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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nethu Oruthara Oruthara

From Puthu Paatu · 1990

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Ilayaraja, Chitra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Puthu Paatu1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nethu orutharaYesterday, at each other
Oruthara paarthomWe looked at each other
Paarthu orutharaHaving looked at each other
Oruthara maranthomWe forgot ourselves completely
Male
Nethu orutharaYesterday, at each other
Oruthara paarthomWe looked at each other
Paarthu orutharaHaving looked at each other
Oruthara maranthomWe forgot ourselves completely
Male
Kaathu… kulir kaathuWind... chilly breeze
Koothu… enna koothuA joyous spectacle... what a celebration
Siru nathula nadakkuraWalking along the tiny river stream
Kaathula poothathuBlossomed into the breeze
Paattu thaan… puthu paattu thaanIt is indeed a song... a brand new song
Thanakka thakka koottu thaanIt is a rhythmic union
Inainjadhoru koottu thaanIt is a joined alliance
Paattu thaan… puthu paattu thaanIt is indeed a song... a brand new song
Thanakka thakka koottu thaanIt is a rhythmic union
Inainjadhoru koottu thaanIt is a joined alliance
Female
Nethu orutharaYesterday, at each other
Oruthara paarthomWe looked at each other
Paarthu orutharaHaving looked at each other
Oruthara maranthomWe forgot ourselves completely
Female
Aathangarai oramBy the riverbank's edge
PoothirukkumThat has blossomed
Azhagu poovaasamBeautiful fragrance of flowers
Paathu manasoramLooking at it from the corner of the heart
PasichirukkumIt has been longing
Pala naal un nesamYour love for many days
Male
Adi aathi aathimaramOh my, the ancient tree
Arumbu vittu aaram poothamaramBudding into a garland-like blooming tree
Female
Maathi maathi tharumExchanging love again and again
Manasu vachu maalai poda varumWith good intent, the time comes to place the wedding garland
Male
Poothathu poothathu paarvaiBlossomed, the gaze has blossomed
Porthuthu porthuthu porvaDraped, the blanket of warmth is draped
Female
Paarthadhum tholula thaavaUpon sight, leaping onto the shoulders
Korthadhu korthadhu poovaStrung together, flowers were strung
Male
Potta kanai potta…An arrow was shot...
Ketta badhil kettaaWhen a sought answer was asked
Female
Vazhi kaattuthuIt shows the path
Palasugam koottuthu varugira…Increasing ancient pleasures, coming along...
Male
Paattu thaan…It is indeed a song...
Puthu paattu thaanA brand new song
Thanakka thakka koottu thaanIt is a rhythmic union
Inainjadhoru koottu thaanIt is a joined alliance
Female
Nethu orutharaYesterday, at each other
Oruthara paarthomWe looked at each other
Male :OrutharaMale: At each other
Oruthara paarthomWe looked at each other
Female :Paarthu orutharaFemale: Having looked at each other
Oruthara maranthomWe forgot ourselves completely
Male :OrutharaMale: At each other
Oruthara paarthomWe looked at each other
Male
Azhaga sudhi kettuLosing the pitch to your beauty
Nee nadakkum nadaiyilIn the rhythm of your graceful walk
Jathi kettuLosing the beat
Padipen pala paattuI shall sing many a song
Dhinam nadakkumUnfolding every single day
Kaadhal vilaiyaattuIs this playful game of love
Female
Intha maanaeOh deer-like maiden
Maragathame unnai ninaichuOh precious emerald, thinking of you
Naanae dhinam dhinamaeI myself, every single day
Male
Paadum oru varamaeIt is a boon to sing
Enakkalikka venumMust bestow upon me
Puthu suramaeA brand new musical note
Female
Paathoru maadhiri aachuEver since looking at you, everything changed
Raathiri thookkamum pochuNight's sleep has vanished too
Male
Kaathula karaiyuthu moochuBreath dissolves into the wind
KaaviyamaagidalaachuIt has transformed into an epic saga
Female
Paathu vazhi paathu..Watching, watching the path..
Sethu unnai sethuUniting, uniting with you
Male
Arangethudhu manasulaPremiering inside the heart
Poothathu poothathu..Blossomed, it has blossomed..
Female
Paattu thaanIt is indeed a song
Male :Hey hey heyMale: Hey hey hey
Female :Puthu paattu thaan..Female: It is a brand new song..
Thanakka thakka koottu thaanIt is a rhythmic union
Male :Hey hey heyMale: Hey hey hey
Female :Inainjadhoru koottu thaanFemale: It is a joined alliance
Male
Nethu orutharaYesterday, at each other
Oruthara paarthomWe looked at each other
Female :OrutharaFemale: At each other
Oruthara paarthomWe looked at each other
Male :Paarthu orutharaMale: Having looked at each other
Oruthara maranthomWe forgot ourselves completely
Female :OrutharaFemale: At each other
Oruthara paarthomWe looked at each other
Male
Kaathu…Wind...
Female :Kulir kaathuFemale: Chilly breeze
Male :Koothu…Male: A joyous spectacle...
Female :Enna koothuFemale: What a celebration
Male :Siru nathula nadakkuraMale: Walking along the tiny river stream
Kaathula poothathuBlossomed into the breeze
Female :Paattu thaan…Female: It is indeed a song...
Puthu paattu thaanA brand new song
Male :Thanakka thakka koottu thaanMale: It is a rhythmic union
Inainjadhoru koottu thaanInainjadhoru koottu thaan
Female
Paattu thaan…It is indeed a song...
Puthu paattu thaanA brand new song
Male :Thanakka thakka koottu thaanMale: It is a rhythmic union
Inainjadhoru koottu thaanIt is a joined alliance

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song depicts the blissful romantic awakening of two lovers who locked eyes for the first time 'yesterday' and instantly forgot the rest of the world. Set against idyllic countryside scenery—chilly breezes, riverbanks, and blooming flowers—their newfound affection turns life itself into a festive musical performance. They express how their chance encounter disrupted their restless nights, transformed their breath into poetry, and sparked an irresistible bond. As the duet progresses, love is delightfully framed through musical metaphors such as pitch (sudhi), rhythm (jathi), and melodic notes (suram). The lovers express their desire to weave their feelings into a grand epic and crown their union with a garland of marriage. Ultimately, the track celebrates love as a 'Puthu Paatu'—a fresh, vibrant song born from the seamless harmony of two souls.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Paattu thaan… puthu paattu thaan / Thanakka thakka koottu thaan / Inainjadhoru koottu thaan

The repeating ending word 'thaan' across consecutive lines creates an echoing, rhythmic end-rhyme structure typical of Tamil folk melodies.

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)

Poothathu poothathu paarvai / Porthuthu porthuthu porva

Words like 'Poothathu' and 'Porthuthu' are repeated back-to-back to intensify the emotional cadence and rhythmic emphasis.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Paathoru maadhiri aachu / Raathiri thookkamum pochu

Rhythmic flow established through internal lyrical symmetry and similar vowel/consonant vocalizations.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Intha maanae / Maragathame unnai ninaichu

The lover directly compares the beloved to a gentle deer ('maanae') and a precious emerald ('maragathame').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song belongs to the 1990 Tamil movie 'Puthu Paatu', directed by Gangai Amaran, who also penned the lyrics. The film stars Ramarajan and Vaidehi in lead roles and features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. Sung by Mano and S. Janaki, this track stands out as a quintessential rural romantic duet showcasing Ilaiyaraaja's signature folk-orchestral fusion.

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