Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Rajadhi Raja album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Adi AathuKulla Athi Maram

From Rajadhi Raja · 1989

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Rajadhi Raja
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
22 Mar 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thandha nana thana nanaaaa…aaa..
Heiii eeee….
Adi aathukulla aththi maram
Andhiyila pootha maram
Motha maram ethananu kooru kooru
Nethu irunthu thongudhadi
Kuruvi ellam thangudhadi
Marathu mela thookunaan koodu koodu
Adi aathukulla aththi maram
Andhiyila pootha maram
Motha maram ethananu kooru kooru
Nethu irunthu thongudhadi
Kuruvi ellam thangudhadi
Marathu mela thookunaan koodu koodu
Aan chittukku jodi onnu
Sernthathu ponnu
Rendu chittum thaan sernthu
Koodu kattuchu kannu
Aan chittukku jodi onnu
Sernthathu ponnu
Rendu chittum thaan sernthu
Koodu kattuchu kannu
Kootukulla paaru
Angu kuruvi ethana kooru
Kootukulla paaru
Angu kuruvi ethana kooru
Adi aathukulla aththi maram
Andhiyila pootha maram
Motha maram ethananu kooru kooru
Nethu irunthu thongudhadi
Kuruvi ellam thangudhadi
Marathu mela thookunaan koodu koodu
Thandha naana thaana naanaa... aa...
Heyyyy...
Hey girl, a fig tree in the river,
A tree that bloomed in the evening,
Tell me, tell me, how many trees in all?
Hanging there since yesterday,
Where all the birds rest and stay,
A weaver bird's nest on the tree!
Hey girl, a fig tree in the river,
A tree that bloomed in the evening,
Tell me, tell me, how many trees in all?
Hanging there since yesterday,
Where all the birds rest and stay,
A weaver bird's nest on the tree!
As a pair for the male sparrow,
A female sparrow came along.
Together, the two sparrows
Built a little nest, my dear.
As a pair for the male sparrow,
A female sparrow came along.
Together, the two sparrows
Built a little nest, my dear.
Look inside that nest,
And tell me how many birds are there.
Look inside that nest,
And tell me how many birds are there.
Hey girl, a fig tree in the river,
A tree that bloomed in the evening,
Tell me, tell me, how many trees in all?
Hanging there since yesterday,
Where all the birds rest and stay,
A weaver bird's nest on the tree!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful folk song uses traditional Tamil rural riddles and nature imagery to express romantic affection and domestic joy. By referencing fig trees blooming at dusk, weaver bird nests, and sparrows pairing up to build a home, the song metaphorically celebrates the union of lovers building a life together.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition)

Motha maram ethananu kooru kooru

Repetition of words like 'kooru kooru' (tell me) and 'koodu koodu' (nest) for rhythmic folk emphasis.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Adi aathukulla aththi maram / Andhiyila pootha maram

Matching starting vowel sounds in consecutive lines ('Aathukulla' / 'Andhiyila').

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Nethu irunthu thongudhadi / Kuruvi ellam thangudhadi

Second consonant agreement 'ngu' in 'thongudhadi' and 'thangudhadi'.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Rendu chittum thaan sernthu / Koodu kattuchu kannu

Using sparrows coming together to weave a nest as a metaphor for lovers establishing a home.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track from the 1989 blockbuster 'Rajadhi Raja' features music and lyrics both by 'Isaignani' Ilaiyaraaja. Sung by Malaysia Vasudevan and K. S. Chithra, the song captures the energetic rural folk genre that was immensely popular in late 1980s Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Rajadhi Raja

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.