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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aathoram Poonthoppu

From Adhikari · 1991

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
Adhikari1991

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aathoram poonthoppuFlower garden by the riverbank
Female :O o oFemale: Oh oh oh
Male :Adha thaandi maanthoppuMale: Beyond that is the mango grove
Female :O o o  o o oFemale: Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Female
Aathoram poonthoppuFlower garden by the riverbank
Adha thaandi maanthoppuBeyond that is the mango grove
Maanthoppil paai pottuSpreading a mat in the mango grove
Maravaaga thaalaattuLullaby without forgetting
Male
Thaalaattu nee kaettuListening to that lullaby
Dhigttaadha thaenoottuFeed the honey that never palls
Thaenootta thaenottaAs honey is fed and tasted
Sudhi yerum empaattuOur song rises in pitch and mood
Female
Aathoram poonthoppuFlower garden by the riverbank
Adha thaandi maanthoppuBeyond that is the mango grove
Male :Hae hae haeMale: Hey hey hey
Maanthoppil paai pottuSpreading a mat in the mango grove
Maravaaga thaalaattuLullaby without forgetting
Female
Oththaiyil thaan naanum veghu naalaBeing all alone for a long time
Ullara vendhu thavichenI suffered and yearned from deep within
Male
Vithagalathaan kaatta mudiyaamaUnable to showcase my playful skills
Unnaattam naanum thudichenI throbbed in longing just like you
Female
Eecham paai onnu virikka solliAsking to spread a date-palm mat
Rombha paduthuriyeYou trouble and tease me so much
Eera saelaya pola enniTreating me like a wet saree
Ennai pizhiyariyaeYou are wringing me out completely
Male
Adi neram kaalam paathaHey, if we wait for auspicious timing
Thaangidaathu aathaaIt will be unbearable, my girl
Naan oottuven kattuvenI will feed you, embrace you, and cuddle
Muttuven othukidanumYou must accept and yield to it
Female
Aathoram poonthoppuFlower garden by the riverbank
Adha thaandi maanthoppuBeyond that is the mango grove
Male :Maanthoppil paai pottuMale: Spreading a mat in the mango grove
Maravaaga thaalaattuLullaby without forgetting
Female
Aathoram poonthoppuFlower garden by the riverbank
Adha thaandi maanthoppu..o o oBeyond that is the mango grove.. oh oh oh
Male
Onnukkonnu thaan pesi usupaadheDon't incite me by talking back and forth
Undaachu kilukiluppuA playful excitement has blossomed
Female
Unna polathaan naanum uravaadaJust like you, to indulge in romance
Vandhaachu surusuruppuVigor and energy have arrived
Male
Adi yaarenna kekkuradhuHey, who is going to question us
Ingu koothadichaaIf we celebrate and make merry here?
Nenjil aanandha oothu varumA spring of joy will flow in the heart
Unna saethanachaaIf I embrace you tightly to myself
Female
Idhu kaipadatha pinjuThis is a tender fruit untouched by hand
Paathu paathu konjuCaress and cuddle it gently with care
Nee allinaa vegamaa killinaaIf you grab me tightly or pinch quickly
Maeni valikkumMy delicate body will hurt
Male
Aathoram poonthoppu..o o oFlower garden by the riverbank.. oh oh oh
Female :Adha thaandi maanthoppu..o o oFemale: Beyond that is the mango grove.. oh oh oh
Male
Aathoram poonthoppuFlower garden by the riverbank
Adha thaandi maanthoppuBeyond that is the mango grove
Female :Maanthoppil paai pottuFemale: Spreading a mat in the mango grove
Maravaaga thaalaattuLullaby without forgetting
Male
Thaalaattu nee kaettuListening to that lullaby
Dhigttaadha thaenoottuFeed the honey that never palls
Female :Thaenootta thaenottaFemale: As honey is fed and tasted
Sudhi yerum empaattuOur song rises in pitch and mood
Male
Aathoram poonthoppuFlower garden by the riverbank
Adha thaandi maanthoppuBeyond that is the mango grove
Female :Maanthoppil paai pottuFemale: Spreading a mat in the mango grove
Maravaaga thaalaattuLullaby without forgetting

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful duet features a couple expressing their mutual passion and romantic longing in an idyllic natural setting—a flower garden and mango grove near a river. The male and female leads exchange flirtatious lyrics about waiting too long in solitude and now being overcome with desire. They use vivid folk imagery, such as date-palm mats and wet sarees being wrung out, to convey intimacy, while tenderly cautioning each other to be gentle in their affection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Monosyllabic Second-Letter Rhyme)

Aathoram poonthoppu / Adha thaandi maanthoppu

Matching second letter 'tha' / 'tha' across line beginnings creates rhythmic harmony in 'Aathoram' and 'Adha'.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Undaachu kilukiluppu / Vandhaachu surusuruppu

The lines end with rhyming folk-style words ('kilukiluppu' and 'surusuruppu').

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Eera saelaya pola enni / Ennai pizhiyariyae

Comparing oneself to a wet saree being wrung out to represent overwhelming romantic intensity.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Gangai Amaran for the 1991 Tamil action drama film 'Adhikari' starring Arjun Sarja, the song features classic folk-pop instrumentation characteristic of early 90s Tamil cinema, brought to life by the legendary duo SPB and KS Chithra.

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