Aathangara Marame
From Kizhakku Cheemayile · 1993
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Mano, Sujatha Mohan
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Kizhakku Cheemayile1993
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aththaiku pirandhavalae | Oh girl born to my aunt, |
| Aalaagi nindravalae | Oh girl who has grown into womanhood, |
| Paruvam sumandhu varum | Carrying youth with you, |
| Paavaadai thamaraiyae | Oh lotus in a skirt, |
| Male | |
| Thattaam poochi pidithaval | The girl who used to catch dragonflies, |
| Thaavaniku vandhadheppo | When did she come into a half-saree? |
| Moondram piraiyae nee | You who were like a third-day crescent moon, |
| Muzhu nilavaanadheppo | When did you become a full moon? |
| Mounathil nee irundhaa | If you remain in silence, |
| Yaarai thaan ketpadheppo ooooh | Whom else can I ask? Ooooh... |
| Male | |
| { Aathangara maramae arasamara ilaiyae | { Tree on the riverbank, leaf of the sacred fig tree, |
| Aalamara kilaiyae adhilurangum kiliyae } (2) | Branch of the banyan tree, parrot sleeping on it } (2) |
| Male | |
| Odakara olavu kaatula oruthi yaaru | Who is that girl in the ploughed field by the stream? |
| Iva vedichu nikura paruthi | She stands blooming like a bursting cotton pod. |
| Thaavi vandhu sandaiyidum | Is that the face, |
| Andha mugamaa | That used to leap and fight? |
| Male | |
| Thaavaniku vandhadhoru | Is this a flower garden, |
| Nandhavanamaa | That has arrived into a half-saree? |
| Ulla sontham enna vittu pogaadhu | The inner bond between us will never leave me, |
| Ada oda thanni uppu thanni aagaadhu | Ah, stream water will never become salty sea water. |
| Female | |
| Aathangara maramae arasamara elaiyae | Tree on the riverbank, leaf of the sacred fig tree, |
| Aalamara kilaiyae adhilurangum kiliyae | Branch of the banyan tree, parrot sleeping on it. |
| Male | |
| ……………………………… | ........................ |
| Female | |
| Mamanae unna thaangama | Oh uncle, unable to bear your absence, |
| Mathiyil sorum pongama | Without even cooking rice at noon, |
| Paavi naan paruthi maaraa ponenae | I, a sinner, withered away like cotton. |
| Female | |
| Kaagam thaan kathi ponaalum | Even if the crow cawed, |
| Kadhavu thaan satham pottaalum | Even if the door made a sound, |
| On mugam paaka odi vandhenae | I ran out to see your face. |
| Female | |
| Othaiyil oda karaiyoram | Alone on the banks of the stream, |
| Kathiyae on per sonnenae | I called out your name loudly. |
| Othaiyil odum rayil oram | Beside the solitary running train, |
| Kathiyae on per sonnenae | I called out your name loudly. |
| Andha rayil dhooram ponadhum | Once that train went far away, |
| Neram aanadhum kanneer vittenae | And time passed by, I shed tears. |
| Female | |
| Muthu mama enna vittu pogadhae | Muthu mama, please do not leave me, |
| En otha usuru pona meendum vaaradhae | If my single life leaves, it will never return. |
| Male | |
| Aathangara maramae arasamara ilaiyae | Tree on the riverbank, leaf of the sacred fig tree, |
| Aalamara kilaiyae adhilurangum kiliyae | Branch of the banyan tree, parrot sleeping on it. |
| Male | |
| Thaavani ponnae sogam thaanaa | Oh girl in half-saree, are you sad? |
| Thangamae thazhumbum sogam thaanaa | Oh golden girl, is even your scar sad? |
| Paaraiyil chinna paadham sogam thaanaa | Is the little foot on the rock sad? |
| Male | |
| Thotta poo ellam sogam thaanaa | Are all the flowers touched sad? |
| Thodaadha poovum sogam thaanaa | Are even the untouched flowers sad? |
| Thopula jodi marangal sogam thaanaa | Are the pair of trees in the grove sad? |
| Male | |
| { Aithaiyum mamanum sogam thaanaa | { Are aunt and uncle sad? |
