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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Athi Marakkili

From Paattukku Naan Adimai · 1990

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Paattukku Naan Adimai1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Suthi varum poongaathu…The swirling gentle breeze...
Sudhi podum…Sets the musical pitch...
Thulli varum neeroothu… sThe leaping water spring...
Sram paadum…Sings the musical notes...
Dhenamum kuyiloda kacheri…ee…ee…Every day there is a concert with the cuckoo...
Idha nee kelu haaListen to this, ha!
Male
Aththi mara kili kathumThe parrot on the fig tree cries out,
Adhu aththa magala thaan suthumIt hovers only around the cousin (aunt's daughter).
Hei aththi mara kili kathumHey, the parrot on the fig tree cries out,
Adhu aththa magala thaan suthumIt hovers only around the cousin (aunt's daughter).
Male
Sitham kalangi pochuMy mind has become deeply confused,
Ava sedhi theriyalaachuThere is no news about her,
Ullae odum moochuThe breath flowing inside me,
Ava pera paadalaachuHas started singing her name,
Dhenamum vazhi paathuLooking out at the path every single day,
Male
Aththi mara kili kathumThe parrot on the fig tree cries out,
Adhu aththa magala thaan suthumIt hovers only around the cousin (aunt's daughter).
Male
Aaththu medu kenathu mettulaOn the riverbank mounds and well banks,
Paathu paathu thavichavan haeiI am the one who suffered while watching and waiting, hey!
Andhi neram endha neramumIn the evening time and at all hours,
Sindhu paadi thudichavanI am the one who throbbed, singing folk songs.
Male
Thottaa enna thappaaIs it wrong if I touch you?
Kai pattaa enna yammaaWhat if our hands touch, oh lady?
Maanae ingu naanaeLike a gentle deer, here I am,
Manam vaadum padi aanenI became someone whose heart wilts in longing.
Naalum onna thediSearching for you every day,
Isai paadum padi aanaenI became someone who sings music.
Male
Summaa kerangudhu nenjuMy heart feels dizzy for no reason,
Enna thottu sugangala konjuTouch me and pamper me with sweet pleasures.
Ammammaa onnaalaOh my, because of you,
Ennamo pol aachuSomething inexplicable has happened to me.
Sollamma nal vaakku thaanPlease say a promising, good word to me.
Male
Aththi mara kili kathumThe parrot on the fig tree cries out,
Adhu aththa magala thaan suthumIt hovers only around the cousin (aunt's daughter).
Haei haeiHey hey,
Aththi mara kili kathumThe parrot on the fig tree cries out,
Adhu aththa magala thaan suthumIt hovers only around the cousin (aunt's daughter).
Male
Aattam aadi artha raathiriDancing around at midnight,
Koottu serndhu sirichadhumGathering together in joy and laughing,
Veetta marandhu oora marandhu thaanForgetting our homes and forgetting the town,
Paattu paadi thirinjadhumWandering around singing songs,
Male
Konda vecha malli haeiThe jasmine worn in your hair bun, hey,
Nitham sundum enna killiPinches and beckons me every day.
Kaalam thedhi aagiAs time and dates moved forward,
Manam kaadhal konda neramWhen the heart fell deeply in love,
Mogam kanna moodaAs infatuation blinded my eyes,
En paadhai thadumaarumMy path stumbles and falters.
Male
Ellaam marandhadhen yammaaWhy did you forget everything, oh lady?
Ennai yeno vadhaikkira summaaWhy do you torment me for no reason?
Unna naan ennaadhuThinking of you as my own,
Ponna naan allaadhuSufferings endured for you, my golden girl,
Kannu thaan moodaadhammaaMy eyes refuse to close in sleep, oh lady.
Male
Aththi mara kili kathumThe parrot on the fig tree cries out,
Adhu aththa magala thaan suthumIt hovers only around the cousin (aunt's daughter).
Male
Sitham kalangi pochuMy mind has become deeply confused,
Ava sedhi theriyalaachuThere is no news about her,
Ullae odum moochuThe breath flowing inside me,
Ava pera paadalaachuHas started singing her name,
Dhenamum vazhi paathuLooking out at the path every single day,
Male
Aththi mara kili kathumThe parrot on the fig tree cries out,
Chorus :Hae hae haeiiiChorus: Hae hae haeiii
Male :Adhu aththa magala thaan suthumMale: It hovers only around the cousin (aunt's daughter).
Chorus :Hae hae haeiiiChorus: Hae hae haeiii
Male
Aththi mara kili kathumThe parrot on the fig tree cries out,
Chorus :Hae hae hae hae hae haeChorus: Hae hae hae hae hae hae
Male :Adhu aththa magala thaan suthumMale: It hovers only around the cousin (aunt's daughter).
Chorus :Hae hoooo…oooChorus: Hae hoooo…ooo

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song expresses the deep romantic longing and heartache of a young man for his maternal aunt's daughter (his cousin and traditional bride in Tamil culture). Set against a rustic backdrop, he personifies nature—the breeze setting the musical pitch, the water spring singing notes, and a parrot perched on a fig tree—to reflect his yearning. He reminisces about their childhood memories, late-night dancing, and carefree wanderings through the village, contrasting those happy times with his current state of sleepnessness and emotional torment as he waits for news from her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Uruvagarnam / Maelamai)

Suthi varum poongaathu… Sudhi podum…

Nature is given human musical qualities; the wind sets the pitch (Sudhi) and the spring sings musical scales (Sram / Swaram).

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Aththi mara kili kathum / Adhu aththa magala thaan suthum

The parrot on the fig tree serves as a metaphor for the lover who constantly hovers around his beloved.

Ezhukai (Assonance / Second-letter Rhyming)

Suthi varum poongaathu / Thulli varum neeroothu

The second consonant 'th' matches across consecutive lines ('Suthi' and 'Thulli'), creating rhythmic harmony.

Monaai (Alliteration)

Sitham kalangi pochu / Ava sedhi theriyalaachu

Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'S' in 'Sitham' and 'Sedhi', or 'U' in 'Ullae' and 'Unna'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the song context lists unknown details, 'Paattukku Naan Adimai' (1990) starring Ramarajan and Gautami features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Gangai Amaran. The song 'Aththi Mara Kili' is a classic rural Ilaiyaraaja duet/folk track rendered by Malaysia Vasudevan and K. S. Chithra.

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