Aasai Vachen
From Natpu · 1986
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Natpu1986
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aasa vachen un mela | I placed my affection on you, |
| Machaan arali vachen kollaiyila | Oh beloved, I have grown oleander in my backyard. |
| Aasa vachen un mela | I placed my affection on you, |
| Machaan arali vachen kollaiyila | Oh beloved, I have grown oleander in my backyard. |
| Female | |
| Aadharichaa nalladhaiyaa | It would be good if you accept and support me, dear, |
| Illa arali vedha ulladhaiyaa | Otherwise, the poisonous oleander seed is right here, dear. |
| Arali vedha ulladhaiyaa | The oleander seed is right here, dear. |
| Female | |
| Aasa vachen… | I placed my affection... |
| Un mela un mela | On you, on you. |
| Female | |
| Sanda potta kenda meenu | ,The two Kendai fish that used to fight each other, |
| Rendum serndhu onnaachu | Came together and became one. |
| Rendum serndhu konjum podhu | When the two bonded and caressed each other, |
| Yeri thanni thaenaachu | The lake water turned into sweet honey. |
| Female | |
| Thoondiyilae sikkavilla | They did not get caught in any fishing hook, |
| Suthi vara kokkum illa | Nor were there any storks hovering around. |
| Meenu rendum thoongayila | Yet when both fish fell asleep, |
| Akkam pakkam yaarum illa | With no one else around nearby, |
| Rendu meenum kan muzhichaa | When both fish opened their eyes, |
| Yeriyila thanni illa yeriyila thanni illa | There was no water left in the lake, no water in the lake. |
| Female | |
| Aasa vachen un mela | I placed my affection on you, |
| Machaan arali vachen kollaiyila | Oh beloved, I have grown oleander in my backyard. |
| Aasa vachen un mela..un mela | I placed my affection on you... on you. |
| Female | |
| Thennanthoppil enna paathu | Looking at me in the coconut grove, |
| Sonna vaartha ennaachu | What happened to the word you gave me? |
| Appan pesum pecha kettu | Hearing the harsh words spoken by my father, |
| Kaadhu rendum punnaachu | Both my ears have become sore and wounded. |
| Female | |
| Rekkai ellaam vetti puttu | Having clipped off all of its wings, |
| Nikkudhaiyaa pacha kili | The green parrot stands helpless, sir. |
| Oorukkulla omalippu | Facing mock and ridicule throughout the village, |
| Vaadudhaiyaa vanji kodi | This slender vine-like girl is wilting away, sir. |
| Kattililae thaengi nikkum | Stagnating upon the bed, |
| Kanneer mattum rendu padi | Are two full measures of shed tears. |
| Kanneer mattum rendu padi | Two full measures of shed tears. |
| Female | |
| Aasa vachen un mela | I placed my affection on you, |
| Machaan arali vachen kollaiyila | Oh beloved, I have grown oleander in my backyard. |
| Aasa vachen un mela | I placed my affection on you, |
| Machaan arali vachen kollaiyila | Oh beloved, I have grown oleander in my backyard. |
| Female | |
| Aadharichaa nalladhaiyaa | It would be good if you accept and support me, dear, |
| Illa arali vedha ulladhaiyaa | Otherwise, the poisonous oleander seed is right here, dear. |
| Arali vedha ulladhaiyaa | The oleander seed is right here, dear. |
| Female | |
| Aasa vachen… | I placed my affection... |
| Un mela un mela | On you, on you. |
ஆசை வச்சேன் உன் மேல
மச்சான் அரளி வச்சேன்
கொல்லையிலே
ஆசை வச்சேன் உன் மேல
மச்சான் அரளி வச்சேன்
கொல்லையிலே
I placed my affection on you,
Oh beloved, I have grown oleander in my backyard.
I placed my affection on you,
Oh beloved, I have grown oleander in my backyard.
ஆதரிச்சா நல்லதையா
இல்ல அரளி வெதை உள்ளதையா
அரளி வெதை உள்ளதையா...
