- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. Janaki, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Selvi
- Movie release year
- 1985
- Lyrics added on
- 3 Feb 2019
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Haei
Female :Uhum uhum
Male :Haei
Female :Uhum uhum
Haa
Female :Ahaa ahaa
Male :Haa
Female :Ahaa ahaa
Male :Ho
Female :Yehe yehe hae
Male :Ahahaa haa
Female :Oho oho
Male :Haa
Female :Ahaa ahaa
Male :Haa
Female :Ahaa ahaa
Both :Aha aha aa… aa…
Onnae onnu
Female :Uhum uhum
Male :Kannae kannu
Female :Aaha Aaha
Male :M… onnae onnu
Female :Uhum uhum
Male :Kannae kannu
Female :Maatten maatten
Kanni kuyilae… ae…
Female :Ae…
Kanni kuyilae
Pathu tharam paathenae
Pathaama thaan kettenae
Onnae onnu
Female :Ahahaa ahahaa
Male :Kannae kannu
Female :Maatten maatten
Kara thottu kaaviri aaru
Kadha solli konjudhu paaru
Medhuvaa medhuvaa
Aa… kila vitta maangani melae
Kili vandhu kothura vela
Idhu thaan idhu thaan
Aa… pasum pullin madiyin melae
Paniyaalae paaya pottu
Aa… padukkaadho vaazha keethu
Padikkaadho kaadhal paattu
Vaalibam vaattudhu
Female :Aaha aaha aa…
Male :Velaiya kaattudhu
Female :Mm… mm… hmm…mm
Male :Adiyae adiyae unakkum
Naan anaichaa porakkum mayakkam
Onnae onnu
Female :Ahahaa….
Male :Kannae kannu
Female :Maatten maatten
Male :Haa….aaa….aa….
Maram kothi paravaiya pola
Manam kothi ponavan kooda
Varavaa varavaa
Aa… mudhal mutham
Naan thara venum
Badhil mutham nee thara venum
Tharavaa tharavaa
Aa… ariyaadha chinna ponnu
Valaraadha vaazha kannu
Aa… adhanaala kutham illa
Theriyaatti kelu pulla
Aasa thaan thaakkudhaa
Male :Aamaa aamaa aamaa aamaa
Female :Sodi thaan kekkudhaa
Male :Aahaa aahaa aiyo aiyo
Female :Adhu thaan adhu thaan theriyum
Nee valanjaa nelinjaa puriyum
Onnae onnu
Female :M… hum
Male :Kannae kannu
Female :Aa haa
Male :Kanni kuyilae… haa…
Female :Ae…
Male :Kanni kuyilae pathu tharam
Female :Aahaa haa
Male :Pathaama thaan
Female :Mhu hum
Male :Onnae onnu
Female :Haha hahaa
Male :Kannae kannu
Female :Maatten maatten
Male :Hmm hmm hmmm mmm
Hey!
Female: Uh-uh, uh-uh
Male: Hey!
Female: Uh-uh, uh-uh
Ha!
Female: Aaha, aaha
Male: Ha!
Female: Aaha, aaha
Male: Ho!
Female: Yehe, yehe, hey!
Male: Ahaha ha!
Female: Oho, oho
Male: Ha!
Female: Aaha, aaha
Male: Ha!
Female: Aaha, aaha
Both: Aha aha aa… aa…
Just one...
Female: Uh-uh, uh-uh
Male: My precious darling...
Female: Aaha, aaha
Male: Mmm... just one!
Female: Uh-uh, uh-uh
Male: My precious darling...
Female: No, I won't!
Sweet cuckoo bird... hey...
Female: Hey...
Sweet cuckoo bird...
I have looked at you ten times,
Still not satisfied, I asked:
Just one!
Female: Ahaha, ahaha
Male: My precious darling...
Female: No, I won't!
Touching its banks, the Kaveri river
Whispers stories and shows love, look!
Gently, so gently...
Ah... on the mango fruit on the branch,
When the parrot comes to peck,
This is that moment, this is it!
Ah... upon the lap of lush green grass,
Spreading a mat made of dew,
Ah... won't the banana leaf lie down?
Won't it sing a song of love?
Youth is tormenting me,
Female: Aaha aaha aa...
Male: It is playing its tricks!
Female: Mmm... mmm... hmmm... mm
Male: Hey girl, you too,
When I hold you close, sweet dizziness will bloom!
Just one!
Female: Ahaha...
Male: My precious darling...
Female: No, I won't!
Male: Haa... aaaa... aa...
Like a woodpecker bird,
With the one who pecked and stole my heart,
Shall I come along, shall I?
Ah... a first kiss,
I should give,
And a kiss in return, you must give!
Shall I give it, shall I?
Ah... an innocent young girl,
A tender, growing banana sapling...
Ah... so there is no fault in that;
If you don't know, just ask me, girl!
Is desire stirring in you?
Male: Yes, yes, yes, yes!
Female: Is it asking for a partner?
Male: Aaha aaha, oh yes, oh yes!
Female: I know it, that is what it is!
When you twist and squirm, I understand!
Just one!
Female: Mmm... hum
Male: My precious darling...
Female: Aa ha!
Male: Sweet cuckoo bird... ha!
Female: Hey...
Male: Sweet cuckoo bird, ten times...
Female: Aaha ha!
Male: Still not enough...
Female: Mhu hum!
Male: Just one!
Female: Haha haha!
Male: My precious darling...
Female: No, I won't!
Male: Hmmm hmmm hmmmm mmm...
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Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song is a playful, romantic duet between two lovers expressing their blossoming affection through lighthearted teasing and natural metaphors. The male lead persistent asks for a single kiss or sign of affection, addressing his beloved as a sweet cuckoo, while the female lead playfully feigns hesitation before yielding to the romantic mood.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Onnae onnu / Kannae kannu”
The second consonant 'n' (ன்) matches between 'Onnae' and 'Kannae', creating rhythm.
Monai (First-letter Alliteration)
“Maram kothi paravaiya pola / Manam kothi ponavan kooda”
The starting letter 'Ma' (ம) is repeated in both lines.
Simile (Upamai)
“Maram kothi paravaiya pola”
Compares the lover who captured the heart to a woodpecker pecking wood.
Personification
“Kara thottu kaaviri aaru / Kadha solli konjudhu paaru”
The Kaveri river is personified as caressing its banks and telling stories.
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyrics were penned by the veteran lyricist Vaali for the 1985 movie 'Selvi'. Vaali is known for weaving rich imagery from nature into intimate, playful duets.
Keep listening
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Ennai Thottu Allikonda1992
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Kandupidi Neethaan1993
Ulle VeliyeAttractionCourtship
Kumari Pennin Ullathile1965
Enga Veettu PillaiCourtshipPlayful Romance
Annakili Unna Theduthe Female1976
AnnakiliNatureTender
O Maina O Maina1971
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