Aatha Abinayam
From Kasthuri Manjal · 1992
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Deva
- Details
- Kasthuri Manjal1992
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Indha aathaa abinayam paatha | Look at this gesture performance of Goddess Mariamman, |
| Ennaannu artham nee sollanum | You must tell me what it means. |
| Idhil thoothaa thirumana maalai | Using this as a messenger, a wedding garland, |
| En tholil maama nee soottanum | Uncle, you must place it on my shoulders. |
| Female | |
| Indha aathaa abinayam paatha | Look at this gesture performance of Goddess Mariamman, |
| Ennaannu artham nee sollanum | You must tell me what it means. |
| Idhil thoothaa thirumana maalai | Using this as a messenger, a wedding garland, |
| En tholil maama nee soottanum | Uncle, you must place it on my shoulders. |
| Female | |
| Ada ennodu malladi paaru | Hey, try wrestling with me and see, |
| Enai mallathukkum killadi paaru | Try taking on an expert in wrestling like me! |
| Chorus :Idhu munnadi vandhaadum thaeru | Chorus: This is a temple chariot dancing right in front, |
| Idhai kandaale sokkaadho ooru | Won't the whole town be entranced upon seeing it? |
| Female | |
| Indha potta pulal kittathilae | Near this tigress, |
| Vandhu muttaadhae | Do not come and bump into her, |
| Mundaavai thattadhae egirividum | Do not touch her garment, it will fly off! |
| Male | |
| Aathaa abinayam paatha | If you look at the Goddess's gestures, |
| Arthatha solven othukkanum | I will tell you the meaning, you must accept it. |
| Idhil thoothaa ammaadi | Using this as a messenger, my dear, |
| Needhaan naan sollum | You are the one who should marry, |
| Kaluthaiya kattikanum | The donkey I mention! |
| Male | |
| Eda thappaga podaatha aala | Hey, do not misjudge this person, |
| Idhu eppodhum karpoora moola | This mind is always like pure camphor. |
| Chorus :Poththi vechaakka kuppunnu pathum | Chorus: If kept covered, it catches fire instantly, |
| Inga vambaadum un vaaya poththum | It will shut your mouth that picks fights here! |
| Male | |
| Indha vaettikitta pottiyitta | If you compete with this dhoti-clad man, |
| Oru pandhaattam yamma un | Like a bouncing ball, oh woman, your |
| Mundhaana paranthidum | Garment veil will fly away! |
| Female | |
| Aathaa abinayam paatha | Look at this gesture performance of Goddess Mariamman, |
| Ennaannu artham nee sollanum | You must tell me what it means. |
| Male :Haan | Male: Haan! |
| Female :Idhil thoothaa thirumana maalai | Female: Using this as a messenger, a wedding garland, |
| En tholil maama nee soottanum | Uncle, you must place it on my shoulders. |
| Male :Haahaan | Male: Haahaan! |
| Male | |
| Paavadaiya melakatti | Tying your skirt up higher, |
| Nee aathula kulikaiyilae | When you were bathing in the river, |
| Kenda meenu ullara thaan | That a carp fish inside, |
| Kadichadha solluriyae | Bit you—aren't you saying that? |
| Male | |
| Manjalai nee urasi | Rubbing turmeric paste, |
| Maeniyilthan poosikira neram | When you apply it over your body, |
| Manmadhanum sengarumbhu | Lord Cupid with his sweet sugarcane |
| Villeduthu thaan | Bow in hand, |
| Vittan oru banam | Shot an arrow of love! |
| Adi ammadi nee naayanam thaan | Oh girl, thinking of the day you'd play, |
| Oodhura naala nenachae thaviche | The nadaswaram pipe, I suffered in longing! |
| Female | |
