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Lyrics & meaning

Aathoram Maramirukku

From Guru Dhatchanai · 1969

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
T. Pugazhenthi
Details
Guru Dhatchanai1969

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Adi aayi aayi aayi uyyi aa(Folk vocalization)
Female
Aaathoram maramirukkuThere is a tree on the riverbank,
Kaathada edam irukkuThere is a breezy spot to rest,
Aalaana ponnirukkenHere I am, a young woman who has come of age,
Kannu machaanOh my dear beloved,
Konjam appadi ippadi pathakkaIf you panic or hesitate like this,
Enna machanWhat is the matter, my beloved?
Female
Aaathoram maramirukkuThere is a tree on the riverbank,
Kaathada edam irukkuThere is a breezy spot to rest,
Aalaana ponnirukkenHere I am, a young woman who has come of age,
Kannu machaanOh my dear beloved,
Konjam appadi ippadi pathakkaIf you panic or hesitate like this,
Enna machanWhat is the matter, my beloved?
Adi aayi aayi aayi uyyi aa(Folk vocalization)
Female
Maasi madha sandhaiyilaeIn the village fair during the month of Maasi,
Machaan onnai pakkalaiyaeMy beloved, I couldn't spot you,
Maasi madha sandhaiyilaeIn the village fair during the month of Maasi,
Machaan onnai pakkalaiyaeMy beloved, I couldn't spot you,
Manasai vittu pesinenaeI spoke to you straight from my heart,
Kannu machanOh my dear beloved,
Andha marumam kooda puriyalaiyaDid you not even understand that subtle secret?
Sollu machaanTell me, my beloved.
Female
Jalli kattu kalaigalaiHands that embrace and tame
Alli kattum kaigalukkuThe fierce bulls of Jallikattu,
Ennai katta theriyalaiyaDo they not know how to hold and embrace me?
Kannu machaanOh my dear beloved,
Jalli kattu kalaigalaiHands that embrace and tame
Alli kattum kaigalukkuThe fierce bulls of Jallikattu,
Ennai katta theriyalaiyaDo they not know how to hold and embrace me?
Kannu machaanOh my dear beloved,
Innum enna solli puriya veippenHow else shall I explain and make you understand?
Sollu machaanTell me, my beloved.
Adi aayi aayi aayi ayyi(Folk vocalization)
Female
Aaathoram maramirukkuThere is a tree on the riverbank,
Kaathada edam irukkuThere is a breezy spot to rest,
Aalaana ponnirukkenHere I am, a young woman who has come of age,
Kannu machaanOh my dear beloved,
Konjam appadi ippadi pathakkaIf you panic or hesitate like this,
Enna machanWhat is the matter, my beloved?
Female
Thoongalaiyae un nenappuThoughts of you didn't let me sleep,
Ahaa..haa.Ah... ha...
Thoongalaiyae un nenappuThoughts of you didn't let me sleep,
Thottadhu pol oru kanavuA dream felt as if you actually touched me,
Thoongalaiyae un nenappuThoughts of you didn't let me sleep,
Thottadhu pol oru kanavuA dream felt as if you actually touched me,
Vizhikkum podhu kanalaiyaeWhen I woke up, you were nowhere to be found,
Kannu machaanOh my dear beloved,
Nee vellanavae poyitiyaDid you really go away completely?
Sollu machaanTell me, my beloved.
Female
Andhi saanthi nerathulaDuring the quiet twilight hours of dusk,
Chandrinai saatchi vechiKeeping the moon as my sole witness,
Thandhirama kaathirundhenI cleverly waited for you,
Kannu machaanOh my dear beloved,
Andhi saanthi nerathulaDuring the quiet twilight hours of dusk,
Chandrinai saatchi vechiKeeping the moon as my sole witness,
Thandhirama kaathirundhenI cleverly waited for you,
Kannu machaanOh my dear beloved,
Andha mandhiratha marandhitiyaDid you forget that secret magic spell?
Sollu machaanTell me, my beloved.
Adi aayi aayi aayi ayyi(Folk vocalization)
Female
Aaathoram maramirukkuThere is a tree on the riverbank,
Kaathada edam irukkuThere is a breezy spot to rest,
Aalaana ponnirukkenHere I am, a young woman who has come of age,
Kannu machaanOh my dear beloved,
Konjam appadi ippadi pathakkaIf you panic or hesitate like this,
Enna machanWhat is the matter, my beloved?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic Tamil folk-style romantic song expresses the playful teasing and deep yearning of a young woman for her beloved ('machaan'). Set against rural imagery like riverbanks, village fairs ('Maasi sandhai'), and traditional bull-taming ('Jallikattu'), the protagonist playfully chides her lover for his bashfulness and inability to grasp her romantic hints. She questions how someone brave enough to tame wild bulls can be so shy when it comes to expressing love to her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaai (Alliteration)

Aaathoram maramirukku / Aalaana ponnirukken

Matching initial consonants across words in a line, such as 'Aaathoram' and 'Aalaana' or 'Manasai' and 'Marumam'.

Ethirai (Rhyme)

Jalli kattu kalaigalai / Alli kattum kaigalukku

Second letter rhyming across consecutive lines, seen in 'Jalli' and 'Alli', or 'Thoongalaiyae' and 'Thottadhu'.

Metaphor & Rural Imagery

Jalli kattu kalaigalai alli kattum kaigalukku ennai katta theriyalaiya

Comparing the bravery required in Jallikattu bull-taming with the courage needed to embrace love.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by T. Pugazhenthi with lyrics by Kannadasan, 'Guru Dhatchanai' (1969) features this iconic folk track rendered by P. Susheela. Pugazhenthi, who worked extensively as a long-time assistant to K. V. Mahadevan, brought a distinct native folk texture to this composition.

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