Athi Mara Poovidhu
From Saadhanai · 1986
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aa haa… aa… aa… haa… | Aa haa… aa… aa… haa… |
| Aa haa… aa… aa… haa… | Aa haa… aa… aa… haa… |
| Aa… ahhahaa ahhahaa aa… aa… | Aa… ahhahaa ahhahaa aa… aa… |
| Aa… aa… aa…aa…aahahaa… | Aa… aa… aa…aa…aahahaa… |
| Female | |
| Athimara poovidhu | This is a rare flower of a fig tree, |
| Arugil suthi vandhu thaavudhu | It circles close by and leaps around. |
| Athimara poovidhu | This is a rare flower of a fig tree, |
| Arugil suthi vandhu thaavudhu | It circles close by and leaps around. |
| Nandhavanam thaan en nalla manam thaan | My good heart is like a lush flower garden, |
| Endha puramum en andhappuram thaan | Whichever direction I look, it is my private royal chamber. |
| Sindhanaigal oda karpanaigal kooda | As thoughts flow alongside imagination, |
| Ilamai kodiyil idhazhgal viriyum | Petals bloom on the vine of youth. |
| Female | |
| Athimara poovidhu | This is a rare flower of a fig tree, |
| Arugil suthi vandhu thaavudhu | It circles close by and leaps around. |
| Athimara poovidhu | This is a rare flower of a fig tree, |
| Arugil suthi vandhu thaavudhu | It circles close by and leaps around. |
| Female | |
| Punnagaiyil pudhu kavidhaigal ezhudhida | To write new poetry through smiles, |
| Paarvaigal malara malara | As glances blossom and bloom, |
| Mellisaiyin nayam salangaiyil vilangida | As the elegance of soft music shines in the anklets, |
| Paadhangal asaiya asaiya | As feet move and sway, |
| Vandha magal oru poongodi | The daughter who arrived is a flowering creeper, |
| Vandu thulaithidum maangani | A sweet mango fruit pierced by a honeybee, |
| Sandha mozhigalin kaaviyam | An epic poem of rhythmic words, |
| Sindhai mayakkidum oviyam | A painting that mesmerizes the mind. |
| Female | |
| Kodai varum naal veesum vaadai naan | I am the cool breeze blowing on hot summer days, |
| Vaadai varum naal soodum porvai naan | I am the warm blanket worn on chilly winter days. |
| Malligaiyai choodi mandhirangal paadi | Adorning jasmine flowers and chanting mantras, |
| Paruvam nadanam payilum nalinam | Youth learns the art of dance with grace. |
| Female | |
| Athimara poovidhu | This is a rare flower of a fig tree, |
| Arugil suthi vandhu thaavudhu | It circles close by and leaps around. |
| Nandhavanam thaan en nalla manam thaan | My good heart is like a lush flower garden, |
| Endha puramum en andhappuram thaan | Whichever direction I look, it is my private royal chamber. |
| Sindhanaigal oda karpanaigal kooda | As thoughts flow alongside imagination, |
| Ilamai kodiyil idhazhgal viriyum | Petals bloom on the vine of youth. |
| Female | |
| Athimara poovidhu | This is a rare flower of a fig tree, |
| Arugil suthi vandhu thaavudhu | It circles close by and leaps around. |
| Female | |
| Pulli mayil nadam purindhida purindhida | As the spotted peacock dances gracefully, |
| Bhaavangal vilaiya vilaiya | As expressions play out beautifully, |
| Kaiyalavu idai nelindhida nelindhida | As the handful-sized waist bends and sways, |
| Poovudal valaiya valaiya | As the flower-like body flexes gently, |
| Kannin imaigalil aadidum | Dancing upon the eyelids, |
| Enna kanavugal aayiram | What a thousand dreams reside there! |
| Indha kula magal noodhanam | This family daughter is novel and unique, |
| Andha kalai magal seedhanam | A dowry gifted by goddess Saraswati herself. |
| Female | |
| Paadal irundhaal raagam seraadho | If there is a song, won't a melody join it? |
| Aadal irundhaal thaalam koodaadho | If there is a dance, won't rhythm accompany it? |
| Thingal oru paadhi thendral oru paadhi | One half is the crescent moon, one half is the soft breeze, |
| Vizhiyil kalandhu vazhiyum vadivam | A form blending and flowing within the eyes. |
| Female | |
| Athimara poovidhu | This is a rare flower of a fig tree, |
| Arugil suthi vandhu thaavudhu | It circles close by and leaps around. |
| Nandhavanam thaan en nalla manam thaan | My good heart is like a lush flower garden, |
| Endha puramum en andhappuram thaan | Whichever direction I look, it is my private royal chamber. |
| Sindhanaigal oda karpanaigal kooda | As thoughts flow alongside imagination, |
| Ilamai kodiyil idhazhgal viriyum | Petals bloom on the vine of youth. |
| Female | |
| Athimara poovidhu | This is a rare flower of a fig tree, |
| Arugil suthi vandhu thaavudhu | It circles close by and leaps around. |
| Athimara poovidhu | This is a rare flower of a fig tree, |
| Arugil suthi vandhu thaavudhu | It circles close by and leaps around. |
ஆ ஹா......ஆ......ஆ......ஹா...
