Ethanai Malargal
From Pattampoochi · 1975
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- S. Janaki, T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- P. Srinivasan
- Details
- Pattampoochi1975
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Manam paarththu kann paarththu | Seeing the heart and seeing the eyes, |
| Maappillai thaernthavalae | O woman who chose a groom! |
| Inam paarththu idam paarththu | Considering lineage and social standing, |
| Eduththirunthaal kai vidumaa…..kai vidumaa | Had it been selected, would it let go of your hand? Would it let go... |
| Female | |
| Eththanai malargal thaavum pattaampoochi | How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon? |
| Male :Adhu eththanaiyo thaavumadi anbu meenatchi | Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi! |
| Female :Eththanai malargal thaavum pattaampoochi | Female: How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon? |
| Male :Adhu eththanaiyo thaavumadi anbu meenatchi | Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi! |
| Female | |
| Aadavaril eththanai per pattaampoochi | How many men are like butterflies? |
| Aadavaril eththanai per pattaampoochi | How many men are like butterflies? |
| Male :Naan aayiram per paarththuvittaen | Male: I have seen a thousand such people, |
| Anbu meenatchi…….anbu meenatchi…. | My dear Meenakshi... my dear Meenakshi... |
| Female | |
| Eththanai malargal thaavum pattaampoochi | How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon? |
| Male :Adhu eththanaiyo thaavumadi anbu meenatchi | Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi! |
| Female | |
| Kavithaiyellaam kadhal | All poetry speaks of |
| Sugam solvathallavaa | The bliss of love, doesn't it? |
| Male :Antha kadhalellaam | Male: But all that love |
| Tholvi mayam aanathallavaa | Has ended up full of failures, hasn't it? |
| Female | |
| Kavithaiyellaam kadhal | All poetry speaks of |
| Sugam solvathallavaa | The bliss of love, doesn't it? |
| Male :Antha kadhalellaam | Male: But all that love |
| Tholvi mayam aanathallavaa | Has ended up full of failures, hasn't it? |
| Female | |
| Vazhi thavari kadhal seithaal | If one falls in love straying from the right path, |
| Kaanbathu enna | What does one witness? |
| Male :Vaazhkkai vazhi thavari povathuthaan | Male: Life itself straying off course, |
| Anbu meenatchi…….anbu meenatchi…. | My dear Meenakshi... my dear Meenakshi... |
| Female | |
| Eththanai malargal thaavum pattaampoochi | How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon? |
| Male :Adhu eththanaiyo thaavumadi anbu meenatchi | Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi! |
| Female | |
| Aadavaril eththanai per pattaampoochi | How many men are like butterflies? |
| Aadavaril eththanai per pattaampoochi | How many men are like butterflies? |
| Male :Naan aayiram per paarththuvittaen | Male: I have seen a thousand such people, |
| Anbu meenatchi…….anbu meenatchi…. | My dear Meenakshi... my dear Meenakshi... |
| Female | |
| Eththanai malargal thaavum pattaampoochi | How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon? |
| Male :Adhu eththanaiyo thaavumadi anbu meenatchi | Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi! |
| Female | |
| Pennae paarththu thunai | If a woman chooses her partner herself after seeing him, |
| Eduththaal paavamundo | Is there any sin in that? |
| Male :Verum kannae paarththu | Male: By choosing merely through the eyes, |
| Thaervathilae laabamundo | Is there any true benefit? |
| Female | |
| Pennae paarththu thunai | If a woman chooses her partner herself after seeing him, |
| Eduththaal paavamundo | Is there any sin in that? |
| Male :Verum kannae paarththu | Male: By choosing merely through the eyes, |
| Thaervathilae laabamundo | Is there any true benefit? |
| Female | |
| Pettravargal paarpathilae | In parents selecting the match, |
| Perumai ennavo | What is the great pride? |
| Male :Avar mattravaiyum paarpathinaal | Male: Because they look into all other crucial aspects, |
| Nanmaiyallavo….nanmaiyallavo…. | Isn't it beneficial? Isn't it beneficial? |
