Aathu Meenu
From Enga Pattan Sothu · 1975
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Enga Pattan Sothu1975
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aahaa haa haa aa,,,,aa,,,, | Aahaa haa haa aa... aa... |
| Female :Ohho ho ho oo…. | Female: Ohho ho ho oo... |
| Male :Ehae ehae ehae yae…. | Male: Ehae ehae ehae yae... |
| Female :Laallaa | Female: Laallaa |
| Male :Laallaa | Male: Laallaa |
| Female :Laallaa | Female: Laallaa |
| Female | |
| Aaththu meenu karaiyil yaeruthu | The river fish climbs onto the shore, |
| Adhai ippothu kaattru vanthu thadavi paarkuthu | And now the wind comes and gently touches it. |
| Aaththu meenu karaiyil yaeruthu | The river fish climbs onto the shore, |
| Adhai ippothu kaattru vanthu thadavi paarkuthu | And now the wind comes and gently touches it. |
| Female | |
| Saeththu kovil vandu mothuthu adi ammaadi | A beetle bumps into the mud temple, oh my goodness! |
| Thaen kudichchu mayakkam poduthu adi ammaadi | Drinking honey, it swoons in intoxication, oh my goodness! |
| Thaen kudichchu mayakkam poduthu…. | Drinking honey, it swoons in intoxication... |
| Male | |
| Santhana marathai thottuu | Touching the sandalwood tree, |
| Thadavi pogum thendral kaaththu | The caressing gentle breeze passes by, |
| Manthiraththai solli poguthu | Whispering a magical chant as it goes. |
| Santhana marathai thottuu | Touching the sandalwood tree, |
| Thadavi pogum thendral kaaththu | The caressing gentle breeze passes by, |
| Manthiraththai solli poguthu | Whispering a magical chant as it goes. |
| Adhu yaedhetho manasukkullae dhoopam poduthu | It spreads a mysterious incense inside the heart. |
| Female | |
| Aaduthu thennaiyilae azhagaana ilaneeru | A beautiful tender coconut sways on the palm tree, |
| Aaduthu thennaiyilae azhagaana ilaneeru | A beautiful tender coconut sways on the palm tree, |
| Angae paaththu sangathi sollu adhu eppothu | Look over there and tell me the news, when will it happen? |
| Angae paaththu sangathi sollu | Look over there and tell me the news. |
| Female | |
| Kooduthu | Are mating... |
| Male :Aahaa | Male: Aahaa |
| Female :Anil irandu | Female: Two squirrels... |
| Male :Ohho | Male: Ohho |
| Female | |
| Kooduthu anil irandu | Two squirrels are coming together |
| Koiyyaa mara kilaithanilae | On the branch of the guava tree. |
| Kooda pogum neraththai sollu adhu eppothu | Tell me when our time to unite will come, when is it? |
| Kooda pogum neraththai sollu…. | Tell me the time we will unite... |
| Male | |
| Azhagu muzhuthum thirandu kidakkuthu | Beauty lies gathered in all its fullness, |
| Anthi neram irundu kidakkuthu | The twilight hour lies dark, |
| Pazhaga solli uyirai vaanguthu | Urging intimacy and tormenting my soul. |
| Azhagu muzhuthum thirandu kidakkuthu | Beauty lies gathered in all its fullness, |
| Anthi neram irundu kidakkuthu | The twilight hour lies dark, |
| Pazhaga solli uyirai vaanguthu | Urging intimacy and tormenting my soul. |
| Adi raasaathi paarkka paarkka manasu yaenguthu | Oh princess, the more I look, the more my heart longs. |
