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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ayyo Pathikichu

From Rhythm · 2000

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Udit Narayan, Vasundhara Das
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Rhythm2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aiyoo pathikichu pathikichuOh dear, it caught fire, it caught fire!
Pathikichu oh… oh… kannaeIt caught fire, oh my dear!
Male :Aiyoo pathikichu pathikichuMale: Oh dear, it caught fire, it caught fire!
Pathikichu oh. oh. pennaeIt caught fire, oh girl!
Female :Nenjo sikkikichu sikkikichuFemale: My heart got entangled, got entangled!
Sikki kichu oh…oh… kannaeGot entangled, oh my dear!
Male
Hey mullai mullal edupathu polHey, like removing a thorn with a thorn,
Neruppai neruppal anaippom vaa…Let us extinguish fire with fire, come...
Hey mullai mullal edupathu polHey, like removing a thorn with a thorn,
Neruppai neruppal anaippom vaa…Let us extinguish fire with fire, come...
Un kannodu vazhkindraResiding within your eyes,
Kaadhal thee vazhgaLong live the fire of love!
Female
Hey mullai mullal edupathu polHey, like removing a thorn with a thorn,
Neruppai neruppal anaippom vaa..Let us extinguish fire with fire, come..
Un kannodu vazhkindraResiding within your eyes,
Kaadhal… thee vazhgaLong live the fire of love!
Male
Aiyoo. pathikichu…Oh dear... it caught fire...
Female
Oooo..tadataaa….oo……Oooo..tadataaa….oo……
Female
Aanum… pennum sikki mukki kalMan and woman are like flint stones;
Ondrodu ondru urasaWhen rubbed against each other,
Pori varumae… vaa..Sparks will emerge... come..
Vaa hahaha……Come, hahaha......
Male
Ainpori ellam thee porithanAll five senses are sparks of fire,
Aasaiyil eriyum sarithanBurning in desire is indeed right.
Anaivatharkkul… vaa vaa…Before it gets extinguished... come, come...
Vaaa vaa va va va va vaCome, come, va va va va va
Female
Kaadhal neruppu ullavaraiAs long as the fire of love exists,
Kaalam uraivathillaiTime does not freeze!
Kathiravanae vaa vaaOh Sun, come, come!
Kaadhallippom vaa vaaLet us love, come, come!
Male
Thee than mudhal vinyanamFire is the first science,
Kaadhal than mudhal meignyanam…Love is the first spiritual knowledge...
Thee pathikichu …pathikichu ….Fire caught fire... caught fire....
Pathikichu ….pathikichuCaught fire.... caught fire
Pathikichu …pathikichuCaught fire... caught fire
Male
Thee sudar eriya porul vendumTo burn a flame of fire, a material object is required;
Kaadhal erivadhu ethilaeIn what does love burn?
Vidai sollava… vaa vaaShall I tell the answer? Come, come
Vaa vaa va va va va vaCome, come, va va va va va
Female
Ovvoru uyiraiyum thiriyakkiMaking every soul into a wick,
Kaadhal than sudar kolluthumLove itself lights up the flame!
Oli viduvom vaa… ahaa..Let us spread light, come... aha..
Vaa…ahaa..aahhh…Come... aha.. aahhh...
Male
Kaadhal neruuppai nee valarthuNurture the fire of love,
Kavalai kuppaigalai koluthuBurn away the trash of worries!
Sudar valarppom vaa vaaLet us grow the flame, come, come!
Sugam valarppom vaa vaa vaa…Let us grow pleasure, come, come, come...
Female
Theebam polae irundhaval naanI was like a humble oil lamp,
Thee pandhamai ennai matrivittaiYou transformed me into a blazing torch!
Pathikichu ….pathikichuCaught fire.... caught fire
Pathikichu …pathikichuCaught fire... caught fire
Aiyoo…aiyoo…aiyoooOh dear... oh dear... oh dear!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Aiyoo Pathikichu' from the album Rhythm (2000) represents the element of Fire (Agni) as part of the movie's unique concept where each song corresponds to one of the five natural elements (Pancha Bhootas). Written by Vairamuthu and composed by A.R. Rahman, the song uses vivid metaphors of sparks, flames, combustion, and lighting wicks to depict the intense passion and irresistible romantic attraction between a man and a woman.\n\nThe lyrics cleverly equate romantic friction to flint stones striking fire, and describe love as both the fundamental science of heat and the ultimate spiritual illumination. It urges the lovers to burn away their worries like trash and embrace the warmth of affection, highlighting how love transforms a subtle lamp into a blazing torch.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (உவமை)

Hey mullai mullal edupathu pol

Compares resolving fire with passion to the proverb of removing a thorn using another thorn ('mullai mullal edupathu pol').

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

Aanum… pennum sikki mukki kal

Directly compares man and woman to flint stones ('sikki mukki kal') that create sparks when rubbed together.

Paradox & Metaphor

Thee than mudhal vinyanam / Kaadhal than mudhal meignyanam…

Presents fire as physical science and love as spiritual wisdom ('mudhal meignyanam').

Transformative Metaphor

Theebam polae irundhaval naan / Thee pandhamai ennai matrivittai

Illustrates personal transformation by comparing her former self to a small lamp ('theebam') and her present state to a blazing torch ('thee pandham').

Did you know?

Trivia

The soundtrack album of 'Rhythm' (2000), directed by Vasanth with music by A.R. Rahman, is iconic for having five songs themed strictly after the Pancha Bhootas (Five Elements of Nature). 'Aiyoo Pathikichu' represents Fire (Agni), featuring dynamic rhythm tracks and fiery vocal arrangements by Vasundhara Das and Suresh Peters.

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