Oh Butterfly Butterfly (Male Sad)
From Meera · 1992
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Meera1992
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oh butterfly butterfly | Oh butterfly, butterfly |
| Nee enakkorr kuzhanthai | You are like a child to me |
| Male | |
| Oh butterfly butterfly | Oh butterfly, butterfly |
| Nee enakkorr kuzhanthai | You are like a child to me |
| Anbae oh butterfly butterfly | Oh my love, oh butterfly, butterfly |
| Nee enakkorr kuzhanthai | You are like a child to me |
| Male | |
| Madiyil naan.. | Holding you in my lap... |
| Unai thaangi padipenae.. | I will cradle you and read... |
| Puthithaai… inithaai kavithai .. | A poem, newly and sweetly written... |
| Male | |
| Oh butterfly butterfly | Oh butterfly, butterfly |
| Male | |
| Iruvar vaazhvil inaiyum podhu | When two lives unite in journey, |
| Vilayum sogangal | sorrows crop up; |
| Iniya kaatru veesum podhu | Yet when a pleasant breeze blows, |
| Kalaiyum megangal | the clouds disperse. |
| Male | |
| Ilai uthirntha pinbu | After the leaves fall away, |
| Meendum pookum vasantha kaalangal | spring season blossoms once again. |
| Andru unathu kangal ezhuthi paarkum | On that day, your eyes will draw and admire |
| Ilamai kolangal | the vibrant patterns of youth. |
| Male | |
| Inimel sorganthaan | From now on, it is pure heaven, |
| Adhu nam pakkanthaan | and it is right on our side! |
| Inainthae pudhupaadal | Together, a brand new song |
| Isaipom kuyilae | let us sing, my cuckoo! |
| Butterfly butterfly | Butterfly, butterfly |
| Male | |
| Anbae oh butterfly butterfly | Oh my love, oh butterfly, butterfly |
| Male | |
| Anaigal thaandi alaigal paayum | Crashing past dams, waves rush forth— |
| Nadhigal allavaa | are they not rivers? |
| Thunivu ennum thunayai kondu | With courage as our companion, |
| Vithiyai vellavaa | shall we conquer fate? |
| Male | |
| Ingu inimai paathi | Here, half is sweetness |
| Kodumai paathi | and half is bitter hardship |
| Manithar vaazhvilae | in human life. |
| Endrum mazhaiyum thondrum | Rain always appears, |
| Veyilum thondrum | and sunshine appears too |
| Nediya vaanilae | in the vast sky. |
| Male | |
| Kalangum kannenna | Why these troubled eyes? |
| Mayangum nenjenna | Why this swooning heart? |
| Ninaithaal niraiverum | If we hold faith in our thoughts, |
| Thirunaal varalaam | the auspicious day shall arrive! |
| Butterfly butterfly | Butterfly, butterfly |
| Male | |
| Anbae oh butterfly butterfly | Oh my love, oh butterfly, butterfly |
| Nee enakkorr kuzhanthai | You are like a child to me |
| Anbae oh butterfly butterfly | Oh my love, oh butterfly, butterfly |
| Nee enakkorr kuzhanthai | You are like a child to me |
| Madiyil naan unai thaangi padipenae | Holding you in my lap, I will cradle you and read |
| Puthithaai… inithaai kavithai | a poem, newly and sweetly written. |
| Male | |
| Anbae oh butterfly butterfly.. | Oh my love, oh butterfly, butterfly.. |
ஓ... பட்டர்பிளை பட்டர்பிளை
நீ எனக்கோர் குழந்தை
Oh butterfly, butterfly
You are like a child to me
ஓ... பட்டர்பிளை பட்டர்பிளை
நீ எனக்கோர் குழந்தை
அன்பே ஓ... பட்டர்பிளை பட்டர்பிளை
நீ எனக்கோர் குழந்தை
Oh butterfly, butterfly
You are like a child to me
Oh my love, oh butterfly, butterfly
You are like a child to me
மடியில் நான்
உனை தாங்கி படிப்பேனே
புதிதாய் இனிதாய் கவிதை
Holding you in my lap...
I will cradle you and read...
A poem, newly and sweetly written...
ஓ... பட்டர்பிளை பட்டர்பிளை
Oh butterfly, butterfly
இருவர் வாழ்வில் இணையும் போது
விளையும் சோகங்கள்
இனிய காற்று வீசும் போது
களையும் மேகங்கள்
When two lives unite in journey,
sorrows crop up;
Yet when a pleasant breeze blows,
the clouds disperse.
இலை உதிர்ந்த பின்பு
மீண்டும் பூக்கும் வசந்த காலங்கள்
அன்று உனது கண்கள் எழுதி பார்க்கும்
இளமை கோலங்கள்
After the leaves fall away,
spring season blossoms once again.
On that day, your eyes will draw and admire
the vibrant patterns of youth.
இனிமேல் சொர்கம்தான்
அது நம் பக்கம் தான்
இணைந்தே புது பாடல்
இசைப்போம் குயிலே
From now on, it is pure heaven,
and it is right on our side!
Together, a brand new song
let us sing, my cuckoo!
Butterfly, butterfly
அன்பே
ஓ... பட்டர்பிளை பட்டர்பிளை
Oh my love, oh butterfly, butterfly
அணைகள் தாண்டி அலைகள் பாயும்
நதிகள் அல்லவா
துணிவு என்னும் துணையை கொண்டு
விதியை வெல்லவா
Crashing past dams, waves rush forth—
are they not rivers?
With courage as our companion,
shall we conquer fate?
