Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Kasthuri Manjal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aatha Abinayam

From Kasthuri Manjal · 1992

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Deva
Movie name
Kasthuri Manjal
Movie release year
1992
Lyrics added on
12 Jun 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Indha aathaa abinayam paatha
Ennaannu artham nee sollanum
Idhil thoothaa thirumana maalai
En tholil maama nee soottanum
Indha aathaa abinayam paatha
Ennaannu artham nee sollanum
Idhil thoothaa thirumana maalai
En tholil maama nee soottanum
Ada ennodu malladi paaru
Enai mallathukkum killadi paaru
Chorus :Idhu munnadi vandhaadum thaeru
Idhai kandaale sokkaadho ooru
Indha potta pulal kittathilae
Vandhu muttaadhae
Mundaavai thattadhae egirividum
Aathaa abinayam paatha
Arthatha solven othukkanum
Idhil thoothaa ammaadi
Needhaan naan sollum
Kaluthaiya kattikanum
Eda thappaga podaatha aala
Idhu eppodhum karpoora moola
Chorus :Poththi vechaakka kuppunnu pathum
Inga vambaadum un vaaya poththum
Indha vaettikitta pottiyitta
Oru pandhaattam yamma un
Mundhaana paranthidum
Aathaa abinayam paatha
Ennaannu artham nee sollanum
Male :Haan
Female :Idhil thoothaa thirumana maalai
En tholil maama nee soottanum
Male :Haahaan
Paavadaiya melakatti
Nee aathula kulikaiyilae
Kenda meenu ullara thaan
Kadichadha solluriyae
Manjalai nee urasi
Maeniyilthan poosikira neram
Manmadhanum sengarumbhu
Villeduthu thaan
Vittan oru banam
Adi ammadi nee naayanam thaan
Oodhura naala nenachae thaviche
Idhil thoothaa thirumana maalai
En tholil maama nee soottanum
Aathaa abinayam paatha
Arthatha solven othukkanum
Female :Idhil thoothaa thirumana maalai
En tholil maama nee soottanum
Yededutha maamanukku
Love letter eluthi vechae
Ezhudhiyadha thozhi kitta
Koduthu nee anuppi vechae
Andhiyilae amman koyil
Nandhavanathil pookalathaan pariche
Sondhamulla maamanukku
Tholil idathaan
Maali onnu thoduthae
Appa munnala thaan malai vara
Vanna malaya maaman
Kaluthila pottae…
Aathaa abinayam paatha
Ennaannu artham solliputtae
Indha naalil thirumana maalai
Naan thaan un tholil sootiputten
Appa thullaadha pollaadha kalli
Maalai pottaalum nippenae thalli
Vandha sondhangal pogadhu maama
Vetti jambangal nee kattalaama
Male :Adi ingae vandhu vambiluthaa
Chinna pon maeni punnaagum
Ottaadhae odungi vidu
If you look at this dance movement and expression,
You must tell me what it means.
Like a messenger in this, a wedding garland,
You must place around my neck, my dear!
If you look at this dance movement and expression,
You must tell me what it means.
Like a messenger in this, a wedding garland,
You must place around my neck, my dear!
Hey, try wrestling with me!
See, I am a champion at wrestling too!
Chorus: This is a chariot dancing before you,
Won't the whole town be charmed seeing it?
Don't come near this young girl,
Don't come and butt heads with me!
Don't provoke me, sparks will fly!
If I look at your dance movement and expression,
I will tell you the meaning, and you must agree!
Through this, oh girl,
You will have to marry
A donkey, if I tell you to!
Hey, don't underestimate who I am,
I am always a heap of pure camphor!
Chorus: If you spark it, it will flare right up!
It will shut your troublemaking mouth!
If you pick a fight with this dhoti-clad man,
It will be like a ball game, girl, and your
Saree edge will go flying!
If you look at this dance movement and expression,
You must tell me what it means.
Male: Haan!
Female: Like a messenger in this, a wedding garland,
You must place around my neck, my dear!
Male: Hahaan!
Tucking your skirt up high,
When you bathed in the river,
A carp deep in the water
Bit you, or so you say!
When you ground fresh turmeric
And smeared it all over your body,
Manmathan (god of love), with his sweet sugarcane
Bow in hand,
Shot an arrow at you!
Oh girl, thinking of the day the wedding pipes
Would play, you were yearning!
Like a messenger in this, a wedding garland,
You must place around my neck, my dear!
If I look at your dance movement and expression,
I will tell you the meaning, and you must agree!
Female: Like a messenger in this, a wedding garland,
You must place around my neck, my dear!
For my beloved who took up his studies,
I wrote a love letter and kept it ready!
What I wrote, I gave to my friend
And sent it across to you!
At twilight, in the goddess temple's
Garden, I plucked fresh flowers!
For my beloved who belongs to me,
To place around your shoulders,
I strung a garland!
Just as the rain began to fall in front of us,
Around my beloved's neck,
That colorful garland, I placed it!
Looking at this dance movement and expression,
I have explained what it means!
On this day, the wedding garland,
I have placed around your shoulders!
Then don't jump with excitement, you tricky girl,
Even if you garland me, I will still stand far away!
Our family bond will never fade, my dear,
Should you put on such empty pride?
Male: Hey girl, if you come pick a fight here,
Your tender golden body will get bruised!
Don't come close; step back!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Kasthuri Manjal

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.