Athai Magane Poivarava
From Paadha Kaanikkai · 1962
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Paadha Kaanikkai1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Athai magane poi varavaa | Cousin, shall I take leave and return? |
| Ammaan magane poi varavaa | Cousin, shall I take leave and return? |
| Female | |
| Athai magane poi varavaa | Cousin, shall I take leave and return? |
| Athai magane poi varavaa | Cousin, shall I take leave and return? |
| Ammaan magane poi varavaa | Cousin, shall I take leave and return? |
| Athai magane poi varavaa..aaa | Cousin, shall I take leave and return? |
| Female | |
| Undhan manadhai kondu sellavaa | Shall I take your heart with me as I go? |
| Endhan ninaivai thandhu sellavaa | Shall I leave my memories behind with you? |
| Undhan manadhai kondu sellavaa | Shall I take your heart with me as I go? |
| Endhan ninaivai thandhu sellavaa | Shall I leave my memories behind with you? |
| Female | |
| Athai magane poi varavaa | Cousin, shall I take leave and return? |
| Ammaan magane poi varavaa | Cousin, shall I take leave and return? |
| Athai magane poi varavaa..aaa | Cousin, shall I take leave and return? |
| Female | |
| Malligai malar soodi | Adorned with jasmine flowers, |
| Kaathu nirkavaa | Shall I stand and wait for you? |
| Maalai ilam thendral thannai | Sending the gentle evening breeze, |
| Thoodhu vidavaa | As a messenger to you? |
| Malligai malar soodi | Adorned with jasmine flowers, |
| Kaathu nirkavaa | Shall I stand and wait for you? |
| Maalai ilam thendral thannai | Sending the gentle evening breeze, |
| Thoodhu vidavaa | As a messenger to you? |
| Nalladhor naal paarthu sedhi sollavaa | Finding an auspicious day, shall I send word? |
| Nalladhor naal paarthu sedhi sollavaa | Finding an auspicious day, shall I send word? |
| Naatorai saatchi veithu vandhu vidavaa | Shall I return with the townspeople as witnesses? |
| Naatorai saatchi veithu vandhu vidavaa | Shall I return with the townspeople as witnesses? |
| Female | |
| Athai magane poi varavaa | Cousin, shall I take leave and return? |
| Ammaan magane poi varavaa | Cousin, shall I take leave and return? |
| Athai magane poi varavaa..aaa | Cousin, shall I take leave and return? |
| Female | |
| Pen paarkum maapilai | Looking at the bridegroom who comes to see the bride, |
| Mugam paarkavaa | Shall I look at his face? |
| Mugam paarka mudiyaamal | Unable to look directly at his face, |
| Nilam paarkavaa | Shall I look down at the ground shyly? |
| Pen paarkum maapilai | Looking at the bridegroom who comes to see the bride, |
| Mugam paarkavaa | Shall I look at his face? |
| Mugam paarka mudiyaamal | Unable to look directly at his face, |
| Nilam paarkavaa | Shall I look down at the ground shyly? |
| Nilam paarthu medhuvaaga | Looking at the ground, slowly, |
| Unai naadavaa | Shall I come seeking you? |
| Nilam paarthu medhuvaaga | Looking at the ground, slowly, |
| Unai naadavaa | Shall I come seeking you? |
| Unai naadi unai naadi.. | Seeking you, seeking you... |
| Unai naadi unai naadi..uravaadavaa | Seeking you, seeking you, shall I bond with you? |
| Female | |
| Athai magane poi varavaa | Cousin, shall I take leave and return? |
| Ammaan magane poi varavaa | Cousin, shall I take leave and return? |
| Athai magane poi varavaa..aaaa | Cousin, shall I take leave and return? |
அத்தை மகனே போய் வரவா
அம்மான் மகனே போய் வரவா
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
அத்தை மகனே போய் வரவா
அத்தை மகனே போய் வரவா
அம்மான் மகனே போய் வரவா
அத்தை மகனே போய் வரவா..ஆஆ ...