| Adi raasaathi paarkka paarkka manasu yaenguthu | Oh princess, the more I look, the more my heart longs. |
| Female | |
| Aah aaththu meenu karaiyil yaeruthu | Ah, the river fish climbs onto the shore, |
| Adhai ippothu kaattru vanthu thadavi paarkuthu | And now the wind comes and gently touches it. |
| Male | |
| ……………… | [Instrumental Interlude] |
| Female :…………….. | Female: [Vocalizing] |
| Male :……………. | Male: [Vocalizing] |
| Female :…………… | Female: [Vocalizing] |
| Female | |
| Kaattilae vilainjuthu paar | Look, grown in the forest, |
| Kaippadaatha nelli pazham | An untouched gooseberry fruit. |
| Kaattilae vilainjuthu paar | Look, grown in the forest, |
| Kaippadaatha nelli pazham | An untouched gooseberry fruit. |
| Kaiyai pottu parikka poriyaa | Are you going to reach out and pluck it? |
| Kaiyai pottu parikka poriyaa | Are you going to reach out and pluck it? |
| Adi aaththaadi kaiyai pottu parikka poriyaa | Oh my goodness, are you going to reach out and pluck it? |
| Female | |
| Koottilae kuyilai pola | Like a cuckoo bird in its nest, |
| Kumukumunnu konji pesi | Cooing lovingly and intimately, |
| Kottu melam kotti mudichchi | Finishing the wedding drums celebration, |
| Kattil pottu kadhal padichi | Setting up the bed and learning love, |
| Thottil pottu aada varattumaa | Shall I come to rock the cradle? |
| Adi aaraaro tholil eduththu muththam tharattumaa | Oh dear, shall I lift our child on my shoulder and kiss, singing lullabies? |
| Adi aaraaro tholil eduththu muththam tharattumaa | Oh dear, shall I lift our child on my shoulder and kiss, singing lullabies? |
| Female | |
| Aah aaththu meenu karaiyil yaeruthu | Ah, the river fish climbs onto the shore, |
| Adhai ippothu kaattru vanthu thadavi paarkuthu | And now the wind comes and gently touches it. |
| Male :Aahaa | Male: Aahaa |
| Female :Kaattru vanthu thadavi paarkkuthu | Female: The wind comes and gently touches it. |
| Kaattru vanthu thadavi paarkkuthu | The wind comes and gently touches it. |
ஆஹா ஹா ஹா ஆ...ஆ....
ஓஹ்ஹோ ஹோ ஹோ ஓ....
எஹே எஹே எஹே ஏ.......
லால்லா
லால்லா
லால்லா
Aahaa haa haa aa... aa...
Female: Ohho ho ho oo...
Male: Ehae ehae ehae yae...
Female: Laallaa
Male: Laallaa
Female: Laallaa
ஆத்து மீனு கரையில் ஏறுது
அதை இப்போது காற்று வந்து தடவிப் பார்க்குது
ஆத்து மீனு கரையில் ஏறுது
அதை இப்போது காற்று வந்து தடவிப் பார்க்குது
The river fish climbs onto the shore,
And now the wind comes and gently touches it.
The river fish climbs onto the shore,
And now the wind comes and gently touches it.
சேத்துக் கோவில் வண்டு மோதுது அடி அம்மாடி
தேன் குடிச்சு மயக்கம் போடுது அடி அம்மாடி
தேன் குடிச்சு மயக்கம் போடுது..........
A beetle bumps into the mud temple, oh my goodness!
Drinking honey, it swoons in intoxication, oh my goodness!
Drinking honey, it swoons in intoxication...
சந்தன மரத்தை தொட்டுத்
தடவி போகும் தென்றல் காத்து
மந்திரத்தை சொல்லிப் போகுது
சந்தன மரத்தை தொட்டுத்
தடவி போகும் தென்றல் காத்து
மந்திரத்தை சொல்லிப் போகுது
அது ஏதேதோ மனசுக்குள்ளே தூபம் போடுது
Touching the sandalwood tree,
The caressing gentle breeze passes by,
Whispering a magical chant as it goes.
Touching the sandalwood tree,
The caressing gentle breeze passes by,
Whispering a magical chant as it goes.