| Idhil thoothaa thirumana maalai | Using this as a messenger, a wedding garland, |
| En tholil maama nee soottanum | Uncle, you must place it on my shoulders. |
| Male | |
| Aathaa abinayam paatha | Look at this gesture performance of Goddess Mariamman, |
| Arthatha solven othukkanum | I will tell you the meaning, you must accept it. |
| Female :Idhil thoothaa thirumana maalai | Female: Using this as a messenger, a wedding garland, |
| En tholil maama nee soottanum | Uncle, you must place it on my shoulders. |
| Male | |
| Yededutha maamanukku | For the uncle who held the books, |
| Love letter eluthi vechae | You wrote a love letter and kept it, |
| Ezhudhiyadha thozhi kitta | What you wrote, through a female friend, |
| Koduthu nee anuppi vechae | You handed over and sent across! |
| Male | |
| Andhiyilae amman koyil | In the dusk at the Goddess temple, |
| Nandhavanathil pookalathaan pariche | You picked flowers from the garden, |
| Sondhamulla maamanukku | To place on the rightful uncle's, |
| Tholil idathaan | Shoulders right here, |
| Maali onnu thoduthae | You wove a garland! |
| Appa munnala thaan malai vara | Then right in front, before the rain came, |
| Vanna malaya maaman | That colorful garland on your uncle's |
| Kaluthila pottae… | Neck, you placed it! |
| Female | |
| Aathaa abinayam paatha | Look at this gesture performance of Goddess Mariamman, |
| Ennaannu artham solliputtae | You clearly explained what it meant! |
| Indha naalil thirumana maalai | On this day, a wedding garland, |
| Naan thaan un tholil sootiputten | I have placed on your shoulders! |
| Male | |
| Appa thullaadha pollaadha kalli | Then don't jump around, you mischievous girl, |
| Maalai pottaalum nippenae thalli | Even if you place the garland, I will stand far away! |
| Female | |
| Vandha sondhangal pogadhu maama | Relationships once established won't fade away, uncle, |
| Vetti jambangal nee kattalaama | Why build up empty boasts and pride? |
| Male :Adi ingae vandhu vambiluthaa | Male: Hey, if you come here and pick a fight, |
| Chinna pon maeni punnaagum | Your small golden body will get bruised, |
| Ottaadhae odungi vidu | Don't stick close, stay away! |
இந்த ஆத்தா அபிநயம் பாத்தா
என்னான்னு அர்த்தம் நீ சொல்லணும்
இதில் தோத்தா திருமண மாலை
என் தோளில் மாமா நீ சூட்டணும்
Look at this gesture performance of Goddess Mariamman,
You must tell me what it means.
Using this as a messenger, a wedding garland,
Uncle, you must place it on my shoulders.
முனங்கல் : .
....................
Look at this gesture performance of Goddess Mariamman,
You must tell me what it means.
Using this as a messenger, a wedding garland,
Uncle, you must place it on my shoulders.
இந்த ஆத்தா அபிநயம் பாத்தா
என்னான்னு அர்த்தம் நீ சொல்லணும்
இதில் தோத்தா திருமண மாலை
என் தோளில் மாமா நீ சூட்டணும்
Hey, try wrestling with me and see,
Try taking on an expert in wrestling like me!
Chorus: This is a temple chariot dancing right in front,
Won't the whole town be entranced upon seeing it?
அட என்னோடு மல்லாடி பாரு
எனை மல்லாத்தும் கில்லாடி யாரு
குழு : இது முன்னாடி வந்தாடும் தேரு
இதை கண்டாலே சொக்காதோ ஊரு
Near this tigress,
Do not come and bump into her,
Do not touch her garment, it will fly off!
இந்த பொட்டப்புள்ள கிட்டத்திலே
வந்து மூட்டாதே
முண்டாவை தட்டாதே எகிறிடும்
If you look at the Goddess's gestures,
I will tell you the meaning, you must accept it.
Using this as a messenger, my dear,
You are the one who should marry,
The donkey I mention!