| Female | |
| Eththanai malargal thaavum pattaampoochi | How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon? |
| Male :Adhu eththanaiyo thaavumadi anbu meenatchi | Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi! |
| Female | |
| Sakthi sivan seithu konda | The union that Sakthi and Siva formed |
| Sambantham ondru | Was a single sacred bond. |
| Adhu thaai thanthai paarththathalla | It wasn't arranged by parents, |
| Kadhaikalil undu | As told in ancient stories. |
| Male | |
| Aadhimoolam seithu konda | Male: The deeds done by the primordial divine beings |
| Kaariyam ellaam nam needhi moolam aagaathu | Cannot become the foundation of our human laws! |
| Anbu meenatchi…….anbu meenatchi…. | My dear Meenakshi... my dear Meenakshi... |
| Female | |
| Eththanai malargal thaavum pattaampoochi | How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon? |
| Male :Adhu eththanaiyo thaavumadi anbu meenatchi | Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi! |
| Female | |
| Aadavaril eththanai per pattaampoochi | How many men are like butterflies? |
| Aadavaril eththanai per pattaampoochi | How many men are like butterflies? |
| Male :Naan aayiram per paarththuvittaen | Male: I have seen a thousand such people, |
| Anbu meenatchi…….anbu meenatchi…. | My dear Meenakshi... my dear Meenakshi... |
| Female | |
| Eththanai malargal thaavum pattaampoochi | How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon? |
| Male :Adhu eththanaiyo thaavumadi anbu meenatchi | Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi! |
மனம் பார்த்துக் கண் பார்த்து
மாப்பிள்ளை தேர்ந்தவளே
இனம் பார்த்து இடம் பார்த்து
எடுத்திருந்தால் கை விடுமா.......கை விடுமா.......
Seeing the heart and seeing the eyes,
O woman who chose a groom!
Considering lineage and social standing,
Had it been selected, would it let go of your hand? Would it let go...
எத்தனை மலர்கள் தாவும் பட்டாம்பூச்சி
அது எத்தனையோ தாவுமடி அன்பு மீனாட்சி
எத்தனை மலர்கள் தாவும் பட்டாம்பூச்சி
அது எத்தனையோ தாவுமடி அன்பு மீனாட்சி
How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon?
Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi!
Female: How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon?
Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi!
ஆடவரில் எத்தனை பேர் பட்டாம்பூச்சி
ஆடவரில் எத்தனை பேர் பட்டாம்பூச்சி
நான் ஆயிரம் பேர் பார்த்துவிட்டேன்
அன்பு மீனாட்சி.........அன்பு மீனாட்சி.....
How many men are like butterflies?
How many men are like butterflies?
Male: I have seen a thousand such people,
My dear Meenakshi... my dear Meenakshi...
எத்தனை மலர்கள் தாவும் பட்டாம்பூச்சி
அது எத்தனையோ தாவுமடி அன்பு மீனாட்சி
How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon?
Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi!
கவிதையெல்லாம் காதல்
சுகம் சொல்வதல்லவா
ஆண்
: அந்த காதலெல்லாம்
தோல்வி மயம் ஆனதல்லவா
All poetry speaks of
The bliss of love, doesn't it?
Male: But all that love
Has ended up full of failures, hasn't it?
கவிதையெல்லாம் காதல்
சுகம் சொல்வதல்லவா
அந்த காதலெல்லாம்
தோல்வி மயம் ஆனதல்லவா
All poetry speaks of
The bliss of love, doesn't it?
Male: But all that love
Has ended up full of failures, hasn't it?
வழி தவறி காதல் செய்தால்
காண்பது என்ன
வாழ்க்கை வழி தவறிப் போவதுதான்
அன்பு மீனாட்சி....அன்பு மீனாட்சி....
If one falls in love straying from the right path,
What does one witness?
Male: Life itself straying off course,
My dear Meenakshi... my dear Meenakshi...
எத்தனை மலர்கள் தாவும் பட்டாம்பூச்சி
அது எத்தனையோ தாவுமடி அன்பு மீனாட்சி
How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon?
Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi!
ஆடவரில் எத்தனை பேர் பட்டாம்பூச்சி
ஆடவரில் எத்தனை பேர் பட்டாம்பூச்சி
நான் ஆயிரம் பேர் பார்த்துவிட்டேன்
அன்பு மீனாட்சி.........அன்பு மீனாட்சி.....
How many men are like butterflies?
How many men are like butterflies?
Male: I have seen a thousand such people,
My dear Meenakshi... my dear Meenakshi...
எத்தனை மலர்கள் தாவும் பட்டாம்பூச்சி
அது எத்தனையோ தாவுமடி அன்பு மீனாட்சி
How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon?
Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi!