It would be good if you accept and support me, dear,
Otherwise, the poisonous oleander seed is right here, dear.
The oleander seed is right here, dear.
ஆசை வச்சேன்.....உன் மேல
உன் மேல
I placed my affection...
On you, on you.
சண்ட போட்ட கெண்டை மீனு
ரெண்டும் சேந்து ஒண்ணாச்சு
ரெண்டும் சேந்து கொஞ்சும் போது
ஏரித் தண்ணி தேனாச்சு
,The two Kendai fish that used to fight each other,
Came together and became one.
When the two bonded and caressed each other,
The lake water turned into sweet honey.
தூண்டியிலே சிக்கவில்ல
சுத்தி வர கொக்கும் இல்ல
மீனு ரெண்டும் தூங்கயில
அக்கம் பக்கம் யாரும் இல்ல
They did not get caught in any fishing hook,
Nor were there any storks hovering around.
Yet when both fish fell asleep,
With no one else around nearby,
When both fish opened their eyes,
There was no water left in the lake, no water in the lake.
ரெண்டு மீனும் கண் முழிச்சா
ஏரியில தண்ணி இல்ல
ஏரியில தண்ணி இல்ல
I placed my affection on you,
Oh beloved, I have grown oleander in my backyard.
I placed my affection on you... on you.
ஆசை வச்சேன் உன் மேல
மச்சான் அரளி வச்சேன்
கொல்லையிலே
ஆசை வச்சேன்...... உன் மேல
உன் மேல
Looking at me in the coconut grove,
What happened to the word you gave me?
Hearing the harsh words spoken by my father,
Both my ears have become sore and wounded.
தென்னந்தோப்பில் என்னப் பாத்து
சொன்ன வார்த்த என்னாச்சு
அப்பன் பேசும் பேச்சக் கேட்டு
காது ரெண்டும் புண்ணாச்சு
Having clipped off all of its wings,
The green parrot stands helpless, sir.
Facing mock and ridicule throughout the village,
This slender vine-like girl is wilting away, sir.
Stagnating upon the bed,
Are two full measures of shed tears.
Two full measures of shed tears.
ரெக்கை எல்லாம் வெட்டிப் புட்டு
நிக்குதையா பச்சக் கிளி
ஊருக்குள்ள ஓமலிப்பு
வாடுதையா வஞ்சிக் கொடி
I placed my affection on you,
Oh beloved, I have grown oleander in my backyard.
I placed my affection on you,
Oh beloved, I have grown oleander in my backyard.
கட்டிலிலே தேங்கி நிக்கும்
கண்ணீர் மட்டும் ரெண்டு படி
கண்ணீர் மட்டும் ரெண்டு படி
It would be good if you accept and support me, dear,
Otherwise, the poisonous oleander seed is right here, dear.
The oleander seed is right here, dear.
ஆசை வச்சேன் உன் மேல
மச்சான் அரளி வச்சேன்
கொல்லையிலே
ஆசை வச்சேன் உன் மேல
மச்சான் அரளி வச்சேன்
கொல்லையிலே
I placed my affection...
On you, on you.
ஆதரிச்சா நல்லதையா
இல்ல அரளி வெதை உள்ளதையா
அரளி வெதை உள்ளதையா...
ஆசை வச்சேன்......உன் மேல
உன் மேல
Aasa vachen un mela
I placed my affection on you,
Machaan arali vachen kollaiyila
Oh beloved, I have grown oleander in my backyard.
Aasa vachen un mela
I placed my affection on you,
Machaan arali vachen kollaiyila
Oh beloved, I have grown oleander in my backyard.
Aadharichaa nalladhaiyaa
It would be good if you accept and support me, dear,
Illa arali vedha ulladhaiyaa
Otherwise, the poisonous oleander seed is right here, dear.
Arali vedha ulladhaiyaa
The oleander seed is right here, dear.
Aasa vachen…
I placed my affection...
Un mela un mela
On you, on you.
Sanda potta kenda meenu
,The two Kendai fish that used to fight each other,
Rendum serndhu onnaachu
Came together and became one.
