Enna Pathti Nee
From Shankar Guru · 1987
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Chandrabose
- Details
- Shankar Guru1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Enna paththi nee enna ninaikkirae | What do you think about me? |
| Enna paththi nee enna ninaikkirae | What do you think about me? |
| Aathu neeril kulikkumpodhum | When I bathe in the river water, |
| Ayira meenu kadikkumpodhum | When the spiny eel fish bites, |
| Thaedi vandhu sirikkumpodhum | When I come looking for you with a smile, |
| Thennandhoppil oliyumpodhum | When hiding in the coconut grove, |
| Enna paththi nee..yeiii.. enna ninaikkirae | What do you... hey... think about me? |
| Female | |
| Unna paththi naan onnum nenaikkalae | I don't think anything about you! |
| Hoii unna paththi naan onnum nenaikkalae | Hey, I don't think anything about you! |
| Kannu rendum thudikkum varaikkum | Until both my eyes twitch, |
| Kannam konjam sivakkum varaikkum | Until my cheeks turn a little red, |
| Thookkam kettu thudikkum varaikkum | Until I lose my sleep and yearn, |
| Indha maeni ilaikkum varaikkum | Until this body grows thin, |
| Unna paththi naan onnum nenaikkalae | I don't think anything about you! |
| Male | |
| Iravu muzhudhum vizhichu unakku | Staying awake all night for you, |
| Kadidham ezhudha nenachaen | I intended to write a letter; |
| Vidinjapodhu ezhudha vandhadhil | When morning came and I sat down to write, |
| Paadhi dhaanae mudichaen | I only managed to finish half of it. |
| Female | |
| Mundhaanaethu saayangaalam | The evening before yesterday, |
| Mulla poova thoduthaen | I was stringing jasmine flowers; |
| Mundhaanaethu saayangaalam | The evening before yesterday, |
| Mulla poova thoduthaen | I was stringing jasmine flowers; |
| Unna paatha avasarathil | In the hurry of seeing you, |
| Naarathaanae mudinjaen | I ended up knotting only the empty fiber string! |
| Male | |
| Enna paththi nee enna ninaikkirae | What do you think about me? |
| Enna paththi nee enna ninaikkirae | What do you think about me? |
| Male | |
| Paesa nenaikkum vaarthai unadhu | The words I plan to speak to you, |
| Vaasal vandhaal thikkum | Stutter as soon as I reach your doorstep. |
| Purattugindraen puthagathil | I flip through the pages of a book, |
| Nagaravillai pakkam | But the pages refuse to turn. |
| Female | |
| Rendu vaarthai paesa vaendum | I want to speak just two words to you, |
| Romba naalaa aaval | It has been my deep desire for a long time. |
| Rendu vaarthai paesa vaendum | I want to speak just two words to you, |
| Romba naalaa aaval | It has been my deep desire for a long time. |
| Vidiya marukkum raathirikku | For the night that refuses to turn into dawn, |
| Saeval kooda kaaval | Even the rooster acts as a guard. |
| Male | |
| Enna paththi nee enna ninaikkirae | What do you think about me? |
| Female :Haan unna paththi naan onnum nenaikkalae | Female: Haan, I don't think anything about you! |
| Male :Hahahah lalalalaa | Male: Hahahah lalalalaa |
| Female :Lalalala lalalalalalalala | Female: Lalalala lalalalalalalala |
என்னப் பத்தி நீ என்ன நினைக்கிறே
என்னப் பத்தி நீ என்ன நினைக்கிறே
ஆத்து நீரில் குளிக்கும்போதும்
அயிர மீனு கடிக்கும்போதும்
தேடி வந்து சிரிக்கும்போதும்
தென்னந்தோப்பில் ஒளியும்போதும்
என்னப் பத்தி நீ ஏய்....என்ன நினைக்கிறே
What do you think about me?
What do you think about me?
When I bathe in the river water,
When the spiny eel fish bites,
When I come looking for you with a smile,
When hiding in the coconut grove,
What do you... hey... think about me?
