Etho Oru Paatu
From Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen · 1998
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Hariharan
- Music director
- S. A. Rajkumar
- Details
- Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen1998
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| { Etho oru paatu en kaadhil ketkum | A random song plays in my ears, |
| Ketkum pothellam un niyabagam thaalaatum } (2) | And whenever I hear it, your memory lulls me to sleep. |
| Male | |
| En kangalin imaigalilae | On the eyelids of my eyes, |
| Un niyabagam siragadikum | Your memory flutters its wings. |
| Naan suvaasikum moochinilae | In the breath that I inhale, |
| Un niyabagam kalanthirukum | Your memory is deeply intertwined. |
| Male | |
| Niyabagangal mazhai aagum | Memories turn into rain, |
| Niyabagangal kudai aagum | Memories turn into an umbrella, |
| Niyabagangal thee mootum | Memories light a fire, |
| Niyabagangal neerootrum | Memories pour water over it. |
| Male | |
| Etho oru paatu en kaadhil ketkum | A random song plays in my ears, |
| Ketkum pothellam un niyabagam thaalaatum | And whenever I hear it, your memory lulls me to sleep. |
| Male | |
| Kavithai endralae un peyarin niyabagamae | If one mentions poetry, it brings the memory of your name, |
| Ketkum isai ellam nee pesum niyabagamae | All the music I hear brings the memory of your voice. |
| Pookalin melae pani thuli paarthaal muga paru niyabagamae | Seeing a dewdrop on a flower brings the memory of your facial mole/pimple, |
| Athirstam endrathum unthan macham niybagam | When good luck is mentioned, your mole comes to memory, |
| Azhagu endrathum unthan motham niyabagam | When beauty is mentioned, the entirety of you comes to memory. |
| Male | |
| Etho oru paatu en kaadhil ketkum | A random song plays in my ears, |
| Ketkum pothellam un niyabagam thaalaatum | And whenever I hear it, your memory lulls me to sleep. |
| Male | |
| Thendral endralae un vaasal niyabagamae | If one mentions the breeze, it brings the memory of your doorway, |
| Vasantham endralae un varugai niyabagamae | If one mentions spring, it brings the memory of your arrival, |
| Thottal churungi paarthaal unthan vetkam niyabagamae | Seeing a touch-me-not plant brings the memory of your shyness, |
| Alaigal polaeve mothum unthan niyabagam | Your memory crashes over me just like ocean waves, |
| Maranthu ponadhae enaku enthan niyabagam | In all this, I have completely forgotten my own self and memories. |
| Male | |
| Etho oru paatu en kaadhil ketkum | A random song plays in my ears, |
| Ketkum pothellam un niyabagam thaalaatum | And whenever I hear it, your memory lulls me to sleep. |
| Male | |
| En kangalin imaigalilae | On the eyelids of my eyes, |
| Un niyabagam siragadikum | Your memory flutters its wings. |
| Naan suvaasikum moochinilae | In the breath that I inhale, |
| Un niyabagam kalanthirukum | Your memory is deeply intertwined. |
| Male | |
| Niyabagangal mazhai aagum | Memories turn into rain, |
| Niyabagangal kudai aagum | Memories turn into an umbrella, |
| Niyabagangal thee mootum | Memories light a fire, |
| Niyabagangal neerootrum | Memories pour water over it. |
| Male | |
| Etho oru paatu en kaadhil ketkum | A random song plays in my ears, |
| Ketkum pothellam un niyabagam thaalaatum | And whenever I hear it, your memory lulls me to sleep. |
விசிலிங் :
........................................
A random song plays in my ears,
And whenever I hear it, your memory lulls me to sleep.
{ ஏதோ ஒரு
பாட்டு என் காதில்
கேட்கும் கேட்கும்
போதெல்லாம் உன்
ஞாபகம் தாலாட்டும் } (2)
On the eyelids of my eyes,
Your memory flutters its wings.
In the breath that I inhale,
Your memory is deeply intertwined.