இங்கு இனிமை பாதி
கொடுமை பாதி
மனிதர் வாழ்விலே
என்றும் மழையும் தோன்றும்
வெயிலும் தோன்றும்
நெடிய வானிலே
Here, half is sweetness
and half is bitter hardship
in human life.
Rain always appears,
and sunshine appears too
in the vast sky.
கலங்கும் கண்ணென்ன
மயங்கும் நெஞ்சென்ன
நினைத்தால் நிறைவேறும்
திருநாள் வரலாம்
பட்டர்பிளை பட்டர்பிளை
Why these troubled eyes?
Why this swooning heart?
If we hold faith in our thoughts,
the auspicious day shall arrive!
Butterfly, butterfly
{அன்பே
ஓ... பட்டர்பிளை பட்டர்பிளை
நீ எனக்கோர் குழந்தை} (2)
Oh my love, oh butterfly, butterfly
You are like a child to me
Oh my love, oh butterfly, butterfly
You are like a child to me
Holding you in my lap, I will cradle you and read
a poem, newly and sweetly written.
மடியில் நான்
உனை தாங்கி படிப்பேனே
புதிதாய் இனிதாய் கவிதை
Oh my love, oh butterfly, butterfly..
அன்பே..
ஓ... பட்டர்பிளை பட்டர்பிளை
Oh butterfly butterfly
Oh butterfly, butterfly
Nee enakkorr kuzhanthai
You are like a child to me
Oh butterfly butterfly
Oh butterfly, butterfly
Nee enakkorr kuzhanthai
You are like a child to me
Anbae oh butterfly butterfly
Oh my love, oh butterfly, butterfly
Nee enakkorr kuzhanthai
You are like a child to me
Madiyil naan..
Holding you in my lap...
Unai thaangi padipenae..
I will cradle you and read...
Puthithaai… inithaai kavithai ..
A poem, newly and sweetly written...
Oh butterfly butterfly
Oh butterfly, butterfly
Iruvar vaazhvil inaiyum podhu
When two lives unite in journey,
Vilayum sogangal
sorrows crop up;
Iniya kaatru veesum podhu
Yet when a pleasant breeze blows,
Kalaiyum megangal
the clouds disperse.
Ilai uthirntha pinbu
After the leaves fall away,
Meendum pookum vasantha kaalangal
spring season blossoms once again.
Andru unathu kangal ezhuthi paarkum
On that day, your eyes will draw and admire
Ilamai kolangal
the vibrant patterns of youth.
Inimel sorganthaan
From now on, it is pure heaven,
Adhu nam pakkanthaan
and it is right on our side!
Inainthae pudhupaadal
Together, a brand new song
Isaipom kuyilae
let us sing, my cuckoo!
Butterfly butterfly
Butterfly, butterfly
Anbae oh butterfly butterfly
Oh my love, oh butterfly, butterfly
Anaigal thaandi alaigal paayum
Crashing past dams, waves rush forth—
Nadhigal allavaa
are they not rivers?
Thunivu ennum thunayai kondu
With courage as our companion,
Vithiyai vellavaa
shall we conquer fate?
Ingu inimai paathi
Here, half is sweetness
Kodumai paathi
and half is bitter hardship
Manithar vaazhvilae
in human life.
Endrum mazhaiyum thondrum
Rain always appears,
Veyilum thondrum
and sunshine appears too
Nediya vaanilae
in the vast sky.
Kalangum kannenna
Why these troubled eyes?
Mayangum nenjenna
Why this swooning heart?
Ninaithaal niraiverum
If we hold faith in our thoughts,
Thirunaal varalaam
the auspicious day shall arrive!
Butterfly butterfly
Butterfly, butterfly
Anbae oh butterfly butterfly
Oh my love, oh butterfly, butterfly
Nee enakkorr kuzhanthai
You are like a child to me
Anbae oh butterfly butterfly
Oh my love, oh butterfly, butterfly
Nee enakkorr kuzhanthai
You are like a child to me
Madiyil naan unai thaangi padipenae
Holding you in my lap, I will cradle you and read
Puthithaai… inithaai kavithai
a poem, newly and sweetly written.
Anbae oh butterfly butterfly..
Oh my love, oh butterfly, butterfly..
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Oh Butterfly Butterfly is an affectionate romantic song where the speaker tenderly compares his beloved to a delicate butterfly and an innocent child. He promises to cherish and protect her, offering comfort and warmth while reciting soothing poetry to her. The song captures a blend of deep empathy, gentle affection, and boundless optimism. Through vivid imagery of changing seasons, passing clouds, and rivers breaking barriers, the lyrics reflect on the duality of human life—where sorrow accompanies joy, and sunshine follows rain. The song serves as a gentle reminder to remain courageous against fate, reassuring the beloved that brighter, heavenly days lie ahead when they face life together.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Nee enakkorr kuzhanthai”
Compares the beloved directly to an innocent child ('kuzhanthai') to highlight tender affection and innocence.
Muran (Antithesis)
“Ingu inimai paathi / Kodumai paathi”
Contrasts 'inimai' (sweetness) and 'kodumai' (bitterness/hardship) to portray the natural balance of life.
Imagery
“Ilai uthirntha pinbu / Meendum pookum vasantha kaalangal”
Uses seasonal imagery of shedding leaves and spring blossoming to symbolize renewal and hope after hardship.
Iyaipu (Rhyming end words)
“Kalangum kannenna / Mayangum nenjenna”
Both lines end with the rhyming rhythmic pattern '-enna'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Oh Butterfly is a timeless hit from the 1992 film Meera, directed by renowned cinematographer PC Sreeram. Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vaali, the track famously features vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam alongside legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle for the Hindi/Tamil crossover feel.
Keep listening
More from Meera
Meera
Meera
Meera
Meera
Meera
Meera