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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aasaiyilae Pathi Katti Sad

From Enga Ooru Kavalkaran · 1998

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
P. Susheela, Mano
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Enga Ooru Kavalkaran1998

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aasaiyilae paaththi kattiMaking a seedbed out of desire
Naaththu onnu nattu vaikkaTo plant a sapling
Vaa poovaayi..Come, Poovaayi..
Male
Aasaiyilae paaththi kattiMaking a seedbed out of desire
Naaththu onnu nattu vaikkaTo plant a sapling
Vaa poovaayi..Come, Poovaayi..
Male
Aadharavai thaedi oruSeeking support and affection
Paattu onnu katti vachenI composed a song
Vaa en thaayiCome, my lady
Male
Naanaa paadaliyae..I didn't sing on my own volition..
Neethaan paada vachcha..You were the one who made me sing..
Naanaa paadaliyae..I didn't sing on my own volition..
Neethaan paada vachcha..You were the one who made me sing..
Male
Aasaiyilae paaththi kattiMaking a seedbed out of desire
Naaththu onnu nattu vaikkaTo plant a sapling
Vaa poovaayi..Come, Poovaayi..
Male
Kannu thaan thoongavillaMy eyes haven't slept
Kaaranam thona villaNo reason comes to mind
Ponnu nee jaadhi mullaYou are a wild jasmine blossom
Poo maalai aaga villaThat hasn't yet turned into a garland
Male
Kanni nee naathuYou, maiden, are a sapling
Kannan naan kaathuI, Kannan, am the breeze protecting you
Vanthu thaan koodavillaWe haven't united yet
Male
Koora pattu chaelaiThe silk bridal saree
Naan vaangi varum velaiWhen I go and buy it
Podu oru maalaiPlace a garland around me
Nee sollu andha naalaTell me that special day
Unakaaga naan kaathirukkenI am waiting for you
Badhil kooru poovaayiGive me an answer, Poovaayi
Male
Aasaiyilae paaththi kattiMaking a seedbed out of desire
Naaththu onnu nattu vaikkaTo plant a sapling
Vaa poovaayi..Come, Poovaayi..
Male
Aadharavai thaedi oruSeeking support and affection
Paattu onnu katti vachenI composed a song
Vaa en thaayiCome, my lady
Female
Sonthama paadum kiliThe parrot that sang freely
Sogamaa ponathaiyaaHas become so sad, oh dear
Ullam thaan nondhu nondhuWith a heart aching in pain
Oomaiyaa aanadhaiyaaIt has become mute, oh dear
Female
Kannula neeruTears in my eyes
Kaaranam yaaruWho is the reason?
Kanni naan kooravaaShall I tell you, my dear?
Female
Oththa maram polaLike a solitary tree standing alone
Naan nikkum intha velaiAt this moment when I stand
Enna solli paadaWhat can I express in song?
En karppam ellai meeraAs my sorrow crosses all limits
Male
Thodaradhu idhu inimelaWill this continue from now on?
Thuna naan thaan poovaayiI will be your companion, Poovaayi
Female
Aasaiyilae paaththi kattiMaking a seedbed out of desire
Naaththu onnu nattu vaikkaTo plant a sapling
Naan poovaayi..I am Poovaayi..
Female
Aadharavai thaedi oruSeeking support and affection
Paattu onnu katti vachenI composed a song
Naan poovaayi..I am Poovaayi..
Female
Naanaa paadaliyae..I didn't sing on my own volition..
Neethaan paada vachcha..You were the one who made me sing..
Naanaa paadaliyae..I didn't sing on my own volition..
Neethaan paada vachcha..You were the one who made me sing..
Female
Aasaiyilae paaththi kattiMaking a seedbed out of desire
Naaththu onnu nattu vaikkaTo plant a sapling
Naan poovaayi..I am Poovaayi..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Aasaiyilae Paaththi Katti is a rustic, emotionally tender Tamil folk-style duet from the film Enga Ooru Kavalkaran (1988), composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and written by Gangai Amaran. The song uses vivid agricultural metaphors—such as preparing a mud bed in a field and nurturing a sapling—to illustrate how love has taken root in the hearts of the lovers. The male lead calls out to his beloved Poovaayi, expressing how her presence inspires his music and his longing to marry her with traditional silk and garlands. In response, Poovaayi shares her deep pain, loneliness, and emotional burden, comparing herself to a mute parrot and a solitary tree. The song beautifully captures rural romance, devotion, and the comforting promise of lifelong companionship amidst life's struggles.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamei / Metaphor (Agricultural Imagery)

Aasaiyilae paaththi katti / Naaththu onnu nattu vaikka

The preparation of a soil bed ('paaththi katti') and planting of a sapling ('naaththu') serves as an extended metaphor for sowing the seeds of love in the human heart.

Etukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kannu thaan thoongavilla / Kaaranam thona villa

The second consonant 'n' ('nn') harmonizes across adjacent lines, creating a rhythmic melodic cadence characteristic of Tamil folk poetry.

Personification / Simile (Uvamana)

Sonthama paadum kili / Sogamaa ponathaiyaa

The heroine's grieving inner self is personified as a free-singing parrot ('kili') that has lost its voice to sorrow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the prompt lists 1998, 'Aasaiyilae Paaththi Katti' is an iconic track from the 1988 Tamil film 'Enga Ooru Kavalkaran', starring Ramarajan and Gautami. Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by his brother Gangai Amaran, the duet sung by Mano and P. Susheela stands out as one of the hallmark rural melodies of late-80s Tamil cinema.

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