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Punniyavathi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kaathe Kaathe En Maman

From Punniyavathi · 1997

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Bhavatharani, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Punniyavathi
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
17 Jan 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaathae kaathae
En maaman
Manasukkullae konjam
Poviyaa poviyaa
Kaathae kaathae
En maaman
Manasukkullae konjam
Poviyaa poviyaa
Mugam paathae paathae
Naan thoondil puzhuvaa
Thudikkum saedhi
Solviyaa solviyaa
Oruvarukkum irakkam illaiyae
Udhavi seiya yaarum valliyae
Aruvi kara oram andhi neram
Asanju aadidum
Kaathae kaathae
En maaman
Manasukkullae konjam
Poviyaa poviyaa
Mugam paathae paathae
Naan thoondil puzhuvaa
Thudikkum saedhi
Solviyaa solviyaa
Ishh aaa
Ishh aaa
Chorus :Hahahahaha
Chorus :Hmm mmm mm mm mmm
Hmm mm hmm mm hmm mmm
Hmm mm mm mm mm mmm
Hmm mm hmm mm hmm mmm
Sillendru poothirukkum
Sevvanthi poovae poovae
Ennai pol neeyum oru pennadi
Pen kollum vedhanaigal
Pen thaanae solla vendum
Pollaadha maunam ingu yennadi
Thoondaa vilakku melae
Thiri pola naan yeriya
Vendaa veruppu kaattum
En maaman thaan ariya
Poonjittu pol maari poi cholladi
Poovae poovae
En maaman
Manasukkullae konjam
Poviyaa poviyaa
Mugam paathae paathae
Naan thoondil puzhuvaa
Thudikkum saedhi
Solviyaa solviyaa
Oruvarukkum irakkam illaiyae
Udhavi seiya yaarum valliyae
Aruvi kara oram andhi neram
Asanju aadidum
Poovae poovae
En maaman
Manasukkullae konjam
Poviyaa poviyaa
Mugam paathae paathae
Naan thoondil puzhuvaa
Thudikkum saedhi
Solviyaa solviyaa
Alai ennum thalaiyai aatti
Vilaiyaadum odai neerae
Neeraadum maaman
Kaadhil koovanum
Kalaiyaadha nenjam kalanju
Kanivodu ennai kalandhu
Unnaalae endhan
Thunbam theeranum
Niram kaattum vaanavillae
Manam kaatta nee varanum
Oru sodi onnaa saera
Varam vaangi nee tharanum
Nee sendru vaa saedhiyai kondu vaa
Manasae manasae
En maaman
Manasukkullae konjam
Poviyaa poviyaa
Avar manasil manasil
Naan thoondil puzhuvaa
Thudikkum saedhi
Solviyaa solviyaa
Oruvarukkum irakkam illaiyae
Udhavi seiya yaarum valliyae
Aruvi kara oram andhi neram
Asanju aadidum
Kaathae kaathae
En maaman
Manasukkullae konjam
Poviyaa poviyaa
Mugam paathae paathae
Naan thoondil puzhuvaa
Thudikkum saedhi
Solviyaa solviyaa
Oh breeze, oh breeze,
into my beloved's
heart, for a little while,
will you go? Will you go?
Oh breeze, oh breeze,
into my beloved's
heart, for a little while,
will you go? Will you go?
Longing to see his face,
like a worm on a hook,
the pain of how I writhe,
will you tell him? Will you tell him?
No one has any pity on me,
no one comes to help me.
By the waterfall at dusk,
gently swaying and dancing,
oh breeze, oh breeze,
into my beloved's
heart, for a little while,
will you go? Will you go?
Longing to see his face,
like a worm on a hook,
the pain of how I writhe,
will you tell him? Will you tell him?
Ish... ah...
Ish... ah...
Chorus: Hahahaha
Chorus: Mmm mmm mm mm mmm
Mmm mm mmm mm mmm mmm
Mmm mm mm mm mm mmm
Mmm mm mmm mm mmm mmm
Cool and freshly bloomed,
oh chrysanthemum flower,
you are a girl just like me.
The sorrows that a woman bears,
only another woman should share.
Why this cruel silence here?
Like a wick burning
on an untended lamp, as I burn,
he treats me with cold dislike;
so that my beloved understands,
turn into a little bird and go tell him!
Oh flower, oh flower,
into my beloved's
heart, for a little while,
will you go? Will you go?
Longing to see his face,
like a worm on a hook,
the pain of how I writhe,
will you tell him? Will you tell him?
No one has any pity on me,
no one comes to help me.
By the waterfall at dusk,
gently swaying and dancing,
oh flower, oh flower,
into my beloved's
heart, for a little while,
will you go? Will you go?
Longing to see his face,
like a worm on a hook,
the pain of how I writhe,
will you tell him? Will you tell him?
Nodding your head of waves,
oh playful stream,
as my beloved bathes,
whisper into his ear.
May his stubborn heart soften,
and lovingly embrace me;
through you, may my
sorrows come to an end.
Oh colourful rainbow,
come and show him my heart.
For the two of us to unite,
bring and grant us a blessing.
Go to him and bring back word!
Oh my heart, my heart,
into my beloved's
heart, for a little while,
will you go? Will you go?
Into his heart, his heart,
like a worm on a hook,
the pain of how I writhe,
will you tell him? Will you tell him?
No one has any pity on me,
no one comes to help me.
By the waterfall at dusk,
gently swaying and dancing,
oh breeze, oh breeze,
into my beloved's
heart, for a little while,
will you go? Will you go?
Longing to see his face,
like a worm on a hook,
the pain of how I writhe,
will you tell him? Will you tell him?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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