பெண்ணே பார்த்து துணை
எடுத்தால் பாவமுண்டோ
வெறும் கண்ணே பார்த்து
தேர்வதிலே லாபமுண்டோ
If a woman chooses her partner herself after seeing him,
Is there any sin in that?
Male: By choosing merely through the eyes,
Is there any true benefit?
பெண்ணே பார்த்து துணை
எடுத்தால் பாவமுண்டோ
வெறும் கண்ணே பார்த்து
தேர்வதிலே லாபமுண்டோ
If a woman chooses her partner herself after seeing him,
Is there any sin in that?
Male: By choosing merely through the eyes,
Is there any true benefit?
பெற்றவர்கள் பார்ப்பதிலே
பெருமை என்னவோ
அவர் மற்றவையும் பார்ப்பதினால்
நன்மையல்லவோ........நன்மையல்லவோ........
In parents selecting the match,
What is the great pride?
Male: Because they look into all other crucial aspects,
Isn't it beneficial? Isn't it beneficial?
எத்தனை மலர்கள் தாவும் பட்டாம்பூச்சி
அது எத்தனையோ தாவுமடி அன்பு மீனாட்சி
How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon?
Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi!
சக்தி சிவன் செய்து கொண்ட
சம்பந்தம் ஓன்று
அது தாய் தந்தை பார்த்ததல்ல
கதைகளில் உண்டு
The union that Sakthi and Siva formed
Was a single sacred bond.
It wasn't arranged by parents,
As told in ancient stories.
ஆதிமூலம் செய்து கொண்ட
காரியம் எல்லாம் நம் நீதி மூலம் ஆகாது
அன்பு மீனாட்சி.........அன்பு மீனாட்சி.....
Male: The deeds done by the primordial divine beings
Cannot become the foundation of our human laws!
My dear Meenakshi... my dear Meenakshi...
எத்தனை மலர்கள் தாவும் பட்டாம்பூச்சி
அது எத்தனையோ தாவுமடி அன்பு மீனாட்சி
How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon?
Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi!
ஆடவரில் எத்தனை பேர் பட்டாம்பூச்சி
ஆடவரில் எத்தனை பேர் பட்டாம்பூச்சி
நான் ஆயிரம் பேர் பார்த்துவிட்டேன்
அன்பு மீனாட்சி.........அன்பு மீனாட்சி.....
How many men are like butterflies?
How many men are like butterflies?
Male: I have seen a thousand such people,
My dear Meenakshi... my dear Meenakshi...
பெண்
: எத்தனை மலர்கள் தாவும் பட்டாம்பூச்சி
அது எத்தனையோ தாவுமடி அன்பு மீனாட்சி
How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon?
Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi!
Manam paarththu kann paarththu
Seeing the heart and seeing the eyes,
Maappillai thaernthavalae
O woman who chose a groom!
Inam paarththu idam paarththu
Considering lineage and social standing,
Eduththirunthaal kai vidumaa…..kai vidumaa
Had it been selected, would it let go of your hand? Would it let go...
Eththanai malargal thaavum pattaampoochi
How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon?
Male :Adhu eththanaiyo thaavumadi anbu meenatchi
Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi!
Female :Eththanai malargal thaavum pattaampoochi
Female: How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon?
Male :Adhu eththanaiyo thaavumadi anbu meenatchi
Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi!
Aadavaril eththanai per pattaampoochi
How many men are like butterflies?
Aadavaril eththanai per pattaampoochi
How many men are like butterflies?
Male :Naan aayiram per paarththuvittaen
Male: I have seen a thousand such people,
Anbu meenatchi…….anbu meenatchi….
My dear Meenakshi... my dear Meenakshi...
Eththanai malargal thaavum pattaampoochi
How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon?
Male :Adhu eththanaiyo thaavumadi anbu meenatchi
Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi!
Kavithaiyellaam kadhal
All poetry speaks of
Sugam solvathallavaa
The bliss of love, doesn't it?
Male :Antha kadhalellaam
Male: But all that love
Tholvi mayam aanathallavaa
Has ended up full of failures, hasn't it?
Kavithaiyellaam kadhal
All poetry speaks of
Sugam solvathallavaa
The bliss of love, doesn't it?
Male :Antha kadhalellaam
Male: But all that love
Tholvi mayam aanathallavaa
Has ended up full of failures, hasn't it?
Vazhi thavari kadhal seithaal
If one falls in love straying from the right path,
Kaanbathu enna
What does one witness?