ஆ ஹா.....ஆ.....ஆ........ஹா...
ஆ... அஹ்ஹஹா அஹ்ஹஹா ஆ... ஆ...
ஆ... ஆ... ஆ.......ஆ......ஆஹஹா...
Aa haa… aa… aa… haa…
Aa haa… aa… aa… haa…
Aa… ahhahaa ahhahaa aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa…aa…aahahaa…
அத்திமர பூவிது
அருகில் சுத்தி வந்து தாவுது
அத்திமர பூவிது
அருகில் சுத்தி வந்து தாவுது
நந்தவனம் தான் என் நல்ல மனம்தான்
எந்த புறமும் என் அந்தப்புரம் தான்
சிந்தனைகள் ஓட கற்பனைகள் கூட
இளமை கொடியில் இதழ்கள் விரியும்
This is a rare flower of a fig tree,
It circles close by and leaps around.
This is a rare flower of a fig tree,
It circles close by and leaps around.
My good heart is like a lush flower garden,
Whichever direction I look, it is my private royal chamber.
As thoughts flow alongside imagination,
Petals bloom on the vine of youth.
அத்திமர பூவிது
அருகில் சுத்தி வந்து தாவுது
அத்திமர பூவிது
அருகில் சுத்தி வந்து தாவுது
This is a rare flower of a fig tree,
It circles close by and leaps around.
This is a rare flower of a fig tree,
It circles close by and leaps around.
புன்னகையில் புது கவிதைகள் எழுதிட
பார்வைகள் மலர மலர
மெல்லிசையின் நயம் சலங்கையில் விளங்கிட
பாதங்கள் அசைய அசைய
வந்த மகள் ஒரு பூங்கொடி
வண்டு துளைத்திடும் மாங்கனி
சந்த மொழிகளின் காவியம்
சிந்தை மயக்கிடும் ஓவியம்
To write new poetry through smiles,
As glances blossom and bloom,
As the elegance of soft music shines in the anklets,
As feet move and sway,
The daughter who arrived is a flowering creeper,
A sweet mango fruit pierced by a honeybee,
An epic poem of rhythmic words,
A painting that mesmerizes the mind.
கோடை வரும் நாள் வீசும் வாடை நான்
வாடை வரும் நாள் சூடும் போர்வை நான்
மல்லிகையைச் சூடி மந்திரங்கள் பாடி
பருவம் நடனம் பயிலும் நளினம்
I am the cool breeze blowing on hot summer days,
I am the warm blanket worn on chilly winter days.
Adorning jasmine flowers and chanting mantras,
Youth learns the art of dance with grace.
அத்திமர பூவிது
அருகில் சுத்தி வந்து தாவுது
நந்தவனம் தான் என் நல்ல மனம் தான்
எந்த புறமும் என் அந்தப்புரம் தான்
சிந்தனைகள் ஓட கற்பனைகள் கூட
இளமை கொடியில் இதழ்கள் விரியும்
This is a rare flower of a fig tree,
It circles close by and leaps around.
My good heart is like a lush flower garden,
Whichever direction I look, it is my private royal chamber.
As thoughts flow alongside imagination,
Petals bloom on the vine of youth.