என் கண்களின்
இமைகளிலே உன்
ஞாபகம் சிறகடிக்கும்
நான் சுவாசிக்கும்
மூச்சினிலே உன்
ஞாபகம் கலந்திருக்கும்
Memories turn into rain,
Memories turn into an umbrella,
Memories light a fire,
Memories pour water over it.
ஞாபகங்கள்
மழையாகும் ஞாபகங்கள்
குடையாகும் ஞாபகங்கள்
தீமூட்டும் ஞாபகங்கள் நீரூற்றும்
A random song plays in my ears,
And whenever I hear it, your memory lulls me to sleep.
ஏதோ ஒரு
பாட்டு என் காதில்
கேட்கும் கேட்கும்
போதெல்லாம் உன்
ஞாபகம் தாலாட்டும்
If one mentions poetry, it brings the memory of your name,
All the music I hear brings the memory of your voice.
Seeing a dewdrop on a flower brings the memory of your facial mole/pimple,
When good luck is mentioned, your mole comes to memory,
When beauty is mentioned, the entirety of you comes to memory.
கவிதை என்றாலே
உன் பெயரின் ஞாபகமே
கேட்கும் இசையெல்லாம்
நீ பேசும் ஞாபகமே பூக்களின்
மேலே பனித்துளி பார்த்தால்
முகப்பரு ஞாபகமே அதிர்ஷ்டம்
என்றதும் உந்தன் மச்சம் ஞாபகம்
அழகு என்றதும் உந்தன் மொத்தம்
ஞாபகம்
A random song plays in my ears,
And whenever I hear it, your memory lulls me to sleep.
ஏதோ ஒரு
பாட்டு என் காதில்
கேட்கும் கேட்கும்
போதெல்லாம் உன்
ஞாபகம் தாலாட்டும்
If one mentions the breeze, it brings the memory of your doorway,
If one mentions spring, it brings the memory of your arrival,
Seeing a touch-me-not plant brings the memory of your shyness,
Your memory crashes over me just like ocean waves,
In all this, I have completely forgotten my own self and memories.
தென்றல் என்றாலே
உன் வாசல் ஞாபகமே வசந்தம்
என்றாலே உன் வருகை ஞாபகமே
தொட்டால் சுருங்கி பார்த்தால்
உந்தன் வெட்கம் ஞாபகமே
அலைகள் போலவே மோதும்
உந்தன் ஞாபகம் மறந்துபோனதே
எனக்கு எந்தன் ஞாபகம்
A random song plays in my ears,
And whenever I hear it, your memory lulls me to sleep.
ஏதோ ஒரு
பாட்டு என் காதில்
கேட்கும் கேட்கும்
போதெல்லாம் உன்
ஞாபகம் தாலாட்டும்
On the eyelids of my eyes,
Your memory flutters its wings.
In the breath that I inhale,
Your memory is deeply intertwined.
என் கண்களின்
இமைகளிலே உன்
ஞாபகம் சிறகடிக்கும்
நான் சுவாசிக்கும்
மூச்சினிலே உன்
ஞாபகம் கலந்திருக்கும்
Memories turn into rain,
Memories turn into an umbrella,
Memories light a fire,
Memories pour water over it.
ஞாபகங்கள்
மழையாகும் ஞாபகங்கள்
குடையாகும் ஞாபகங்கள்
தீமூட்டும் ஞாபகங்கள் நீரூற்றும்
A random song plays in my ears,
And whenever I hear it, your memory lulls me to sleep.
ஏதோ ஒரு
பாட்டு என் காதில்
கேட்கும் கேட்கும்
போதெல்லாம் உன்
ஞாபகம் தாலாட்டும்
விசிலிங் :
........................................
{ Etho oru paatu en kaadhil ketkum
A random song plays in my ears,
Ketkum pothellam un niyabagam thaalaatum } (2)
And whenever I hear it, your memory lulls me to sleep.
En kangalin imaigalilae
On the eyelids of my eyes,
Un niyabagam siragadikum
Your memory flutters its wings.
Naan suvaasikum moochinilae
In the breath that I inhale,
Un niyabagam kalanthirukum
Your memory is deeply intertwined.