உன்னப் பத்தி நான் ஒண்ணும் நெனைக்கலே
ஹோய் உன்னப் பத்தி நான் ஒண்ணும் நெனைக்கலே
கண்ணு ரெண்டும் துடிக்கும் வரைக்கும்
கன்னம் கொஞ்சம் சிவக்கும் வரைக்கும்
தூக்கம் கெட்டு துடிக்கும் வரைக்கும்
இந்த மேனி இளைக்கும் வரைக்கும்
உன்னப் பத்தி நான் ஒண்ணும் நெனைக்கலே
I don't think anything about you!
Hey, I don't think anything about you!
Until both my eyes twitch,
Until my cheeks turn a little red,
Until I lose my sleep and yearn,
Until this body grows thin,
I don't think anything about you!
இரவு முழுதும் விழிச்சு உனக்கு
கடிதம் எழுத நெனச்சேன்
விடிஞ்சபோது எழுத வந்ததில்
பாதி தானே முடிச்சேன்
Staying awake all night for you,
I intended to write a letter;
When morning came and I sat down to write,
I only managed to finish half of it.
முந்தா நேத்து சாயங்காலம்
முல்லைப் பூவை தொடுத்தேன்
முந்தா நேத்து சாயங்காலம்
முல்லைப் பூவை தொடுத்தேன்
உன்ன பாத்த அவரசத்தில்
நாரத்தானே முடிஞ்சேன்
The evening before yesterday,
I was stringing jasmine flowers;
The evening before yesterday,
I was stringing jasmine flowers;
In the hurry of seeing you,
I ended up knotting only the empty fiber string!
என்னப் பத்தி நீ என்ன நினைக்கிறே
என்னப் பத்தி நீ என்ன நினைக்கிறே..
What do you think about me?
What do you think about me?
பேச நெனைக்கும் வார்த்தை உனது
வாசல் வந்தால் திக்கும்
புரட்டுகின்றேன் புத்தகத்தில்
நகரவில்லை பக்கம்
The words I plan to speak to you,
Stutter as soon as I reach your doorstep.
I flip through the pages of a book,
But the pages refuse to turn.
ரெண்டு வார்த்தை பேச வேண்டும்
ரொம்ப நாளா ஆவல்
ரெண்டு வார்த்தை பேச வேண்டும்
ரொம்ப நாளா ஆவல்
விடிய மறுக்கும் ராத்திரிக்கு சேவல் கூட காவல்
I want to speak just two words to you,
It has been my deep desire for a long time.
I want to speak just two words to you,
It has been my deep desire for a long time.
For the night that refuses to turn into dawn,
Even the rooster acts as a guard.
என்னப் பத்தி நீ என்ன நினைக்கிறே
உன்னப் பத்தி நான் ஒண்ணும் நெனைக்கல
அஹஹாஹ் லாலாலலா
லலலல லாலாலலலலலாலா
What do you think about me?
Female: Haan, I don't think anything about you!
Male: Hahahah lalalalaa
Female: Lalalala lalalalalalalala
Enna paththi nee enna ninaikkirae
What do you think about me?
Enna paththi nee enna ninaikkirae
What do you think about me?
Aathu neeril kulikkumpodhum
When I bathe in the river water,
Ayira meenu kadikkumpodhum
When the spiny eel fish bites,
Thaedi vandhu sirikkumpodhum
When I come looking for you with a smile,
Thennandhoppil oliyumpodhum
When hiding in the coconut grove,
Enna paththi nee..yeiii.. enna ninaikkirae
What do you... hey... think about me?
Unna paththi naan onnum nenaikkalae
I don't think anything about you!
Hoii unna paththi naan onnum nenaikkalae
Hey, I don't think anything about you!
Kannu rendum thudikkum varaikkum
Until both my eyes twitch,
Kannam konjam sivakkum varaikkum
Until my cheeks turn a little red,
Thookkam kettu thudikkum varaikkum
Until I lose my sleep and yearn,
Indha maeni ilaikkum varaikkum
Until this body grows thin,
Unna paththi naan onnum nenaikkalae
I don't think anything about you!