It spreads a mysterious incense inside the heart.
ஆடுது தென்னையிலே அழகான இளநீரு
ஆடுது தென்னையிலே அழகான இளநீரு
அங்கே பாத்து சங்கதி சொல்லு அது எப்போது
அங்கே பாத்து சங்கதி சொல்லு
A beautiful tender coconut sways on the palm tree,
A beautiful tender coconut sways on the palm tree,
Look over there and tell me the news, when will it happen?
Look over there and tell me the news.
கூடுது
ஆஹா
அணில் இரண்டு
ஓஹ்ஹோ
Are mating...
Male: Aahaa
Female: Two squirrels...
Male: Ohho
கூடுது அணில் இரண்டு
கொய்யா மரக் கிளைதனிலே
கூடப் போகும் நேரத்தை சொல்லு அது எப்போது
கூடப் போகும் நேரத்தை சொல்லு....
Two squirrels are coming together
On the branch of the guava tree.
Tell me when our time to unite will come, when is it?
Tell me the time we will unite...
அழகு முழுதும் திரண்டு கிடக்குது
அந்தி நேரம் இருண்டு கிடக்குது
பழகச் சொல்லி உயிரை வாங்குது
அழகு முழுதும் திரண்டு கிடக்குது
அந்தி நேரம் இருண்டு கிடக்குது
பழகச் சொல்லி உயிரை வாங்குது
அடி ராசாத்தி பார்க்க பார்க்க மனசு ஏங்குது
அடி ராசாத்தி பார்க்க பார்க்க மனசு ஏங்குது
Beauty lies gathered in all its fullness,
The twilight hour lies dark,
Urging intimacy and tormenting my soul.
Beauty lies gathered in all its fullness,
The twilight hour lies dark,
Urging intimacy and tormenting my soul.
Oh princess, the more I look, the more my heart longs.
Oh princess, the more I look, the more my heart longs.
ஆஹ் ஆத்து மீனு கரையில் ஏறுது
அதை இப்போது காற்று வந்து தடவிப் பார்க்குது
Ah, the river fish climbs onto the shore,
And now the wind comes and gently touches it.
........................
........................
........................
........................
[Instrumental Interlude]
Female: [Vocalizing]
Male: [Vocalizing]
Female: [Vocalizing]
காட்டிலே விளைஞ்சுது பார்
கைப்படாத நெல்லி பழம்
காட்டிலே விளைஞ்சுது பார்
கைப்படாத நெல்லி பழம்
கையைப் போட்டு பறிக்க போறீயா
கையைப் போட்டு பறிக்க போறீயா
அடி ஆத்தாடி கையைப் போட்டு பறிக்க போறீயா
Look, grown in the forest,
An untouched gooseberry fruit.
Look, grown in the forest,
An untouched gooseberry fruit.
Are you going to reach out and pluck it?
Are you going to reach out and pluck it?
Oh my goodness, are you going to reach out and pluck it?
கூட்டிலே குயிலைப் போல
குமுகுமுன்னு கொஞ்சி பேசி
........................
Like a cuckoo bird in its nest,
Cooing lovingly and intimately,
Finishing the wedding drums celebration,
Setting up the bed and learning love,
Shall I come to rock the cradle?
Oh dear, shall I lift our child on my shoulder and kiss, singing lullabies?
Oh dear, shall I lift our child on my shoulder and kiss, singing lullabies?
கூட்டிலே குயிலைப் போல
குமுகுமுன்னு கொஞ்சி பேசி
கொட்டு மேளம் கொட்டப் போறீயா
அது எப்போது கொட்டு மேளம் கொட்டப் போறீயா
Ah, the river fish climbs onto the shore,
And now the wind comes and gently touches it.
Male: Aahaa
Female: The wind comes and gently touches it.
The wind comes and gently touches it.
