This sweet love song from the movie Gentleman in the 1990s is one of A.R. Rahman’s lesser known gems. It has a fresh, innocent, morning feel to it even though the lyrics are more explicit than many other Tamil songs of that time. There are some parts which I am doubtful about, which I have marked with a (?), so feel free to leave a comment if you can add to it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwlGH-prXmc
**en veetu thoattathil poovellam kaettuppaar
en veetu jannal kambi ellaamae kaettuppaar
en veetu thennangeetrai ippoadhae kaettuppaar
en nenjaich chollumae (x2)
**
Ask all the flowers in my garden
Ask all the bars on my windows
Ask the (?) of my house right now
And they will tell you about my heart
**vaayp paattup paadum pennae mounangal koodaadhu
vaayp poottuch chattam ellaam pennukku aagaadhu
vandellaam saththam poattaal poonjoalai thaangaadhu
mottukkal saththam poattaal vandukkae kaekaadhu
aadikku pinnaalae kaavaeri thaangaadhu
aadaana pinnaalae allippoo moodaadhu
aasai thudikkinradhae**
Oh the girl who sings, you must never be silent
All the sounds your mouth makes is not good for a woman (?)
If all the bees make noise, the flowering plant can’t take it(?)
If the buds make noises, the bees wouldn’t hear it
The river Kaveri won’t be stopped by dams
After the flower has bloomed, it won’t close up again
Desire is suffering!
**un veetu thoattathil poovellam kaettuppaar
un veetu jannal kambi ellaamae kaettuppaar
un veetu thennangeetrai ovvonraaik kaettuppaar
en paerai chollumae**
Ask all the flowers in your garden
Ask all the bars on your windows
Ask each of the (?) of your house
They will say my name
**sollukkum theriyaamal sollaththaan vandhaenae
sollukkul arththam poalae sollaamal ninraenae
sollukkum arththathukkum dhoorangal kidaiyaadhu
sollaadha kaadhal ellaam sorggaththil saeraadhu
ennikkai theerndhaalum muththangal theeraadhu
ennikkai paarththaalae muththangal aagaadhu
mmm…anubhavamoa**
Without knowing what to say I came to speak
Just like the meaning of what I wanted to say, I too stopped without speaking
There is not much distance between speech and meaning
Not all the unspoken loves meet in heaven
Even if I stop, my kisses won’t(?)
Mere kisses aren’t enough
Hmm, speaking from experience? 😉
**(en veetu)
(un veetu)**