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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Avatha Paiyya

From Paradesi · 2013

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Yazin Nizar, Vandana Srinivasan
Music director
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Movie name
Paradesi
Movie release year
2013
Lyrics added on
9 Oct 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Avatha paiya sevathapaiya
Azhichaatiyam yenadaa
Kavichimela aasappatta
Karichaan kunju naanadaa
Serattaiyil penja
Siru mazhai pola
Nenju koottula neranjirukka
Kanjiyil karainja
Uppu kalla pola
Kannu koottula olinjirukka
Namma boomi varandirukku
On naakku eerampattu
Vaazhkkai nanaijirukku ….
Ooo…oo. avatha ponnae
Sevatha ponnae
Azhichaatiyam yenadi….
Venni thanni kaachavaa….
On melu kaalu oothavaa..
Kaachu pona kaiyila
On kaanja moonji theikkavaa
Kottaanguchiyil melu thechu
Kulikka vaiyadi
En akkul pakkam
Akka poru aagudhae
Nee thalli nilladi
Varaadhadi thodaadhadi
Oo…ooo..
Avatha paiya sevathapaiya
Azhichaatiyam yenadaa
Koothu paakka pogalaam
Kooda maada vaariyaa
Sollu pechu kekkuren
Konjam nellu soaru thaariyaa
Ellu potta eesal thaaren
Onna tharuviyaa…
Naan mundhipottu
Moodivacha pookkala
Nee mondhu paappiya..
Muthaadaiyaa muttaa paiyaa
Avatha ponnae
Sevatha ponnae
Azhichaatiyam yenadi….
Izhuthu vachu kazhutharukka
Ilichavaayan naanadi
Kayitha arutha kannukkutti pola
Siththan pokkil naan alanjen
Karuvaa sirukki seelai irukki
Katti pottu sirikkiriyae
Un soozhchi palichiruchae
Nellu soaththu paanaikkulla
Poona vizhundhiruchae
Hey Avatha boy, fair-skinned boy,
why all this mischief, boy?
Craving the smell of meat,
I am just a little drongo chick, boy!
Like a gentle rain
caught inside a coconut shell,
you have filled up my chest.
Like a crystal of salt
dissolved in rice porridge,
you are hiding inside my eyes.
Our land has been parched and dry,
yet touched by the wetness of your tongue,
my whole life is soaked...
Oh... oh, Avatha girl,
fair-skinned girl,
why do you trouble me so, girl?
Shall I boil some hot water?
Shall I pour it over your body and limbs?
With my calloused hands,
shall I scrub your dry face?
Scrub my body with a coconut shell
and give me a bath, girl!
Around my armpits,
a ticklish trouble begins,
so stand back, girl!
Don't come near, don't touch me!
Oh... oh...
Hey Avatha boy, fair-skinned boy,
why all this mischief, boy?
Let's go watch the village play,
will you come along with me?
I will listen to your words,
will you give me a little cooked rice?
I will give you winged termites with sesame,
will you give yourself to me?
The flowers that I covered
and kept hidden under the edge of my sari,
will you take a whiff of them?
Come kiss me, you foolish boy!
Avatha girl,
fair-skinned girl,
why do you trouble me so, girl?
For you to drag me down and cut my throat,
am I such an easy fool, girl?
Like a calf that snapped its rope,
I wandered freely as I pleased.
You dark cheeky girl, tightening your sari,
you tied me up and now you laugh!
Your little trick has worked,
and into the pot of cooked rice,
the cat has fallen right in!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a raw, playful folk duet depicting a teasing romantic exchange between two rural lovers. They express their mutual affection using earthy, rustic metaphors drawn from daily village life—comparing love to rain collecting in a coconut shell, salt dissolving into porridge, and a cat falling into a rice pot. Despite their meager circumstances and harsh living conditions, their exchange is filled with humor, warmth, and innocence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Serattaiyil penja Siru mazhai pola

Compares love filling the heart to rain water filling a coconut shell, and affection hiding in the eyes to salt dissolving in porridge.

Folk Metaphor

Nellu soaththu paanaikkulla Poona vizhundhiruchae

Uses 'Poona vizhundhiruchae' (the cat fell into the pot) as an idiom indicating getting caught in the snare of love.

Assonance & Rhyme (Ethirai / Monai)

Avatha paiya sevathapaiya

Rhythmic pairing of initial dialect words like 'Avatha' and 'Sevatha' creating a traditional folk cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar for Director Bala's critically acclaimed period drama 'Paradesi' (2013). The lyrics rely heavily on authentic regional Tamil dialects, capturing the authentic folk music tradition of rural Tamil Nadu.

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