Artha Rathiri
From Urangatha Ninaivugal · 1983
- Lyricist
- M. G. Vallaban
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Urangatha Ninaivugal1983
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Artha raathiri o maamaa maamaa | Midnight, oh beloved uncle! |
| Aalat thaeduren vaa maamaa maamaa | I am searching for my man, come beloved uncle! |
| Artha raathiri o maamaa maamaa | Midnight, oh beloved uncle! |
| Aalat thaeduren vaa maamaa maamaa | I am searching for my man, come beloved uncle! |
| Maelaakku kaathaada oru pallaakku poothaada | Let my upper garment flutter in the breeze, let a palanquin bloom! |
| Female | |
| Artha raathiri o maamaa maamaa | Midnight, oh beloved uncle! |
| Aalat thaeduren vaa maamaa maamaa | I am searching for my man, come beloved uncle! |
| Female | |
| Pookkaadha athi poo poothirukku | The rarely blooming fig flower has bloomed, |
| Nee kaambodu killa thaan kaatthirukku | It is waiting for you to pluck it along with its stem. |
| Female | |
| Aei pookkaadha athi poo poothirukku | Hey, the rarely blooming fig flower has bloomed, |
| Nee kaambodu killa thaan kaatthirukku | It is waiting for you to pluck it along with its stem. |
| Raappodhu pooraa naan thaan yaenga | All night long I am yearning, |
| Raasaavai enni moochu vaanga | Breathing heavily thinking of my king. |
| Raappodhu pooraa naan thaan yaenga | All night long I am yearning, |
| Raasaavai enni moochu vaanga | Breathing heavily thinking of my king. |
| Ada noolaa elachaen thaanaa vedichaen | Oh, I became thin as a thread and burst open on my own, |
| Poo maala nee pada vaa | Come so that you fall like a flower garland! |
| Female | |
| Artha raathiri o maamaa maamaa | Midnight, oh beloved uncle! |
| Aalat thaeduren vaa maamaa maamaa | I am searching for my man, come beloved uncle! |
| Maelaakku kaathaada oru pallaakku poothaada | Let my upper garment flutter in the breeze, let a palanquin bloom! |
| Female | |
| Hae artha raathiri o maamaa maamaa | Hey, midnight, oh beloved uncle! |
| Aalat thaeduren vaa maamaa maamaa | I am searching for my man, come beloved uncle! |
| Female | |
| Thaamboolam vechu thaan azhaikkanumaa | Should I invite you formally with betel leaves and nuts? |
| Illa thoodhaaga nenja thaan anuppanumaa | Or should I send my heart as a messenger? |
| Female | |
| Hae thaamboolam vechu thaan azhaikkanumaa | Hey, should I invite you formally with betel leaves and nuts? |
| Illa thoodhaaga nenja thaan anuppanumaa | Or should I send my heart as a messenger? |
| Poo baanam thaanae kaaman poda | Lord Kamadeva shoots his flower arrows, |
| Nee venum ingae paayil aada | I need you here to sway together on the mat. |
| Poo baanam thaanae kaaman poda | Lord Kamadeva shoots his flower arrows, |
| Nee venum ingae paayil aada | I need you here to sway together on the mat. |
| Adha nenachae enakku neruppaa irukku | Just thinking of that feels like fire inside me, |
| Soodaagat thaan odi vaa | Run to me while it is still hot! |
| Female | |
| Artha raathiri o maamaa maamaa | Midnight, oh beloved uncle! |
| Aalat thaeduren vaa maamaa maamaa | I am searching for my man, come beloved uncle! |
| Maelaakku kaathaada oru pallaakku poothaada | Let my upper garment flutter in the breeze, let a palanquin bloom! |
| Female | |
| Hae artha raathiri o maamaa maamaa | Hey, midnight, oh beloved uncle! |
| Aalat thaeduren vaa maamaa maamaa | I am searching for my man, come beloved uncle! |
அர்த்த ராத்திரி ஓ மாமா மாமா
ஆளத் தேடுறேன் வா மாமா மாமா
அர்த்த ராத்திரி ஓ மாமா மாமா
ஆளத் தேடுறேன் வா மாமா மாமா
மேலாக்கு காத்தாட ஒரு பல்லாக்கு பூத்தாட
Midnight, oh beloved uncle!
