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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nethu Paathaale

From Kolangal · 1995

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kolangal1995

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Naethu paathaalae yappa paappaaYesterday when I saw her, oh my goodness girl!
Ninaithu paathaalae appa paappaaJust thinking about it, oh boy girl!
Male
Naethu paathaalae yappa paappaaYesterday when I saw her, oh my goodness girl!
Ninaithu paathaalae appa paappaaJust thinking about it, oh boy girl!
Meendum paathaalae thappa paappaaIs it wrong if I look at her again, girl?
Manakkum poo polae yappa paappaaShe is like a fragrant flower, oh my goodness girl!
Manasu thaangaadhappaaMy heart cannot bear this restless feeling!
Thudikkum vayasu thoongaadhappaaMy pulse-pounding youthful age cannot sleep!
Male
Naethu paathaalae yappa paappaaYesterday when I saw her, oh my goodness girl!
Ninaithu paathaalae appa paappaaJust thinking about it, oh boy girl!
Male & Chorus :Meendum paathaalae thappa paappaaMale & Chorus: Is it wrong if I look at her again, girl?
Manakkum poo polae yappa paappaaShe is like a fragrant flower, oh my goodness girl!
Male
Avalum naanum dhinamum pogum rayiluThe train that she and I travel in every day...
Vazhakkam pola kaanavillai mayiluAs usual, that peacock of a girl is nowhere to be seen!
Female
Garisaa dhapama rimasaaGa-ri-sa dha-pa-ma ri-ma-sa
Sarima padhaa mapadhaa sarisa dhapaa marisaSa-ri-ma pa-dha mapadhaa sarisa dhapaa marisa
Female
Kaattaadhae yengaeyum style…uu uuDon't show off your style anywhere...
Romba heat aachu uchi mela veyilu…uu uuuThe sun overhead is getting extremely hot...
Male
Irukkum idatha kandu pudikka thudippenI will yearn to track down where she is...
Haa haa hahhaaHa ha haha!
Endha bussil yerinaalum pudippenWhichever bus she boards, I will chase and catch it!
Hae hae hehhaeHae hae hehae!
Female
Sagaasa nidhaani saneedha magaasaSa-ga-sa ni-dha-ani sa-nee-dha ma-gaa-sa
Maaga dhamaa nidha sani gasaniMaa-ga dha-maa ni-dha sa-ni ga-sa-ni
Valaiya pottu veratti pudikka maanaaIs she a wild deer that you can chase and catch in a net?
Alaiyum podhu ilamai pogum veenaaWandering around like this will waste your youth in vain!
Male
Indha paappaa paadinaappaa avaiyaaThis girl spoke like the ancient poet Avvaiyar!
Aathichoodi pola thaampaa appappaaHer words sound like the ethical verses of Aathichoodi, oh my!
Female
Baggie potta gandhi thaatthaaLike a grandfather Gandhi wearing baggie pants!
Tharikida tharikidaTharikida tharikida
Kindal pechu enna paathaa tharikida thomIs that teasing banter meant for me? Tharikida thom!
Male
Naethu paathaalae yappa paappaaYesterday when I saw her, oh my goodness girl!
Ninaithu paathaalae appa paappaaJust thinking about it, oh boy girl!
Meendum paathaalae thappa paappaaIs it wrong if I look at her again, girl?
Manakkum poo polae yappa paappaaShe is like a fragrant flower, oh my goodness girl!
Manasu thaangaadhappaaMy heart cannot bear this restless feeling!
Thudikkum vayasu thoongaadhappaaMy pulse-pounding youthful age cannot sleep!
Male
Naethu paathaalae yappa paappaaYesterday when I saw her, oh my goodness girl!
Ninaithu paathaalae appa paappaaJust thinking about it, oh boy girl!
Male & Chorus :Meendum paathaalae thappa paappaaMale & Chorus: Is it wrong if I look at her again, girl?
Manakkum poo polae yappa paappaaShe is like a fragrant flower, oh my goodness girl!
Male
Number therinju adichu paathaen dailI found her phone number and tried dialing it...
Vambu aachu kettadhappan kuraluIt turned into trouble when I heard her father's stern voice!
Female
Garisaa dhapama rimasaaGa-ri-sa dha-pa-ma ri-ma-sa
Sarima padhaa mapadhaa sarisa dhapaa marisaSa-ri-ma pa-dha mapadhaa sarisa dhapaa marisa
Caalil neeyum wrong number pottu…By dialing a wrong number on that call...
Vaangikkitta appan kitta paattu…You got a severe earful from her father!
Male
Gajini pola padai eduthu paappenLike King Ghazni, I will launch repeated attacks and try...
