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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aathankarai Kaathukku

From Kuzhanthai Ullam · 1969

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
S. P. Kothandapani
Movie name
Kuzhanthai Ullam
Movie release year
1969
Lyrics added on
30 Jul 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hoo oo oo ooo
Aathangarai kaathukku vayasu
Adi poduthu ilavattam manasu
Pazhamattam amarudhu vandu
Pallakku poochendu
Pazhamattam amarudhu vandu
Pallakku poochendu
Aathangarai kaathukku vayasu
Adi poduthu ilavattam manasu
Pazhamattam amarudhu vandu
Pallakku poochendu
Pazhamattam amarudhu vandu
Pallakku poochendu
Kodu potta paavadai
Kolam podum melaadai
Jodi pottu pennai mella
Thottu sellum poovaadai..
Lalalaaa…hoooo
Kodu potta paavadai
Kolam podum melaadai
Jodi pottu pennai mella
Thottu sellum poovaadai..
Adi amma ullam sirisu
Aanaalum ennam perisu
Ariyaadha paruvathinaalae
Athanaiyum putham pudhusu
Aathangarai kaathukku vayasu
Adi poduthu ilavattam manasu
Pazhamattam amarudhu vandu
Pallakku poochendu ooo ooo
Pazhamattam amarudhu vandu
Pallakku poochendu ooo ooo
Humming…
Thaenattam malligai mottu
Meenattam kunguma pottu
Neerottam kaalgalil pattu
Thaerattam aadudhu sittu
Munnu pinnum valaiyudhu naanal
Muthamittu paadudhu paadal
Kanni pennai thazhuvudhu naanam
Kaalam thaan badhil solla venum
Aathangarai kaathukku vayasu
Adi poduthu ilavattam manasu
Pazhamattam amarudhu vandu
Pallakku poochendu
Pazhamattam amarudhu vandu
Pallakku poochendu
Moongilodu kaatrada
Munnum pinnum ilaiyaada
Thaengi nirkkum pani thuliyodu
Chinna ponnu vizhiyaada
Sidharattam aadudhu kaadu
Thaalam pottu odudhu aaru
Sidharattam aadudhu kaadu
Thaalam pottu odudhu aaru
Saayangaala neram sollum
Sangadhigal nooru
Aathangarai kaathukku vayasu
Adi poduthu ilavattam manasu
Pazhamattam amarudhu vandu
Pallakku poochendu
Pazhamattam amarudhu vandu
Pallakku poochendu
Pazhamatta amarudhu vandu
Pallakku poochendu
Ooh ooh ooh ooh...
The riverside breeze has grown youthful,
And the young heart begins to dance!
The honeybee settles on the sweet fruit,
A palanquin made of flowers!
The honeybee settles on the sweet fruit,
A palanquin made of flowers!
The riverside breeze has grown youthful,
And the young heart begins to dance!
The honeybee settles on the sweet fruit,
A palanquin made of flowers!
The honeybee settles on the sweet fruit,
A palanquin made of flowers!
A striped skirt,
A shawl creating lovely patterns,
Joining together with the girl,
The flower-scented breeze gently brushes by...
La la la... oh...
A striped skirt,
A shawl creating lovely patterns,
Joining together with the girl,
The flower-scented breeze gently brushes by...
Oh dear, the heart is so small,
Yet its thoughts are so grand!
Because of this innocent age,
Everything feels brand new.
The riverside breeze has grown youthful,
And the young heart begins to dance!
The honeybee settles on the sweet fruit,
A palanquin made of flowers, ooh ooh...
The honeybee settles on the sweet fruit,
A palanquin made of flowers, ooh ooh...
(Humming...)
The jasmine bud is sweet like honey,
The red bindi dot is shaped like a fish,
As the flowing water touches her feet,
The little bird sways like a grand chariot!
The reed bends forward and back,
Kissing gently and singing a song.
Shyness embraces the young girl,
Only time will give the answers.
The riverside breeze has grown youthful,
And the young heart begins to dance!
The honeybee settles on the sweet fruit,
A palanquin made of flowers!
The honeybee settles on the sweet fruit,
A palanquin made of flowers!
As the wind plays with the bamboo,
And the leaves sway back and forth,
Along with the resting dewdrop,
The young girl's eyes dance.
The forest dances like the strum of a sitar,
The river flows keeping the rhythm!
The forest dances like the strum of a sitar,
The river flows keeping the rhythm!
The evening hour whispers
A hundred lovely stories.
The riverside breeze has grown youthful,
And the young heart begins to dance!
The honeybee settles on the sweet fruit,
A palanquin made of flowers!
The honeybee settles on the sweet fruit,
A palanquin made of flowers!
The honeybee settles on the sweet fruit,
A palanquin made of flowers!
Female
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Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Aathangarai Kaathukku Vayasu is a classic Tamil song celebrating youthfulness, nature, and the subtle awakening of maidenly feelings. Through poetic metaphors involving river breezes, blooming flowers, buzzing bees, and dancing bamboos, lyricist Kannadasan captures the innocent excitement of youth transition. The song vividly intertwines human emotion with the living rhythms of nature.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai Ani)

Thaenattam malligai mottu / Meenattam kunguma pottu

The suffix '-attam' is used repeatedly to construct vivid similes comparing nature to beauty and grace.

Personification (Tharkurippetta Ani)

Sidharattam aadudhu kaadu / Thaalam pottu odudhu aaru

Natural elements like the river beating rhythm and the forest playing games are given human actions.

Alliteration (Monai)

Aathangarai kaathukku vayasu / Adi poduthu ilavattam manasu

Repetition of initial letters creating melodic rhythm in Tamil poetry.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the 1969 film Kuzhanthai Ullam directed by Savitri, this song remains an iconic classic composed by S. P. Kothandapani and rendered by P. Susheela.

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