Iravu muzhudhum vizhichu unakku
Staying awake all night for you,
Kadidham ezhudha nenachaen
I intended to write a letter;
Vidinjapodhu ezhudha vandhadhil
When morning came and I sat down to write,
Paadhi dhaanae mudichaen
I only managed to finish half of it.
Mundhaanaethu saayangaalam
The evening before yesterday,
Mulla poova thoduthaen
I was stringing jasmine flowers;
Mundhaanaethu saayangaalam
The evening before yesterday,
Mulla poova thoduthaen
I was stringing jasmine flowers;
Unna paatha avasarathil
In the hurry of seeing you,
Naarathaanae mudinjaen
I ended up knotting only the empty fiber string!
Enna paththi nee enna ninaikkirae
What do you think about me?
Enna paththi nee enna ninaikkirae
What do you think about me?
Paesa nenaikkum vaarthai unadhu
The words I plan to speak to you,
Vaasal vandhaal thikkum
Stutter as soon as I reach your doorstep.
Purattugindraen puthagathil
I flip through the pages of a book,
Nagaravillai pakkam
But the pages refuse to turn.
Rendu vaarthai paesa vaendum
I want to speak just two words to you,
Romba naalaa aaval
It has been my deep desire for a long time.
Rendu vaarthai paesa vaendum
I want to speak just two words to you,
Romba naalaa aaval
It has been my deep desire for a long time.
Vidiya marukkum raathirikku
For the night that refuses to turn into dawn,
Saeval kooda kaaval
Even the rooster acts as a guard.
Enna paththi nee enna ninaikkirae
What do you think about me?
Female :Haan unna paththi naan onnum nenaikkalae
Female: Haan, I don't think anything about you!
Male :Hahahah lalalalaa
Male: Hahahah lalalalaa
Female :Lalalala lalalalalalalala
Female: Lalalala lalalalalalalala
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful and romantic duet revolves around a lover asking their partner what they think about them across various intimate, everyday moments—like bathing in the river, hiding in coconut groves, or longing during quiet nights. The partner teasingly claims, 'I don't think anything about you at all!', but proceeds to describe symptoms of overwhelming romantic devotion, such as sleeplessness, losing track of time, getting distracted while tying flowers, and stammering when trying to speak. Written with characteristic charm by lyricist Vairamuthu, the song captures the innocent irony of young love where denial is used as a poetic facade to express deep, uncontrollable affection and sweet obsession.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaipu (Rhyming Endings)
“Aathu neeril kulikkumpodhum / Ayira meenu kadikkumpodhum / Thaedi vandhu sirikkumpodhum / Thennandhoppil oliyumpodhum”
The repetitive ending suffix '-podhum' ('when...') across four consecutive lines creates a rhythmic, flowing musical cadence.
Anaphora / Repetition
“Kannu rendum thudikkum varaikkum / Kannam konjam sivakkum varaikkum...”
The repetition of the phrase 'varaikkum' ('until...') at the end of successive lines reinforces the growing intensity of emotional physical responses.
Irony / Muran (Antithesis)
“Unna paththi naan onnum nenaikkalae”
The singer repeatedly claims not to think about their partner at all, while simultaneously describing elaborate personal sacrifices and romantic distractions caused by thinking of them.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Purattugindraen puthagathil”
The repetition of the initial 'Pu-' sound ('Purattugindraen', 'puthagathil') enhances the poetic texture of the line.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is from the 1987 Tamil film 'Shankar Guru', starring Arjun Sarja and Seetha. The soundtrack for the film was composed by Chandrabose, with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu. The song is well-remembered for its catchy folk-pop rhythm and playful conversational dynamic.
Keep listening
More from Shankar Guru
Shankar Guru
Shankar Guru
Shankar Guru
Shankar Guru