiyo theduthu | The river flows and flows, searching for someone. |
| Mamano illaiyo machchinana thaano | Is it the maternal uncle, or is it the brother-in-law? |
| Female | |
| Koththamalli vaasaththa kondodum kaaththu | The breeze that carries the scent of coriander, |
| Kottumelam poduthu thennam ilangeeththu | The tender coconut frond plays the wedding drums. |
| Thaththi vilaiyaaduthu thangamani naaththu | The golden paddy sapling prances and plays, |
| Thaavi vanthu sonnathu konjamalla neththu | It leapt over and told me so much yesterday. |
| Female | |
| Muththu muththu rasa konda mogam enna mogam | What a passionate longing our pearl-like king holds! |
| Muththai vittu ponaa intha thaagam enga theerum | If he leaves this pearl, where will this thirst be quenched? |
| Mananthaal avaru maranthaa thavaru | If I marry, it must be him; if he forgets me, it is a mistake. |
| Aana mattum paarththaen enga rasa pola yaaru | I looked as far as I could, who is there quite like our prince? |
| Female | |
| Aaru oduthu oduthu yaaraiyo theduthu | The river flows and flows, searching for someone. |
| Mamano illaiyo machchinana thaano | Is it the maternal uncle, or is it the brother-in-law? |
| Aaru oduthu oduthu yaaraiyo theduthu | The river flows and flows, searching for someone. |
| Mamano illaiyo machchinana thaano….. | Is it the maternal uncle, or is it the brother-in-law?... |
| Male | |
| Thaanaenaa thaanaenaa thaana nanna naanaa | Thaanaenaa thaanaenaa thaana nanna naanaa |
| Thaanaenaa thaanaenaa thaana nanna naanaa | Thaanaenaa thaanaenaa thaana nanna naanaa |
ஆறு ஓடுது ஓடுது யாரையோ தேடுது
மாமனோ இல்லையோ மச்சினன தானோ
ஆறு ஓடுது ஓடுது யாரையோ தேடுது
மாமனோ இல்லையோ மச்சினன தானோ.....ஆறு
The river flows and flows, searching for someone.
Is it the maternal uncle, or is it the brother-in-law?
The river flows and flows, searching for someone.
Is it the maternal uncle, or is it the brother-in-law? ... The river...
வாழைத் தண்டு காலிலே தண்டைகள் போட்டு
வாசலில் பாடணும் தெம்மாங்கு பாட்டு
கட்டி கட்டி ஆடுது பூ அன்பு காத்து
கல்யாணம் பண்ணாம இது என்ன கூத்து
Wearing anklets on plantain-stem-like legs,
One should sing a folk song at the doorstep.
The flower-scented wind of love swirls and dances,
Without getting married, what kind of antics is this?
உள்ளத்துக்கு உள்ளே அந்த ஆளு நல்ல ஆளு
ஊர்கோலம் போக இப்ப நாளும் நல்ல நாளு
நெதமும் எனக்கு நெனச்சா இனிக்கும்
ஆன மட்டும் பார்த்தேன் எங்க ராசா போல யாரு
Deep inside the heart, that man is a good man,
Now is a good day for the wedding procession to proceed.
Every day, thinking of him fills me with sweetness,
I looked as far as I could, who is there quite like our prince?
ஆறு ஓடுது ஓடுது யாரையோ தேடுது
மாமனோ இல்லையோ மச்சினன தானோ
The river flows and flows, searching for someone.
Is it the maternal uncle, or is it the brother-in-law?
கொத்தமல்லி வாசத்த கொண்டோடும் காத்து
கொட்டுமேளம் போடுது தென்னம் இளங்கீத்து
தத்தி விளையாடுது தங்கமணி நாத்து
தாவி வந்து சொன்னது கொஞ்சமல்ல நேத்து
The breeze that carries the scent of coriander,
The tender coconut frond plays the wedding drums.
The golden paddy sapling prances and plays,
It leapt over and told me so much yesterday.
முத்து முத்து ராசா கொண்ட மோகம் என்ன மோகம்
முத்தை விட்டு போனா இந்த தாகம் எங்க தீரும்
மணந்தால் அவரு மறந்தா தவறு
ஆன மட்டும் பார்த்தேன் எங்க ராசா போல யாரு
What a passionate longing our pearl-like king holds!
If he leaves this pearl, where will this thirst be quenched?
If I marry, it must be him; if he forgets me, it is a mistake.
I looked as far as I could, who is there quite like our prince?
ஆறு ஓடுது ஓடுது யாரையோ தேடுது
மாமனோ இல்லையோ மச்சினன தானோ
ஆறு ஓடுது ஓடுது யாரையோ தேடுது
மாமனோ இல்லையோ மச்சினன தானோ
The river flows and flows, searching for someone.
Is it the maternal uncle, or is it the brother-in-law?
The river flows and flows, searching for someone.
Is it the maternal uncle, or is it the brother-in-law?...
