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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aruvi Onnu

From Seevalaperi Pandi · 1994

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Swarnalatha
Music director
Adithyan
Details
Seevalaperi Pandi1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aruvi onnu kudhikuthuA waterfall is leaping down,
Vanthu paarungaCome and take a look!
Kuruvi onnu kulikkudhuA little bird is taking a bath,
Kanna moodungaClose your eyes!
Female
Paatu katti paadidumI can weave a song and sing,
Natu kattai naanungaI am a sturdy country girl.
Selai ennun kootukkulInside the nest of my saree,
Serthu vecha thaenungaIs honey stored away.
Female
Aruvi onnu kudhikuthuA waterfall is leaping down,
Vanthu paarungaCome and take a look!
Kuruvi onnu kulikkudhuA little bird is taking a bath,
Kanna moodungaClose your eyes!
Female
Aan thodatha meniyaiOn a body untouched by a man,
Meen thottu paarkaiyilWhen a fish brushes against it,
Mella mella noguthuIt slowly aches with sensation,
Melum konjam verkuthuAnd breaks out into a sweet sweat.
Female
Enakkul engo engoSomewhere deep within me,
Neerthuli sendraduthuA drop of water dances,
Nimmathi undaaguthuBringing a sense of relief.
Thaana sirichu thaniya kulichenI laughed to myself and bathed alone,
Thaavani ennanathu…Oh, what happened to my half-saree...
Female
Aruvi onnu kudhikuthuA waterfall is leaping down,
Vanthu paarungaCome and take a look!
Kuruvi onnu kulikkudhuA little bird is taking a bath,
Kanna moodungaClose your eyes!
Female
Azhaga thaniya aalanumI want to enjoy this beauty all alone,
Aasai theera kulikanumI want to bathe to my heart's content.
Inba vaasal thurakanumThe doors of bliss should open,
Ella narambum thudikanumEvery nerve should throb with joy.
Female
Paasamum nee paarkanumYou must show your love,
Paruvamum theerum munnaeBefore youth slips away,
Panthikku paai podanumWe must lay the mat for the feast.
Vellari pinjukku vidhaiyae illaA tender cucumber has no seeds,
Muzhusaa nee thinganumYou should devour it whole!
Female
Aruvi onnu kudhikuthuA waterfall is leaping down,
Vanthu paarungaCome and take a look!
Kuruvi onnu kulikkudhuA little bird is taking a bath,
Kanna moodungaClose your eyes!
Female
Paatu katti paadidumI can weave a song and sing,
Natu kattai naanungaI am a sturdy country girl.
Selai ennun kootukkulInside the nest of my saree,
Serthu vecha thaenungaIs honey stored away.
Female
Aruvi onnu kudhikuthuA waterfall is leaping down,
Vanthu paarungaCome and take a look!
Kuruvi onnu kulikkudhuA little bird is taking a bath,
Kanna moodungaClose your eyes!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Aruvi Onnu Kudhikuthu from the film Seevalaperi Pandi (1994) is a playful and sensual folk song celebrating youth, freedom, and intimacy. Sung from the perspective of a young village woman bathing at a river waterfall, the song uses vivid natural imagery to reflect her inner sensations and burgeoning desires as water and aquatic life touch her skin.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Selai ennun kootukkul / Serthu vecha thaenunga

The speaker compares herself to a bathing sparrow ('kuruvi') and describes her saree as a nest concealing stored honey ('selai ennun kootukkul serthu vecha thaen').

Second-letter Rhyme (Ethirai)

Aruvi onnu kudhikuthu ... Kuruvi onnu kulikkudhu

The second consonant sound 'ru' rhymes in 'Aruvi' and 'Kuruvi', creating a classic Tamil poetic rhythm.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Azhaga thaniya aalanum / Aasai theera kulikanum

Successive verbal adverbs end with matching 'anum' sounds ('aalanum', 'kulikanum', 'thurakanum', 'thudikanum').

Repetition for Emphasis (Adukku Thodar)

Mella mella noguthu

Words like 'mella mella' and 'engo engo' are repeated to heighten the sensory experience.

Did you know?

Trivia

Seevalaperi Pandi (1994) was a landmark village-action film starring Napoleon. The iconic music score was composed by Adithyan, whose rural folk compositions contributed significantly to the film's massive box-office success.

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