Etho Oru Paatu Female
From Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen · 1998
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Sujatha
- Music director
- S. A. Rajkumar
- Details
- Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen1998
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| {Yetho oru paatu | Some song |
| En kaathil ketkkum | Echoes in my ears, |
| Ketkkum bothellaam | Every time I hear it, |
| Sila nyabagam thaalaatum} (2) | A few memories rock me to sleep like a lullaby} (2) |
| Female | |
| En kangalin imaigalile | On the eyelids of my eyes, |
| Sila nyabagam siragadikkum | Certain memories flutter like wings. |
| Naan swasikum moochinilae | In the very breath I inhale, |
| Sila nyabagam kalanthirukkum | Certain memories are blended in. |
| Female | |
| Nyabagangal mazhaiyaagum | Memories turn into rain, |
| Nyabagangal kudaiyaagum | Memories turn into an umbrella, |
| Nyabagangal theemootum | Memories spark a fire, |
| Nyabagangal neerootrum | Memories pour soothing water. |
| Female | |
| Yetho oru paatu | Some song |
| En kaathil ketkkum | Echoes in my ears, |
| Ketkkum bothellaam | Every time I hear it, |
| Sila nyabagam thaalaatum | A few memories rock me to sleep like a lullaby. |
| Female | |
| Amma kai korthu | Holding hands with mother, |
| Nadai pazhagiya nyabagamae | It is a memory of learning to walk. |
| Thaniyae nadai pazhagi | Learning to walk on my own, |
| Naan tholainthathu nyabagamae | It is a memory of getting lost. |
| Female | |
| Puthagam naduvil mayiliragai | Inside a notebook, a peacock feather, |
| Naan valarthathu nyabagamae | It is a memory of rearing it carefully. |
| Chinna kuzhanthayil | As a small child, |
| Selai kattum nyabagam | The memory of draping a saree, |
| Vetkam vanthathum | And when shyness overcame, |
| Mugathai moodum nyabagam | The memory of hiding my face. |
| Female | |
| Yetho oru paatu | Some song |
| En kaathil ketkkum | Echoes in my ears, |
| Ketkkum bothellaam | Every time I hear it, |
| Sila nyabagam thaalaatum | A few memories rock me to sleep like a lullaby. |
| Female | |
| Rayilin payanathil | During a train journey, |
| Maram nagarnthathu nyabagamae | The memory of trees seemingly moving along. |
| Sutrum raatinathil | On a spinning giant wheel, |
| Naan mayangiya nyabagamae | The memory of me feeling dizzy. |
| Female | |
| Kaagitha kappal | When a paper boat |
| Kavizhnthathumae | Capsized and sank, |
| Naan azhuthathu nyabagamae | It is a memory of me crying. |
| Katta bommanin | Listening to Kattabomman's |
| Kathaiyai ketta nyabagam | Heroic story, that memory; |
| Attai kathiyil sandai | Fighting with a cardboard sword, |
| Potta nyabagam.. | That memory of playing war.. |
| Female | |
| Yetho oru paatu | Some song |
| En kaathil ketkkum | Echoes in my ears, |
| Ketkkum bothellaam | Every time I hear it, |
| Sila nyabagam thaalaatum | A few memories rock me to sleep like a lullaby. |
| Female | |
| En kangalin imaigalile | On the eyelids of my eyes, |
| Sila nyabagam siragadikkum | Certain memories flutter like wings. |
| Naan swasikum moochinilae | In the very breath I inhale, |
| Sila nyabagam kalanthirukkum | Certain memories are blended in. |
| Female | |
| Nyabagangal mazhaiyaagum | Memories turn into rain, |
| Nyabagangal kudaiyaagum | Memories turn into an umbrella, |
| Nyabagangal theemootum | Memories spark a fire, |
| Nyabagangal neerootrum | Memories pour soothing water. |
| Female | |
| Yetho oru paatu | Some song |
| En kaathil ketkkum | Echoes in my ears, |
| Ketkkum bothellaam | Every time I hear it, |
| Sila nyabagam thaalaatum | A few memories rock me to sleep like a lullaby. |
{ஏதோ ஒரு பாட்டு
என் காதில் கேட்கும்
கேட்கும் போதெல்லாம்
சில ஞாபகம் தாலாட்டும்} (2)
Some song
Echoes in my ears,
Every time I hear it,
A few memories rock me to sleep like a lullaby} (2)
என் கண்களின் இமைகளிலே
சில ஞாபகம் சிறகடிக்கும்
நான் சுவாசிக்கும் மூச்சினிலே
சில ஞாபகம் கலந்திருக்கும்
On the eyelids of my eyes,
Certain memories flutter like wings.
