Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oothukkuli Naathuthan

From Sivan · 1999

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Gopal Sharma, Devi
Music director
Adithyan
Details
Sivan1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ooththukkuli naaththuthaanShe is a fresh young seedling from Uthukuli
Oosi kuththum kaaththuthaanThe wind pricks sharp like needles
Samanjathiva neththuthaanShe came of age just yesterday
Saayanthiram kooththuthaanThis evening is a lively celebration
Male : Haei thaali tharum munnaeMale: Hey, before tying the sacred thali thread
Adi pennae intha vegam koodaatheHey girl, this haste is not right!
Female
Kaattividu thaavani pachchakodithaanShow the green light signal with your half-saree
Raaththiriyil niththam niththam kuchchupudithaanEvery night is a playful stick dance!
Male : Aasaialai nenjukkullae konam padhukkuMale: A wave of desire lies hidden in a corner of the heart
Aambalaikkum achcham madam naanam irukkuEven a man possesses fear, modesty, and shyness!
Female
Ooththukkuli naaththuthaanShe is a fresh young seedling from Uthukuli
Male :OohoMale: Ooho
Female :Oosi kuththum kaaththuthaanFemale: The wind pricks sharp like needles
Male :AahaanMale: Ahaan
Female :Samanjathiva neththuthaanFemale: She came of age just yesterday
Male :OiMale: Oi
Female :Saayanthiram kooththuthaanFemale: This evening is a lively celebration
Male
……………….
Female
Pombala vaasam ariyaathuA woman's charm remains unmatched
Ada aambala vaazhnthu payam yaedhuHey, what is there for a man to fear in life?
Male :Ippadi ennai seendaathae neeMale: Do not tease me like this
Ragasiya maggudi oodhaatheDo not play your secret snake-charmer pipe
Female
Saela saayam vaettiyil yaeraFor the saree's dye to rub onto the dhoti
Saernthu thovaippom vaa mamaCome uncle, let us wash them together
Male :Kenda meenu kokka paarkkaMale: Should the carp fish come ashore
Karaikku yaeri varalaamaaJust to seek out the heron?
Female :Ponna paaththuFemale: Looking at a girl,
Aanmai enna vetkkapadalaamaaShould manhood feel so shy?
Male
Aasaialai nenjukkullae konam padhukkuA wave of desire lies hidden in a corner of the heart
Aambalaikkum achcham madam naanam irukkuEven a man possesses fear, modesty, and shyness!
Female :Kaattividu thaavani pachchakodithaanFemale: Show the green light signal with your half-saree!
Raaththiriyil niththam niththam kuchchupudithaanEvery night is a playful stick dance!
Female
Ooththukkuli naaththuthaanShe is a fresh young seedling from Uthukuli
Oosi kuththum kaaththuthaanThe wind pricks sharp like needles
Samanjathiva neththuthaanShe came of age just yesterday
Saayanthiram kooththuthaanThis evening is a lively celebration
Male
……………….
Female
Poovula vaasam thoonggaathuThe fragrance inside a flower does not sleep
Ilam pennukku aasa thaangaathuA young woman's desire cannot be contained
Male :Naan onnum saivam kidaiyaathuMale: I am no meek vegetarian!
Naan nadichchuthu unakku puriyaathuYou do not realize that I am only acting
Female
Bhoomi thaanaa thirakkumpothuWhen the earth opens up on its own
Pudhaiyal edukka koodaathaaShould one not dig up the buried treasure?
Male :Haei maman meesai kuththumpothuMale: Hey, when uncle's mustache pricks,
Kannum saayam poosaathaaWon't the eyes get smeared with makeup?
Female :Mothi paarppom poovaa thalaiyaaFemale: Let us duel, heads or tails?
Podu ippozhuthaeFlips it right now!
Male
Pottathenna suththi vanthu sokkupodithaanWhat mesmerizing powder did you sprinkle around?
Aambalaikku aththanaiyum aththupadithaanA man knows all of these tricks by heart!
Female :Kaattividu thaavani pachchakodithaanFemale: Show the green light signal with your half-saree!
Raaththiriyil niththam niththam kuchchupudithaanEvery night is a playful stick dance!
Female
Ooththukkuli naaththuthaanShe is a fresh young seedling from Uthukuli
Male :AahaanMale: Ahaan
Female :Oosi kuththum kaaththuthaanFemale: The wind pricks sharp like needles
Male :OohoMale: Ooho
Female :Samanjathiva neththuthaanFemale: She came of age just yesterday
Male :OiMale: Oi
Female :Saayanthiram kooththuthaanFemale: This evening is a lively celebration
Male :Haei thaali tharum munnaeMale: Hey, before tying the sacred thali thread
Adi pennae intha vegam koodaatheHey girl, this haste is not right!
Female
Kaattividu thaavani pachchakodithaanShow the green light signal with your half-saree
Raaththiriyil niththam niththam kuchchupudithaanEvery night is a playful stick dance!
Male :Pottathenna suththi vanthu sokkupodithaanMale: What mesmerizing powder did you sprinkle around?
Aambalaikku aththanaiyum aththupadithaanA man knows all of these tricks by heart!
Female
Ooththukkuli naaththuthaanShe is a fresh young seedling from Uthukuli
Male :Ooho….Male: Ooho…
Female :Oosi kuththum kaaththuthaanFemale: The wind pricks sharp like needles
Male :AahaahMale: Aahaah
Female :Samanjathiva neththuthaanFemale: She came of age just yesterday
Male :OiMale: Oi
Female :Saayanthiram kooththuthaanFemale: This evening is a lively celebration
Male :Adi thooluMale: Hey, fantastic!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a playful, high-energy rural duet featuring teasing banter between two lovers. The female protagonist expresses her youthful exuberance, passion, and impatience to unite with her beloved, playfully challenging his perceived shyness and restraint. She uses green-flag signals and playful metaphors to entice him into dropping his reservations. The male protagonist responds with equal wit, asserting that his bashfulness is merely an act of self-control until they are officially married with a sacred thali. He metaphorically compares her affection to a hidden treasure and enticingly reassures her that a man knows all the moves of romance when the right moment arrives. Written by Vaali, the song captures the essence of traditional village romance filled with folk rhythms, clever double entendres, and vibrant teasing.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (Rhyming end words)