ஆத்தா அபிநயம் பாத்தா
அர்த்தத்த சொல்வேன் ஒத்துக்கணும்
இதில் தோத்தா அம்மாடி
நீதான் நான் சொல்லும்
கழுதைய கட்டிக்கணும்
Hey, do not misjudge this person,
This mind is always like pure camphor.
Chorus: If kept covered, it catches fire instantly,
It will shut your mouth that picks fights here!
எட தப்பாக போடாத ஆள
இது எப்போதும் கற்பூர மூள
குழு :
பொத்தி வச்சாக்க குப்புன்னு பத்தும்
இங்க வம்பாடும் உன் வாய பொத்தும்
If you compete with this dhoti-clad man,
Like a bouncing ball, oh woman, your
Garment veil will fly away!
இந்த வேட்டிக்கிட்ட போட்டியிட்டா
ஒரு பந்தாட்டம் யம்மா உன்
முந்தான பறந்திடும்
Look at this gesture performance of Goddess Mariamman,
You must tell me what it means.
Male: Haan!
Female: Using this as a messenger, a wedding garland,
Uncle, you must place it on my shoulders.
Male: Haahaan!
ஆத்தா அபிநயம் பாத்தா
என்னான்னு அர்த்தம் நீ சொல்லணும்
ஹான்
இதில் தோத்தா திருமண மாலை
என் தோளில் மாமா நீ சூட்டணும்
ஹாஹான்
Tying your skirt up higher,
When you were bathing in the river,
That a carp fish inside,
Bit you—aren't you saying that?
முனங்கல் :
..................
Rubbing turmeric paste,
When you apply it over your body,
Lord Cupid with his sweet sugarcane
Bow in hand,
Shot an arrow of love!
Oh girl, thinking of the day you'd play,
The nadaswaram pipe, I suffered in longing!
பாவாடைய மேலக் கட்டி
நீ ஆத்துல குளிக்கையிலே
கெண்ட மீனு உள்ளார தான்
கடிச்சத சொல்லுறியே
Using this as a messenger, a wedding garland,
Uncle, you must place it on my shoulders.
மஞ்சளைத் நீ உரசி
மேனியிலதான் பூசுகிற நேரம்
மம்முதனும் செங்கரும்பு
வில்லெடுத்துதான்
விட்டான் ஒரு பாணம்
அடி அம்மாடி நீ நாயனம் தான்
ஊதுற நாள நெனச்சே தவிச்சே
Look at this gesture performance of Goddess Mariamman,
I will tell you the meaning, you must accept it.
Female: Using this as a messenger, a wedding garland,
Uncle, you must place it on my shoulders.
ஆத்தா அபிநயம் பாத்தா
அர்த்தத்த சொல்வேன் ஒத்துக்கணும்
இதில் தோத்தா திருமண மாலை
என் தோளில் மாமா நீ சூட்டணும்
For the uncle who held the books,
You wrote a love letter and kept it,
What you wrote, through a female friend,
You handed over and sent across!
முனங்கல் :
................
In the dusk at the Goddess temple,
You picked flowers from the garden,
To place on the rightful uncle's,
Shoulders right here,
You wove a garland!
Then right in front, before the rain came,
That colorful garland on your uncle's
Neck, you placed it!
ஏடெடுத்து மாமனுக்கு
லவ் லெட்டர் எழுதி வச்சே
எழுதியத தோழி கிட்ட
கொடுத்து நீ அனுப்பி வச்சே
Look at this gesture performance of Goddess Mariamman,
You clearly explained what it meant!
On this day, a wedding garland,
I have placed on your shoulders!
அந்தியிலே அம்மன் கோயில்
நந்தவனத்தில் பூக்களத்தான் பறிச்சே
சொந்தமுள்ள மாமனுக்கு
தோளில் இடத்தான்
மாலை ஒண்ணு தொடுத்தே
அப்ப முன்னாலத்தான் மாலை வர
வண்ண மாலய மாமன்
கழுத்தில போட்டே...
