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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaathe Kaathe En Maman

From Punniyavathi · 1997

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Bhavatharani, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Punniyavathi1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kaathae kaathaeO wind, O wind
En maamanInto my beloved's
Manasukkullae konjamheart, a little bit,
Poviyaa poviyaawill you go? Will you go?
Kaathae kaathaeO wind, O wind
En maamanInto my beloved's
Manasukkullae konjamheart, a little bit,
Poviyaa poviyaawill you go? Will you go?
Female
Mugam paathae paathaeLooking into my face,
Naan thoondil puzhuvaaas I wriggle like a worm on a fishing hook,
Thudikkum saedhithe news of my agony,
Solviyaa solviyaawill you tell him? Will you tell him?
Female
Oruvarukkum irakkam illaiyaeNo one has any pity on me,
Udhavi seiya yaarum valliyaeNo one comes forward to help me.
Aruvi kara oram andhi neramBy the waterfall banks in the twilight hours,
Asanju aadidumswaying softly...
Female
Kaathae kaathaeO wind, O wind
En maamanInto my beloved's
Manasukkullae konjamheart, a little bit,
Poviyaa poviyaawill you go? Will you go?
Female
Mugam paathae paathaeLooking into my face,
Naan thoondil puzhuvaaas I wriggle like a worm on a fishing hook,
Thudikkum saedhithe news of my agony,
Solviyaa solviyaawill you tell him? Will you tell him?
Female
Ishh aaa[Vocalizations]
Ishh aaa[Vocalizations]
Chorus :Hahahahaha[Chorus laughing]
Chorus :Hmm mmm mm mm mmm[Chorus humming]
Hmm mm hmm mm hmm mmm[Humming]
Hmm mm mm mm mm mmm[Humming]
Hmm mm hmm mm hmm mmm[Humming]
Female
Sillendru poothirukkumBlossomed coolly,
Sevvanthi poovae poovaeO yellow chrysanthemum flower!
Ennai pol neeyum oru pennadiYou are also a female like me, girl!
Pen kollum vedhanaigalThe agonies that a woman suffers,
Pen thaanae solla vendumA woman herself should understand and express,
Pollaadha maunam ingu yennadiWhy this wicked silence here, girl?
Female
Thoondaa vilakku melaeUpon an unprompted lamp,
Thiri pola naan yeriyaAs I burn like a wick,
Vendaa veruppu kaattumShowing unwanted dislike/aversion,
En maaman thaan ariyaSo that my beloved may know,
Poonjittu pol maari poi cholladiTurn into a tiny songbird and go tell him!
Female
Poovae poovaeO flower, O flower!
En maamanInto my beloved's
Manasukkullae konjamheart, a little bit,
Poviyaa poviyaawill you go? Will you go?
Female
Mugam paathae paathaeLooking into my face,
Naan thoondil puzhuvaaas I wriggle like a worm on a fishing hook,
Thudikkum saedhithe news of my suffering,
Solviyaa solviyaawill you tell him? Will you tell him?
Female
Oruvarukkum irakkam illaiyaeNo one has any pity on me,
Udhavi seiya yaarum valliyaeNo one comes forward to help me.
Aruvi kara oram andhi neramBy the waterfall banks in the twilight hours,
Asanju aadidumswaying softly...
Female
Poovae poovaeO flower, O flower!
En maamanInto my beloved's
Manasukkullae konjamheart, a little bit,
Poviyaa poviyaawill you go? Will you go?
Female
Mugam paathae paathaeLooking into my face,
Naan thoondil puzhuvaaas I wriggle like a worm on a fishing hook,
Thudikkum saedhithe news of my agony,
Solviyaa solviyaawill you tell him? Will you tell him?
Female
Alai ennum thalaiyai aattiShaking your head made of waves,
Vilaiyaadum odai neeraeO playful stream water!
Neeraadum maamanInto the ears of my beloved bathing in you,
Kaadhil koovanumYou must whisper and call out.
Kalaiyaadha nenjam kalanjuDissolving my unblemished heart,
Kanivodu ennai kalandhuMerging with me tenderly,
Unnaalae endhanThrough you, my
Thunbam theeranumsorrow must end.
Female
Niram kaattum vaanavillaeO colorful rainbow displaying shades!
Manam kaatta nee varanumYou must come to reveal his mind.
Oru sodi onnaa saeraFor a pair to come together as one,
Varam vaangi nee tharanumYou must seek and grant a boon.
Nee sendru vaa saedhiyai kondu vaaGo and return, bringing back the message!
Female
Manasae manasaeO mind, O heart!
En maamanInto my beloved's
Manasukkullae konjamheart, a little bit,
Poviyaa poviyaawill you go? Will you go?
Female
Avar manasil manasilIn his heart, in his heart,
Naan thoondil puzhuvaaas I wriggle like a worm on a fishing hook,
Thudikkum saedhithe news of my agonizing struggle,
Solviyaa solviyaawill you tell him? Will you tell him?
Female
Oruvarukkum irakkam illaiyaeNo one has any pity on me,
Udhavi seiya yaarum valliyaeNo one comes forward to help me.
Aruvi kara oram andhi neramBy the waterfall banks in the twilight hours,
Asanju aadidumswaying softly...
Female
Kaathae kaathaeO wind, O wind!
En maamanInto my beloved's
Manasukkullae konjamheart, a little bit,
Poviyaa poviyaawill you go? Will you go?
Female
Mugam paathae paathaeLooking into my face,
Naan thoondil puzhuvaaas I wriggle like a worm on a fishing hook,
Thudikkum saedhithe news of my agony,
Solviyaa solviyaawill you tell him? Will you tell him?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

In this poignant song written by Vaali for the movie Punniyavathi (1997), the female protagonist expresses her deep emotional anguish, loneliness, and longing caused by her beloved's distance and indifference. Feeling completely helpless and lacking support from anyone around her, she turns to natural elements—the gentle breeze, flowers, flowing streams, and the rainbow—pleading with them to serve as messengers to convey her intense suffering to her beloved. The lyrics vividly capture female angst and romantic yearning through evocative metaphors of nature. The heroine compares her restless soul to a bait worm wriggling on a hook and a lamp wick burning away, pleading for reconciliation and love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Naan thoondil puzhuvaa thudikkum saedhi

The protagonist compares her internal agony and restless suffering to a worm wriggling on a fishing hook.

Personification (Uruvagam / Thoodhu)

Kaathae kaathae / Sevvanthi poovae poovae / Vilaiyaadum odai neerae

Addressing non-living or natural elements like wind (Kaathae), flower (Sevvanthi poovae), stream (Odai neerae), and rainbow (Vaanavillae) as messengers of love.

Metaphor

Thoondaa vilakku melae thiri pola naan yeriya

Comparing herself burning in love/agony to a wick burning on an untended lamp.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Sillendru poothirukkum / Sevvanthi poovae poovae

Matching initial sound 'Se' in 'Sillendru' and 'Sevvanthi' in consecutive lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Punniyavathi' is a 1997 Tamil drama film directed by Subhash, starring Napoleon, Vignesh, and Sanghavi. The lyrics for this soulful track were penned by the veteran lyricist Vaali.

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