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Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikecei album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aasai Kanave

From Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikecei · 2006

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
Naresh Iyer, Kalyani Nair
Music director
Sabesh – Murali
Movie name
Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikecei
Movie release year
2006
Lyrics added on
31 Dec 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hahahaha haa
Hahahaha haa
Aasai kanave
Aasai kanave
Athisaya nilave
Kaadhal ulagam kaana vaa
Thanga maname
Singa guname
Kanni thamizhai paruga vaa
Koodal nagaril
Vaigai manalil
Kooda vendum odi vaa
Konjum kavithai
Nenjai inikka
Paadal vendum paadi vaa
Aasai kanave
Athisaya nilave
Kaadhal ulagam kaana vaa
Thanga maname
Singa guname
Kanni thamizhai paruga vaa
Aaah..
Ezhil konjum azhage
Intha azhagendrum enthan sontham
Aaah arugil
Konjam arugil
Vanthu anai endru konjum nenjam
Aaah
Rathiye deva rathiye
Kaama rasam poosum kangal paarthen
Female :Nathiye
Kaadhal nathiye
Ennai neeraatta unnai kettaen
Ich ich endru mutham
Sugam archikindra satham
Female :Sikkikattum inbam
Adhil thithikattum nenjam
Both :Muthathil muthangal
Niththam niththam sinthalam
Aasai kanave
Athisaya nilave
Kaadhal ulagam kaana vaa
Aaah varuvaai
Pakkam varuvaai
Endrum neethaane enthan varuvaai
Aaah tharuvaai
Inbam tharuvaai
Tharum idhazhthaane mulla tharuvaai
Aaah inithaai
Melum inithaai
Ennai thaalaattum neeyum ini thaai
Kanivaai nenjam kanivaai
Mutham tharathaane kovai kani vaai
Vaalil seitha kannaal
Vadivelu seidha penna
Female :Vaalum unthan kannil
Vadivelum intha kanni
Aasai kanave
Athisaya nilave
Kaadhal ulagam kaana vaa
Thanga maname
Singa guname
Kanni thamizhai paruga vaaaah…
Ha ha ha ha ha
Ha ha ha ha ha
O dream of my desire,
O dream of my desire,
O wondrous moon,
Come, let us see the world of love!
O heart of gold,
O lion-hearted one,
Come drink the nectar of youthful Tamil!
In the city of Madurai,
On the sands of the Vaigai river,
Come running, let us unite!
With sweet, charming poetry
To delight the heart,
A song is waiting, come sing it!
O dream of my desire,
O wondrous moon,
Come, let us see the world of love!
O heart of gold,
O lion-hearted one,
Come drink the nectar of youthful Tamil!
Ah...
O charming, graceful beauty,
This beauty belongs forever to me!
Ah, come near,
A little closer,
And my heart playfully asks for an embrace!
Ah...
O Rathi, goddess of love,
I see your eyes brushed with romance!
O river,
O river of love,
I asked you to bathe me in joy!
With the sound of soft kisses,
Pleasure offers its sweet blessing!
Let happiness be caught tight,
And let our hearts taste its sweetness!
Kisses upon kisses,
We can shower them every single day!
O dream of my desire,
O wondrous moon,
Come, let us see the world of love!
Ah, come to me,
Come close by my side,
For you are forever my greatest treasure!
Ah, give me,
Give me sweet delight,
Your giving lips are like a branch of jasmine!
Ah, so sweetly,
Ever more sweetly,
Lulling me gently, you are like a mother to me now!
Be tender, let your heart soften,
Those red fruit-like lips are made to give kisses!
With eyes crafted like sharp swords,
Is she a maiden shaped like a spear?
Living right inside your eyes,
This girl is that very spear!
O dream of my desire,
O wondrous moon,
Come, let us see the world of love!
O heart of gold,
O lion-hearted one,
Come drink the nectar of youthful Tamil... aah...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Aasai Kanave is a lush, classical romantic duet composed by Sabesh-Murali for the historical comedy film Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikecei. Penned by veteran lyricist Pulamaipithan, the song emulates the grand aesthetic of vintage Tamil cinema duets from the 1960s, featuring rich Sangam-inspired metaphors and elevated poetic language. The lovers express their deep romance by celebrating each other's beauty—comparing lips to red ivy-gourd fruit, eyes to sharp swords, and love to the eternal flow of the river Vaigai. They playfully invite one another to embrace, exchange endless kisses, and savor the sweetness of pure Tamil love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethirukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Koodal nagaril / Vaigai manalil”

Matching of the second consonant sound across consecutive lines to create a smooth poetic cadence.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Mutham tharathaane kovai kani vaai”

Comparing the lover's red lips directly to 'Kovai kani' (ripe red ivy-gourd fruit).

Emoni / Hyperbole

“Vaalil seitha kannaal / Vadivelu seidha penna”

Using sharp weapons like swords (Vaal) and spears (Vadivel) to metaphorically describe enchanting eyes and beauty.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Pakkam varuvaai / Inbam tharuvaai”

Matching end sounds ('varuvaai', 'tharuvaai', 'inithaai') to establish musical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song serves as a stylish pastiche of classic historical duets from 1960s Tamil cinema featuring MGR and Sivaji Ganesan. Pulamaipithan intentionally wrote high-flown classical Tamil lyrics to capture royal authenticity for Vadivelu's dual-role period comedy, helping the song become a huge critical and popular success.

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