Ethanaiyo Athamavan
From Koyil Yaanai · 1986
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Chandrabose
- Details
- Koyil Yaanai1986
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Haei….haei haei haei haei haei | Hey... hey hey hey hey hey |
| Eththanaiyo aththamavan | So many paternal aunt's sons, |
| Eththanaiyo maaman mavan | So many maternal uncle's sons, |
| Yaarukunnu maalai poduvaen | For whom shall I weave a garland? |
| Female | |
| Pallikkoooda payangalum | Even school-going young boys, |
| Pallu pona paattankalum | And toothless old grandfathers, |
| Aasai pattaa enna pannuvaen | If they desire me, what shall I do? |
| Female | |
| Aalaagiththaan naalaachchuthu | It has been four days since I reached womanhood, |
| Poomenithaan noolaachchuthu | My flower-like body has thinned like a thread. |
| Female | |
| Eththanaiyo aththamavan | So many paternal aunt's sons, |
| Eththanaiyo maaman mavan | So many maternal uncle's sons, |
| Yaarukunnu maalai poduvaen | For whom shall I weave a garland? |
| Female | |
| Anju vitha pooeduththu ambu vida mamuthanum | Taking five types of flowers to shoot as arrows, Cupid (Manmathan) |
| Sengarumbu villa pudichchaan adichchaan | Held his sweet sugarcane bow and struck me. |
| Antha adi thaangavilla ammammaa naan thoongavilla | I could not bear that strike, oh my, I could not sleep! |
| Aaga moththam rompa thavichchen thudichchen | On the whole, I suffered and writhed in agony. |
| Female | |
| Unna pola aala thedi ullam vaaduthu edhukku | Why is my heart yearning in search of someone like you? |
| Vannapoovum vaasam veesi vanda theduthu adhukku | It is because a colorful flower spreads fragrance seeking a honeybee. |
| Female | |
| Eththanaiyo aththamavan | So many paternal aunt's sons, |
| Eththanaiyo maaman mavan | So many maternal uncle's sons, |
| Yaarukunnu maalai poduvaen | For whom shall I weave a garland? |
| Female | |
| Nattanadu raaththirithaan naanumoru maathirithaan | It is the dead of night, and I am feeling a strange sensation, |
| Uchchi mudhal padham varaikkum kothikkum | From the crown of my head down to my feet, I am boiling. |
| Munnazhakum pinnazhagum moodi vachcha pennazhagum | My front beauty, back beauty, and hidden womanly grace, |
| Santhaiyila vantha sarakku unakku | Are like prime goods brought to the market for you. |
| Female | |
| Meesa vachcha aankalaellam aasa vaikkalam varalaam | All men with mustaches can feel desire and step forward, |
| Aasa vachcha pinnal kooda kaasa vaikkalaam tharalaam | Once desired, they can even lay down money and take it. |
| Female | |
| Eththanaiyo aththamavan | So many paternal aunt's sons, |
| Eththanaiyo maaman mavan | So many maternal uncle's sons, |
| Yaarukunnu maalai poduvaen | For whom shall I weave a garland? |
| Female | |
| Pallikkoooda payangalum | Even school-going young boys, |
| Pallu pona paattankalum | And toothless old grandfathers, |
| Aasai pattaa enna pannuvaen | If they desire me, what shall I do? |
| Aalaagiththaan naalaachchuthu | It has been four days since I reached womanhood, |
| Poomenithaan noolaachchuthu | My flower-like body has thinned like a thread. |
| Female | |
| Eththanaiyo aththamavan | So many paternal aunt's sons, |
| Eththanaiyo maaman mavan | So many maternal uncle's sons, |
| Yaarukunnu maalai poduvaen | For whom shall I weave a garland? |
| Female | |
| Pallikkoooda payangalum | Even school-going young boys, |
| Pallu pona paattankalum | And toothless old grandfathers, |
| Aasai pattaa enna pannuvaen | If they desire me, what shall I do? |
ஹேய்..ஹேய்...ஹேய்...ஹேய்..ஹேய்...
எத்தனையோ அத்தமவன்
எத்தனையோ மாமன் மவன்
யாருக்குன்னு மாலைப் போடுவேன்
Hey... hey hey hey hey hey
So many paternal aunt's sons,
So many maternal uncle's sons,
For whom shall I weave a garland?
