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Lyrics & meaning

Aavaram Poovu

From Achamillai Achamillai · 1984

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
V. S. Narasimhan
Details
Achamillai Achamillai1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Hmm mm mmm mmHumming sounds
Haaa….haaa…aaVocalizing sounds
Female
Avaaram poovu aarezhu naalaaThe Tanner's Cassia flower has been waiting for six or seven days
Nee pogum paadhaiyil kaathirukkuOn the path that you walk upon
En nuni mookku yenunga verthirukkuWhy is the tip of my nose sweating, my dear?
Female
Avaaram poovu aarezhu naalaaThe Tanner's Cassia flower has been waiting for six or seven days
Nee pogum paadhaiyil kaathirukkuOn the path that you walk upon
En nuni mookku yenunga verthirukkuWhy is the tip of my nose sweating, my dear?
Female
On perai chollum kaippillaiyeEven a toddler speaks your name
Naan mattum solla vaai vallaiyeYet my mouth lacks the strength to utter it
Nee paakkum pothu thavippaachuI felt a deep yearning whenever you looked at me
Sevvanthi poovum sevappaachuEven the yellow chrysanthemum flower turned red with shyness
Male
Paarvaiyilae kelichaalaeShe captivated me with just her gaze
Puliyan komba pudichaalaeShe held onto a sturdy tamarind branch
Veroda thaan manasa parichaalaeShe completely uprooted and plucked my heart
Male
Aavaram poovu aarezhu naalaThe Tanner's Cassia flower has been waiting for six or seven days
Naan pogum paadhaiyil kaathirukkuOn the path that I walk upon
Un nuni mookku yennunga verthirukkuWhy is the tip of your nose sweating, my dear?
Female
Aavaram poovu aarezhu naalaThe Tanner's Cassia flower has been waiting for six or seven days
Nee pogum paadhaiyil kaathirukkuOn the path that you walk upon
En nuni mookku yennamma verthirukkuWhy is the tip of my nose sweating, my girl?
Male
Un kannu rendum thudikkuthadiBoth of your eyes are twitching with anticipation, my girl
Kalyana melam adikkuthadiThe wedding drums are beating in expectation
Aasaiya nenjil sumanthapadiCarrying deep desires inside her heart
Annaandhu paakkum ilaiya kodiLike a young creeper plant looking up toward the sky
Female
Orangaama thaan umma paathenI stayed awake without sleeping just to watch you
Umakkaaga thaan kanni kaathenI guarded my maidenhood only for your sake
Um madiyaa nenachu thala saachenI rested my head thinking of your lap
Male
Aavaram poovu aarezhu naalaThe Tanner's Cassia flower has been waiting for six or seven days
Naan pogum paadhaiyil kaathirukkuOn the path that I walk upon
Un nuni mookku yennamma verthirukkuWhy is the tip of your nose sweating, my girl?
Female
Aavaram poovu aarezhu naalaThe Tanner's Cassia flower has been waiting for six or seven days
Nee pogum paadhaiyil kaathirukkuOn the path that you walk upon
En nuni mookku yennunga verthirukkuWhy is the tip of my nose sweating, my dear?
Female
Hmmm mmm mmmmHumming sounds
Haaa ..haaa…aaVocalizing sounds

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Avaaram Poovu Aarezhu Naala' is a tender romantic folk duet from the 1984 Tamil movie 'Achamillai Achamillai', directed by K. Balachander with music composed by V. S. Narasimhan. The song depicts the intimate, affectionate banter between two lovers in a rural setting, using vivid imagery of nature, flowers, and folk expressions to convey their bashfulness, yearning, and deep mutual affection. Through metaphors like the blooming yellow Aavaram flower waiting by the pathway and physical signs of nervousness like a sweating nose-tip, lyricist Vairamuthu captures the raw, pure innocence of village romance. The exchange alternates between the heroine expressing her shy hesitation and the hero praising her beauty and passion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaaphora & Ethugai (Rhyme)

Aavaram poovu aarezhu naala

Repetition of initial vowel sounds ('Aa') in 'Aavaram poovu aarezhu naala' creates a rhythmic folk tempo typical of traditional village songcraft.

Hyperbole & Imagery

Sevvanthi poovum sevappaachu

'Sevvanthi poovum sevappaachu' uses poetic exaggeration where even a yellow chrysanthemum blushes red upon witnessing the lovers' intense gaze.

Metaphor & Idiom

Puliyan komba pudichaalae

'Puliyan komba pudichaalae' uses the traditional Tamil idiom of holding a sturdy tamarind branch to metaphorically represent securing a firm, reliable life hold or lover.

Simile (Uvamai)

Annaandhu paakkum ilaiya kodi

'Annaandhu paakkum ilaiya kodi' compares the young maiden yearning for her lover to a tender creeper plant reaching upward toward the sky/tree for support.

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic duet was composed by V. S. Narasimhan, a renowned classical violinist who briefly stepped into film music scoring under director K. Balachander. The song is famed for SPB and P. Susheela's rustic vocal inflections and Vairamuthu's rural dialect vocabulary.

Keep listening

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