தானேனா தானேனா தான நன்ன நானா
தானேனா தானேனா தான நன்ன நானா
Thaanaenaa thaanaenaa thaana nanna naanaa
Thaanaenaa thaanaenaa thaana nanna naanaa
Aaru oduthu oduthu yaaraiyo theduthu
The river flows and flows, searching for someone.
Mamano illaiyo machchinana thaano
Is it the maternal uncle, or is it the brother-in-law?
Aaru oduthu oduthu yaaraiyo theduthu
The river flows and flows, searching for someone.
Mamano illaiyo machchinana thaano…aaru….
Is it the maternal uncle, or is it the brother-in-law? ... The river...
Vaazhai thandu kaalilae thandaigal pottu
Wearing anklets on plantain-stem-like legs,
Vaasalil paadanum themmaangu paattu
One should sing a folk song at the doorstep.
Katti katti aaduthu poo anbu kaaththu
The flower-scented wind of love swirls and dances,
Kalyaanam pannaama idhu enna kooththu
Without getting married, what kind of antics is this?
Ullaththukku ullae antha aalu nalla aalu
Deep inside the heart, that man is a good man,
Oorkolam poga ippa naalum nalla naalu
Now is a good day for the wedding procession to proceed.
Nedhamum enakku nenachchaa inikkum
Every day, thinking of him fills me with sweetness,
Aana mattum paarththaen enga rasa pola yaaru
I looked as far as I could, who is there quite like our prince?
Aaru oduthu oduthu yaaraiyo theduthu
The river flows and flows, searching for someone.
Mamano illaiyo machchinana thaano
Is it the maternal uncle, or is it the brother-in-law?
Koththamalli vaasaththa kondodum kaaththu
The breeze that carries the scent of coriander,
Kottumelam poduthu thennam ilangeeththu
The tender coconut frond plays the wedding drums.
Thaththi vilaiyaaduthu thangamani naaththu
The golden paddy sapling prances and plays,
Thaavi vanthu sonnathu konjamalla neththu
It leapt over and told me so much yesterday.
Muththu muththu rasa konda mogam enna mogam
What a passionate longing our pearl-like king holds!
Muththai vittu ponaa intha thaagam enga theerum
If he leaves this pearl, where will this thirst be quenched?
Mananthaal avaru maranthaa thavaru
If I marry, it must be him; if he forgets me, it is a mistake.
Aana mattum paarththaen enga rasa pola yaaru
I looked as far as I could, who is there quite like our prince?
Aaru oduthu oduthu yaaraiyo theduthu
The river flows and flows, searching for someone.
Mamano illaiyo machchinana thaano
Is it the maternal uncle, or is it the brother-in-law?
Aaru oduthu oduthu yaaraiyo theduthu
The river flows and flows, searching for someone.
Mamano illaiyo machchinana thaano…..
Is it the maternal uncle, or is it the brother-in-law?...
Thaanaenaa thaanaenaa thaana nanna naanaa
Thaanaenaa thaanaenaa thaana nanna naanaa
Thaanaenaa thaanaenaa thaana nanna naanaa
Thaanaenaa thaanaenaa thaana nanna naanaa
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Aaru Oduthu is a charming, rural Tamil folk-style song composed by Gangai Amaran and penned by the legendary poet Kannadasan for the film Pannaipurathu Pandavargal (1982). Sung with playful exuberance by S. P. Sailaja, the track captures the romantic longings and playful anticipation of a village young woman yearning for marriage with her beloved. Through rich pastoral metaphors—a flowing river searching for its destination, coriander-scented winds, coconut fronds rustling like festive drums, and golden paddy saplings—the song paints a picture of nature celebrating her inner love. She praises her groom's nobility and declares that no one can compare to her prince.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukku Thodar (Repetition)
“Aaru oduthu oduthu yaaraiyo theduthu”
The word 'oduthu' is repeated successively to emphasize the continuous, rhythmic flow of the river.
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Vaazhai thandu kaalilae thandaigal pottu”
Comparing fair, smooth legs to delicate plantain stems ('Vaazhai thandu kaalilae').
Personification (Uruvagathal)
“Kottumelam poduthu thennam ilangeeththu”
Nature is personified; rustling tender coconut fronds are depicted as musicians playing wedding drums.
Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Mananthaal avaru maranthaa thavaru”
The second consonant 'na' (ன) rhymes between 'Mananthaal' and 'maranthaa', adding rhythmic elegance.
Did you know?
Trivia
Pannaipurathu Pandavargal (1982) features a score by Gangai Amaran, named after Pannaipuram, the native village of the legendary music family (Ilaiyaraaja, Gangai Amaran, Pavalar Varadarajan, and Baskar). The lyrics were written by Kannadasan near the end of his illustrious career, demonstrating his masterclass in weaving traditional Tamil rural culture and nature imagery effortlessly into film songs.
Keep listening
More from Pannaipurathu Pandavargal
Pannaipurathu Pandavargal
Pannaipurathu Pandavargal
Pannaipurathu Pandavargal
Pannaipurathu Pandavargal