பள்ளிக்கூட பையன்களும்
பல்லுப் போன பாட்டன்களும்
ஆசப்பட்டா என்ன பண்ணுவேன்
Even school-going young boys,
And toothless old grandfathers,
If they desire me, what shall I do?
ஆளாகித்தான் நாளாச்சுது
பூமேனிதான் நூலாச்சுது
It has been four days since I reached womanhood,
My flower-like body has thinned like a thread.
எத்தனையோ அத்தமவன்
எத்தனையோ மாமன் மவன்
யாருக்குன்னு மாலைப் போடுவேன்
So many paternal aunt's sons,
So many maternal uncle's sons,
For whom shall I weave a garland?
அஞ்சு வித பூவெடுத்து அம்பு விட மம்முதனும்
செங்கரும்பு வில்லப் புடிச்சான் அடிச்சான்
அந்த அடி தாங்கவில்ல அம்மம்மா நான் தூங்கவில்ல
ஆக மொத்தம் ரொம்ப தவிச்சேன் துடிச்சேன்
Taking five types of flowers to shoot as arrows, Cupid (Manmathan)
Held his sweet sugarcane bow and struck me.
I could not bear that strike, oh my, I could not sleep!
On the whole, I suffered and writhed in agony.
உன்னப் போல ஆளத் தேடி உள்ளம் வாடுது எதுக்கு
வண்ணப்பூவும் வாசம் வீசி வண்ட தேடுது அதுக்கு
Why is my heart yearning in search of someone like you?
It is because a colorful flower spreads fragrance seeking a honeybee.
எத்தனையோ அத்தமவன்
எத்தனையோ மாமன் மவன்
யாருக்குன்னு மாலைப் போடுவேன்..
So many paternal aunt's sons,
So many maternal uncle's sons,
For whom shall I weave a garland?
நட்டநடு ராத்திரிதான் நானுமொரு மாதிரிதான்
உச்சி முதல் பாதம் வரைக்கும் கொதிக்கும்
முன்னழகும் பின்னழகும் மூடி வச்ச பெண்ணழகும்
சந்தையில வந்த சரக்கு உனக்கு
It is the dead of night, and I am feeling a strange sensation,
From the crown of my head down to my feet, I am boiling.
My front beauty, back beauty, and hidden womanly grace,
Are like prime goods brought to the market for you.
மீச வச்ச ஆண்களெல்லாம் ஆச வைக்கலாம் வரலாம்
ஆச வச்ச பின்னால் கூட காச வைக்கலாம் தரலாம்
All men with mustaches can feel desire and step forward,
Once desired, they can even lay down money and take it.
எத்தனையோ அத்தமவன்
எத்தனையோ மாமன் மவன்
யாருக்குன்னு மாலைப் போடுவேன்
So many paternal aunt's sons,
So many maternal uncle's sons,
For whom shall I weave a garland?
பள்ளிக்கூட பையன்களும்
பல்லுப் போன பாட்டன்களும்
ஆசப்பட்டா என்ன பண்ணுவேன்
ஆளாகித்தான் நாளாச்சுது
பூமேனிதான் நூலாச்சுது
Even school-going young boys,
And toothless old grandfathers,
If they desire me, what shall I do?
It has been four days since I reached womanhood,
My flower-like body has thinned like a thread.
எத்தனையோ அத்தமவன்
எத்தனையோ மாமன் மவன்
யாருக்குன்னு மாலைப் போடுவேன்
So many paternal aunt's sons,
So many maternal uncle's sons,
For whom shall I weave a garland?
பள்ளிக்கூட பையன்களும்
பல்லுப் போன பாட்டன்களும்
ஆசப்பட்டா என்ன பண்ணுவேன்
Even school-going young boys,
And toothless old grandfathers,
If they desire me, what shall I do?
Haei….haei haei haei haei haei
Hey... hey hey hey hey hey
Eththanaiyo aththamavan
So many paternal aunt's sons,
Eththanaiyo maaman mavan
So many maternal uncle's sons,
Yaarukunnu maalai poduvaen
For whom shall I weave a garland?
Pallikkoooda payangalum
Even school-going young boys,
Pallu pona paattankalum
And toothless old grandfathers,
Aasai pattaa enna pannuvaen
If they desire me, what shall I do?
