Naakku Chevandhavarae
From Naatpadu Theral · 2021
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Kiruthiga
- Music director
- Vagu Mazan
- Details
- Naatpadu Theral2021
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| {Oruvaai vethalaiyae | {The story of one betel leaf |
| Iruvaai undakadhai | shared and chewed by two mouths, |
| Thiruvaai marnthaalum | even if your revered mouth forgets, |
| Thinna rusi maranthirumoo?….} (2) | can the taste of eating it ever be forgotten?} (2) |
| Female | |
| {Naakku sevandhavare | {Oh man with a tongue stained red from betel, |
| Naalezhuthu mandhiriyae | oh cunning minister of clever words, |
| Mookku vedachavare | oh man with flared nostrils, |
| Munn vazhukkai mannavarae} (2) | oh king with a balding forehead!} (2) |
| Female | |
| Koothu mudinjiruchu | Now that the play/fun is over, |
| Komaripulla edhukkunnu | thinking 'why do I need this young girl now?' |
| Paathum paakkama | pretending not to notice me, |
| Paraparannu porreeroo! | why are you rushing off in such a hurry! |
| Female | |
| {Oruvaai vethalaiyae | {The story of one betel leaf |
| Iruvaai undakadhai | shared and chewed by two mouths, |
| Thiruvaai marnthaalum | even if your revered mouth forgets, |
| Thinna rusi maranthirumoo?….} (2) | can the taste of eating it ever be forgotten?} (2) |
| Female | |
| Vaikkapor padapukku | Near the stack of straw, |
| Vada iruttu moolaiyila | in the dark northern corner, |
| Akkapor senjakadhai | the story of our passionate mischief, |
| Aiyyanukku maranthiruchoo?… | has my master forgotten it?... |
| Female | |
| Savara kathikku | In the short stubble of hair |
| Thappicha kurumudiyil | that escaped the razor blade, |
| Mugara urasunadhu | the way you rubbed your face against me, |
| Muzhusathaan maranthiruchoo?…. | did you completely forget that?... |
| Female | |
| Mottu mottu malligaiya | Plucking and tapping away |
| Mutti mutti thattivittu | bud after bud of jasmine, |
| Muthu muthu vervai sottu | and scooping up drops |
| Mondhakadhai maranthiruchoo?…. | of pearl-like sweat, did you forget that story?... |
| Female | |
| Vaazhaithoppukkulla | Inside the banana grove, |
| Valavi odachakadhai | the story of breaking my bangles, |
| Vaazhai maranthirukkum | the banana tree might forget, |
| Valathu kaiyi maranthirumoo?… | but can your right hand ever forget it?... |
| Female | |
| {Oruvaai vethalaiyae | {The story of one betel leaf |
| Iruvaai undakadhai | shared and chewed by two mouths, |
| Thiruvaai marnthaalum | even if your revered mouth forgets, |
| Thinna rusi maranthirumoo?….} (2) | can the taste of eating it ever be forgotten?} (2) |
| Female | |
| Thaenyeri poirundha | The sweet, hair of this cheeky woman |
| Sirikkimava thalamayiru | that once felt like honey, |
| Penyeri ponadhaiyaa | has now become infested with lice, sir, |
| Pechuvaarthai illama | without any word spoken between us! |
| Female | |
| Pulli thaemalukku | For my speckled skin patches, |
| Pudhu madippukkum | for my fresh bodily folds, |
| Karupatti udhatukkum | and for my dark jaggery-sweet lips, |
| Karuthakkili alaiyudhappa | the dark parrot of a man is wandering, oh father! |
| Female | |
| Aarucharam sangiliyoo | I am not asking for a six-strand gold chain, |
| Attigai kekalaiyae | nor am I asking for a fancy necklace; |
| Manja kayithukku | just for a simple sacred yellow thread, |
| Manasukkulla arikkuthaiyaa | my heart yearns deeply, sir! |
| Female | |
| Aambalaiga sagavaasam | A man's companionship lasts only |
| Aduthoruthi vaara varaikkum | until another woman comes along, |
| Pombalaiga sagavaasam | but a woman's companionship lasts |
| Pudhai kaadu poravaraikkum | until she enters the burial ground! |
| Female | |
| {Oruvaai vethalaiyae | {The story of one betel leaf |
| Iruvaai undakadhai | shared and chewed by two mouths, |
| Thiruvaai marnthaalum | even if your revered mouth forgets, |
| Thinna rusi maranthirumoo?….} (2) | can the taste of eating it ever be forgotten?} (2) |
ஒருவாய் வெத்தலைய
இருவாய் உண்டகதை
திருவாய் மறந்தாலும்
தின்னருசி மறந்திருமோ?...(2)
{The story of one betel leaf
shared and chewed by two mouths,
even if your revered mouth forgets,
can the taste of eating it ever be forgotten?} (2)
நாக்குச் செவந்தவரே
நாலெழுத்து மந்திரியே
மூக்கு வெடச்சவரே
முன்வழுக்கை மன்னவரே ...(2)
{Oh man with a tongue stained red from betel,
oh cunning minister of clever words,
oh man with flared nostrils,
oh king with a balding forehead!} (2)
கூத்து முடிஞ்சிருச்சு
கொமரிப்புள்ள எதுக்குன்னு
பாத்தும் பாக்காமப்
பரபரன்னு போறீரோ!..
