- Lyricist
- R. V. Udhaya Kumar
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Ponnumani
- Movie release year
- 1993
- Lyrics added on
- 3 Mar 2018
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aathu mettula
Mutham onnu koduthaa
Moththa kadan theeraadhu
Kaathu vaakkula
Kannadichi kavutha
Ketta manam theradhu
Aathu mettula
Mutham onnu koduthaa
Moththa kadan theeraadhu
Kaathu vaakkula
Kannadichi kavutha
Ketta manam theradhu
Patti thotti pakkam ellam
Love-u love-u love aachi
Katti vacha katta vandhu
Ichi ichi kiss aaachi
Ada.. aathu mettula..
Male :Aathu mettula
Mutham onnu koduthaa
Moththa kadan theeraadhu
Kaathu vaakkula
Kannadichi kavutha
Ketta manam theradhu
Vetti kadhaiyila vegam koraiyila
Veen pechi yen maanae
Thatti kettukka kitta aalilla
Nee onnu thaa maanae
Kattaantharayila
Kattil irukkudhu
Kaathaada vaa maama
Kattipudichiko vattam adichiko
Kepaaru yaar maama
Vethalaya pottu pottu
Mutha karai nee poda
Female :Nitham adha paathu paathu
Pithathula nee aada
Patti thotti pakkam ellam
Love-u love-u love aachi
Female :Katti vacha katta vandhu
Ichi ichi kiss aaachi
Ada.. aathu mettula..
Male :Hey hooi
Aathu mettula
Mutham onnu koduthaa
Moththa kadan theeraadhu
Kaathu vaakkula
Kannadichi kavutha
Ketta manam theradhu
Kaattu kuyilonnu
Gaanam padikudhu
Kettodi vaa maama
Yettil irukira paadam pudikala
Nee pesa vaa maama
Maamam verappula
Meesai murukkuna
Thaangaadhu unn dhegam
Yedho kanakkula naanum thavikiran
Yen innum sandhegam
Vetkam enna vittu vittu
Romba thooram pogaathaa..
Male :Pacharisi achu vellam
Rendum onnu seradhaa..
Patti thotti pakkam ellam
Love-u love-u love aachi
Male :Katti vacha katta vandhu
Ichi ichi kiss aaachi
Aathu mettula..
Female :Aathu mettula
Mutham onnu koduthaa
Moththa kadan theeraadhu
Kaathu vaakkula
Kannadichi kavutha
Ketta manam theradhu
Patti thotti pakkam ellam
Love-u love-u love aachi
Katti vacha katta vandhu
Hmm..mm…kiss aaachi
Ada.. aathu mettula.. hooi
Female :Aathu mettula
Mutham onnu koduthaa
Moththa kadan theeraadhu
Kaathu vaakkula
Kannadichi kavutha
Ketta manam theradhu
Aathu mettula
Mutham onnu koduthaa
Moththa kadan theeraadhu
Kaathu vaakkula
Kannadichi kavutha
Ketta manam theradhu
On the riverbank,
if you give just one kiss,
the whole debt won't be settled.
As the breeze drifts by,
if you wink and make me fall,
this restless heart will never recover!
On the riverbank,
if you give just one kiss,
the whole debt won't be settled.
As the breeze drifts by,
if you wink and make me fall,
this restless heart will never recover!
In every nook and village corner,
it has turned into love, love, love!
All our tightly held restraint
has turned into sweet little kisses!
Ah, on the riverbank...
Male: On the riverbank,
if you give just one kiss,
the whole debt won't be settled.
As the breeze drifts by,
if you wink and make me fall,
this restless heart will never recover!
Idle chatter hasn't slowed our passion,
why waste words, my sweetheart?
There is no one around to question us,
so give me a kiss, my sweetheart!
On the open ground,
a bed is ready,
come enjoy the cool breeze, my sweetheart!
Hold me tight and spin me around,
who is there to question us, my sweetheart?
Chewing betel leaves one after another,
leaving red stains from your kisses,
Female: looking at them day after day,
you dance in a lovesick frenzy!
In every nook and village corner,
it has turned into love, love, love!
Female: All our tightly held restraint
has turned into sweet little kisses!
Ah, on the riverbank...
Male: Hey hoy!
On the riverbank,
if you give just one kiss,
the whole debt won't be settled.
As the breeze drifts by,
if you wink and make me fall,
this restless heart will never recover!
A forest cuckoo
is singing its song,
hear it and run to me, my sweetheart!
I don't care for lessons in books,
come talk to me, my sweetheart!
If you show off with manly pride
and twirl your moustache,
your body won't be able to handle it!
With longings of my own, I am yearning too,
why do you still have doubts?
Won't this shyness leave me
and wander far away?
Male: Raw rice and sweet jaggery—
won't the two blend naturally into one?
In every nook and village corner,
it has turned into love, love, love!
Male: All our tightly held restraint
has turned into sweet little kisses!
On the riverbank...
Female: On the riverbank,
if you give just one kiss,
the whole debt won't be settled.
As the breeze drifts by,
if you wink and make me fall,
this restless heart will never recover!
In every nook and village corner,
it has turned into love, love, love!
All our tightly held restraint
hmm... mm... has turned into kisses!
Ah, on the riverbank... hoy!
Female: On the riverbank,
if you give just one kiss,
the whole debt won't be settled.
As the breeze drifts by,
if you wink and make me fall,
this restless heart will never recover!
On the riverbank,
if you give just one kiss,
the whole debt won't be settled.
As the breeze drifts by,
if you wink and make me fall,
this restless heart will never recover!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
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Male
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Aathu Mettula from the 1993 film Ponnumani is a playful, romantic duet set in a rural backdrop. The song captures a lively conversation between two lovers who tease and express their affection for each other near a riverbank. The lyrics use rural metaphors such as betel leaf stains, cuckoo songs, raw rice, and jaggery to depict intimacy, romantic banter, and the undeniable pull of love that transforms even rigid minds into passionate devotion.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Aathu mettula / Kaathu vaakkula”
Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Aathu' (ஆத்து) and 'Kaathu' (காத்து) or 'Patti' (பட்டி) and 'Katti' (கட்டி).
Metaphor
“Pacharisi achu vellam / Rendum onnu seradhaa..”
Comparing the combination of the lovers to 'Pacharisi' (raw rice) and 'Achu vellam' (jaggery block) joining together in harmony.
Onomatopoeia / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)
“Ichi ichi kiss aaachi”
Repetition of sounds like 'Ichi ichi' and 'Love-u love-u' to accentuate affection and playful rhythm.
Did you know?
Trivia
Ponnumani (1993), directed by R. V. Udhayakumar, features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. This song 'Aathu Mettula' was sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki, becoming a popular folk-pop romantic duet known for its catchy rhythm and signature rustic Ilaiyaraaja orchestration.
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