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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Hey En Aasa

From Aayiram Vaasal Idhayam · 1980

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Aayiram Vaasal Idhayam1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ae enn aasa vaazha kuruthaeHey my beloved, sweet tender leaf,
Nee ippodhu enga irukkaWhere are you right now?
Raathiri nerathula ooradangiAt night when the whole town goes quiet,
Thoongura saamathulaIn the deep slumber of midnight,
Female
Yekkam pudichadhuYearning consumed me,
Thookkam pudikkalaSleep wouldn't come,
Ennaththa naanum sollaWhat else can I possibly say?
Female
En rendu kannum sevandhadhuBoth my eyes turned red,
Ennam thudichadhuMy mind throbbed with desire,
Verenna naanum sollaWhat else can I possibly say?
Male
Ae enn aasa vaazha kuruthaeHey my beloved, sweet tender leaf,
Nee ippodhu enga irukkaWhere are you right now?
Female
Aasa manasula kaadhal nenappaiyumIn my longing heart, thoughts of love,
Manmadhan thoovi puttaanCupid has scattered and sown,
Poovedutthu ambaiyum aevi puttaanHe took flower-arrows and shot them,
Female
Alli pudiyinnu solli koduthavanThe one who taught me to embrace,
Ongitta saendhukkittaanHas joined hands with you,
On odambu ullaeyum poondhukittaanAnd entered into your heart and body,
Male
Sollu pulla ippavae kattikkavaaTell me girl, shall I hold you close right now?
Sokka vecha onnaiyum thottukkavaaShall I touch you who has captivated me?
Sorgaththa ingae koottittu vaarenI will bring heaven right here,
Male
Ae enn aasa vaazha kurutthaeHey my beloved, sweet tender leaf,
Female Chorus :Ae… haeiFemale Chorus: Ae… haei
Male :Nee ippodhu enga irukkaMale: Where are you right now?
Female Chorus :Ae… haeiFemale Chorus: Ae… haei
Male :Raathiri nerathula ooradangiMale: At night when the whole town goes quiet,
Thoongura saamathulaIn the deep slumber of midnight,
Female
Yekkam pudichadhuYearning consumed me,
Thookkam pudikkalaSleep wouldn't come,
Ennaththa naanum sollaWhat else can I possibly say?
Female
En rendu kannumBoth my eyes
SevandhadhuTurned red,
Ennam thudichadhuMy mind throbbed with desire,
Verenna naanum sollaWhat else can I possibly say?
Female
Velli molachadhuThe morning star arose,
Vaanam sirichadhuThe sky smiled,
Innaikku kaalaiylaThis morning,
Onna enni yengura velaiyilaAs I was pining while thinking of you,
Female
Mulla manathadhuThe jasmine spread its fragrance,
Ennam kalandhadhuOur thoughts merged together,
Sandhana cholaiyilaIn the sandalwood grove,
Vaasam mattum yenniya saelaiyilaWith fragrance lingering in your saree,
Male
Akkam pakkam aalunga yaarum illaeThere is nobody around nearby,
Vekkam enna vedhana theerum illaeWhy be shy? The ache won't go away otherwise,
Kattikka onnu thottukka onnuOne embrace, one touch,
Female Chorus :Thaanaanaa naanaaFemale Chorus: Thaanaanaa naanaa
Male Chorus :Thaanaanaa naanaaMale Chorus: Thaanaanaa naanaa
Male :Dhaagatha vegatha kaattadi ponnuMale: Show your passion and eagerness, girl!
Male
Ae enn aasa vaazha kurutthaeHey my beloved, sweet tender leaf,
Female Chorus :Ae… haeiFemale Chorus: Ae… haei
Male :Nee ippodhu enga irukkaMale: Where are you right now?
Female Chorus :Ae… haeiFemale Chorus: Ae… haei
Male :Raathiri nerathula ooradangiMale: At night when the whole town goes quiet,
Thoongura saamathulaIn the deep slumber of midnight,
Female
Yekkam pudichadhuYearning consumed me,
Thookkam pudikkalaSleep wouldn't come,
Ennaththa naanum sollaWhat else can I possibly say?
Female
En rendu kannumBoth my eyes
SevandhadhuTurned red,
Ennam thudichadhuMy mind throbbed with desire,
Verenna naanum sollaWhat else can I possibly say?
Male
Ae enn aasa vaazha kurutthaeHey my beloved, sweet tender leaf,
Female Chorus :Ae… haeiFemale Chorus: Ae… haei
Male :Nee ippodhu enga irukkaMale: Where are you right now?
Female Chorus :Ae… haeiFemale Chorus: Ae… haei

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a passionate and earthy folk romance where the protagonist expresses intense longing for his beloved during sleepless night hours. He describes how thoughts of her keep him awake while the entire village slumbers, leaving his eyes red with sleeplessness and his mind throbbing with desire.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Ae enn aasa vaazha kuruthae

The lover endearingly calls his beloved a 'vaazha kuruthu' (tender banana leaf/shoot), symbolizing delicacy, innocence, and youthfulness.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Yekkam pudichadhu / Thookkam pudikkala

The second letter 'kka' matches across consecutive lines ('Yekkam' and 'Thookkam'), creating rhythmic symmetry.

Mythological Imagery / Personification

Manmadhan thoovi puttaan / Poovedutthu ambaiyum aevi puttaan

Refers to Manmadhan (the Hindu deity of love/Cupid) striking lovers with arrows made of flowers to awaken passion.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is featured in the 1980 Tamil film 'Aayiram Vaasal Idhayam', composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by his brother Gangai Amaran. It highlights Gangai Amaran's signature style of blending authentic rural Tamil folk metaphors with catchy modern rhythms.

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