Niyabagangal mazhai aagum
Memories turn into rain,
Niyabagangal kudai aagum
Memories turn into an umbrella,
Niyabagangal thee mootum
Memories light a fire,
Niyabagangal neerootrum
Memories pour water over it.
Etho oru paatu en kaadhil ketkum
A random song plays in my ears,
Ketkum pothellam un niyabagam thaalaatum
And whenever I hear it, your memory lulls me to sleep.
Kavithai endralae un peyarin niyabagamae
If one mentions poetry, it brings the memory of your name,
Ketkum isai ellam nee pesum niyabagamae
All the music I hear brings the memory of your voice.
Pookalin melae pani thuli paarthaal muga paru niyabagamae
Seeing a dewdrop on a flower brings the memory of your facial mole/pimple,
Athirstam endrathum unthan macham niybagam
When good luck is mentioned, your mole comes to memory,
Azhagu endrathum unthan motham niyabagam
When beauty is mentioned, the entirety of you comes to memory.
Etho oru paatu en kaadhil ketkum
A random song plays in my ears,
Ketkum pothellam un niyabagam thaalaatum
And whenever I hear it, your memory lulls me to sleep.
Thendral endralae un vaasal niyabagamae
If one mentions the breeze, it brings the memory of your doorway,
Vasantham endralae un varugai niyabagamae
If one mentions spring, it brings the memory of your arrival,
Thottal churungi paarthaal unthan vetkam niyabagamae
Seeing a touch-me-not plant brings the memory of your shyness,
Alaigal polaeve mothum unthan niyabagam
Your memory crashes over me just like ocean waves,
Maranthu ponadhae enaku enthan niyabagam
In all this, I have completely forgotten my own self and memories.
Etho oru paatu en kaadhil ketkum
A random song plays in my ears,
Ketkum pothellam un niyabagam thaalaatum
And whenever I hear it, your memory lulls me to sleep.
En kangalin imaigalilae
On the eyelids of my eyes,
Un niyabagam siragadikum
Your memory flutters its wings.
Naan suvaasikum moochinilae
In the breath that I inhale,
Un niyabagam kalanthirukum
Your memory is deeply intertwined.
Niyabagangal mazhai aagum
Memories turn into rain,
Niyabagangal kudai aagum
Memories turn into an umbrella,
Niyabagangal thee mootum
Memories light a fire,
Niyabagangal neerootrum
Memories pour water over it.
Etho oru paatu en kaadhil ketkum
A random song plays in my ears,
Ketkum pothellam un niyabagam thaalaatum
And whenever I hear it, your memory lulls me to sleep.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song expresses the overwhelming and all-encompassing nature of love and remembrance. Every random sound, sight, or sensation in the protagonist's surroundings constantly triggers vivid memories of their beloved. Whether it is music, a soft breeze, spring, a dewdrop, or a shy plant, everything reminds them of the loved one's presence and beauty.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis (Muran)
“Niyabagangal thee mootum / Niyabagangal neerootrum”
Contrasting pairs like rain/umbrella and fire/water illustrate how memories act as both the cause of longing and its solace.
Metaphor / Personification
“En kangalin imaigalilae / Un niyabagam siragadikum”
Attributing bird-like traits (wings fluttering) to abstract memories on eyelids.
Simile (Upamai)
“Alaigal polaeve mothum unthan niyabagam”
Comparing the relentless surge of memories to crashing ocean waves using the marker 'polaeve'.
Anaphora (Emoni / Repetition)
“Niyabagangal mazhai aagum / Niyabagangal kudai aagum”
Repeated use of 'Niyabagangal' at the beginning of consecutive lines to emphasize total obsession.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by S. A. Rajkumar with lyrics by Vairamuthu, 'Etho Oru Paatu' was recorded in both male (Hariharan) and female (Sujatha Mohan) versions. The track was a massive chartbuster in 1998, contributing heavily to the blockbuster success of 'Unnidathil Ennai Koduthen' starring Karthik and Roja.
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