| Aathula meenum sogam thaanaa } (2) | Are the fish in the river sad? } (2) |
| Annamae unnaium ennaium | Oh swan-like girl, you and me, |
| Thooki valartha thinnaium sogam thaanaa | Is even the verandah that raised us sad? |
| Male | |
| Maaman ponnae macham paarthu naazhaachu | Oh cousin, it has been days since I saw your beauty spot, |
| Un machaanuku mayila pasuvu thodhaachu | Your cousin has matched a peacowl cow for you. |
| Female | |
| Aathangara maramae arasamara ilaiyae | Tree on the riverbank, leaf of the sacred fig tree, |
| Aalamara kilaiyae adhilurangum kiliyae | Branch of the banyan tree, parrot sleeping on it. |
| Male | |
| Odakara olavu kaatula oruthi yaaru | Who is that girl in the ploughed field by the stream? |
| Iva vedichu nikura paruthi | She stands blooming like a bursting cotton pod. |
| Thaavi vandhu sandaiyidum | Is that the face, |
| Andha mugamaa | That used to leap and fight? |
| Thaavaniku vandhadhoru | Is this a flower garden, |
| Nandhavanamaa | That has arrived into a half-saree? |
| Female | |
| Ulla sondham enna vittu pogaadhu | The inner bond between us will never leave me, |
| Ada oda thanni uppu thanni aagaadhu | Ah, stream water will never become salty sea water. |
| Male | |
| Aathangara maramae arasamara ilaiyae | Tree on the riverbank, leaf of the sacred fig tree, |
| Aalamara kilaiyae adhilurangum kiliyae | Branch of the banyan tree, parrot sleeping on it. |
அத்தைக்கு
பிறந்தவளே ஆளாகி
நின்றவளே பருவம்
சுமந்து வரும் பாவாடை
தாமரையே
Oh girl born to my aunt,
Oh girl who has grown into womanhood,
Carrying youth with you,
Oh lotus in a skirt,
தட்டாம்பூச்சி
பிடித்தவள் தாவணிக்கு
வந்ததெப்போ மூன்றாம்
பிறையே நீ முழு நிலவா
ஆனதெப்போ மெளனத்தில்
நீ இருந்தா யாரை தான்
கேட்பதெப்போ ஓ.......
The girl who used to catch dragonflies,
When did she come into a half-saree?
You who were like a third-day crescent moon,
When did you become a full moon?
If you remain in silence,
Whom else can I ask? Ooooh...
{ ஆத்தங்கரை
மரமே அரச மர இலையே
ஆலமர கிளையே அதில்
உறங்கும் கிளியே } (2)
{ Tree on the riverbank, leaf of the sacred fig tree,
Branch of the banyan tree, parrot sleeping on it } (2)
ஓடைக்கர ஒழவு
காட்டுல ஒருத்தி யாரு
இவ வெடிச்சி நிக்குற
பருத்தி தாவி வந்து
சண்டை இடும் அந்த
முகமா
Who is that girl in the ploughed field by the stream?
She stands blooming like a bursting cotton pod.
Is that the face,
That used to leap and fight?
தாவணிக்கு
வந்ததொரு நந்தவனமா
உள்ள சொந்தம் என்ன
விட்டு போகாது அட
ஓடத்தண்ணி உப்பு
தண்ணி ஆகாது
Is this a flower garden,
That has arrived into a half-saree?
The inner bond between us will never leave me,
Ah, stream water will never become salty sea water.
ஆத்தங்கரை
மரமே அரசமர இலையே
ஆலமர கிளையே அதில்
உறங்கும் கிளியே
Tree on the riverbank, leaf of the sacred fig tree,
Branch of the banyan tree, parrot sleeping on it.
...........................
........................
மாமனே உன்னை
தாங்காம மத்தியில்
சோறும் பொங்காம பாவி
நான் பருத்தி மாரா போனேனே
Oh uncle, unable to bear your absence,
Without even cooking rice at noon,
I, a sinner, withered away like cotton.
காகம் தான்
கத்தி போனாலும்
கதவு தான் சத்தம்
போட்டாலும் உன்
முகம் பாக்க ஓடி
வந்தேனே
Even if the crow cawed,
Even if the door made a sound,
I ran out to see your face.
ஒத்தையில்
ஓடைக்கரையோரம்
கத்தியே உன் பேர்
சொன்னேனே ஒத்தையில்
ஓடும் ரயில் ஓரம் கத்தியே
உன் பேர் சொன்னேனே
அந்த இரயில் தூரம்
போனதும் நேரம் ஆனதும்
கண்ணீர் விட்டேனே
Alone on the banks of the stream,
I called out your name loudly.
Beside the solitary running train,
I called out your name loudly.
Once that train went far away,
And time passed by, I shed tears.
முத்து மாமா
என்னை விட்டு
போகாதே என் ஒத்த
உசுரு போனா மீண்டும்
வாராதே
Muthu mama, please do not leave me,
If my single life leaves, it will never return.
