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Paasa Mazhai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aayiram Poovum Undu

From Paasa Mazhai · 1989

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Paasa Mazhai
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
24 Apr 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aayiram poovum undu
Adhu malligaiyai pol aagumaa
Aayiram mozhigal undu
Avai senthamizhai pol aagumaa
Ethanai selvam undu
Avai athanaiyum nee aagumaa
Mannil ethanai inbam undu
Avai thathi varum saei aagumaa
En kannae kannae
Pasum ponnae ponnae
Pudhu poo vannamae annamae
Naan mella mella kaiyil alla alla
Varum thaen kinnamae sornamae
Aayiram poovum undu
Adhu malligaiyai pol aagumaa
Aayiram mozhigal undu
Avai senthamizhai pol aagumaa
Oru kanam kooda naanum neeyum
Pirivadhu paavamae
Dhinasari thaayin paasa mazhaiyil
Nanaindhidum dheivamae
Ninaivo illaadhu
Indha vizhi thaan vaazhaadhu
Mazhalaigal pesi naal thorum
Muthaaram soodum moganamae
En kannae kannae
Pasum ponnae ponnae
Pudhu poo vannamae annamae
Aayiram poovum undu
Adhu malligaiyai pol aagumaa
Madhuraiyil odum vaigai kooda
Manal veli aagalaam
Kizhakkinil thondrum kadhirum nilavum
Maerkkinil thondralaam
Paadhai maaraadhu
Indha paasam maraiyaadhu
Iravugal thorum nee thoonga
Kannae en kaigal oonjaladi
En kannae kannae
Pasum ponnae ponnae
Pudhu poo vannamae annamae
Aayiram poovum undu
Adhu malligaiyai pol aagumaa
Aayiram mozhigal undu
Avai senthamizhai pol aagumaa
Ethanai selvam undu
Avai athanaiyum nee aagumaa
Mannil ethanai inbam undu
Avai thathi varum saei aagumaa
En kannae kannae
Pasum ponnae ponnae
Pudhu poo vannamae annamae
There are a thousand flowers
Can any of them match the jasmine?
There are a thousand languages
Can any of them equal pure Tamil?
There are so many forms of wealth
Could all of them ever equal you?
There are so many joys on this earth
Can any match a toddler toddling toward you?
Oh, the apple of my eye, my dear
My pure and precious gold
Glowing like a fresh blossom, my sweet swan
As I gently gather you into my arms
You are a cup full of sweet honey, my golden treasure
There are a thousand flowers
Can any of them match the jasmine?
There are a thousand languages
Can any of them equal pure Tamil?
Even for a single moment
Being apart from each other would be a sin
Every day in a mother's shower of love
You are the little deity drenched in it
Without thoughts of you
These eyes of mine cannot live
Babbling sweet baby words every day
Adorned with strings of kisses, my enchanting child
Oh, the apple of my eye, my dear
My pure and precious gold
Glowing like a fresh blossom, my sweet swan
There are a thousand flowers
Can any of them match the jasmine?
Even the Vaigai river flowing through Madurai
May dry into an expanse of sand
The sun and moon that rise in the east
May begin to rise in the west
Yet my path will never change
This deep love will never fade away
Every night, so that you may sleep peacefully
My dear child, my arms swing like a cradle
Oh, the apple of my eye, my dear
My pure and precious gold
Glowing like a fresh blossom, my sweet swan
There are a thousand flowers
Can any of them match the jasmine?
There are a thousand languages
Can any of them equal pure Tamil?
There are so many forms of wealth
Could all of them ever equal you?
There are so many joys on this earth
Can any match a toddler toddling toward you?
Oh, the apple of my eye, my dear
My pure and precious gold
Glowing like a fresh blossom, my sweet swan
Female
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Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Aayiram Poovum Undu is a tender lullaby celebrating maternal affection and the matchless value of a child. Through vivid analogies, the lyricist highlights how no flower compares to jasmine, no language compares to pure Tamil, and no wealth or joy on Earth compares to the presence of a child. The song vows an unchanging, eternal bond that will endure even if impossible natural phenomena occur, such as the Vaigai river turning to sand or the sun rising in the west.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

“Adhu malligaiyai pol aagumaa”

Compares jasmine to other flowers and pure Tamil to other languages to establish the incomparable nature of the child.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Pasum ponnae ponnae / Pudhu poo vannamae annamae”

Metaphorically addresses the child as pure gold (Pasum ponnae), a swan (Annamae), and a cup of honey (Thaen kinnamae).

Hyperbole (Athisayokthi)

“Madhuraiyil odum vaigai kooda manal veli aagalaam / Kizhakkinil thondrum kadhirum nilavum maerkkinil thondralaam”

Exaggerates natural impossibilities (Vaigai river turning to desert, sun rising in the west) to illustrate the absolute permanence of parental love.

Rhetorical Question

“Ethanai selvam undu / Avai athanaiyum nee aagumaa”

Uses repetitive questioning to emphasize that nothing in the world can match the child's preciousness.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the legendary poet Vaali, this song demonstrates his signature style of blending high Tamil literary pride (such as praising Senthamizh) with deep emotional, familial themes.

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