Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Asathura Asathura

From Enakku 20 Unakku 18 · 2003

Lyricist
Pa. Vijay
Singers
Srinivas, Chitra Sivaraman, Mathangi, George Peter
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Enakku 20 Unakku 182003

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
: Asathura asathura asathuraYou stun me, you stun me, you stun me
Ulagatha udambula urutturaYou roll the world around on your body
Kasakkura kasakkura kasakkuraYou squeeze, you squeeze, you squeeze
Kangalil sooriyanai kasakkuraYou crush the sun within your eyes
Chorus
Sanana nana sannanaeSanana nana sannanae
Male :Indha vayasu pona adhuMale: Once this youth passes away
Ini thirumbaadhaeIt will never return again
Chorus :Sanana nana sannanaeChorus: Sanana nana sannanae
Male :Idha vayasu ver edhaiyumMale: At this age, it does not desire
VirumbaadhaeAnything else
Female
Ahaaa..aha..aahaa..ha haAhaaa..aha..aahaa..ha ha
Ahaaa..aha..aahaa..ha haAhaaa..aha..aahaa..ha ha
Ahaaa..aha..aahaa..ha ha….Ahaaa..aha..aahaa..ha ha....
Chorus
Sanana nana sannanaeSanana nana sannanae
Male :Indha vayasu pona adhuMale: Once this youth passes away
Ini thirumbaadhaeIt will never return again
Chorus :Sanana nana sannanaeChorus: Sanana nana sannanae
Male :Idha vayasu ver edhaiyumMale: At this age, it does not desire
VirumbaadhaeAnything else
Female
{Maanavarae maanavare{Students, O students
Engalai padikkaadhaeDo not read or study us
Male :Nee naanum thirukuralaaiMale: You and I, like couplets of Thirukkural
Vaazhndhida marukkaadhae} (2)Do not refuse to live together} (2)
Chorus
PadhinaarooohhSixteen...
Padhinelooohhh…Seventeen...
Unnai paarthadhilaeUpon seeing you
Rasithadhilae pudhusaanomAnd admiring you, we became brand new
Chorus
Asathura asathura asathuraYou stun me, you stun me, you stun me
Ulagatha udambula urutturaYou roll the world around on your body
Kasakkura kasakkura kasakkuraYou squeeze, you squeeze, you squeeze
Kangalil sooriyanai kasakkuraYou crush the sun within your eyes
Aaaahhhh…Aaaahhhh…
Female
Irandu vayasaanaalAt two years of age
Chorus :Oyae..oohChorus: Oyae..ooh
Female :Annai madi vendumFemale: One desires a mother's lap
Chorus :Oyae..oohChorus: Oyae..ooh
Male
Irubathaindhu aanaalWhen turning twenty-five
Chorus :Oyae..oohChorus: Oyae..ooh
Male :Avalin madi vendumMale: One desires her lap
Chorus :Oyae..oohChorus: Oyae..ooh
Female
Padhinettula thondrumAppears at eighteen
Chorus :Oyae..oohChorus: Oyae..ooh
Paruvam maraikkaadhaeDo not conceal your youth
Chorus :Oyae..oohChorus: Oyae..ooh
Male
Nooru vayasodumEven at a hundred years old
Kaadhal maraikkaadhae..ohooooLove cannot be hidden..ohoooo
Chorus
PadhinaarooohhSixteen...
Padhinelooohhh…Seventeen...
Unnai paarthadhilaeUpon seeing you
Rasithadhilae pudhusaanomAnd admiring you, we became brand new
Chorus
Asathura asathura asathuraYou stun me, you stun me, you stun me
Ulagatha udambula urutturaYou roll the world around on your body
Kasakkura kasakkura kasakkuraYou squeeze, you squeeze, you squeeze
Kangalil sooriyanai kasakkuraYou crush the sun within your eyes
Female
Sanana nana sannanaeSanana nana sannanae
Sanana nana sannanae….Sanana nana sannanae....
Female
Kadal thaandi vandhaaiYou crossed the ocean and came
Chorus :Oyae..oohChorus: Oyae..ooh
Female :Malai thaandi vandhaaiFemale: You crossed the mountain and came
Chorus :Oyae..oohChorus: Oyae..ooh
Male
Un azhagai thaandaUnable to surpass your beauty
Mudiyaamal nindrenI stood completely mesmerized
Chorus :Oyae..oohChorus: Oyae..ooh
Female
Thodarvadharku nandriThank you for pursuing me
Chorus :Oyae..oohChorus: Oyae..ooh
Female :Pughazhvadharku nandriFemale: Thank you for praising me