ஆத்தங்கரை
மரமே அரசமர இலையே
ஆலமர கிளையே அதில்
உறங்கும் கிளியே
Tree on the riverbank, leaf of the sacred fig tree,
Branch of the banyan tree, parrot sleeping on it.
தாவணி
பொண்ணே சுகந்தானா
தங்கமே தளும்பும்
சுகந்தானா பாறையில்
சின்ன பாதம் சுகந்தானா
Oh girl in half-saree, are you sad?
Oh golden girl, is even your scar sad?
Is the little foot on the rock sad?
தொட்ட பூ
எல்லாம் சுகந்தானா
தொடாத பூவும் சுகந்தானா
தோப்புல ஜோடி மரங்கள்
சுகந்தானா
Are all the flowers touched sad?
Are even the untouched flowers sad?
Are the pair of trees in the grove sad?
{ அயித்தயும்
மாமனும் சுகந்தானா
ஆத்துல மீனும் சுகந்தானா } (2)
அன்னமே உன்னையும்
என்னையும் தூக்கி வளர்த்த
திண்ணையும் சுகந்தானா
{ Are aunt and uncle sad?
Are the fish in the river sad? } (2)
Oh swan-like girl, you and me,
Is even the verandah that raised us sad?
மாமன்
பொண்ணே மச்சம்
பார்த்து நாளாச்சு
உன் மச்சானுக்கு
மயிலப் பசுவு தோதாச்சு
Oh cousin, it has been days since I saw your beauty spot,
Your cousin has matched a peacowl cow for you.
ஆத்தங்கரை
மரமே அரசமர இலையே
ஆலமர கிளையே அதில்
உறங்கும் கிளியே
Tree on the riverbank, leaf of the sacred fig tree,
Branch of the banyan tree, parrot sleeping on it.
ஓடைக்கர ஒழவு
காட்டுல ஒருத்தி யாரு
இவ வெடிச்சி நிக்குற
பருத்தி தாவி வந்து
சண்டை இடும் அந்த
முகமா தாவணிக்கு
வந்ததொரு நந்தவனமா
Who is that girl in the ploughed field by the stream?
She stands blooming like a bursting cotton pod.
Is that the face,
That used to leap and fight?
Is this a flower garden,
That has arrived into a half-saree?
உள்ள சொந்தம்
என்ன விட்டு போகாது
அட ஓடத்தண்ணி உப்பு
தண்ணி ஆகாது
The inner bond between us will never leave me,
Ah, stream water will never become salty sea water.
ஆத்தங்கரை
மரமே அரசமர இலையே
ஆலமர கிளையே அதில்
உறங்கும் கிளியே
Tree on the riverbank, leaf of the sacred fig tree,
Branch of the banyan tree, parrot sleeping on it.
Aththaiku pirandhavalae
Oh girl born to my aunt,
Aalaagi nindravalae
Oh girl who has grown into womanhood,
Paruvam sumandhu varum
Carrying youth with you,
Paavaadai thamaraiyae
Oh lotus in a skirt,
Thattaam poochi pidithaval
The girl who used to catch dragonflies,
Thaavaniku vandhadheppo
When did she come into a half-saree?
Moondram piraiyae nee
You who were like a third-day crescent moon,
Muzhu nilavaanadheppo
When did you become a full moon?
Mounathil nee irundhaa
If you remain in silence,
Yaarai thaan ketpadheppo ooooh
Whom else can I ask? Ooooh...
{ Aathangara maramae arasamara ilaiyae
{ Tree on the riverbank, leaf of the sacred fig tree,
Aalamara kilaiyae adhilurangum kiliyae } (2)
Branch of the banyan tree, parrot sleeping on it } (2)
Odakara olavu kaatula oruthi yaaru
Who is that girl in the ploughed field by the stream?
Iva vedichu nikura paruthi
She stands blooming like a bursting cotton pod.
Thaavi vandhu sandaiyidum
Is that the face,
Andha mugamaa
That used to leap and fight?
Thaavaniku vandhadhoru
Is this a flower garden,
Nandhavanamaa
That has arrived into a half-saree?
Ulla sontham enna vittu pogaadhu
The inner bond between us will never leave me,
Ada oda thanni uppu thanni aagaadhu
Ah, stream water will never become salty sea water.
Aathangara maramae arasamara elaiyae
Tree on the riverbank, leaf of the sacred fig tree,
Aalamara kilaiyae adhilurangum kiliyae
Branch of the banyan tree, parrot sleeping on it.
………………………………
........................