கொட்டு மேளம் கொட்டி முடிச்சி
கட்டில் போட்டு காதல் படிச்சி
கொட்டு மேளம் கொட்டி முடிச்சி
கட்டில் போட்டு காதல் படிச்சி
தொட்டில் போட்டு ஆட வரட்டுமா
அடி ஆராரோ தோளில் எடுத்து முத்தம் தரட்டுமா
அடி ஆராரோ தோளில் எடுத்து முத்தம் தரட்டுமா
ஆஹ் ஆத்து மீனு கரையில் ஏறுது
அதை இப்போது காற்று வந்து தடவிப் பார்க்குது
ஆஹா.....
காற்று வந்து தடவிப் பார்க்குது
காற்று வந்து தடவிப் பார்க்குது
Aahaa haa haa aa,,,,aa,,,,
Aahaa haa haa aa... aa...
Female :Ohho ho ho oo….
Female: Ohho ho ho oo...
Male :Ehae ehae ehae yae….
Male: Ehae ehae ehae yae...
Female :Laallaa
Female: Laallaa
Male :Laallaa
Male: Laallaa
Female :Laallaa
Female: Laallaa
Aaththu meenu karaiyil yaeruthu
The river fish climbs onto the shore,
Adhai ippothu kaattru vanthu thadavi paarkuthu
And now the wind comes and gently touches it.
Aaththu meenu karaiyil yaeruthu
The river fish climbs onto the shore,
Adhai ippothu kaattru vanthu thadavi paarkuthu
And now the wind comes and gently touches it.
Saeththu kovil vandu mothuthu adi ammaadi
A beetle bumps into the mud temple, oh my goodness!
Thaen kudichchu mayakkam poduthu adi ammaadi
Drinking honey, it swoons in intoxication, oh my goodness!
Thaen kudichchu mayakkam poduthu….
Drinking honey, it swoons in intoxication...
Santhana marathai thottuu
Touching the sandalwood tree,
Thadavi pogum thendral kaaththu
The caressing gentle breeze passes by,
Manthiraththai solli poguthu
Whispering a magical chant as it goes.
Santhana marathai thottuu
Touching the sandalwood tree,
Thadavi pogum thendral kaaththu
The caressing gentle breeze passes by,
Manthiraththai solli poguthu
Whispering a magical chant as it goes.
Adhu yaedhetho manasukkullae dhoopam poduthu
It spreads a mysterious incense inside the heart.
Aaduthu thennaiyilae azhagaana ilaneeru
A beautiful tender coconut sways on the palm tree,
Aaduthu thennaiyilae azhagaana ilaneeru
A beautiful tender coconut sways on the palm tree,
Angae paaththu sangathi sollu adhu eppothu
Look over there and tell me the news, when will it happen?
Angae paaththu sangathi sollu
Look over there and tell me the news.
Kooduthu
Are mating...
Male :Aahaa
Male: Aahaa
Female :Anil irandu
Female: Two squirrels...
Male :Ohho
Male: Ohho
Kooduthu anil irandu
Two squirrels are coming together
Koiyyaa mara kilaithanilae
On the branch of the guava tree.
Kooda pogum neraththai sollu adhu eppothu
Tell me when our time to unite will come, when is it?
Kooda pogum neraththai sollu….
Tell me the time we will unite...
Azhagu muzhuthum thirandu kidakkuthu
Beauty lies gathered in all its fullness,
Anthi neram irundu kidakkuthu
The twilight hour lies dark,
Pazhaga solli uyirai vaanguthu
Urging intimacy and tormenting my soul.
Azhagu muzhuthum thirandu kidakkuthu
Beauty lies gathered in all its fullness,
Anthi neram irundu kidakkuthu
The twilight hour lies dark,
Pazhaga solli uyirai vaanguthu
Urging intimacy and tormenting my soul.
Adi raasaathi paarkka paarkka manasu yaenguthu
Oh princess, the more I look, the more my heart longs.
