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Mappillai Gounder album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aiyira Meenu

From Mappillai Gounder · 1997

Lyricist
Kalidasan
Singers
Swarnalatha, Mano
Music director
Deva
Movie name
Mappillai Gounder
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
21 Mar 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ayira meenu pudikka ponaen aaththula
Oru aaraa meenu maattikkichchu saeththula
Ayira meenu pudikka ponaen aaththula
Oru aaraa meenu maattikkichchu saeththula
Kalyaanaththa sollipputtaan nerula
Avan kalyaanaththa sollipputtaan nerula
Ennai kaippidikka
Kondaaruvaan therula oorula
Ayira meenu pudikka ponaen aaththula
Oru aaraa meenu maattikkichchu saeththula
Aalamaram arasamaram
Aththanaiyum saatchi
Nee aduththa maasam paakka pora
Kalyaana kaatchi
Purr rangu dakkuttu thakku thakku
Purr rangu dakkuttu Tharigida tharigidathaam
Sela kattaa kuruvigalaa
Neenga kooda vaanga
Oru seer senaththi enakkaaga
Eduththu vanthu thaanga
Pottaa sivakkum pudhu veththala
En pondaatttu thottu thanthaa paththala
Naalthorum malligappoo manakkanum
Nee naalaavathu jaamaththilum muzhikkanum
Adhukku yaeththikkattu irukkikkattu
Ettu mozha vettiya
Ayira meenu pudikka ponaen aaththula
Intha aaraa meenu maattikkichchu saeththula
Ayira meenu pudikka ponaen aaththula
Oru aaraa meenu maattikkichchu saeththula
Hoi hoi hoi…
Kottai katti aalugira
Coimbatore rasa
Ennai koodikkoodi mayakkiputtaa
Kuththaala rosaa
Saaral vanthu thooruthaiyyaa
Jannal nee saaththu
Oru jaaliyaaga nadaththikkalaam
Samsaara kooththu
Oii muththu velanja pudhu munthiri
En mooda kelappivim sundari
Onna madakka vantha vaappatti
Naan urasama paththikkidum sundari
Ini kaachchu moochchu muththamthaan
Kattil kaalu saththamthaan
Ayira meenu pudikka ponaen aaththula
Intha aaraa meenu maattikkichchu saeththula
Ayira meenu pudikka ponaen aaththula
Intha aaraa meenu maattikkichchu saeththula
Kalyaanaththa sollipputtaan nerula
Avan kalyaanaththa sollipputtaan nerula
Ennai kaippidikka
Kondaaruvaan therula oorula
Ayira meenu pudikka ponaen aaththula
Intha aaraa meenu maattikkichchu saeththula
Male :Haei….
I went to the river to catch a small fish,
And a big fish got trapped in the mud!
I went to the river to catch a small fish,
And a big fish got trapped in the mud!
He promised to marry me face-to-face,
He directly promised to marry me!
To take my hand in marriage,
He will lead a grand procession through our town!
I went to the river to catch a small fish,
And a big fish got trapped in the mud.
The banyan tree and the sacred fig tree,
They are all witnesses to this!
Next month you are going to see
The grand wedding celebration!
Pur rangu dakkuttu thakku thakku,
Pur rangu dakkuttu thari kida thari kida thaam!
O little sparrows draped in saris,
Come along and join us too!
Bring all the wedding gifts for me,
Bring them over and give them to me!
Chewing fresh betel leaves turns the mouth red,
Yet when my wife serves it with love, it is never enough!
Fresh jasmine flowers must smell sweet every day,
And you must stay wide awake into the late hours of the night!
For that, pull up and tie tightly
Your eight-yard dhoti (traditional wrap)!
I went to the river to catch a small fish,
And this big fish got trapped in the mud!
I went to the river to catch a small fish,
And a big fish got trapped in the mud.
Hoy hoy hoy…
Ruling like a king inside a fortress,
Is this king of Coimbatore!
She drew close and charmed my heart,
My sweet rose from Courtallam!
A gentle drizzle is falling outside, my man,
Go and close the window!
We can playfully celebrate
The sweet fun of married life!
Hey, fresh cashew ripe with beauty,
You are the girl who stirs up my desire!
I am the bold girl who came to win you over,
I am a fire that sparks without even a strike!
From now on, it will be breathless nonstop kisses,
And the creaking sound of the bed!
I went to the river to catch a small fish,
And this big fish got trapped in the mud!
I went to the river to catch a small fish,
And this big fish got trapped in the mud!
He promised to marry me face-to-face,
He directly promised to marry me!
To take my hand in marriage,
He will lead a grand procession through our town!
I went to the river to catch a small fish,
And this big fish got trapped in the mud!
Male: Hey…!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Ayira Meenu Pudikka Ponaen' is a playful and upbeat Tamil folk-style duet composed by Deva for the 1997 film 'Mappillai Gounder'. Sung energetically by Swarnalatha and Mano, the lyrics by Kalidasan center around a playful romantic exchange between lovers anticipating their upcoming marriage and domestic life together. The opening metaphor of going to catch small fish (Ayira) but accidentally landing a much bigger catch (Aara) humorously signifies unexpected good luck in love and finding a grand life partner.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Ayira meenu pudikka ponaen aaththula / Oru aaraa meenu maattikkichchu saeththula

Comparing the unexpected fortune in love to going to catch small 'Ayira' fish and accidentally netting a large 'Aara' fish in the mud.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Aalamaram arasamaram / Aththanaiyum saatchi

The second letter 'la' rhymes across lines in 'Aalamaram' and 'Aththanaiyum', creating a pleasing rhythm characteristic of Tamil poetry.

Personification

Sela kattaa kuruvigalaa / Neenga kooda vaanga

Addressing sparrows as if they were saree-clad human maidens invited to bring wedding gifts.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Ini kaachchu moochchu mutthamthaan / Kattil kaalu saththamthaan

End-rhyming with 'saththamthaan' and 'mutthamthaan' to emphasize the playful mood of intimacy.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Mappillai Gounder' featured music by Deva, known for his infectious Gaana and folk melodies in the late 1990s. The song showcases Swarnalatha's signature expressive vocal style alongside Mano's energetic rendition.

Keep listening

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