Then don't jump around, you mischievous girl,
Even if you place the garland, I will stand far away!
ஆத்தா அபிநயம் பாத்தா
என்னான்னு அர்த்தம் சொல்லிப்புட்டே
இந்த நாளில் திருமண மாலை
நான்தான் உன் தோளில் சூட்டிப்புட்டேன்
Relationships once established won't fade away, uncle,
Why build up empty boasts and pride?
Male: Hey, if you come here and pick a fight,
Your small golden body will get bruised,
Don't stick close, stay away!
அப்ப துள்ளாத பொல்லாத கள்ளி
மாலைப் போட்டாலும் நிப்பேனே தள்ளி
வந்த சொந்தங்கள் போகாது மாமா
வெட்டி ஜம்பங்கள் நீ காட்டலாமா
அடி இங்கே வந்து வம்பிழுத்தா
சின்ன பொன் மேனி புண்ணாகும்
ஒட்டாதே ஒதுங்கிடு
Indha aathaa abinayam paatha
Look at this gesture performance of Goddess Mariamman,
Ennaannu artham nee sollanum
You must tell me what it means.
Idhil thoothaa thirumana maalai
Using this as a messenger, a wedding garland,
En tholil maama nee soottanum
Uncle, you must place it on my shoulders.
Indha aathaa abinayam paatha
Look at this gesture performance of Goddess Mariamman,
Ennaannu artham nee sollanum
You must tell me what it means.
Idhil thoothaa thirumana maalai
Using this as a messenger, a wedding garland,
En tholil maama nee soottanum
Uncle, you must place it on my shoulders.
Ada ennodu malladi paaru
Hey, try wrestling with me and see,
Enai mallathukkum killadi paaru
Try taking on an expert in wrestling like me!
Chorus :Idhu munnadi vandhaadum thaeru
Chorus: This is a temple chariot dancing right in front,
Idhai kandaale sokkaadho ooru
Won't the whole town be entranced upon seeing it?
Indha potta pulal kittathilae
Near this tigress,
Vandhu muttaadhae
Do not come and bump into her,
Mundaavai thattadhae egirividum
Do not touch her garment, it will fly off!
Aathaa abinayam paatha
If you look at the Goddess's gestures,
Arthatha solven othukkanum
I will tell you the meaning, you must accept it.
Idhil thoothaa ammaadi
Using this as a messenger, my dear,
Needhaan naan sollum
You are the one who should marry,
Kaluthaiya kattikanum
The donkey I mention!
Eda thappaga podaatha aala
Hey, do not misjudge this person,
Idhu eppodhum karpoora moola
This mind is always like pure camphor.
Chorus :Poththi vechaakka kuppunnu pathum
Chorus: If kept covered, it catches fire instantly,
Inga vambaadum un vaaya poththum
It will shut your mouth that picks fights here!
Indha vaettikitta pottiyitta
If you compete with this dhoti-clad man,
Oru pandhaattam yamma un
Like a bouncing ball, oh woman, your
Mundhaana paranthidum
Garment veil will fly away!
Aathaa abinayam paatha
Look at this gesture performance of Goddess Mariamman,
Ennaannu artham nee sollanum
You must tell me what it means.
Male :Haan
Male: Haan!
Female :Idhil thoothaa thirumana maalai
Female: Using this as a messenger, a wedding garland,
En tholil maama nee soottanum
Uncle, you must place it on my shoulders.
Male :Haahaan
Male: Haahaan!
Paavadaiya melakatti
Tying your skirt up higher,
Nee aathula kulikaiyilae
When you were bathing in the river,
Kenda meenu ullara thaan
That a carp fish inside,
Kadichadha solluriyae
Bit you—aren't you saying that?
Manjalai nee urasi
Rubbing turmeric paste,
Maeniyilthan poosikira neram
When you apply it over your body,
Manmadhanum sengarumbhu
Lord Cupid with his sweet sugarcane
Villeduthu thaan
Bow in hand,
Vittan oru banam
Shot an arrow of love!