அத்திமர பூவிது
அருகில் சுத்தி வந்து தாவுது
This is a rare flower of a fig tree,
It circles close by and leaps around.
புள்ளி மயில் நடம் புரிந்திட புரிந்திட
பாவங்கள் விளைய விளைய
கையளவு இடை நெளிந்திட நெளிந்திட
பூவுடல் வளைய வளைய
கண்ணின் இமைகளில் ஆடிடும்
எண்ண கனவுகள் ஆயிரம்
இந்த குல மகள் நூதனம்
அந்த கலை மகள் சீதனம்
As the spotted peacock dances gracefully,
As expressions play out beautifully,
As the handful-sized waist bends and sways,
As the flower-like body flexes gently,
Dancing upon the eyelids,
What a thousand dreams reside there!
This family daughter is novel and unique,
A dowry gifted by goddess Saraswati herself.
பாடல் இருந்தால் ராகம் சேராதோ
ஆடல் இருந்தால் தாளம் கூடாதோ
திங்கள் ஒரு பாதி தென்றல் ஒரு பாதி
விழியில் கலந்து வழியும் வடிவம்
If there is a song, won't a melody join it?
If there is a dance, won't rhythm accompany it?
One half is the crescent moon, one half is the soft breeze,
A form blending and flowing within the eyes.
அத்திமர பூவிது
அருகில் சுத்தி வந்து தாவுது
நந்தவனம் தான் என் நல்ல மனம் தான்
எந்த புறமும் என் அந்தப்புரம் தான்
சிந்தனைகள் ஓட கற்பனைகள் கூட
இளமை கொடியில் இதழ்கள் விரியும்
This is a rare flower of a fig tree,
It circles close by and leaps around.
My good heart is like a lush flower garden,
Whichever direction I look, it is my private royal chamber.
As thoughts flow alongside imagination,
Petals bloom on the vine of youth.
அத்திமர பூவிது
அருகில் சுத்தி வந்து தாவுது
அத்திமர பூவிது
அருகில் சுத்தி வந்து தாவுது
This is a rare flower of a fig tree,
It circles close by and leaps around.
This is a rare flower of a fig tree,
It circles close by and leaps around.
Aa haa… aa… aa… haa…
Aa haa… aa… aa… haa…
Aa haa… aa… aa… haa…
Aa haa… aa… aa… haa…
Aa… ahhahaa ahhahaa aa… aa…
Aa… ahhahaa ahhahaa aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa…aa…aahahaa…
Aa… aa… aa…aa…aahahaa…
Athimara poovidhu
This is a rare flower of a fig tree,
Arugil suthi vandhu thaavudhu
It circles close by and leaps around.
Athimara poovidhu
This is a rare flower of a fig tree,
Arugil suthi vandhu thaavudhu
It circles close by and leaps around.
Nandhavanam thaan en nalla manam thaan
My good heart is like a lush flower garden,
Endha puramum en andhappuram thaan
Whichever direction I look, it is my private royal chamber.
Sindhanaigal oda karpanaigal kooda
As thoughts flow alongside imagination,
Ilamai kodiyil idhazhgal viriyum
Petals bloom on the vine of youth.
Athimara poovidhu
This is a rare flower of a fig tree,
Arugil suthi vandhu thaavudhu
It circles close by and leaps around.
Athimara poovidhu
This is a rare flower of a fig tree,
Arugil suthi vandhu thaavudhu
It circles close by and leaps around.
Punnagaiyil pudhu kavidhaigal ezhudhida
To write new poetry through smiles,
Paarvaigal malara malara
As glances blossom and bloom,
Mellisaiyin nayam salangaiyil vilangida
As the elegance of soft music shines in the anklets,
Paadhangal asaiya asaiya
As feet move and sway,
Vandha magal oru poongodi
The daughter who arrived is a flowering creeper,
Vandu thulaithidum maangani
A sweet mango fruit pierced by a honeybee,
Sandha mozhigalin kaaviyam
An epic poem of rhythmic words,
Sindhai mayakkidum oviyam
A painting that mesmerizes the mind.
Kodai varum naal veesum vaadai naan
I am the cool breeze blowing on hot summer days,
Vaadai varum naal soodum porvai naan
I am the warm blanket worn on chilly winter days.
