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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Ethanaiyo Athamavan

From Koyil Yaanai · 1986

Lyricist: Vaali
Singer: Vani Jairam
Music director: Chandrabose
Movie name: Koyil Yaanai
Movie release year: 1986
Lyrics added on: 1 Jan 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Haei….haei haei haei haei haei

Eththanaiyo aththamavan

Eththanaiyo maaman mavan

Yaarukunnu maalai poduvaen

Pallikkoooda payangalum

Pallu pona paattankalum

Aasai pattaa enna pannuvaen

Aalaagiththaan naalaachchuthu

Poomenithaan noolaachchuthu

Eththanaiyo aththamavan

Eththanaiyo maaman mavan

Yaarukunnu maalai poduvaen

Anju vitha pooeduththu ambu vida mamuthanum

Sengarumbu villa pudichchaan adichchaan

Antha adi thaangavilla ammammaa naan thoongavilla

Aaga moththam rompa thavichchen thudichchen

Unna pola aala thedi ullam vaaduthu edhukku

Vannapoovum vaasam veesi vanda theduthu adhukku

Eththanaiyo aththamavan

Eththanaiyo maaman mavan

Yaarukunnu maalai poduvaen

Nattanadu raaththirithaan naanumoru maathirithaan

Uchchi mudhal padham varaikkum kothikkum

Munnazhakum pinnazhagum moodi vachcha pennazhagum

Santhaiyila vantha sarakku unakku

Meesa vachcha aankalaellam aasa vaikkalam varalaam

Aasa vachcha pinnal kooda kaasa vaikkalaam tharalaam

Eththanaiyo aththamavan

Eththanaiyo maaman mavan

Yaarukunnu maalai poduvaen

Pallikkoooda payangalum

Pallu pona paattankalum

Aasai pattaa enna pannuvaen

Aalaagiththaan naalaachchuthu

Poomenithaan noolaachchuthu

Eththanaiyo aththamavan

Eththanaiyo maaman mavan

Yaarukunnu maalai poduvaen

Pallikkoooda payangalum

Pallu pona paattankalum

Aasai pattaa enna pannuvaen

Hey.. hey... hey... hey.. hey...

There are so many cousins from my aunt,

There are so many cousins from my uncle,

Whom should I garland as my groom?

Even young schoolboys,

And toothless old grandfathers,

If they all desire me, what can I do?

It has been so long since I came of age,

My flower-like body has grown thin as a thread.

There are so many cousins from my aunt,

There are so many cousins from my uncle,

Whom should I garland as my groom?

Taking five kinds of flowers as arrows, Manmadhan (the god of love)

Held his red sugarcane bow and struck me.

I could not bear that strike, oh dear, I got no sleep!

All in all, I struggled and yearned so much.

Why does my heart pine away searching for someone like you?

Just as a colorful flower spreads its scent seeking a bee!

There are so many cousins from my aunt,

There are so many cousins from my uncle,

Whom should I garland as my groom?..

In the dead of night, I feel restless and strange,

Burning with heat from head to toe.

My beauty in front, my beauty behind, and all my hidden charms,

Are the best goods in the market, meant just for you!

All the men with moustaches can desire me and come,

And after showing their desire, they can offer their wealth.

There are so many cousins from my aunt,

There are so many cousins from my uncle,

Whom should I garland as my groom?

Even young schoolboys,

And toothless old grandfathers,

If they all desire me, what can I do?

It has been so long since I came of age,

My flower-like body has grown thin as a thread.

There are so many cousins from my aunt,

There are so many cousins from my uncle,

Whom should I garland as my groom?

Even young schoolboys,

And toothless old grandfathers,

If they all desire me, what can I do?

Female

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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

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