Haa haa hahhaaHa ha haha!
Rendil onnu ponna poyi keppenI will go straight to the girl and demand a clear answer!
Hae hae hehhaeHae hae hehae!
Female
Sagaasa nidhaani saneedha magaasaSa-ga-sa ni-dha-ani sa-nee-dha ma-gaa-sa
Maaga dhamaa nidha sani gasaniMaa-ga dha-maa ni-dha sa-ni ga-sa-ni
Mudichu podum vera vela paaruGo mind your own business and do some real work!
Motta poda pazhani mela yaeruClimb up Palani hill and shave your head instead!
Male
Indha paappaa paadinaappaa avaiyaaThis girl spoke like the ancient poet Avvaiyar!
Aathichoodi pola thaampaa appappaaHer words sound like the ethical verses of Aathichoodi, oh my!
Female
Baggie potta gandhi thaatthaaLike a grandfather Gandhi wearing baggie pants!
Tharikida tharikidaTharikida tharikida
Kindal pechu enna paathaa tharikida thomIs that teasing banter meant for me? Tharikida thom!
Male
Naethu paathaalae yappa paappaaYesterday when I saw her, oh my goodness girl!
Ninaithu paathaalae appa paappaaJust thinking about it, oh boy girl!
Meendum paathaalae thappa paappaaIs it wrong if I look at her again, girl?
Manakkum poo polae yappa paappaaShe is like a fragrant flower, oh my goodness girl!
Manasu thaangaadhappaaMy heart cannot bear this restless feeling!
Thudikkum vayasu thoongaadhappaaMy pulse-pounding youthful age cannot sleep!
Male
Naethu paathaalae yappa paappaaYesterday when I saw her, oh my goodness girl!
Ninaithu paathaalae appa paappaaJust thinking about it, oh boy girl!
Male & Chorus :Meendum paathaalae thappa paappaaMale & Chorus: Is it wrong if I look at her again, girl?
Manakkum poo polae yappa paappaaShe is like a fragrant flower, oh my goodness girl!
Female
Naethu paathaalae kutti paappaaYesterday when I saw her, she was a tiny girl,
Nerungi paathaalae chutti paappaaLooking closely, she turned out to be a naughty, feisty girl!
Udhaikka maattaalae chutti paappaaShe won't kick you away, naughty girl,
Vedachu paakkaadhae etti poppaaDon't stare intensely, step away girl!
Male
Kutti paappaa chutti paappaaLittle girl, naughty girl,
Female
Etti pooStep far away!
Male
Eppa paappaa eppa paappaaWhen girl, when girl?
Female
Appa pappaaFather, girl!
Naethu paathaalae kutti paappaaYesterday when I saw her, she was a tiny girl,
Nerungi paathaalae chutti paappaaLooking closely, she turned out to be a naughty, feisty girl!
Male
Pappaa paa pappaa paaPappaa paa pappaa paa!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and humorous song centers around the excitement, restlessness, and misadventures of youthful love. The protagonist is completely captivated by a girl he spotted recently. He reminisces about seeing her on his daily train commute and expresses how his heart can no longer stay calm. He goes out of his way to trace her—even attempting to call her, only to be met with her strict father's angry voice on the other end.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Manakkum poo polae yappa paappaa

Compares the beloved girl to a fragrant, fresh flower using the explicit comparison word 'polae' (like).

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Avalum naanum dhinamum pogum rayilu / Vazhakkam pola kaanavillai mayilu

The lines end with rhyming words ('rayilu' and 'mayilu'), enhancing the melodic rhythm.

Historical & Literary Allusion

Gajini pola padai eduthu paappen

References Mahmud of Ghazni's repeated historic invasions to metaphorically depict the hero's stubbornness in pursuing love.

Cultural Allusion

Indha paappaa paadinaappaa avaiyaa / Aathichoodi pola thaampaa appappaa

References the ancient Tamil saint-poetess Avvaiyar and her famous moral work 'Aathichoodi' to humorously describe the girl's sharp, preachy tone.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1995 Tamil drama movie 'Kolangal', directed by I. V. Sasi, starring Jayaram and Kushboo. The lyrics were penned by the veteran Tamil lyricist Vaali, known for weaving contemporary youth slang alongside classical Tamil references seamlessly into upbeat rhythm songs.

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