Malligaiyai choodi mandhirangal paadi
Adorning jasmine flowers and chanting mantras,
Paruvam nadanam payilum nalinam
Youth learns the art of dance with grace.
Athimara poovidhu
This is a rare flower of a fig tree,
Arugil suthi vandhu thaavudhu
It circles close by and leaps around.
Nandhavanam thaan en nalla manam thaan
My good heart is like a lush flower garden,
Endha puramum en andhappuram thaan
Whichever direction I look, it is my private royal chamber.
Sindhanaigal oda karpanaigal kooda
As thoughts flow alongside imagination,
Ilamai kodiyil idhazhgal viriyum
Petals bloom on the vine of youth.
Athimara poovidhu
This is a rare flower of a fig tree,
Arugil suthi vandhu thaavudhu
It circles close by and leaps around.
Pulli mayil nadam purindhida purindhida
As the spotted peacock dances gracefully,
Bhaavangal vilaiya vilaiya
As expressions play out beautifully,
Kaiyalavu idai nelindhida nelindhida
As the handful-sized waist bends and sways,
Poovudal valaiya valaiya
As the flower-like body flexes gently,
Kannin imaigalil aadidum
Dancing upon the eyelids,
Enna kanavugal aayiram
What a thousand dreams reside there!
Indha kula magal noodhanam
This family daughter is novel and unique,
Andha kalai magal seedhanam
A dowry gifted by goddess Saraswati herself.
Paadal irundhaal raagam seraadho
If there is a song, won't a melody join it?
Aadal irundhaal thaalam koodaadho
If there is a dance, won't rhythm accompany it?
Thingal oru paadhi thendral oru paadhi
One half is the crescent moon, one half is the soft breeze,
Vizhiyil kalandhu vazhiyum vadivam
A form blending and flowing within the eyes.
Athimara poovidhu
This is a rare flower of a fig tree,
Arugil suthi vandhu thaavudhu
It circles close by and leaps around.
Nandhavanam thaan en nalla manam thaan
My good heart is like a lush flower garden,
Endha puramum en andhappuram thaan
Whichever direction I look, it is my private royal chamber.
Sindhanaigal oda karpanaigal kooda
As thoughts flow alongside imagination,
Ilamai kodiyil idhazhgal viriyum
Petals bloom on the vine of youth.
Athimara poovidhu
This is a rare flower of a fig tree,
Arugil suthi vandhu thaavudhu
It circles close by and leaps around.
Athimara poovidhu
This is a rare flower of a fig tree,
Arugil suthi vandhu thaavudhu
It circles close by and leaps around.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Athimara Poovidhu' is a poetic celebration of youthful beauty, romance, and artistic expression. Comparing a beloved woman to an elusive, rare fig flower (Athimara Poo), the lyrics portray her grace through metaphors of classical dance, nature, and fine arts. Her heart is described as a flourishing garden, her presence as refreshing as a summer breeze and as comforting as a winter blanket. Throughout the track, Vaali employs classical Tamil imagery—referencing musical ragas, dance rhythms, peacocks, and divine blessings. The song paints a vivid portrait of love where music, beauty, and emotion harmonize, creating a dreamy aesthetic of romance and artistic elegance.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamaani (Metaphor / Simile)
“Athimara poovidhu”
Comparing a pure, rare, and delicate person to an 'Athimara Poo' (fig flower, which is famously hidden/rare in Tamil literature).
Uvamaani (Metaphor)
“Nandhavanam thaan en nalla manam thaan”
Comparing a good heart to a lush garden ('Nandhavanam').
Ethirsol / Contrast
“Kodai varum naal veesum vaadai naan / Vaadai varum naal soodum porvai naan”
Juxtaposing summer breeze ('Kodai... vaadai') with winter warmth ('Vaadai... porvai').
Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Nandhavanam thaan en nalla manam thaan / Endha puramum en andhappuram thaan”
Repetition of the second consonant 'ndha' across consecutive lines ('Nandhavanam' / 'Endha').
Did you know?
Trivia
The phrase 'Athimara Poo' (fig flower) is a famous idiom in Tamil literature and classical poetry used to denote something extremely rare or virtually impossible to see, as fig flowers bloom internally within the fruit structure.
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