Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Gramathu Athiyayam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aatthu Mettuley

From Gramathu Athiyayam · 1980

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Jency, Sulochana
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Gramathu Athiyayam
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
6 Jul 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mmm… mm… mmm
Mmm… mm… mmm
Laala laalalaa
Laa laala laalalaa
Laalaa laalalaa laalalaa laala laala
Laala laalalaa
Aathu maettula oru paattu kaekkudhu
Aathu maettula oru paattu kaekkudhu
Aadum kaathula keethula thaalam pottu
Aathu maettula oru paattu kaekkudhu
Aathu maettula oru paattu kaekkudhu
Aathu maettula oru paattu kaekkudhu
Aadum kaathula keethula thaalam pottu
Aathu maettula oru paattu kaekkudhu
Kaattula kattil onnu podavaa
Kaila katti kondu aadavaa
Aehae enna aasa yaekkam vandhu paesa
Kannukkulla mogam thonudhu
Kanni ponna kaanum podhu
Aathu maettula
Oru paattu kaekkudhu
Aadum kaathula keethula thaalam pottu
Aathu maettula oru paattu kaekkudhu
Kaekkavaa onnae onnu kaekkavaa
Saekkavaa kaiyil unna saekkavaa
Oohum maattaen maattaen
Yaedhum kaekka maattaen
Solla cholla vaegam yaerudhu
Thookkikkittu poga poraen
Aathu maettula
Female :Haa
Male :Oru paattu kaekkudhu
Female :Aahaan
Aadum kaathula keethula thaalam pottu
Aathu maettula oru paattu kaekkudhu
Mmm… mm… mmm
Mmm… mm… mmm
La la la la la
La la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la
La la la la la
A song is heard on the riverbank
A song is heard on the riverbank
Setting a beat to the swaying wind and rustling palm leaves
A song is heard on the riverbank
A song is heard on the riverbank
A song is heard on the riverbank
Setting a beat to the swaying wind and rustling palm leaves
A song is heard on the riverbank
Shall I lay out a bed in the woods?
Shall I hold you tight in my arms and dance?
Oh, what desire, as longing begins to speak!
Passion sparks in the eyes
Whenever I look at this lovely girl!
On the riverbank...
A song is heard...
Setting a beat to the swaying wind and rustling palm leaves
A song is heard on the riverbank
Shall I ask you? Shall I ask just one thing?
Shall I take you into my arms?
Oh no, no, I won't!
I won't agree to anything!
The more you speak, the more my passion rises!
I am going to lift you up and carry you away!
On the riverbank...
Female: Ha!
Male: A song is heard...
Female: Aha!
Setting a beat to the swaying wind and rustling palm leaves
A song is heard on the riverbank
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Aathu Maettula from Gramathu Athiyayam (1980) is a quintessential rural Tamil romantic duet. Set against the serene backdrop of a riverbank and lush fields, the song describes two lovers expressing their affection and romantic teasing. Nature itself plays a musical role, as the rustling wind and swaying coconut fronds create a natural rhythm that echoes the song of their love. The lyrics, written by Gangai Amaran, capture the playful banter between the couple, filled with desire, gentle resistance, and lighthearted promises of carrying each other away.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Aadum kaathula keethula thaalam pottu

The wind and rustling leaves are personified as musicians setting a rhythmic beat ('thaalam') for the song.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kaekkavaa onnae onnu kaekkavaa / Saekkavaa kaiyil unna saekkavaa

The second consonant 'k' matches between 'Kaekkavaa' and 'Saekkavaa', creating a pleasing phonetic rhyme.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Aathu maettula oru paattu kaekkudhu / Aadum kaathula keethula thaalam pottu

The initial vowel sound 'Aa' aligns between 'Aathu' and 'Aadum'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Gramathu Athiyayam (1980) features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics authored by his brother Gangai Amaran. The song 'Aathu Maettula' is famously sung by Malaysia Vasudevan and S. Janaki, standing out as a popular folk-pop track showcasing pastoral rural romance.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Gramathu Athiyayam

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.