Chorus :Oyae..oohChorus: Oyae..ooh
Male
Sikkanamaai paarthuGlancing sparingly at me
Sirithaai nandri ooohooo…You smiled, thank you ooohooo…
Chorus
PadhinaarooohhSixteen...
Padhinelooohhh…Seventeen...
Unnai paarthadhilaeUpon seeing you
Rasithadhilae pudhusaanomAnd admiring you, we became brand new
Chorus
Asathura asathura asathuraYou stun me, you stun me, you stun me
Ulagatha udambula urutturaYou roll the world around on your body
Kasakkura kasakkura kasakkuraYou squeeze, you squeeze, you squeeze
Kangalil sooriyanai kasakkuraYou crush the sun within your eyes
Female
{Maanavarae maanavare{Students, O students
Engalai padikkaadhaeDo not read or study us
Male :Nee naanum thirukuralaaiMale: You and I, like couplets of Thirukkural
Vaazhndhida marukkaadhae} (2)Do not refuse to live together} (2)
Chorus
PadhinaarooohhSixteen...
Padhinelooohhh…Seventeen...
Unnai paarthadhilaeUpon seeing you
Rasithadhilae pudhusaanomAnd admiring you, we became brand new
Chorus
Asathura asathura asathuraYou stun me, you stun me, you stun me
Ulagatha udambula urutturaYou roll the world around on your body
Kasakkura kasakkura kasakkuraYou squeeze, you squeeze, you squeeze
Kangalil sooriyanai kasakkuraYou crush the sun within your eyes
Chorus
Sanana nana sannanaeSanana nana sannanae
Male :Indha vayasu pona adhuMale: Once this youth passes away
Ini thirumbaadhaeIt will never return again
Chorus :Sanana nana sannanaeChorus: Sanana nana sannanae
Male :Idha vayasu ver edhaiyumMale: At this age, it does not desire
VirumbaadhaeAnything else
Chorus
Ye ye ye ye ye ye yeahYe ye ye ye ye ye yeah
Ye ye ye ye ye ye yeahYe ye ye ye ye ye yeah
Ye ye ye ye ye ye yeahYe ye ye ye ye ye yeah
Ye ye ye ye ye ye yeahYe ye ye ye ye ye yeah
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yaaYeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yaa
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yaaYeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yaa
Female
Ahaaa..aha..aahaa..ha haAhaaa..aha..aahaa..ha ha
Ahaaa..aha..aahaa..ha haAhaaa..aha..aahaa..ha ha
Ahaaa..aha..aahaa..ha ha….Ahaaa..aha..aahaa..ha ha....
Ha ha ha….Ha ha ha....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Asathura' (also known as 'Padhinettula Thondrum') from 'Enakku 20 Unakku 18' is a high-energy youth anthem celebrating adolescence, romantic longing, and the fleeting nature of youth. Lyricist Pa. Vijay uses vivid imagery comparing youthful love to iconic literary forms like Thirukkural, urging young lovers to embrace affection while time allows. The song captures the carefree exuberance of turning sixteen, seventeen, and eighteen.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Ushna / Atisayokthi)

Ulagatha udambula uruttura / Kangalil sooriyanai kasakkura

Exaggerated imagery describing rolling the entire world on one's body and squeezing the sun in one's eyes to convey intense beauty and charm.

Simile / Cultural Allusion (Upamai)

Nee naanum thirukuralaai vaazhndhida marukkaadhae

Comparing the couple's harmonious bond to the two lines of Thirukkural couplets.

Repetition (Anaphora / Emona)

Asathura asathura asathura / Kasakkura kasakkura kasakkura

Rhythmic repetition of words like 'Asathura' and 'Kasakkura' to create a hypnotic, energetic pulse in the verse.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Enakku 20 Unakku 18' (2003) was directed by Jyothi Krishna with music composed by A.R. Rahman. The movie was simultaneously filmed in Telugu as 'Nee Manasu Naaku Telusu'. The track features youthful, energetic synth beats characteristic of Rahman's experimentations with college-pop themes in the early 2000s.

Keep listening

More from Enakku 20 Unakku 18