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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Azhagina Azhagi Askava

From Enakku 20 Unakku 18 · 2003

Lyricist
Pa. Vijay
Singers
Surjo Bhattacharya, Shreya Ghoshal
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Enakku 20 Unakku 182003

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
{Thaka thimi thaka thimi tha..{Rhythmic vocal percussion: Thaka thimi thaka thimi tha..
Thaka thimi thaka thimi tha..Thaka thimi thaka thimi tha..
Male :Ye oye} (2)Male: Hey oye} (2)
Male
Dhim thirathaeDhim thirathae
Tharari rathae tharari rathae askaavaTharari rathae tharari rathae, do you love me?
Dhim thirathaeDhim thirathae
Tharari rathae tharari rathae vasthaavaaTharari rathae tharari rathae, will you come?
Male
Azhaginna azhagi askaavaBeauty of beauties, do you love me?
Silmisham seiya vasthaavaWill you come to play playfully?
Female :Ahaa..aaFemale: Ahaa..aa
Male :Azhaginna azhagi askaavaMale: Beauty of beauties, do you love me?
Silmisham seiya vasthaavaaSilmisham: Will you come to play playful mischief?
Azhagiyae oh…Oh beautiful one...
Male
Atrai thingalilUnder that ancient moon,
Andril paravaiyaaiLike the legendary inseparable lover bird,
Odi poga neeyum vasthaavaaWill you come with me to run away?
Female :Oraeee…..Female: Oraeee…..
Male
Panam vendaamNo need for money,
Nagai vendaam neeNo need for jewelry, if you...
Female :Ahaa…aaFemale: Ahaa…aa
Male :Vandhaalae askaavaMale: ...just come, my love?
Male
Inam vendaamNo need for caste,
Kulam vendaam neeNo need for clan, if you...
Female :Ahaa…aaFemale: Ahaa…aa
Male :Ippadiyae vasthaavaaMale: Will you come just as you are?
Female
Dhim thirathaeDhim thirathae
Tharari rathae tharari rathae askaavaTharari rathae tharari rathae, do you love me?
Hmmm thirathaeHmmm thirathae
Tharari rathae tharari rathae vasthaavaaTharari rathae tharari rathae, will you come?
Female
Azhaginna azhagi askaavaBeauty of beauties, do you love me?
Silmisham seiya vasthaavaWill you come to play playful mischief?
Male
Thozhi endroru vaarthaiyilaeWith just the word 'friend'...
Chorus :Naangal ungalai koopiduvomChorus: ...shall we call out to you?
Female
Kozhai pechugal vendaamaeNo need for timid words!
Chorus :Kaadhali endrae koopidungalChorus: Call us 'lover' instead!
Male
Bharathi kanavugal vaazhaFor Poet Bharathi's dreams to thrive,
Chorus :Idho engal munnaalaeChorus: Look, she stands right before us!
Female
Sendhamizh sorkalIf pure Tamil words...
Theerndhuvittaal...run out,
Chorus :French-il pugazhndhu kottungalenChorus: Shower us with praises in French!
Chorus
Sevvaai vaasigalaeO inhabitants of Mars,
Engal vaazhkai neengal dhaanYou are our very life!
Female
Azhaginna azhagi askaavaBeauty of beauties, do you love me?
Silmisham seiya vasthaavaWill you come to play playful mischief?
Female
Atrai thingalilUnder that ancient moon,
Andril paravaiyaaiLike the legendary inseparable lover bird,
Odi poga neeyum vasthaavaaWill you come with me to run away?
Male
Panam vendaamNo need for money,
Nagai vendaam neeNo need for jewelry, if you...
Female :Ahaa…aaFemale: Ahaa…aa
Male :Vandhaalae askaavaMale: ...just come, my love?
Male
Inam vendaamNo need for caste,
Kulam vendaam neeNo need for clan, if you...
Female :Ahaa…aaFemale: Ahaa…aa
Male :Ippadiyae vasthaavaaMale: Will you come just as you are?
Female
Ahaa..aaa…ahaa..aaaAhaa..aaa…ahaa..aaa
Ahaa..aaa…ahaa..aaaAhaa..aaa…ahaa..aaa
Female
Acham engal aadai polFear is like clothing to us,
Chorus :Udanae neengal maarungalChorus: Change out of it immediately!
Male
Innum veredhum vendaamaIs nothing else required?
Chorus :Anbu kattalai podungalChorus: Issue a command of love!
Female
Bakthi paravasam paarkaTo see divine ecstatic devotion,
Chorus :Manam vatri ponomaeChorus: Our hearts have parched away!
Male
Ooh laysaai arugil utkaaraOoh, just to sit softly by your side,
Chorus :Anumadhi ketpom thara vendumChorus: We seek permission, which you must grant!
Chorus
Kaadhal vaasigalaeO residents of love's realm,
Melae vandhu saayungalenCome close and lean on us!
Male
Azhaginna azhagi askaavaBeauty of beauties, do you love me?
Silmisham seiya vasthaavaaWill you come to play playful mischief?
Male
Atrai thingalilUnder that ancient moon,
Andril paravaiyaaiLike the legendary inseparable lover bird,
Odi poga neeyum vasthaavaaWill you come with me to run away?
Female :Oraeee…..Female: Oraeee…..
Chorus
Panam ennaWhat is money?
Nagai ennaWhat are jewels?
Varuvomae asskaavaaWe will come, my love!
Chorus
Innam ennaWhat is caste?
Kulam ennaWhat is clan?
Ippadiyae vasthaavaa..We will come just as we are..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Askaava' is a youthful, energetic romantic duet from the film 'Enakku 20 Unakku 18', composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics by Pa. Vijay. The title word 'Askaava' is a coinage derived from 'Aska' (meaning love or affection in youth slang coined for the song). The song captures the playful bantering and yearning of young lovers who dismiss material wealth, caste, and social boundaries in favor of pure, unconditional romantic togetherness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Andril paravaiyaai

Compares the lovers to 'Andril Paravai', the mythical bird pair in classical Tamil literature known for dying of heartbreak if separated.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Acham engal aadai pol

Metaphorically compares fear to clothing ('Acham engal aadai pol') that should be taken off or discarded.

Rhyme / Alliteration (Edhugai)

Panam vendaam / Inam vendaam

Use of matching second consonants across adjacent lines ('Panam' / 'Inam', 'Nagai' / 'Kulam').

Classical Allusion

Atrai thingalil

'Atrai thingalil' directly evokes the famous Sangam poem line from Purananuru ('Atrai thingal annilavil').

Did you know?

Trivia

The word 'Askaava' was coined by lyricist Pa. Vijay and director Jyothi Krishna specifically for this song to represent a catchy, youthful expression of love. The song features music composed by A. R. Rahman and was released in both Tamil and Telugu ('Esnaba') versions.

Keep listening

More from Enakku 20 Unakku 18