I am searching for my man, come beloved uncle!
Midnight, oh beloved uncle!
I am searching for my man, come beloved uncle!
Let my upper garment flutter in the breeze, let a palanquin bloom!
அர்த்த ராத்திரி ஓ மாமா மாமா
ஆளத் தேடுறேன் ஓ மாமா மாமா
Midnight, oh beloved uncle!
I am searching for my man, come beloved uncle!
பூக்காத அத்திப் பூ பூத்திருக்கு
நீ காம்போடு கிள்ளத் தான் காத்திருக்கு
The rarely blooming fig flower has bloomed,
It is waiting for you to pluck it along with its stem.
ஏய் பூக்காத அத்திப் பூ பூத்திருக்கு
நீ காம்போடு கிள்ளத்தான் காத்திருக்கு
ராப்போது பூரா நான்தான் ஏங்க
ராசாவை எண்ணி மூச்சு வாங்க
ராப்போது பூரா நான் தான் ஏங்க
ராசாவை எண்ணி மூச்சு வாங்க
அட நூலா எளச்சேன் தானா வெடிச்சேன்
பூ மால நீ போட வா
Hey, the rarely blooming fig flower has bloomed,
It is waiting for you to pluck it along with its stem.
All night long I am yearning,
Breathing heavily thinking of my king.
All night long I am yearning,
Breathing heavily thinking of my king.
Oh, I became thin as a thread and burst open on my own,
Come so that you fall like a flower garland!
அர்த்த ராத்திரி ஓ மாமா மாமா
ஆளத் தேடுறேன் வா மாமா மாமா
மேலாக்கு காத்தாட ஒரு பல்லாக்கு பூத்தாட
Midnight, oh beloved uncle!
I am searching for my man, come beloved uncle!
Let my upper garment flutter in the breeze, let a palanquin bloom!
ஹே அர்த்த ராத்திரி ஓ மாமா மாமா
ஆளத் தேடுறேன் வா மாமா மாமா
Hey, midnight, oh beloved uncle!
I am searching for my man, come beloved uncle!
தாம்பூலம் வெச்சுத்தான் அழைக்கணுமா
இல்ல தூதாக நெஞ்சத்தான் அனுப்பனுமா
Should I invite you formally with betel leaves and nuts?
Or should I send my heart as a messenger?
ஹே தாம்பூலம் வெச்சுத்தான் அழைக்கணுமா
இல்ல தூதாக நெஞ்சத்தான் அனுப்பனுமா
பூ பாணம் தானே காமன் போட
நீ வேணும் இங்கே பாயில் ஆட
பூ பாணம் தானே காமன் போட
நீ வேணும் இங்கே பாயில் ஆட
அத நெனச்சே எனக்கு நெருப்பா இருக்கு
சூடாகத்தான் ஓடி வா
Hey, should I invite you formally with betel leaves and nuts?
Or should I send my heart as a messenger?
Lord Kamadeva shoots his flower arrows,
I need you here to sway together on the mat.
Lord Kamadeva shoots his flower arrows,
I need you here to sway together on the mat.
Just thinking of that feels like fire inside me,
Run to me while it is still hot!
அர்த்த ராத்திரி ஓ மாமா மாமா
ஆளத் தேடுறேன் வா மாமா மாமா
மேலாக்கு காத்தாட ஒரு பல்லாக்கு பூத்தாட
Midnight, oh beloved uncle!
I am searching for my man, come beloved uncle!
Let my upper garment flutter in the breeze, let a palanquin bloom!
ஹே அர்த்த ராத்திரி ஓ மாமா மாமா
ஆளத் தேடுறேன் வா மாமா மாமா
Hey, midnight, oh beloved uncle!
I am searching for my man, come beloved uncle!
Artha raathiri o maamaa maamaa
Midnight, oh beloved uncle!
Aalat thaeduren vaa maamaa maamaa
I am searching for my man, come beloved uncle!
Artha raathiri o maamaa maamaa
Midnight, oh beloved uncle!
Aalat thaeduren vaa maamaa maamaa
I am searching for my man, come beloved uncle!
Maelaakku kaathaada oru pallaakku poothaada
Let my upper garment flutter in the breeze, let a palanquin bloom!