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
உந்தன் மனதைக் கொண்டு செல்லவா
எந்தன் நினைவைத் தந்து செல்லவா
உந்தன் மனதைக் கொண்டு செல்லவா
எந்தன் நினைவைத் தந்து செல்லவா
Shall I take your heart with me as I go?
Shall I leave my memories behind with you?
Shall I take your heart with me as I go?
Shall I leave my memories behind with you?
அத்தை மகனே போய் வரவா
அம்மான் மகனே போய் வரவா
அத்தை மகனே போய் வரவா ...ஆஆ ...
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
மல்லிகை மலர் சூடி காத்து நிற்கவா
மாலை இளம் தென்றல் தன்னை தூது விடவா
மல்லிகை மலர் சூடி காத்து நிற்கவா
மாலை இளம் தென்றல் தன்னை தூது விடவா
நல்லதோர் நாள் பார்த்து சேதி சொல்லவா
நல்லதோர் நாள் பார்த்து சேதி சொல்லவா
நாட்டோரை சாட்சி வைத்து வந்து விடவா
நாட்டோரை சாட்சி வைத்து வந்து விடவா
Adorned with jasmine flowers,
Shall I stand and wait for you?
Sending the gentle evening breeze,
As a messenger to you?
Adorned with jasmine flowers,
Shall I stand and wait for you?
Sending the gentle evening breeze,
As a messenger to you?
Finding an auspicious day, shall I send word?
Finding an auspicious day, shall I send word?
Shall I return with the townspeople as witnesses?
Shall I return with the townspeople as witnesses?
அத்தை மகனே போய் வரவா
அம்மான் மகனே போய் வரவா
அத்தை மகனே போய் வரவா ...ஆஆ ...
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
பெண் பார்க்கும் மாப்பிள்ளை முகம் பார்க்கவா
முகம் பார்க்க முடியாமல் நிலம் பார்க்கவா
பெண் பார்க்கும் மாப்பிள்ளை முகம் பார்க்கவா
முகம் பார்க்க முடியாமல் நிலம் பார்க்கவா
நிலம் பார்த்து மெதுவாக உனை நாடவா
நிலம் பார்த்து மெதுவாக உனை நாடவா
உனை நாடி உனை நாடி ....
உனை நாடி உனை நாடி உறவாடவா
Looking at the bridegroom who comes to see the bride,
Shall I look at his face?
Unable to look directly at his face,
Shall I look down at the ground shyly?
Looking at the bridegroom who comes to see the bride,
Shall I look at his face?
Unable to look directly at his face,
Shall I look down at the ground shyly?
Looking at the ground, slowly,
Shall I come seeking you?
Looking at the ground, slowly,
Shall I come seeking you?
Seeking you, seeking you...
Seeking you, seeking you, shall I bond with you?
அத்தை மகனே போய் வரவா
அம்மான் மகனே போய் வரவா
அத்தை மகனே போய் வரவா ...ஆஆ ...
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Athai magane poi varavaa
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Ammaan magane poi varavaa
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Athai magane poi varavaa
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Athai magane poi varavaa
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Ammaan magane poi varavaa
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Athai magane poi varavaa..aaa
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Undhan manadhai kondu sellavaa
Shall I take your heart with me as I go?
Endhan ninaivai thandhu sellavaa
Shall I leave my memories behind with you?
Undhan manadhai kondu sellavaa
Shall I take your heart with me as I go?
Endhan ninaivai thandhu sellavaa
Shall I leave my memories behind with you?
Athai magane poi varavaa
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Ammaan magane poi varavaa
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Athai magane poi varavaa..aaa
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Malligai malar soodi
Adorned with jasmine flowers,
Kaathu nirkavaa
Shall I stand and wait for you?
Maalai ilam thendral thannai
Sending the gentle evening breeze,
Thoodhu vidavaa
As a messenger to you?