In the very breath I inhale,
Certain memories are blended in.
ஞாபகங்கள் மழையாகும்
ஞாபகங்கள் குடையாகும்
ஞாபகங்கள் தீமூட்டும்
ஞாபகங்கள் நீரூற்றும்
Memories turn into rain,
Memories turn into an umbrella,
Memories spark a fire,
Memories pour soothing water.
ஏதோ ஒரு பாட்டு
என் காதில் கேட்கும்
கேட்கும் போதெல்லாம்
சில ஞாபகம் தாலாட்டும்
Some song
Echoes in my ears,
Every time I hear it,
A few memories rock me to sleep like a lullaby.
அம்மா கை கோர்த்து
நடை பழகிய ஞாபகமே
தனியே நடை பழகி
நான் தொலைந்தது ஞாபகமே
Holding hands with mother,
It is a memory of learning to walk.
Learning to walk on my own,
It is a memory of getting lost.
புத்தகம் நடுவே மயிலிறகை
நான் வளர்த்தது ஞாபகமே
சின்ன குழந்தையில்
சேலை கட்டும் ஞாபகம்
வெட்கம் வந்ததும்
முகத்தை மூடும் ஞாபகம்
Inside a notebook, a peacock feather,
It is a memory of rearing it carefully.
As a small child,
The memory of draping a saree,
And when shyness overcame,
The memory of hiding my face.
ஏதோ ஒரு பாட்டு
என் காதில் கேட்கும்
கேட்கும் போதெல்லாம்
சில ஞாபகம் தாலாட்டும்
Some song
Echoes in my ears,
Every time I hear it,
A few memories rock me to sleep like a lullaby.
ரயிலின் பயணத்தில்
மரம் நகர்ந்தது ஞாபகமே
சுற்றும் ராட்டினத்தில்
நான் மயங்கிய ஞாபகமே
During a train journey,
The memory of trees seemingly moving along.
On a spinning giant wheel,
The memory of me feeling dizzy.
காகித கப்பல் கவிழ்ந்ததுமே
நான் அழுதது ஞாபகமே
கட்ட பொம்மனின் கதையை
கேட்ட ஞாபகம்
அட்டை கத்தியில் சண்டை
போட்ட ஞாபகம்
When a paper boat
Capsized and sank,
It is a memory of me crying.
Listening to Kattabomman's
Heroic story, that memory;
Fighting with a cardboard sword,
That memory of playing war..
ஏதோ ஒரு பாட்டு
என் காதில் கேட்கும்
கேட்கும் போதெல்லாம்
சில ஞாபகம் தாலாட்டும்
Some song
Echoes in my ears,
Every time I hear it,
A few memories rock me to sleep like a lullaby.
என் கண்களின் இமைகளிலே
சில ஞாபகம் சிறகடிக்கும்
நான் சுவாசிக்கும் மூச்சினிலே
சில ஞாபகம் கலந்திருக்கும்
On the eyelids of my eyes,
Certain memories flutter like wings.
In the very breath I inhale,
Certain memories are blended in.
ஞாபகங்கள் மழையாகும்
ஞாபகங்கள் குடையாகும்
ஞாபகங்கள் தீமூட்டும்
ஞாபகங்கள் நீரூற்றும்
Memories turn into rain,
Memories turn into an umbrella,
Memories spark a fire,
Memories pour soothing water.
ஏதோ ஒரு பாட்டு
என் காதில் கேட்கும்
கேட்கும் போதெல்லாம்
சில ஞாபகம் தாலாட்டும்
Some song
Echoes in my ears,
Every time I hear it,
A few memories rock me to sleep like a lullaby.
{Yetho oru paatu
Some song
En kaathil ketkkum
Echoes in my ears,
Ketkkum bothellaam
Every time I hear it,
Sila nyabagam thaalaatum} (2)
A few memories rock me to sleep like a lullaby} (2)
En kangalin imaigalile
On the eyelids of my eyes,
Sila nyabagam siragadikkum
Certain memories flutter like wings.
Naan swasikum moochinilae
In the very breath I inhale,
Sila nyabagam kalanthirukkum
Certain memories are blended in.
Nyabagangal mazhaiyaagum
Memories turn into rain,
Nyabagangal kudaiyaagum
Memories turn into an umbrella,
Nyabagangal theemootum
Memories spark a fire,
Nyabagangal neerootrum
Memories pour soothing water.
Yetho oru paatu
Some song
En kaathil ketkkum
Echoes in my ears,
Ketkkum bothellaam
Every time I hear it,
Sila nyabagam thaalaatum
A few memories rock me to sleep like a lullaby.