Aalaagiththaan naalaachchuthu
It has been four days since I reached womanhood,
Poomenithaan noolaachchuthu
My flower-like body has thinned like a thread.
Eththanaiyo aththamavan
So many paternal aunt's sons,
Eththanaiyo maaman mavan
So many maternal uncle's sons,
Yaarukunnu maalai poduvaen
For whom shall I weave a garland?
Anju vitha pooeduththu ambu vida mamuthanum
Taking five types of flowers to shoot as arrows, Cupid (Manmathan)
Sengarumbu villa pudichchaan adichchaan
Held his sweet sugarcane bow and struck me.
Antha adi thaangavilla ammammaa naan thoongavilla
I could not bear that strike, oh my, I could not sleep!
Aaga moththam rompa thavichchen thudichchen
On the whole, I suffered and writhed in agony.
Unna pola aala thedi ullam vaaduthu edhukku
Why is my heart yearning in search of someone like you?
Vannapoovum vaasam veesi vanda theduthu adhukku
It is because a colorful flower spreads fragrance seeking a honeybee.
Eththanaiyo aththamavan
So many paternal aunt's sons,
Eththanaiyo maaman mavan
So many maternal uncle's sons,
Yaarukunnu maalai poduvaen
For whom shall I weave a garland?
Nattanadu raaththirithaan naanumoru maathirithaan
It is the dead of night, and I am feeling a strange sensation,
Uchchi mudhal padham varaikkum kothikkum
From the crown of my head down to my feet, I am boiling.
Munnazhakum pinnazhagum moodi vachcha pennazhagum
My front beauty, back beauty, and hidden womanly grace,
Santhaiyila vantha sarakku unakku
Are like prime goods brought to the market for you.
Meesa vachcha aankalaellam aasa vaikkalam varalaam
All men with mustaches can feel desire and step forward,
Aasa vachcha pinnal kooda kaasa vaikkalaam tharalaam
Once desired, they can even lay down money and take it.
Eththanaiyo aththamavan
So many paternal aunt's sons,
Eththanaiyo maaman mavan
So many maternal uncle's sons,
Yaarukunnu maalai poduvaen
For whom shall I weave a garland?
Pallikkoooda payangalum
Even school-going young boys,
Pallu pona paattankalum
And toothless old grandfathers,
Aasai pattaa enna pannuvaen
If they desire me, what shall I do?
Aalaagiththaan naalaachchuthu
It has been four days since I reached womanhood,
Poomenithaan noolaachchuthu
My flower-like body has thinned like a thread.
Eththanaiyo aththamavan
So many paternal aunt's sons,
Eththanaiyo maaman mavan
So many maternal uncle's sons,
Yaarukunnu maalai poduvaen
For whom shall I weave a garland?
Pallikkoooda payangalum
Even school-going young boys,
Pallu pona paattankalum
And toothless old grandfathers,
Aasai pattaa enna pannuvaen
If they desire me, what shall I do?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song expresses the playful yet passionate dilemma of a young woman who has recently attained womanhood. Surrounded by eligible suitors—traditionally her cousins from paternal aunts and maternal uncles—she wonders aloud who is truly worthy of her love and garland. She describes the overwhelming pangs of youth and desire, comparing her passion to being struck by the sugarcane bow of Manmathan (the deity of love).
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uwamai (Metaphor/Simile)
“Poomenithaan noolaachchuthu”
Compares the tender body of a young girl to a soft flower fading into a fine thread ('Poomenithaan noolaachchuthu').
Etukai (Second letter rhyming)
“Anju vitha pooeduththu ambu vida mamuthanum”
Rhyming of the second letter 'n' across lines ('Anju' / 'Sengarumbu' / 'Antha').
Antithesis (Muran)
“Pallikkoooda payangalum / Pallu pona paattankalum”
Contrasting extremes of age, from school boys ('Pallikkoooda payangalum') to toothless elders ('Pallu pona paattankalum').
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyricist Vaali often incorporated colloquial folk rhythms and traditional cross-cousin marriage references (Maaman mavan / Aththamavan) common in rural Tamil culture to enhance the folk appeal of romantic songs in 1980s Tamil cinema.
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