Ooththukkuli naaththuthaan / Oosi kuththum kaaththuthaan / Samanjathiva neththuthaan / Saayanthiram kooththuthaan

The lines end with the rhyming suffix '-thaan' ('naaththuthaan', 'kaaththuthaan', 'neththuthaan', 'kooththuthaan'), giving the refrain a rhythmic folk bounce.

Metaphor

Ooththukkuli naaththuthaan

Compares the heroine to a fresh agricultural seedling ('naaththu') from the fertile region of Uthukuli, symbolizing youthfulness and beauty.

Metaphor

Kaattividu thaavani pachchakodithaan

Uses the green half-saree ('thaavani') as a metaphor for a green flag ('pachchakodi'), signaling permission to proceed in love.

Metaphor

Kenda meenu kokka paarkka karaikku yaeri varalaamaa

Metaphorically compares the girl to a carp fish coming out to the bank to look for the heron, teasingly pointing out her eagerness.

Monai (Initial Rhyme)

Aasaialai nenjukkullae konam padhukku / Aambalaikkum achcham madam naanam irukku

Initial vowel sound 'Aa' aligns at the start of both consecutive lines ('Aasaialai' and 'Aambalaikkum').

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie 'Sivan' (1999) stars Napoleon and Ravali, with music composed by 'Thenisai Thendral' Deva and lyrics authored by the legendary poet Vaali. Vaali is famous for integrating regional rural slang (such as 'Uthukuli', 'kuchchupudi', and 'sokkupodi') with engaging folk metaphors to create infectious duet numbers.

Keep listening

More from Sivan