Amma kai korthu
Holding hands with mother,
Nadai pazhagiya nyabagamae
It is a memory of learning to walk.
Thaniyae nadai pazhagi
Learning to walk on my own,
Naan tholainthathu nyabagamae
It is a memory of getting lost.
Puthagam naduvil mayiliragai
Inside a notebook, a peacock feather,
Naan valarthathu nyabagamae
It is a memory of rearing it carefully.
Chinna kuzhanthayil
As a small child,
Selai kattum nyabagam
The memory of draping a saree,
Vetkam vanthathum
And when shyness overcame,
Mugathai moodum nyabagam
The memory of hiding my face.
Yetho oru paatu
Some song
En kaathil ketkkum
Echoes in my ears,
Ketkkum bothellaam
Every time I hear it,
Sila nyabagam thaalaatum
A few memories rock me to sleep like a lullaby.
Rayilin payanathil
During a train journey,
Maram nagarnthathu nyabagamae
The memory of trees seemingly moving along.
Sutrum raatinathil
On a spinning giant wheel,
Naan mayangiya nyabagamae
The memory of me feeling dizzy.
Kaagitha kappal
When a paper boat
Kavizhnthathumae
Capsized and sank,
Naan azhuthathu nyabagamae
It is a memory of me crying.
Katta bommanin
Listening to Kattabomman's
Kathaiyai ketta nyabagam
Heroic story, that memory;
Attai kathiyil sandai
Fighting with a cardboard sword,
Potta nyabagam..
That memory of playing war..
Yetho oru paatu
Some song
En kaathil ketkkum
Echoes in my ears,
Ketkkum bothellaam
Every time I hear it,
Sila nyabagam thaalaatum
A few memories rock me to sleep like a lullaby.
En kangalin imaigalile
On the eyelids of my eyes,
Sila nyabagam siragadikkum
Certain memories flutter like wings.
Naan swasikum moochinilae
In the very breath I inhale,
Sila nyabagam kalanthirukkum
Certain memories are blended in.
Nyabagangal mazhaiyaagum
Memories turn into rain,
Nyabagangal kudaiyaagum
Memories turn into an umbrella,
Nyabagangal theemootum
Memories spark a fire,
Nyabagangal neerootrum
Memories pour soothing water.
Yetho oru paatu
Some song
En kaathil ketkkum
Echoes in my ears,
Ketkkum bothellaam
Every time I hear it,
Sila nyabagam thaalaatum
A few memories rock me to sleep like a lullaby.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Etho Oru Paattu' from Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen (1998) is a deeply nostalgic track centered on how hearing a simple melody triggers a flood of childhood memories. The song explores the paradoxical nature of memory—it can be both comforting and painful, acting as rain that cools or fire that burns. As the soft music plays, the singer reminisces about universal Indian childhood experiences: learning to walk with a mother, keeping a peacock feather inside school textbooks believing it would reproduce, watching trees move past during train rides, crying over sunken paper boats, and fighting imaginary wars with cardboard swords. The lyricist Vairamuthu masterfully weaves poetic imagery with relatable cultural tropes to convey how the past lingers in one's breath and vision. The emotional arc captures the innocence, warmth, and gentle ache of looking back at simpler times, making it one of Tamil cinema's most timeless songs about nostalgia.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor & Antithesis (Muran)
“Nyabagangal mazhaiyaagum / Nyabagangal kudaiyaagum / Nyabagangal theemootum / Nyabagangal neerootrum”
Memories are directly equated to contrasting elements—rain and umbrella (protection from rain), fire and water—symbolizing how nostalgia can bring both comfort and emotional distress.
Personification
“Sila nyabagam siragadikkum”
Memories are personified as birds fluttering their wings against the speaker's eyelids.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Nyabagangal mazhaiyaagum / Nyabagangal kudaiyaagum”
The lines end with rhythmic, rhyming words ('mazhaiyaagum', 'kudaiyaagum'), creating a soothing musical flow.
Anaphora (Repetition)
“Nyabagangal mazhaiyaagum ... Nyabagangal neerootrum”
The repeated use of 'Nyabagangal' at the start of consecutive lines emphasizes the overwhelming dominance of memory.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Etho Oru Paattu' was composed by S. A. Rajkumar and penned by Vairamuthu for the blockbuster film 'Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen' (1998), directed by Vikraman. The male version sung by Hariharan won him the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer. The lyrics captured popular Indian childhood superstitions and experiences—most notably the belief that keeping a peacock feather inside school books would cause it to grow or lay eggs—making the song an instant hit across generations.
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