Mamanae unna thaangama
Oh uncle, unable to bear your absence,
Mathiyil sorum pongama
Without even cooking rice at noon,
Paavi naan paruthi maaraa ponenae
I, a sinner, withered away like cotton.
Kaagam thaan kathi ponaalum
Even if the crow cawed,
Kadhavu thaan satham pottaalum
Even if the door made a sound,
On mugam paaka odi vandhenae
I ran out to see your face.
Othaiyil oda karaiyoram
Alone on the banks of the stream,
Kathiyae on per sonnenae
I called out your name loudly.
Othaiyil odum rayil oram
Beside the solitary running train,
Kathiyae on per sonnenae
I called out your name loudly.
Andha rayil dhooram ponadhum
Once that train went far away,
Neram aanadhum kanneer vittenae
And time passed by, I shed tears.
Muthu mama enna vittu pogadhae
Muthu mama, please do not leave me,
En otha usuru pona meendum vaaradhae
If my single life leaves, it will never return.
Aathangara maramae arasamara ilaiyae
Tree on the riverbank, leaf of the sacred fig tree,
Aalamara kilaiyae adhilurangum kiliyae
Branch of the banyan tree, parrot sleeping on it.
Thaavani ponnae sogam thaanaa
Oh girl in half-saree, are you sad?
Thangamae thazhumbum sogam thaanaa
Oh golden girl, is even your scar sad?
Paaraiyil chinna paadham sogam thaanaa
Is the little foot on the rock sad?
Thotta poo ellam sogam thaanaa
Are all the flowers touched sad?
Thodaadha poovum sogam thaanaa
Are even the untouched flowers sad?
Thopula jodi marangal sogam thaanaa
Are the pair of trees in the grove sad?
{ Aithaiyum mamanum sogam thaanaa
{ Are aunt and uncle sad?
Aathula meenum sogam thaanaa } (2)
Are the fish in the river sad? } (2)
Annamae unnaium ennaium
Oh swan-like girl, you and me,
Thooki valartha thinnaium sogam thaanaa
Is even the verandah that raised us sad?
Maaman ponnae macham paarthu naazhaachu
Oh cousin, it has been days since I saw your beauty spot,
Un machaanuku mayila pasuvu thodhaachu
Your cousin has matched a peacowl cow for you.
Aathangara maramae arasamara ilaiyae
Tree on the riverbank, leaf of the sacred fig tree,
Aalamara kilaiyae adhilurangum kiliyae
Branch of the banyan tree, parrot sleeping on it.
Odakara olavu kaatula oruthi yaaru
Who is that girl in the ploughed field by the stream?
Iva vedichu nikura paruthi
She stands blooming like a bursting cotton pod.
Thaavi vandhu sandaiyidum
Is that the face,
Andha mugamaa
That used to leap and fight?
Thaavaniku vandhadhoru
Is this a flower garden,
Nandhavanamaa
That has arrived into a half-saree?
Ulla sondham enna vittu pogaadhu
The inner bond between us will never leave me,
Ada oda thanni uppu thanni aagaadhu
Ah, stream water will never become salty sea water.
Aathangara maramae arasamara ilaiyae
Tree on the riverbank, leaf of the sacred fig tree,
Aalamara kilaiyae adhilurangum kiliyae
Branch of the banyan tree, parrot sleeping on it.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Aathangara Marame is a soulful and nostalgic Tamil song from the 1993 film Kizhakku Cheemayile, composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu. The song vividly evokes rural landscapes while exploring the innocent childhood love and deep emotional bond between cross-cousins growing up in a village. Through rich nature imagery, the lyricist traces the girl's transition from a playful child catching dragonflies to a young woman, highlighting how familial ties remain pure and indestructible despite distance or sorrow.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)
“Paavaadai thamaraiyae / Moondram piraiyae nee Muzhu nilavaanadheppo”
Compares the young girl growing up to a lotus in a skirt and a crescent moon transforming into a full moon.
Analogy (Upamai)
“Ulla sontham enna vittu pogaadhu / Ada oda thanni uppu thanni aagaadhu”
Compares inherent familial affection to natural water bodies, stating that true kinship cannot lose its essence just as freshwater streams do not become salty.
Anaphora & Rhetorical Refrain
“Thaavani ponnae sogam thaanaa / Thangamae thazhumbum sogam thaanaa”
Repetition of 'sogam thaanaa' across multiple lines emphasizes shared grief across people, nature, and surroundings.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by A. R. Rahman for Bharathiraja's rural drama Kizhakku Cheemayile (1993), this song became an iconic hit known for its rich folk melody and expressive singing by Mano and Sujatha Rangarajan.
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