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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Aathoram Thoppukkulla

From Panchalankuruchi · 1996

Lyricist: Vairamuthu
Singer: Swarnalatha
Music director: Deva
Movie name: Panchalankuruchi
Movie release year: 1996
Lyrics added on: 17 Nov 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Aathoram thoppukullae

Aththaanai sandhikkathan

Aasai vechen

Aalaana saedhi solli

Adaiyaalam kattathaane

Aasai vechen

Kanagambaram eduthu

Kaiyaala nee thoduthu

Pinnaala vechivida

Aasai vechen

Mariyaadhai ellama

Machaane unnai pesi

Maaroda mallukatta

Aasai vechen

Athanaiyum poiyaachu raasa

Othaiyila nikkuthindha rosaa

Maaralavula thanniyila

Manja theichu naan kulikka

Marainjirunthu neeyum pakka

Aasai vechen

Pasuva pola mella vandhu

Kosuvathaiyum nee iluthu

Kusumbhu panna venuminnu

Aasai vechen

Kuthaatha mullu kuthi

Kudhikaalu valikkudhunnu

Madi melae kaalai poda

Aasai vechen

Athanaiyum poiyaachu raasa

Othaiyila nikkuthindha rosaa

Aathoram thoppukullae

Aththaanai sandhikkathan

Aasai vechen

Aalaana saedhi solli

Adaiyaalam kattathaane

Aasai vechen

Maekattu moolaiyila

Megam karukkaiyile

Sukku thanni vechithara

Aasai vechen

Macham kulirugira

Maargzhi maasathula

Machaanai thottu thoongha

Aasai vechen

Maaman kattum vaettiyilae

Manja karai ennadhunnu

Mandhaiyila ninnu solla

Aasai vechen

Rettikulam aasarikku

Pottiyila panam koduthu

Rettai thottil seiya solla

Aasai vechen

Athanaiyum poiyaachu raasa

Othaiyila nikkuthindha rosaa

Athaanin iduppukku

Annakayiru katta

Aasaivechen

Narukkaana dhegathukku

Nallennai theichuvidu

Aasai vechen

Venneerai kodhikka vechu

Machaanai kulikka vechu

Maarappu nanaiyathaanae

Aasai vechen

Maanthoppil kattilittu

Manam pola thottuthottu

Maaman kooda pesida than

Aasai vechen

Athanaiyum poiyaachu raasa

Othaiyila nikkuthindha rosaa

Aathoram thoppukullae

Aththaanai sandhikkathan

Aasai vechen

Aalaana saedhi solli

Adaiyaalam kattathaane

Aasai vechen

In the grove beside the river,

To meet my beloved,

I had longed.

To tell you that I have come of age,

And show you all the signs,

I had longed.

Picking kanagambaram flowers,

For you to string them with your hands,

And tuck them in my hair from behind,

I had longed.

Dropping all formalities,

To tease you freely, my darling,

And wrestle playfully against your chest,

I had longed.

It has all turned out to be a lie, my king;

This rose now stands all alone.

Standing in chest-deep water,

Rubbing turmeric on my skin as I bathe,

For you to watch me from your hiding place,

I had longed.

Creeping up quietly like a gentle cow,

Tugging at the pleats of my saree,

For you to play mischievous games with me,

I had longed.

Pretending an invisible thorn pricked me,

And complaining that my heel hurts,

To rest my foot upon your lap,

I had longed.

It has all turned out to be a lie, my king;

This rose now stands all alone.

In the grove beside the river,

To meet my beloved,

I had longed.

To tell you that I have come of age,

And show you all the signs,

I had longed.

In the western corner of the sky,

When dark rain clouds gather,

To brew you warm dry-ginger tea,

I had longed.

In the freezing cold

Of the winter month of Margazhi,

To sleep snuggling close to my man,

I had longed.

On the dhoti my lover wears,

Pointing out the yellow turmeric stains as mine,

To stand at the village square and proudly say it,

I had longed.

To the carpenter from Rettikulam,

Giving money from my savings box,

To order a twin cradle made,

I had longed.

It has all turned out to be a lie, my king;

This rose now stands all alone.

Around my beloved's waist,

To tie a protective black waist-cord,

I had longed.

All over your strong, handsome body,

To gently massage sesame oil,

I had longed.

Boiling a pot of hot water,

Giving my man a warm bath,

Letting the drape of my saree get drenched,

I had longed.

Laying a cot in the mango grove,

Caressing you to my heart's content,

To talk with my lover through the night,

I had longed.

It has all turned out to be a lie, my king;

This rose now stands all alone.

In the grove beside the river,

To meet my beloved,

I had longed.

To tell you that I have come of age,

And show you all the signs,

I had longed.

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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song expresses the deep longing, unfulfilled romantic desires, and poignant grief of a rural young woman. She reminisces about all the intimate marital and pre-marital moments she had dreamed of sharing with her beloved cousin (athaan)—from breaking the news of her womanhood and sharing innocent playful moments to caring for him, raising a family with twin babies, and growing old together. Every verse builds up a vivid picture of traditional village romance and domestic warmth, ending with the recurring, sorrowful refrain that all her dreams proved false and she is left abandoned like a solitary rose.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Refrain

“Aasai vechen”

The repetition of 'Aasai vechen' (I desired/longed for) at the end of every short strophe creates a rhythmic beat of relentless longing and heartbreak.

Metaphor

“Othaiyila nikkuthindha rosaa”

The heroine metaphorically compares herself to a solitary rose standing abandoned ('Othaiyila nikkuthindha rosaa').

Simile

“Pasuva pola mella vandhu”

The singer compares her gentle approach to that of a docile cow ('Pasuva pola mella vandhu').

Edhukai (Second-letter rhyme)

“Aathoram thoppukullae / Aththaanai sandhikkathan”

Rhyming of the second consonant sound in Tamil poetry across adjacent lines, such as 'Aathoram' and 'Aththaanai'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Aasai Vechen' from Panchalankuruchi (1996) is one of composer Deva's most acclaimed emotional folk melodies, sung with deep pathos by Swarnalatha. Lyricist Vairamuthu captured authentic southern Tamil Nadu rural marital customs and imagery, making it an iconic folk-ballad track of the 1990s.

Keep listening

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