Male :Vaazhkkai vazhi thavari povathuthaan
Male: Life itself straying off course,
Anbu meenatchi…….anbu meenatchi….
My dear Meenakshi... my dear Meenakshi...
Eththanai malargal thaavum pattaampoochi
How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon?
Male :Adhu eththanaiyo thaavumadi anbu meenatchi
Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi!
Aadavaril eththanai per pattaampoochi
How many men are like butterflies?
Aadavaril eththanai per pattaampoochi
How many men are like butterflies?
Male :Naan aayiram per paarththuvittaen
Male: I have seen a thousand such people,
Anbu meenatchi…….anbu meenatchi….
My dear Meenakshi... my dear Meenakshi...
Eththanai malargal thaavum pattaampoochi
How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon?
Male :Adhu eththanaiyo thaavumadi anbu meenatchi
Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi!
Pennae paarththu thunai
If a woman chooses her partner herself after seeing him,
Eduththaal paavamundo
Is there any sin in that?
Male :Verum kannae paarththu
Male: By choosing merely through the eyes,
Thaervathilae laabamundo
Is there any true benefit?
Pennae paarththu thunai
If a woman chooses her partner herself after seeing him,
Eduththaal paavamundo
Is there any sin in that?
Male :Verum kannae paarththu
Male: By choosing merely through the eyes,
Thaervathilae laabamundo
Is there any true benefit?
Pettravargal paarpathilae
In parents selecting the match,
Perumai ennavo
What is the great pride?
Male :Avar mattravaiyum paarpathinaal
Male: Because they look into all other crucial aspects,
Nanmaiyallavo….nanmaiyallavo….
Isn't it beneficial? Isn't it beneficial?
Eththanai malargal thaavum pattaampoochi
How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon?
Male :Adhu eththanaiyo thaavumadi anbu meenatchi
Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi!
Sakthi sivan seithu konda
The union that Sakthi and Siva formed
Sambantham ondru
Was a single sacred bond.
Adhu thaai thanthai paarththathalla
It wasn't arranged by parents,
Kadhaikalil undu
As told in ancient stories.
Aadhimoolam seithu konda
Male: The deeds done by the primordial divine beings
Kaariyam ellaam nam needhi moolam aagaathu
Cannot become the foundation of our human laws!
Anbu meenatchi…….anbu meenatchi….
My dear Meenakshi... my dear Meenakshi...
Eththanai malargal thaavum pattaampoochi
How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon?
Male :Adhu eththanaiyo thaavumadi anbu meenatchi
Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi!
Aadavaril eththanai per pattaampoochi
How many men are like butterflies?
Aadavaril eththanai per pattaampoochi
How many men are like butterflies?
Male :Naan aayiram per paarththuvittaen
Male: I have seen a thousand such people,
Anbu meenatchi…….anbu meenatchi….
My dear Meenakshi... my dear Meenakshi...
Eththanai malargal thaavum pattaampoochi
How many flowers does a butterfly hop upon?
Male :Adhu eththanaiyo thaavumadi anbu meenatchi
Male: It flits across so many, my dear Meenakshi!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical duet features a lively debate between love marriage and arranged marriage. The female singer questions the fickle nature of love and men, drawing analogies to butterflies flitting between flowers, while arguing for self-selection based on emotion and mythic precedents like Siva and Sakthi. In response, the male singer advocates for wisdom, social compatibility, and parental guidance, cautioning against superficial attraction and pointing out that divine actions cannot serve as everyday human law. Written by Kannadasan, the song beautifully encapsulates societal debates on romantic love versus traditional matrimony with sharp intellect and rhythmic elegance.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagama)
“Eththanai malargal thaavum pattaampoochi”
Comparing fickle lovers or men to butterflies hopping from flower to flower ('pattaampoochi').
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Manam paarththu kann paarththu / Inam paarththu idam paarththu”
Matching second letters in consecutive lines ('Manam' / 'Inam').
Rhetorical Question
“Kavithaiyellaam kadhal sugam solvathallavaa / Antha kadhalellaam tholvi mayam aanathallavaa”
Using opposing questions to argue opposing viewpoints regarding romantic love and practical marriage.
Did you know?
Trivia
Pattampoochi (1975) featured music composed by P. Srinivasan with lyrics penned by Kannadasan. The track stands out as an intellectual musical argument between S. Janaki and T. M. Soundararajan regarding love marriages versus arranged marriages.
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