Adi ammadi nee naayanam thaan
Oh girl, thinking of the day you'd play,
Oodhura naala nenachae thaviche
The nadaswaram pipe, I suffered in longing!
Idhil thoothaa thirumana maalai
Using this as a messenger, a wedding garland,
En tholil maama nee soottanum
Uncle, you must place it on my shoulders.
Aathaa abinayam paatha
Look at this gesture performance of Goddess Mariamman,
Arthatha solven othukkanum
I will tell you the meaning, you must accept it.
Female :Idhil thoothaa thirumana maalai
Female: Using this as a messenger, a wedding garland,
En tholil maama nee soottanum
Uncle, you must place it on my shoulders.
Yededutha maamanukku
For the uncle who held the books,
Love letter eluthi vechae
You wrote a love letter and kept it,
Ezhudhiyadha thozhi kitta
What you wrote, through a female friend,
Koduthu nee anuppi vechae
You handed over and sent across!
Andhiyilae amman koyil
In the dusk at the Goddess temple,
Nandhavanathil pookalathaan pariche
You picked flowers from the garden,
Sondhamulla maamanukku
To place on the rightful uncle's,
Tholil idathaan
Shoulders right here,
Maali onnu thoduthae
You wove a garland!
Appa munnala thaan malai vara
Then right in front, before the rain came,
Vanna malaya maaman
That colorful garland on your uncle's
Kaluthila pottae…
Neck, you placed it!
Aathaa abinayam paatha
Look at this gesture performance of Goddess Mariamman,
Ennaannu artham solliputtae
You clearly explained what it meant!
Indha naalil thirumana maalai
On this day, a wedding garland,
Naan thaan un tholil sootiputten
I have placed on your shoulders!
Appa thullaadha pollaadha kalli
Then don't jump around, you mischievous girl,
Maalai pottaalum nippenae thalli
Even if you place the garland, I will stand far away!
Vandha sondhangal pogadhu maama
Relationships once established won't fade away, uncle,
Vetti jambangal nee kattalaama
Why build up empty boasts and pride?
Male :Adi ingae vandhu vambiluthaa
Male: Hey, if you come here and pick a fight,
Chinna pon maeni punnaagum
Your small golden body will get bruised,
Ottaadhae odungi vidu
Don't stick close, stay away!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This folk-style duet from the movie Kasthuri Manjal features playful banter and romantic teasing between a young woman and her maternal uncle (maaman). The song revolves around performing 'abinayam' (expressive gesture dance) during a temple festival dedicated to the village goddess (Aathaa/Mariamman). The heroine challenges her uncle to decode her dance gestures, subtly expressing her wish for him to marry her, while the uncle playfully resists, teasing her about childhood incidents, love letters, and her bold advances. By the end of the song, the playful argument shifts into an affectionate back-and-forth where feelings are mutually acknowledged amidst grand festive energy.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Indha aathaa abinayam paatha / Ennaannu artham nee sollanum”
Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'aathaa' / 'artham' and 'pottiyaitta' / 'pandhaattam'.
Monaai (Initial letter alliteration)
“Manjalai nee urasi / Maeniyilthan poosikira neram”
Matching initial sounds in words within the same line or across lines, like 'Manjalai' and 'Maeniyilthan' or 'Manmadhanum'.
Metaphor & Imagery
“Indha potta pulal kittathilae / Vandhu muttaadhae”
Comparing the heroine to a 'potta puli' (tigress) and a 'thaeru' (temple chariot), evoking bold movement and festive grandeur.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kasthuri Manjal (1992) featured music composed by Deva, who was famous for blending rustic folk rhythms with energetic melodies during the 1990s. The track highlights the classic Tamil cinema trope of playful romantic banter between cross-cousins or maternal uncle and niece (Maaman-Machi routine), written by the legendary lyricist Vaali.
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