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Isaimozhi
Enkitta Mothathe album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Onnodu Rendunnu

From Enkitta Mothathe · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Enkitta Mothathe
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
2 Aug 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Onnonnum rendu
Chorus :Onnonnum rendu
Female :Rendonnum moonu
Chorus :Rendonnum moonu
Female :Moononnum
Chorus :Naalu
Female :Naalonnum
Chorus :Anju
Female :Anjonnum aaronnum
Ezhonnum ettonnum
Chorus :Hahahahahaha
Onnoda rendunnu
Rendoda moonunnu
Paadam solli tharavaa
Ada onnoda naanunnu
Ennoda neeyinnu
Paasam kondu varavaa
Indha aaramba palliyilae
Paadam aarambam aagattumae
Nalla koottal kanakkugalae
Nenju pottu pazhagattumae
Onnoda rendunnu
Rendoda moonunnu
Paadam solli tharavaa
Ada onnoda naanunnu
Ennoda neeyinnu
Paasam kondu varavaa
Saethu vecha aasaigalai
Chinna chinna vaarthaiyilae
Korthu vechu paattedukka
Kaalam enna neram enna
Naathu vandhu naanam vittu
Naesa karam neetturappo
Kaathu vandhu kai kulukka
Kaalai enna maalai enna
Vanna thirumugam eppozhudhum
Ennathilae nindraada
Unnai ninaikkaiyil yaekkam vandhu
Ullathai pandhaada
Thendral saamaram veesaiyilae
Andha kaamanin baashaiyilae
Onnoda rendunnu
Rendoda moonunnu
Paadam solli tharavaa
Ada onnoda naanunnu
Ennoda neeyinnu
Paasam kondu varavaa
Hmm mm mm hmm mm hmm mm mm
Hmm mm mm hmm mm hmm mm mm
Hmm mm mm hmm
Hmm mm mm hmm
Kaagidhathil ezhudhi vechaa
Sellarichu pogumunnu
Kannukkulla ezhudhi vechen
Kaadhal ennum kaaviyatha
Thandhanannaa thandhana
Naanaanaa thandhanannaa
Vaayai vittu veliya sonnaa
Oorariya koodumunnu
Ullathila pootti vachen
Unnudaiya nyaabagatha
Chinnanjiru kuyil mogam vara
Ingoru pann paada
Thannanthanimaiyil dhaagam vara
En iru kann vaada
Mandhamaarudham veesaiyilae
Indha maamara cholaiylae
Onnoda rendunnu
Rendoda moonunnu
Paadam solli tharavaa
Ada onnoda naanunnu
Ennoda neeyinnu
Paasam kondu varavaa
Indha aaramba palliyilae
Paadam aarambam aagattumae
Nalla koottal kanakkugalae
Nenju pottu pazhagattumae
Onnoda rendunnu
Rendoda moonunnu
Paadam solli tharavaa
Ada onnoda naanunnu
Ennoda neeyinnu
Paasam kondu varavaa
One and one is two
Chorus: One and one is two
Female: Two and one is three
Chorus: Two and one is three
Female: Three and one is...
Chorus: Four
Female: Four and one is...
Chorus: Five
Female: Five and one, six and one...
Seven and one, eight and one...
Chorus: Hahahaha
Counting one plus two,
And two plus three,
Shall I teach you a lesson?
Saying I am with you,
And you are with me,
Shall I bring love to you?
In this elementary school,
Let the lessons begin!
With sweet addition sums,
Let our hearts learn to practice!
Counting one plus two,
And two plus three,
Shall I teach you a lesson?
Saying I am with you,
And you are with me,
Shall I bring love to you?
All the desires I have gathered,
In simple, little words,
To weave into a song—
Does the time or hour matter?
When the young crop casts off its shyness
And reaches out a loving hand,
And the wind comes to shake hands,
Does morning or evening matter?
When your charming, glowing face
Always dances in my thoughts,
When thinking of you brings a longing
That tosses my heart like a ball,
As the gentle breeze fans us,
In the language of Kama (the god of love)...
Counting one plus two,
And two plus three,
Shall I teach you a lesson?
Saying I am with you,
And you are with me,
Shall I bring love to you?
Hmm mm mm hmm mm hmm mm mm
Hmm mm mm hmm mm hmm mm mm
Hmm mm mm hmm
Hmm mm mm hmm
Fearing that if written on paper,
Termites might eat it away,
I wrote it inside my eyes—
This grand epic called love!
Thanthananna thanthana
Naanaanaa thanthanannaa
Fearing that if spoken aloud,
The whole town might find out,
I locked it away in my heart—
Every sweet memory of you!
As desire stirs in the little cuckoo
To sing a melody right here,
As longing thirst rises in my loneliness,
Making my two eyes fade with yearning,
While a soft breeze blows
Inside this mango grove...
Counting one plus two,
And two plus three,
Shall I teach you a lesson?
Saying I am with you,
And you are with me,
Shall I bring love to you?
In this elementary school,
Let the lessons begin!
With sweet addition sums,
Let our hearts learn to practice!
Counting one plus two,
And two plus three,
Shall I teach you a lesson?
Saying I am with you,
And you are with me,
Shall I bring love to you?
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song is a playful, romantic track that cleverly uses basic elementary arithmetic as a metaphor for love, bonding, and emotional union. It opens with simple counting rhymes ('one plus one is two'), framing the blooming relationship as an introductory lesson in love where one soul adds to another to create togetherness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

Indha aaramba palliyilae / Paadam aarambam aagattumae

The concept of entering elementary school is used as a metaphor for embarking on a new journey of love and learning to be together.

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

Kannukkulla ezhudhi vechen / Kaadhal ennum kaaviyatha

Love is metaphorically described as an epic poem written inside the eyes to keep it safe from decay or termites.

Personification / Dynamic Imagery

Unnai ninaikkaiyil yaekkam vandhu / Ullathai pandhaada

Longing is personified as a playful force that tosses and plays ball with the lover's heart.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Kaagidhathil ezhudhi vechaa / Kannukkulla ezhudhi vechen

Repetition of the 'Ka' sound at the beginning of consecutive lines creates a rhythmic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the iconic lyricist Vaali for the 1990 movie 'Enkitta Mothathe', this song stands out for transforming elementary school counting rhymes ('Onnonnum rendu') into a lighthearted and catchy romantic duet. The film's music was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja.

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