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Lyrics & meaning

Aavaram Poovathan

From Aval Mella Sirithal · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
Aval Mella Sirithal1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aavaram poovathaan anaikaadha kaathuthaanThe Tanner's Cassia flower and the breeze that does not embrace...
Irundhenna laabamoo un pola thaanWhat is the use of them existing, just like you?
Female
Aavaram poovathaan anaikaadha kaathuthaanThe Tanner's Cassia flower and the breeze that does not embrace...
Irundhenna laabamoo un pola thaanWhat is the use of them existing, just like you?
Aavaram poovathaan anaikaadha kaathuthaanThe Tanner's Cassia flower and the breeze that does not embrace...
Irundhenna laabamoo un pola thaanWhat is the use of them existing, just like you?
Female
Thazhuvaadha kaigalil thavazhadha maanganiA ripe mango that doesn't crawl into un-embracing hands,
Ival pol yenguthae inneramaeYearns at this moment just like her.
Thazhuvaadha kaigalil thavazhadha maanganiA ripe mango that doesn't crawl into un-embracing hands,
Ival pol yenguthae inneramaeYearns at this moment just like her.
Female
Thavikindra kaadhali thaniyaga yenginaalThe suffering lover yearns all alone,
Pasi thaagam indriyae thoongaamal thoonginaalWithout hunger or thirst, she sleeps a sleepless sleep.
Megam nilaavai ooyaamal koodumClouds gather endlessly around the moon,
Mogam vidaamal aadaamal aadum…. aadumUnceasing passion dances without dancing... dances.
Female
Aavaram poovathaan anaikaadha kaathuthaanThe Tanner's Cassia flower and the breeze that does not embrace...
Irundhenna laabamoo un pola thaanWhat is the use of them existing, just like you?
Female
Urangaamal en vizhi unai thaedi poguthaeWithout sleeping, my eyes go searching for you,
Unarvendra vaedhanai enai vattudhaeThe agony of intense feelings torments me.
Urangaamal en vizhi unai thaedi poguthaeWithout sleeping, my eyes go searching for you,
Unarvendra vaedhanai enai vattudhaeThe agony of intense feelings torments me.
Female
Unakkaaga poothaval oru kaadhal paingiliThe one who bloomed for you is a sweet love-bird,
Thaeyaamal thaeindhadhae aval pesum thaen mozhiHer honeyed speech wore down without wearing away.
Seraadha aaru kadal sera vendumThe unmerged river must join the sea,
Nee serum kaadhal neengaatha mogam… paadumThe love that joins you sings an everlasting desire...
Female
Aavaram poovathaan anaikaadha kaathuthaanThe Tanner's Cassia flower and the breeze that does not embrace...
Irundhenna laabamoo un pola thaanWhat is the use of them existing, just like you?
Aavaram poovathaan anaikaadha kaathuthaanThe Tanner's Cassia flower and the breeze that does not embrace...
Irundhenna laabamoo un pola thaanWhat is the use of them existing, just like you?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Aavaram Poovathaan is a melancholic romantic song from the film Aval Mella Sirithal (1988), penned by Gangai Amaran. The lyrics express a woman's deep agony and intense longing for her lover's physical and emotional presence. She questions the worth of her lover's existence if he remains distant, comparing him to a flower that gives no pleasure or a breeze that fails to touch her. The song portrays her restlessness, sleeplessness, and complete loss of appetite due to love sickness. Using natural metaphors like clouds surrounding the moon and a river yearning to meet the sea, the lyricist highlights the inescapable pull of love and the heroine's desperate wish to unite with her beloved.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Aavaram poovathaan anaikaadha kaathuthaan / Irundhenna laabamoo un pola thaan

Compares the lover's emotionally distant existence to an un-embracing wind or an untouched flower.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Unakkaaga poothaval oru kaadhal paingili

Metaphorically describes the heroine as a sweet bird ('paingili') that has bloomed solely for her beloved.

Paradox / Oxymoron

Pasi thaagam indriyae thoongaamal thoonginaal

Uses the paradoxical phrase 'thoongaamal thoonginaal' (slept without sleeping) to capture the restless state of insomnia caused by heartache.

Alliteration (Moni / Yethugai)

Thazhuvaadha kaigalil thavazhadha maangani

Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('Th') across words to create rhythm.

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Trivia

The song uses the 'Aavaram' flower (Cassia auriculata) as a motif, which traditionally symbolizes rural beauty and natural charm in Tamil romantic poetry.

Keep listening

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