Rendum serndhu konjum podhu
When the two bonded and caressed each other,
Yeri thanni thaenaachu
The lake water turned into sweet honey.
Thoondiyilae sikkavilla
They did not get caught in any fishing hook,
Suthi vara kokkum illa
Nor were there any storks hovering around.
Meenu rendum thoongayila
Yet when both fish fell asleep,
Akkam pakkam yaarum illa
With no one else around nearby,
Rendu meenum kan muzhichaa
When both fish opened their eyes,
Yeriyila thanni illa yeriyila thanni illa
There was no water left in the lake, no water in the lake.
Aasa vachen un mela
I placed my affection on you,
Machaan arali vachen kollaiyila
Oh beloved, I have grown oleander in my backyard.
Aasa vachen un mela..un mela
I placed my affection on you... on you.
Thennanthoppil enna paathu
Looking at me in the coconut grove,
Sonna vaartha ennaachu
What happened to the word you gave me?
Appan pesum pecha kettu
Hearing the harsh words spoken by my father,
Kaadhu rendum punnaachu
Both my ears have become sore and wounded.
Rekkai ellaam vetti puttu
Having clipped off all of its wings,
Nikkudhaiyaa pacha kili
The green parrot stands helpless, sir.
Oorukkulla omalippu
Facing mock and ridicule throughout the village,
Vaadudhaiyaa vanji kodi
This slender vine-like girl is wilting away, sir.
Kattililae thaengi nikkum
Stagnating upon the bed,
Kanneer mattum rendu padi
Are two full measures of shed tears.
Kanneer mattum rendu padi
Two full measures of shed tears.
Aasa vachen un mela
I placed my affection on you,
Machaan arali vachen kollaiyila
Oh beloved, I have grown oleander in my backyard.
Aasa vachen un mela
I placed my affection on you,
Machaan arali vachen kollaiyila
Oh beloved, I have grown oleander in my backyard.
Aadharichaa nalladhaiyaa
It would be good if you accept and support me, dear,
Illa arali vedha ulladhaiyaa
Otherwise, the poisonous oleander seed is right here, dear.
Arali vedha ulladhaiyaa
The oleander seed is right here, dear.
Aasa vachen…
I placed my affection...
Un mela un mela
On you, on you.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Aasa Vachen Un Mela is a tragic Tamil folk song expressing deep romantic longing, helplessness, and emotional anguish. The protagonist laments to her lover about her intense devotion while issuing a stark ultimatum: if he abandons her, she will end her life using the poisonous oleander (arali) seeds she grew in her backyard. The lyrics contrast the initial sweetness of their love with the tragic present caused by parental disapproval and societal ridicule. Through vivid folk metaphors—such as fish left stranded when a lake suddenly dries up and a green parrot whose wings have been clipped—the song paints a poignant picture of a young woman trapped by her circumstances, crying measures of tears in isolation.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Sanda potta kenda meenu ... Yeriyila thanni illa”
Compares the lovers to two fish whose union makes lake water taste like honey, only to wake up to a dried lake, representing sudden loss and heartbreak.
Metaphor
“Rekkai ellaam vetti puttu nikkudhaiyaa pacha kili”
Compares the helpless, trapped heroine to a green parrot whose wings have been cut off.
Imagery & Cultural Symbolism
“Illa arali vedha ulladhaiyaa”
Uses 'arali vedha' (oleander seeds), a traditional rural Tamil symbol for tragic love and heartbreak, creating a stark sense of despair.
Hyperbole
“Kanneer mattum rendu padi”
Exaggerates the volume of tears shed on the bed using 'rendu padi' (two traditional volumetric measuring units) to emphasize extreme grief.
Did you know?
Trivia
Featured in the 1986 film Natpu with music composed by Sankar-Ganesh and lyrics by Vairamuthu, this song prominently features classic Tamil rural folk motifs. Oleander seeds ('arali vedha') are culturally recognized in Tamil folk tradition as a deadly substance associated with tragic romantic despair, a motif frequently employed in 1980s Tamil cinema to highlight extreme emotional stakes.
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