Now that the play/fun is over,
thinking 'why do I need this young girl now?'
pretending not to notice me,
why are you rushing off in such a hurry!
ஒருவாய் வெத்தலைய
இருவாய் உண்டகதை
திருவாய் மறந்தாலும்
தின்னருசி மறந்திருமோ? ...(2)
{The story of one betel leaf
shared and chewed by two mouths,
even if your revered mouth forgets,
can the taste of eating it ever be forgotten?} (2)
வைக்கப் போர்ப் படப்புக்கு
வடஇருட்டு மூலையில
அக்கப்போர் செஞ்சகதை
அய்யனுக்கு மறந்திருச்சோ?...
Near the stack of straw,
in the dark northern corner,
the story of our passionate mischief,
has my master forgotten it?...
சவரக் கத்திக்குத்
தப்பிச்ச குறுமுடியில்
முகர ஒரசுனது
முழுசாத்தான் மறந்திருச்சோ?...
In the short stubble of hair
that escaped the razor blade,
the way you rubbed your face against me,
did you completely forget that?...
மொட்டு மொட்டு மல்லிகையை
முட்டிமுட்டித் தட்டிவிட்டு
முத்துமுத்து வேர்வைச் சொட்டு
மோந்தகதை மறந்திருச்சோ?...
Plucking and tapping away
bud after bud of jasmine,
and scooping up drops
of pearl-like sweat, did you forget that story?...
வாழைத் தோப்புக்குள்ள
வளவி ஒடச்சகதை
வாழை மறந்திருக்கும்
வலதுகையி மறந்திருமோ?....
Inside the banana grove,
the story of breaking my bangles,
the banana tree might forget,
but can your right hand ever forget it?...
ஒருவாய் வெத்தலைய
இருவாய் உண்டகதை
திருவாய் மறந்தாலும்
தின்னருசி மறந்திருமோ? ...(2)
{The story of one betel leaf
shared and chewed by two mouths,
even if your revered mouth forgets,
can the taste of eating it ever be forgotten?} (2)
தேனேறிப் போயிருந்த
சிறுக்கிமக தலைமயிரு
பேனேறிப் போனதய்யா
பேச்சுவார்த்தை இல்லாம
The sweet, hair of this cheeky woman
that once felt like honey,
has now become infested with lice, sir,
without any word spoken between us!
புள்ளித் தேமலுக்கும்
புதுவேட்டி மடிப்புக்கும்
கருப்பட்டி ஒதட்டுக்கும்
கருத்தகிளி அலையுதய்யா
For my speckled skin patches,
for my fresh bodily folds,
and for my dark jaggery-sweet lips,
the dark parrot of a man is wandering, oh father!
ஆறுசரம் சங்கிலியோ
அட்டிகையோ கேக்கலையே
மஞ்சக் கயித்துக்கு
மனசுக்குள்ள அரிக்குதய்யா
I am not asking for a six-strand gold chain,
nor am I asking for a fancy necklace;
just for a simple sacred yellow thread,
my heart yearns deeply, sir!
ஆம்பளைக சகவாசம்
அடுத்தொருத்தி வாரவரைக்கும்
பொம்பளைக சகவாசம்
புதைகாடு போறவரைக்கும்
A man's companionship lasts only
until another woman comes along,
but a woman's companionship lasts
until she enters the burial ground!
ஒருவாய் வெத்தலைய
இருவாய் உண்டகதை
திருவாய் மறந்தாலும்
தின்னருசி மறந்திருமோ? ...(2)
{The story of one betel leaf
shared and chewed by two mouths,
even if your revered mouth forgets,
can the taste of eating it ever be forgotten?} (2)
{Oruvaai vethalaiyae
{The story of one betel leaf
Iruvaai undakadhai
shared and chewed by two mouths,
Thiruvaai marnthaalum
even if your revered mouth forgets,
Thinna rusi maranthirumoo?….} (2)
can the taste of eating it ever be forgotten?} (2)
{Naakku sevandhavare
{Oh man with a tongue stained red from betel,
Naalezhuthu mandhiriyae
oh cunning minister of clever words,
Mookku vedachavare
oh man with flared nostrils,
Munn vazhukkai mannavarae} (2)
oh king with a balding forehead!} (2)
Koothu mudinjiruchu
Now that the play/fun is over,
Komaripulla edhukkunnu
thinking 'why do I need this young girl now?'
