Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aatha Un Selai

From Kutti Puli · 2013

Lyricist
Yegathasi
Singer
Sundar Narayana Rao
Music director
Ghibran
Movie name
Kutti Puli
Movie release year
2013
Lyrics added on
30 Nov 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aathaa un selai aagaayam pola
Aathaa un selai aagaayam pola
Aathaa un selai aagaayam pola
Thotti katti thoonga thooli katti aada
Aaththula meen pidikka appanukku thalai thovatta
Thotti katti thoonga thooli katti aada
Aaththula meen pidikka appanukku thalai thovatta
Paarththaalae saerthanaikka thonum
Naan seththaalum enna poththa venum
Paarththaalae saerthanaikka thonum
Naan seththaalum enna poththa venum
Aathaa un selai aagaayam pola
Aathaa un selai aagaayam pola
Thottikulla nadichchaa
Adhu azhagu muththu maalai
Kaayam patta veralukku
Kattu podum un selai
Nee kattiyirukkum selai
Adhu kanneeril manakkum
Un selai katti erachchaa
Thanni sakkaraiyaa inikkum
En usurukulla selai
Adhu mayil iragaa viriyum
Un veluththa selai thiri pottaa
Velakku nallaa eriyum
Un selai thaanae
Poonjolai thaanae
Aathaa….aa…aathaa…aa…aathaa…aa…
Aathaa un selai aagaayam pola
Aathaa un selai aagaayam pola
Akkaa katti pazhaga
Naan aadu katti meikka
Ottai kudisai veyilukku
Ottu pottu maraikka
En kannil oru thoosu pattaa
Oththadamum kodukkum
Ada kanji kondu ponaa
Selai summaadaaga irukkum
Naan thoongumpothukooda
Adhu thalaiyanaiyaa pesum
Ada vekkai varum neram
Oru visiri pola veesum
Un selai thaanae
Poonjolai thaanae
Aathaa….aa…aathaa…aa…aathaa…aa…
Aathaa un selai aagaayam pola
Aathaa un selai aagaayam pola
Thotti katti thoonga thooli katti aada
Aaththula meen pidikka appanukku thalai thovatta
Thotti katti thoonga thooli katti aada
Aaththula meen pidikka appanukku thalai thovatta
Paarththaalae saerthanaikka thonum
Naan seththaalum enna poththa venum
Seththaalum enna poththa venum
Mother, your saree is as vast as the sky,
Mother, your saree is as vast as the sky,
Mother, your saree is as vast as the sky,
To make a cradle to sleep in, to tie a swing to play,
To catch fish in the river, to dry father's hair,
To make a cradle to sleep in, to tie a swing to play,
To catch fish in the river, to dry father's hair,
Just looking at it makes me want to hold it close...
Even when I die, I want it to cover me...
Just looking at it makes me want to hold it close...
Even when I die, I want it to cover me...
Mother, your saree is as vast as the sky,
Mother, your saree is as vast as the sky,
When dipped in a tub of water,
the dripping drops shine like a string of pearls.
For an injured finger,
your saree becomes a healing bandage.
The saree you wear every day,
smells sweet even through tears.
If water is filtered through your saree,
it tastes as sweet as sugar.
Deep inside my soul,
your saree unfolds like a soft peacock feather.
If a wick is made from your faded saree,
the lamp burns so brightly.
Isn't your saree...
truly a blooming garden?
Mother... oh Mother... oh Mother...
Mother, your saree is as vast as the sky,
Mother, your saree is as vast as the sky,
For sister to practice draping a saree,
for me to tie up and graze the goats,
For our leaky hut under the scorching sun,
to patch the holes and bring us shade,
If a speck of dust gets into my eye,
its warm corner soothes the pain.
When carrying porridge to the fields,
your saree becomes a pad to balance the pot.
Even while I am sleeping,
it comforts me like a soft pillow.
When the sweltering heat strikes,
it waves gently like a cooling fan.
Isn't your saree...
truly a blooming garden?
Mother... oh Mother... oh Mother...
Mother, your saree is as vast as the sky,
Mother, your saree is as vast as the sky,
To make a cradle to sleep in, to tie a swing to play,
To catch fish in the river, to dry father's hair,
To make a cradle to sleep in, to tie a swing to play,
To catch fish in the river, to dry father's hair,
Just looking at it makes me want to hold it close...
Even when I die, I want it to cover me...
Even when I die, I want it to cover me...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song from the movie Kutti Puli (2013) is a soulful tribute to a mother's saree, representing maternal love, sacrifice, and comfort in rural Tamil culture. The lyrics describe the mother's saree not merely as a garment, but as an indispensable multi-purpose haven that serves every stage and situation of life: from a cradle for an infant, a makeshift bandage for wounds, a patch for a leaky roof, to a shroud in death.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamaani)

Aathaa un selai aagaayam pola

Compares the mother's saree to the vast sky, highlighting its infinite generosity and comfort.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Poonjolai thaanae

Directly identifies the mother's saree as a flower garden, symbolizing beauty and maternal tenderness.

Simile (Uvamaani)

Oru visiri pola veesum

Compares the comforting movement of the saree in heat to a soothing hand fan.

Alliteration (Monai)

Thotti katti thoonga thooli katti aada

Repetition of the 'Th' sound at the beginning of words for rhythmic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song gained significant popularity for its deeply emotional rural imagery written by lyricist Yegathasi and composed by Ghibran, highlighting traditional Tamil cultural utility and sentimental value associated with a mother's saree.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Kutti Puli

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.