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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aathadi Paavada Kathada

From Poovilangu · 1984

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Poovilangu1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aathadi paavada kathaadaOh my, the skirt sways in the wind!
Kathaadi pol nenju koothaadaMy heart dances around like a kite!
Kathaada nenju koothaadaThe wind sways and the heart dances!
Kulikkuthu rosa naathuThe rose sapling is taking a bath,
Thanni konjam oothu oothuPour a little water, pour it!
Hey… kulikkuthu rosa naathuHey... the rose sapling is taking a bath,
Thanni konjam oothu oothuPour a little water, pour it!
Male
Aathadi paavada kathaadaOh my, the skirt sways in the wind!
Kathaada nenju koothaadaThe wind sways and the heart dances!
Male
Adi naal paarthuChoosing an auspicious day,
Naan vandhen veembagaI came here stubbornly!
Un paavada poovil naan kaambagaTo be the stem for the flower on your skirt,
Kaambaga vandhen veembagaI came stubbornly as the stem!
Un veetil inneram aal illaiyaeThere is no one at your home at this hour!
Odathae pennae naan thael illaiyaeDon't run away girl, I am not a scorpion!
Male
Adi sevaazhaiyae …yae….Oh red banana tree...
Un veettu sevaazhaiIf the red banana tree at your home
En kaigal pattalaeIs touched by my hands,
Kulai rendu thalladhoWon't it yield two bunches of fruit?
Vaa mullaiyaeCome, my jasmine flower!
Male
Aathadi paavada kathaadaOh my, the skirt sways in the wind!
Kathaadi pol nenju koothaadaMy heart dances around like a kite!
Kathaada nenju koothaadaThe wind sways and the heart dances!
Kulikkuthu rosa naathuThe rose sapling is taking a bath,
Thanni konjam oothu oothuPour a little water, pour it!
Hey… kulikkuthu rosa naathuHey... the rose sapling is taking a bath,
Thanni konjam oothu oothuPour a little water, pour it!
Male
Malar moodum nilaiWill the state of covering the flower
Konjam vilagaathoNot part just a little?
Adi naal ellaam dhavam seidhenOh girl, I did penance all these days,
NazhuvathoIs it slipping away?
Nazhuvatho vanthu thazhuvathoIs it slipping away, or coming to embrace?
Neer sotta nindralae jaladhosham thaanStanding dripping wet will cause a cold,
Nee ingu podathae pagal vesham thaanDon't put on a fake act here!
Male
Ilam poonjolaiyae….Oh young flower garden...
Un poomaeni naan paarkkumWill the mirror I look at
Kannaadi aagathoNot become your flower-like body?
Aanaalum nee romba thaaralam thaanStill, you are very generous!
Male
Aathadi paavada kathaadaOh my, the skirt sways in the wind!
Kathaadi pol nenju koothaadaMy heart dances around like a kite!
Kathaada nenju koothaadaThe wind sways and the heart dances!
Kulikkuthu rosa naathuThe rose sapling is taking a bath,
Thanni konjam oothu oothuPour a little water, pour it!
Hey… kulikkuthu rosa naathuHey... the rose sapling is taking a bath,
Thanni konjam oothu oothuPour a little water, pour it!
Male
Aathadi paavada kathaadaOh my, the skirt sways in the wind!
Kathaadi pol nenju koothaadaMy heart dances around like a kite!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful romance song from Poovilangu features a young man flirting playfully with his lover as she takes a bath/gets wet. He compares her to a delicate rose sapling and a blossoming red banana plant, teasingly asking her not to run away or pretend to be shy while describing how his heart flutters like a kite in the wind seeing her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uwamai (Simile)

Kathaadi pol nenju koothaada

Compares the fluttering heart directly to a kite flying in the wind using 'pol'.

Uruvagaim (Metaphor)

Kulikkuthu rosa naathu

Metaphorically addresses the woman as a delicate 'rosa naathu' (rose sapling) taking a bath.

Emonai (Initial Rhyme / Assonance)

Neer sotta nindralae jaladhosham thaan / Nee ingu podathae pagal vesham thaan

Matching starting sounds in consecutive lines ('Neer' / 'Nee').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Malar moodum nilai / Konjam vilagaatho

Rhyming of second consonant 'l' in 'Malar' and 'Nazhuvatho'/'Naal'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Poovilangu marked the debut of actor Murali in Tamil cinema, establishing him as a romantic hero. The music for the film was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu during their famous early 1980s collaboration era.

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