Artha raathiri o maamaa maamaa
Midnight, oh beloved uncle!
Aalat thaeduren vaa maamaa maamaa
I am searching for my man, come beloved uncle!
Pookkaadha athi poo poothirukku
The rarely blooming fig flower has bloomed,
Nee kaambodu killa thaan kaatthirukku
It is waiting for you to pluck it along with its stem.
Aei pookkaadha athi poo poothirukku
Hey, the rarely blooming fig flower has bloomed,
Nee kaambodu killa thaan kaatthirukku
It is waiting for you to pluck it along with its stem.
Raappodhu pooraa naan thaan yaenga
All night long I am yearning,
Raasaavai enni moochu vaanga
Breathing heavily thinking of my king.
Raappodhu pooraa naan thaan yaenga
All night long I am yearning,
Raasaavai enni moochu vaanga
Breathing heavily thinking of my king.
Ada noolaa elachaen thaanaa vedichaen
Oh, I became thin as a thread and burst open on my own,
Poo maala nee pada vaa
Come so that you fall like a flower garland!
Artha raathiri o maamaa maamaa
Midnight, oh beloved uncle!
Aalat thaeduren vaa maamaa maamaa
I am searching for my man, come beloved uncle!
Maelaakku kaathaada oru pallaakku poothaada
Let my upper garment flutter in the breeze, let a palanquin bloom!
Hae artha raathiri o maamaa maamaa
Hey, midnight, oh beloved uncle!
Aalat thaeduren vaa maamaa maamaa
I am searching for my man, come beloved uncle!
Thaamboolam vechu thaan azhaikkanumaa
Should I invite you formally with betel leaves and nuts?
Illa thoodhaaga nenja thaan anuppanumaa
Or should I send my heart as a messenger?
Hae thaamboolam vechu thaan azhaikkanumaa
Hey, should I invite you formally with betel leaves and nuts?
Illa thoodhaaga nenja thaan anuppanumaa
Or should I send my heart as a messenger?
Poo baanam thaanae kaaman poda
Lord Kamadeva shoots his flower arrows,
Nee venum ingae paayil aada
I need you here to sway together on the mat.
Poo baanam thaanae kaaman poda
Lord Kamadeva shoots his flower arrows,
Nee venum ingae paayil aada
I need you here to sway together on the mat.
Adha nenachae enakku neruppaa irukku
Just thinking of that feels like fire inside me,
Soodaagat thaan odi vaa
Run to me while it is still hot!
Artha raathiri o maamaa maamaa
Midnight, oh beloved uncle!
Aalat thaeduren vaa maamaa maamaa
I am searching for my man, come beloved uncle!
Maelaakku kaathaada oru pallaakku poothaada
Let my upper garment flutter in the breeze, let a palanquin bloom!
Hae artha raathiri o maamaa maamaa
Hey, midnight, oh beloved uncle!
Aalat thaeduren vaa maamaa maamaa
I am searching for my man, come beloved uncle!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Artha Raathiri is a playful, sensual romantic song set in the quiet hours of midnight. The female protagonist calls out to her beloved ('maamaa'), expressing her intense longing, passion, and restlessness. She uses vivid imagery to convey her desire, comparing her state of readiness to a rare fig flower blooming late at night, waiting to be plucked.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Pookkaadha athi poo poothirukku”
Comparing herself to an 'Athi Poo' (fig flower) that rarely blooms, symbolizing a rare, precious moment of intimacy.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)
“Ada noolaa elachaen thaanaa vedichaen”
Exaggerating her state of longing as thinning down to a thread ('noolaa elachaen') and bursting out of passion.
Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Adha nenachae enakku neruppaa irukku / Soodaagat thaan odi vaa”
Rhyming of the second consonant 'n' in adjacent lines ('nenachae' / 'soodaagat').
Allusion
“Poo baanam thaanae kaaman poda”
Reference to Kamadeva ('Kaaman') and his flower arrows ('Poo baanam') representing the god of love triggering desire.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by M.G. Vallaban for the 1983 Tamil film 'Urangatha Ninaivugal'. The song relies heavily on rhythmic folk percussion and seductive vocal nuances typical of 1980s romantic club/folk numbers in Tamil cinema.
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