Malligai malar soodi
Adorned with jasmine flowers,
Kaathu nirkavaa
Shall I stand and wait for you?
Maalai ilam thendral thannai
Sending the gentle evening breeze,
Thoodhu vidavaa
As a messenger to you?
Nalladhor naal paarthu sedhi sollavaa
Finding an auspicious day, shall I send word?
Nalladhor naal paarthu sedhi sollavaa
Finding an auspicious day, shall I send word?
Naatorai saatchi veithu vandhu vidavaa
Shall I return with the townspeople as witnesses?
Naatorai saatchi veithu vandhu vidavaa
Shall I return with the townspeople as witnesses?
Athai magane poi varavaa
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Ammaan magane poi varavaa
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Athai magane poi varavaa..aaa
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Pen paarkum maapilai
Looking at the bridegroom who comes to see the bride,
Mugam paarkavaa
Shall I look at his face?
Mugam paarka mudiyaamal
Unable to look directly at his face,
Nilam paarkavaa
Shall I look down at the ground shyly?
Pen paarkum maapilai
Looking at the bridegroom who comes to see the bride,
Mugam paarkavaa
Shall I look at his face?
Mugam paarka mudiyaamal
Unable to look directly at his face,
Nilam paarkavaa
Shall I look down at the ground shyly?
Nilam paarthu medhuvaaga
Looking at the ground, slowly,
Unai naadavaa
Shall I come seeking you?
Nilam paarthu medhuvaaga
Looking at the ground, slowly,
Unai naadavaa
Shall I come seeking you?
Unai naadi unai naadi..
Seeking you, seeking you...
Unai naadi unai naadi..uravaadavaa
Seeking you, seeking you, shall I bond with you?
Athai magane poi varavaa
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Ammaan magane poi varavaa
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Athai magane poi varavaa..aaaa
Cousin, shall I take leave and return?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Athai Magane Poi Varavaa from the 1962 Tamil film Paadha Kaanikkai is a tender, classic romantic track penned by Kannadasan, set to music by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, and rendered by P. Susheela. The heroine bids a playful and affection-laden farewell to her cross-cousin (her traditional suitor in Tamil culture), asking if she may take his heart along while leaving her own sweet memories behind. She expresses her eager anticipation for their marriage, envisioning how she will adorn herself with jasmine blossoms and send the evening breeze as her romantic messenger. The song highlights classical Tamil courtship customs, depicting the heroine's coy modesty (Naanam) as she imagines looking down at the ground when he officially arrives to see her as a prospective bride, longing to unite with him in matrimony before the townspeople.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Undhan manadhai kondu sellavaa / Endhan ninaivai thandhu sellavaa”
The second consonant sound matches across adjacent lines ('Undhan' and 'Endhan'), creating a smooth rhythmic flow characteristic of traditional Tamil poetry.
Personification / Thoodhu
“Maalai ilam thendral thannai / Thoodhu vidavaa”
The evening breeze ('Maalai ilam thendral') is personified as an envoy or messenger (Thoodhu) carrying romantic messages between lovers.
Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Unai naadi unai naadi..uravaadavaa”
The phrase 'Unai naadi' is repeated continuously to intensify the expression of deep love, longing, and singular dedication.
Cultural Metaphor of Naanam (Modesty)
“Mugam paarka mudiyaamal / Nilam paarkavaa”
Gazing down at the earth ('Nilam paarkavaa') serves as an iconic literary metaphor for female modesty and shyness in Tamil culture when facing one's suitor.
Did you know?
Trivia
In Tamil culture, 'Poi Varavaa' literally translates to 'I will go and return', as saying a direct 'goodbye' or 'go' is traditionally considered inauspicious. The song beautifully reinforces the cross-cousin marriage tradition (Athai magan / Ammaan magan) prevalent in Tamil Nadu, captured with emotional perfection by Kannadasan's lyricism and Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy's composition.
Keep listening
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