Adi raasaathi paarkka paarkka manasu yaenguthu
Oh princess, the more I look, the more my heart longs.
Aah aaththu meenu karaiyil yaeruthu
Ah, the river fish climbs onto the shore,
Adhai ippothu kaattru vanthu thadavi paarkuthu
And now the wind comes and gently touches it.
………………
[Instrumental Interlude]
Female :……………..
Female: [Vocalizing]
Male :…………….
Male: [Vocalizing]
Female :……………
Female: [Vocalizing]
Kaattilae vilainjuthu paar
Look, grown in the forest,
Kaippadaatha nelli pazham
An untouched gooseberry fruit.
Kaattilae vilainjuthu paar
Look, grown in the forest,
Kaippadaatha nelli pazham
An untouched gooseberry fruit.
Kaiyai pottu parikka poriyaa
Are you going to reach out and pluck it?
Kaiyai pottu parikka poriyaa
Are you going to reach out and pluck it?
Adi aaththaadi kaiyai pottu parikka poriyaa
Oh my goodness, are you going to reach out and pluck it?
Koottilae kuyilai pola
Like a cuckoo bird in its nest,
Kumukumunnu konji pesi
Cooing lovingly and intimately,
Kottu melam kotti mudichchi
Finishing the wedding drums celebration,
Kattil pottu kadhal padichi
Setting up the bed and learning love,
Thottil pottu aada varattumaa
Shall I come to rock the cradle?
Adi aaraaro tholil eduththu muththam tharattumaa
Oh dear, shall I lift our child on my shoulder and kiss, singing lullabies?
Adi aaraaro tholil eduththu muththam tharattumaa
Oh dear, shall I lift our child on my shoulder and kiss, singing lullabies?
Aah aaththu meenu karaiyil yaeruthu
Ah, the river fish climbs onto the shore,
Adhai ippothu kaattru vanthu thadavi paarkuthu
And now the wind comes and gently touches it.
Male :Aahaa
Male: Aahaa
Female :Kaattru vanthu thadavi paarkkuthu
Female: The wind comes and gently touches it.
Kaattru vanthu thadavi paarkkuthu
The wind comes and gently touches it.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Aaththu Meenu Karaiyil Yaeruthu is a lively romantic folk duet filled with natural allegories and playful romantic banter. Poet Kannadasan masterfully uses elements of nature—a river fish caressed by the wind, bees intoxicated by honey, breezes whispering through sandalwood trees, squirrels mating on guava branches, and untouched forest fruit—as allegories for romantic awakening, desire, and physical intimacy. As the song progresses, the narrative moves from poetic teasing and courtship to dreams of marriage, domestic bliss, and parenthood (wedding drums, shared bed, cradle, lullabies). Set to rhythmic compositions by Shankar Ganesh and delivered with infectious energy by T. M. Soundararajan and L. R. Eswari, the track remains a classic example of traditional Tamil folk-pop romantic poetry.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification (Uruvagamm)
“Adhai ippothu kaattru vanthu thadavi paarkuthu”
The wind is personified as an affectionate human lover capable of touching and caressing the river fish on the shore.
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Kaippadaatha nelli pazham”
The unplucked forest gooseberry ('kaippadaatha nelli pazham') serves as a metaphor for an untouched, pure young woman.
Second-letter Rhyme (Ethirhai / Rhythm)
“Kottu melam kotti mudichchi / Kattil pottu kadhal padichi / Thottil pottu aada varattumaa”
A rhythmic progression of alliterative and rhyming Tamil words ('Kottu', 'Kattil', 'Thottil') describing the life milestones of marriage, romance, and parenthood.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh for the 1975 Tamil film 'Enga Pattan Sothu', this song showcases the signature folk-pop duet style of legendary playback singers T. M. Soundararajan and L. R. Eswari, with lyrics crafted by the iconic Kannadasan.
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