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Ninaivirukkum Varai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aaya Onnu

From Ninaivirukkum Varai · 1999

Lyricist
K. Subash
Singers
Krishnaraj, Prabhudeva, Vivek
Music director
Deva
Movie name
Ninaivirukkum Varai
Movie release year
1999
Lyrics added on
20 Dec 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aayaa onnu adampidikkithu
Quarter paayaa onnu venum ketkkuthu
Ketkkuthu
Thaaththaa onnu thaalam poduthu
Thariginathom
Perusu thallaadaama thulli aaduthu
Aaduthu
Akka onnu akka onnu
Akka onnu nekkaa paakkuthu
Color sokkaavoda sokkaa suththuthu
Suththuthu
Thangachchi onnu thanni kaattuthu
Adhu spinni mill-a vilaikku pesuthu
Pesuthu
Anni onnu aattam poduthu
Aattam podumpothe nottam poduthu
Poduthu
Paappaa onnu paappaa onnu
Paappaa onnu palapallakkuthu
Paappaa powder pottu pouse-sa kaattuthu
Kaattuthu
Ellaarumae saernthu paaduvom
Saernthu thaalaththoda asainji aaduvom aaduvom
Aayaa onnu aah aah aayaa onnu
Adadaa aayaa onnu pallillaatha aayaa onnu
Kasakasaakasaa……
An old grandma is throwing a stubborn fit,
She is demanding a quarter bottle and a bowl of paya!
Demanding it!
An old grandpa is keeping the rhythm,
Tharikinathom!
The old man leaps and dances without even wobbling,
Dancing away!
One sister, an elder sister,
An elder sister is glancing slyly,
Strutting around stylishly in a colorful shirt,
Strutting around!
A younger sister is leading everyone on a wild chase,
Talking big like she's bargaining to buy a spinning mill,
Talking big!
A sister-in-law is rocking the dance floor,
And even while dancing, she keeps checking people out,
Checking them out!
One young girl, one young girl,
One young girl is glowing bright,
Putting on face powder, showing off her swagger,
Showing it off!
Let us all sing together,
Let's sway and dance together to the beat, let's dance!
An old grandma, ah, ah, an old grandma,
Oh my, an old grandma, a toothless old grandma,
Kasa kasa kasa.............
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This light-hearted and upbeat folk dance track playfully portrays the unique quirks and humorous antics of various family members. It humorously describes a stubborn grandmother, an energetic grandfather dancing despite his old age, a stylish elder sister, an ambitious younger sister, an observant sister-in-law, and a trendy young girl dressing up. The track culminates in a joyous invitation for the entire family and audience to unite, sing, and dance to the celebratory rhythm.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyebu (End Rhyme / Trailing Refrain)

Ketkkuthu

Short single-word refrain lines like 'Ketkkuthu', 'Aaduthu', 'Suththuthu', 'Pesuthu', 'Poduthu', and 'Kaattuthu' create a rhythmic echo effect at the end of each description.

Internal Rhyme (Edhukai)

Aattam podumpothe nottam poduthu

The words 'Aattam' and 'nottam' rhyme on the second letter/sound, giving the phrase a catchy, natural lyrical flow.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Paappaa powder pottu pouse-sa kaattuthu

Repetition of the 'Pa' sound across 'Paappaa', 'palapallakkuthu', 'powder', and 'pouse-sa'.

Colloquial Tamil Idiom

Thangachchi onnu thanni kaattuthu

The phrase 'thanni kaattuthu' literally translates to 'showing water' but idiomatically means tricking someone or giving them a hard time.

Did you know?

Trivia

This energetic song is from the 1999 Prabhu Deva starrer 'Ninaivirukkum Varai'. The lyrics were written by K. Subash, who was primarily a prominent Tamil film director (famous for directing the hit movie 'Sathriyan') but occasionally wrote popular, fast-paced folk and dance lyrics.

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