Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Adhikari album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aathoram Poonthoppu

From Adhikari · 1991

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Movie name
Adhikari
Movie release year
1991
Lyrics added on
12 Mar 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aathoram poonthoppu
Female :O o o
Male :Adha thaandi maanthoppu
Female :O o o  o o o
Aathoram poonthoppu
Adha thaandi maanthoppu
Maanthoppil paai pottu
Maravaaga thaalaattu
Thaalaattu nee kaettu
Dhigttaadha thaenoottu
Thaenootta thaenotta
Sudhi yerum empaattu
Aathoram poonthoppu
Adha thaandi maanthoppu
Male :Hae hae hae
Maanthoppil paai pottu
Maravaaga thaalaattu
Oththaiyil thaan naanum veghu naala
Ullara vendhu thavichen
Vithagalathaan kaatta mudiyaama
Unnaattam naanum thudichen
Eecham paai onnu virikka solli
Rombha paduthuriye
Eera saelaya pola enni
Ennai pizhiyariyae
Adi neram kaalam paatha
Thaangidaathu aathaa
Naan oottuven kattuven
Muttuven othukidanum
Aathoram poonthoppu
Adha thaandi maanthoppu
Male :Maanthoppil paai pottu
Maravaaga thaalaattu
Aathoram poonthoppu
Adha thaandi maanthoppu..o o o
Onnukkonnu thaan pesi usupaadhe
Undaachu kilukiluppu
Unna polathaan naanum uravaada
Vandhaachu surusuruppu
Adi yaarenna kekkuradhu
Ingu koothadichaa
Nenjil aanandha oothu varum
Unna saethanachaa
Idhu kaipadatha pinju
Paathu paathu konju
Nee allinaa vegamaa killinaa
Maeni valikkum
Aathoram poonthoppu..o o o
Female :Adha thaandi maanthoppu..o o o
Aathoram poonthoppu
Adha thaandi maanthoppu
Female :Maanthoppil paai pottu
Maravaaga thaalaattu
Thaalaattu nee kaettu
Dhigttaadha thaenoottu
Female :Thaenootta thaenotta
Sudhi yerum empaattu
Aathoram poonthoppu
Adha thaandi maanthoppu
Female :Maanthoppil paai pottu
Maravaaga thaalaattu
A flower grove by the riverbank,
Female: Oh oh oh...
Male: And beyond that, a mango grove!
Female: Oh oh oh, oh oh oh...
A flower grove by the riverbank,
And beyond that, a mango grove.
Spreading a mat in the mango grove,
Sing an unforgettable lullaby.
Listen to the lullaby,
And feed me never-ending honey.
As honey is fed and flows like a stream,
My song will rise in tune and tempo.
A flower grove by the riverbank,
And beyond that, a mango grove.
Male: Hey hey hey!
Spreading a mat in the mango grove,
Sing an unforgettable lullaby.
All alone for many days,
I burned and suffered within.
Unable to show my romantic charms,
Just like you, I too was yearning.
Asking me to spread a palm-leaf mat,
You tease and trouble me so much.
Treating me like a wet saree,
You squeeze all the life out of me.
Girl, if we keep waiting for the right time,
This burning desire won't hold back.
I will feed you sweet love and hold you tight,
I will come close, and you must give in.
A flower grove by the riverbank,
And beyond that, a mango grove.
Male: Spreading a mat in the mango grove,
Sing an unforgettable lullaby.
A flower grove by the riverbank,
And beyond that, a mango grove... oh oh oh!
Don't stir me up with your teasing talk,
A playful thrill has already started.
Just like you, to be close with you,
The excitement has already set in.
Girl, who is going to question us,
If we celebrate and have our fun here?
A spring of joy will flow in my heart,
If I hold you close in an embrace.
This is an untouched, tender fruit,
Cherish and handle it gently.
If you grab or pinch me roughly,
My body will ache.
A flower grove by the riverbank... oh oh oh!
Female: And beyond that, a mango grove... oh oh oh!
A flower grove by the riverbank,
And beyond that, a mango grove.
Female: Spreading a mat in the mango grove,
Sing an unforgettable lullaby.
Listen to the lullaby,
And feed me never-ending honey.
Female: As honey is fed and flows like a stream,
My song will rise in tune and tempo.
A flower grove by the riverbank,
And beyond that, a mango grove.
Female: Spreading a mat in the mango grove,
Sing an unforgettable lullaby.
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful duet features a couple expressing their mutual passion and romantic longing in an idyllic natural setting—a flower garden and mango grove near a river. The male and female leads exchange flirtatious lyrics about waiting too long in solitude and now being overcome with desire. They use vivid folk imagery, such as date-palm mats and wet sarees being wrung out, to convey intimacy, while tenderly cautioning each other to be gentle in their affection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Monosyllabic Second-Letter Rhyme)

Aathoram poonthoppu / Adha thaandi maanthoppu

Matching second letter 'tha' / 'tha' across line beginnings creates rhythmic harmony in 'Aathoram' and 'Adha'.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Undaachu kilukiluppu / Vandhaachu surusuruppu

The lines end with rhyming folk-style words ('kilukiluppu' and 'surusuruppu').

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Eera saelaya pola enni / Ennai pizhiyariyae

Comparing oneself to a wet saree being wrung out to represent overwhelming romantic intensity.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Gangai Amaran for the 1991 Tamil action drama film 'Adhikari' starring Arjun Sarja, the song features classic folk-pop instrumentation characteristic of early 90s Tamil cinema, brought to life by the legendary duo SPB and KS Chithra.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Adhikari

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.