Song Details
Song: Ariyathe Ariyathe from Ravana Prabhu (2001)
Lyrics: Gireesh Puthencherry
Music: Suresh Peters
Playback: Chithra, Jayachandran
Filmed on: Mohanlal, Vasundara Das
Ariyathe Ariyathe Song from Ravana Prabhu – Lyrics in English with Translation
Ariyathe ariyathe
Ee pavizha vaarthinkalariyaathe
Without letting know this crescent moon,
Ariyathe ariyathe
Ee pavizha vaarthinkalariyaathe
Without letting know this crescent moon,
Alayaan vaa aliyaan vaa
Ee pranaya thalpathilamaraan vaa (F)
Let’s elope
Let’s melt into each other
Let’s sink in this dune of sand & make love
Ithoramara gandarva yaamam
Ithoranagha sangeetha sallaapam
This is an undying Gandharva *Yamam (time at midnight),
An endless musical conversation
Ala njoriyumashaada theeram
Athilamruthu peyyumee ezhaam yaamam
Waves drape in *Ashadam (a month) shore
And the 7th *Yamam pours elixir in it
Ariyathe ariyathe ee
Pavizha vaarthinkalariyaathe
Without letting know this crescent moon,
Alayaan vaa aliyaan vaa
Ee pranaya thalpathilamaraan vaa (M)
Let’s elope
Let’s melt into each other
Let’s sink in this dune of sand & make love
Neela shylangal nertha manjaale
Ninne moodunnovo (F)
Are these blue mountains
Wrapping you as white flakes of snow?
Rajahamsangal ninte paattinte
Vennayunnunnuvo
Are these royal swans
Feeding the butter of your song?
Pakuthi pookkunna paarijaathangal
Praavu pol nenjilamarunnu
These half-bloomed Parijat (flowers)
Press into my heart like doves of love
Kuruki nilkkunna ninte youvvanam
Rudhra veenayaay paadunnu (M)
The strong essence of your youth
Sings as Rudra veena (a unique type of string instrument)
Nee devasilpamaay unarunnu
You wake up as an idol
Ithoramara gandarva yaamam
Ithoranagha sangeetha sallaapam
This is an undying Gandharva *Yamam (time at midnight),
An endless musical conversation
Ala njoriyumashaada theeram
Athilamruthu peyyumee ezhaam yaamam
Waves drape in *Ashadam (a month) shore
And the 7th *Yamam pours elixir in it
Ariyathe ariyathe ee
Pavizha vaarthinkalariyaathe
Without letting know this crescent moon,
Alayaan vaa aliyaan vaa
Ee pranaya thalpathilamaraan vaa (F)
Let’s elope
Let’s melt into each other
Let’s sink in this dune of sand & make love
Vaarmridhangaadhi vaadhya vrindangal
Vaaniluyarunnuvo (M)
As you feast upon this mridanga
The sky is lit up with an orchestra of instruments
Swarna kasthoori kanaka kalabhangal
Kaatiluthirunnuvo (F)
The Golden Kasturi and the –
Golden *Kalabham are dispersed in the air
Ariya maanpeda pole neeyente
Arikil vannonnu nilkkumbol
When you come & stand next to me
Like a beautiful little deer,
Mazhayilaadunna devathaarangal
Manthra melaappu meyyumbol
Like a divine star dancing in the rain
Dancing to the chants that I enchant
Nee vanavalaakayaay paadunnu (M)
You sing as the *vanavalaaka bird of forests
Ithoramara gandarva yaamam
Ithoranagha sangeetha sallaapam
This is an undying Gandharva *Yamam (time at midnight),
An endless musical conversation
Ala njoriyumashaada theeram
Athilamruthu peyyumee ezhaam yaamam (F)
Waves drape in *Ashadam (a month) shore
And the 7th *Yamam pours elixir in it
Ariyathe ariyathe ee
Pavizha vaarthinkalariyaathe (M)
Without letting know this crescent moon,
Alayaan vaa aliyaan vaa
Ee pranaya thalpathilamaraan vaa (F)
Let’s elope
Let’s melt into each other
Let’s sink in this dune of sand & make love
What is vanavalaaka?
*vanavalaaka – A white bird similar to swan in Puranas is valaaka or valaakam, seen in forests. Ace Malayalam lyricists of 1990s used to include such rare words in their lyrics, to add more poetic beauty to their lines. Lyricists like Kaithapram and Gireesh Puthencherry excelled in this technique. That’s why most of their songs written in the 1990s and early 2000s stand as evergreen.
*Kalabham – This is an essential powder-like item used in Hindu worship, and is black in colour. But the lyricist takes poetic liberty and gives it golden colour. Kalabham has another meaning in Malayalam too. It’s ‘Elephant’ which symbolizes black.
Interesting facts about the song
Honours received
The Ariyathe Ariyathe song is widely regarded as one of the best romantic duets of P. Jayachandran, during his second innings. The film was a blockbuster and this song was an instant chartbuster, attracting the youth. Though Vasundhara Das is a versatile singer, she didn’t sing even a single song for this film, and ‘Ariyaathe Ariyaathe’ track was recorded in Chithra’s voice. Jayachandran received Best Male Playback Singer at Asianet Film Awards and Suresh Peters received Best Music Director (Malayalam) award at Filmfare.
Aakasha Deepagal Sakshi – Yet another sad melody from the same album won two state awards; Yesudas for rendition and Gireesh Puthencherry for best lyrics.
Pardesiya Mashups of 2025
Ariyathe Ariyathe found a fresh wave of popularity in recent years through social media mashups. In 2025, extremely popular melodious track of Bollywood film, Param Sundari – Pardesiya sung by Sonu Nigam was blended with classic A.R. Rahman songs of 1990s and a few more popular tracks. Due to its strong nostalgic ’90s vibe and Raag Darbari influences, these mashups became an instant hit.
A few North-South cinema mashup featured this romantic track from Ravanaprabhu too, and needless to say, both tunes blended perfectly. These mashups are mostly fan-created, but it definitely brought this song to spotlight after 2 decades of release. Even GenZ kids are addicted to it. These two mashups are refreshing – cover versions by Malayalis – Parvathi Meenakshi and Saam Shameer.
An interesting fact to add – A signature tune from the title track of Mohanlal starrer Naran (2005) and a musical piece of Pardesiya song looks very similar. It’s weird to think, the music composer drew inspirations from this song. Possible, base raga of both tunes are same. You can read Param Sundari Roast here, and get more details about the song towards the end of the post.
Ariyathe Ariyathe – Another popular Chithra song of 1980s
As we say, ‘same same but different’, there is a popular & nostalgic solo from 1980s with same beginning line – Ariyathe Ariyathe Ennile Ennil Nee song from Oru Kadha Oru Nuna Kadha. This song was also sung by Chithra. You can read lyrics and translation here.
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