Paathum paakkama
pretending not to notice me,
Paraparannu porreeroo!
why are you rushing off in such a hurry!
{Oruvaai vethalaiyae
{The story of one betel leaf
Iruvaai undakadhai
shared and chewed by two mouths,
Thiruvaai marnthaalum
even if your revered mouth forgets,
Thinna rusi maranthirumoo?….} (2)
can the taste of eating it ever be forgotten?} (2)
Vaikkapor padapukku
Near the stack of straw,
Vada iruttu moolaiyila
in the dark northern corner,
Akkapor senjakadhai
the story of our passionate mischief,
Aiyyanukku maranthiruchoo?…
has my master forgotten it?...
Savara kathikku
In the short stubble of hair
Thappicha kurumudiyil
that escaped the razor blade,
Mugara urasunadhu
the way you rubbed your face against me,
Muzhusathaan maranthiruchoo?….
did you completely forget that?...
Mottu mottu malligaiya
Plucking and tapping away
Mutti mutti thattivittu
bud after bud of jasmine,
Muthu muthu vervai sottu
and scooping up drops
Mondhakadhai maranthiruchoo?….
of pearl-like sweat, did you forget that story?...
Vaazhaithoppukkulla
Inside the banana grove,
Valavi odachakadhai
the story of breaking my bangles,
Vaazhai maranthirukkum
the banana tree might forget,
Valathu kaiyi maranthirumoo?…
but can your right hand ever forget it?...
{Oruvaai vethalaiyae
{The story of one betel leaf
Iruvaai undakadhai
shared and chewed by two mouths,
Thiruvaai marnthaalum
even if your revered mouth forgets,
Thinna rusi maranthirumoo?….} (2)
can the taste of eating it ever be forgotten?} (2)
Thaenyeri poirundha
The sweet, hair of this cheeky woman
Sirikkimava thalamayiru
that once felt like honey,
Penyeri ponadhaiyaa
has now become infested with lice, sir,
Pechuvaarthai illama
without any word spoken between us!
Pulli thaemalukku
For my speckled skin patches,
Pudhu madippukkum
for my fresh bodily folds,
Karupatti udhatukkum
and for my dark jaggery-sweet lips,
Karuthakkili alaiyudhappa
the dark parrot of a man is wandering, oh father!
Aarucharam sangiliyoo
I am not asking for a six-strand gold chain,
Attigai kekalaiyae
nor am I asking for a fancy necklace;
Manja kayithukku
just for a simple sacred yellow thread,
Manasukkulla arikkuthaiyaa
my heart yearns deeply, sir!
Aambalaiga sagavaasam
A man's companionship lasts only
Aduthoruthi vaara varaikkum
until another woman comes along,
Pombalaiga sagavaasam
but a woman's companionship lasts
Pudhai kaadu poravaraikkum
until she enters the burial ground!
{Oruvaai vethalaiyae
{The story of one betel leaf
Iruvaai undakadhai
shared and chewed by two mouths,
Thiruvaai marnthaalum
even if your revered mouth forgets,
Thinna rusi maranthirumoo?….} (2)
can the taste of eating it ever be forgotten?} (2)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This folk-style song from Vairamuthu's 'Naatpadu Theral' initiative portrays a woman playfully yet poignantly confronting her lover. She recalls intimate secret moments they shared in rural spots—such as near haystacks and in banana groves—asking if he can truly erase the memory and sweetness of their romance just because the moment has passed. Beyond her playful teasing and vivid nostalgia, she expresses her true longing: she desires a lasting marital commitment symbolized by a simple sacred yellow thread ('manja kayiru') rather than expensive jewelry. The song concludes with a profound social observation on loyalty, contrasting the transient nature of male attachment with the unwavering, lifelong devotion of a woman.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Mottu mottu malligaiya / Mutti mutti thattivittu / Muthu muthu vervai sottu / Mondhakadhai maranthiruchoo?….. Note also: Vaazhaithoppukkulla / Valavi odachakadhai / Vaazhai maranthirukkum / Valathu kaiyi maranthirumoo?… me: sound repetition of 'M' and 'V' at line beginnings creates folk rhythmic cadence visually and auditorily. device details: Monai (Initial Rhyme/Alliteration)”
Edugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Oruvaai / Iruvaai / Thiruvaai me: 'ru' is the second letter rhyming across lines.”
Uvamai / Metaphor
“Muthu muthu vervai sottu me: Sweat droplets compared to precious pearls.”
Folk Metaphor / Imagery
“Karupatti udhatukkum me: Lips compared to dark, unrefined palm jaggery ('karupatti'), symbolizing sweet rustic beauty.”
Did you know?
Trivia
'Naatpadu Theral' is a celebrated non-film Tamil music project curated by lyricist Vairamuthu, featuring 100 independent songs composed by various Tamil indie and mainstream composers to revive authentic Tamil literary and folk aesthetics.
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