Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Deva Malligai Poove Poove

From Nadigan · 1990

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Nadigan1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Deva malligai poovey pooveOh divine jasmine flower, flower!
Thaenil ooridum theeveOh island soaked in honey!
Female :Poovil aadidum kaattrae kaattaeOh breeze dancing on flowers, breeze!
Sinthu senthamizh pattaeOh classic musical song of sweet Tamil!
Male
Nee kadhal chiththiramaAre you a portrait of love?
En kannin soppanamaaAre you a dream of my eyes?
Female :Idhu moga manthiramaaIs this a spell of passion?
Enai yaeikkum thanthiramaaOr a trick that deceives me?
Male :Adi maanae maanae aasai thaenae vaaHey deer-like girl, desirable honey, come!
En vizhigalin vazhiyaeThrough the path of my eyes!
Female
Poovil aadidum kaattrae kaattaeOh breeze dancing on flowers, breeze!
Sinthu senthamizh pattaeOh classic musical song of sweet Tamil!
Male :Deva malligai poovey pooveOh divine jasmine flower, flower!
Thaenil ooridum theeveOh island soaked in honey!
Male
Thendral oru puram minnal oru puramGentle breeze on one side, lightning on another side,
Pennil therigirathaeAre visible in this woman!
Female :Thingal orupuram veyyil oru puramThe moon on one side, sunlight on another side,
Kannil varugirathaeAppears in her eyes!
Male
Allum pru puram thullum oru puramNight on one side, playful leap on another side,
Inbam vazhigirathaeBliss is overflowing!
Female :Achcham oru puram vetkkam oru puramFear on one side, shyness on another side,
Nenjil ezhugirathaeArises in the heart!
Male
Aadaikkatti aada vantha vaanavillaeOh rainbow that came wearing clothes to dance!
Aasai ennum maalai katti vaadi ingaeWeave a garland of desire and come here!
Female :Kadhal ennum naadagaththin medai ingaeHere is the stage of the drama called love!
Kaana vantha inbam ennum kaatchi engaeWhere is the sight called bliss that came to see it?
Male
Ini naanum neeyum naalum koodaHereafter, you and I together every day,
Adi maanae maanae aasai thaenae vaaHey deer-like girl, desirable honey, come!
En vizhigalin vazhiyaeThrough the path of my eyes!
Female
Poovil aadidum kaattrae kaattaeOh breeze dancing on flowers, breeze!
Sinthu senthamizh pattaeOh classic musical song of sweet Tamil!
Male :Deva malligai poovey pooveOh divine jasmine flower, flower!
Thaenil ooridum theeveOh island soaked in honey!
Female
Idhu moga manthiramaaIs this a spell of passion?
Enai yaeikkum thanthiramaaOr a trick that deceives me?
Male :Nee kadhal chiththiramaaAre you a portrait of love?
En kannin soppanamaaAre you a dream of my eyes?
Female :Immaanin maanin aasai thaenae vaaCome, sweet honey of this deer-like one,
En vizhigalin vazhiyaeThrough the path of my eyes!
Female
Allikkoduththathao solli koduTeach me what was gathered and given,
Ena annakkili varumaeThus the swan-like parrot will come!
Male :Anthi kathaiyithu sinthaikkiniyathuThis evening story is sweet to the mind,
Aasai pani varumaeThe dew of desire will arrive!
Female
Ettippidi enai kattippidi enaReach out and hold me, embrace me,
Anjum idai varumaeSaying so, the trembling waist will come!
Male :Endrum pudhusugam pongum vazhiyenaSaying it's a way where new joy overflows forever,
Konjum kili varumaeThe coaxing parrot will come!
Female
Kaaman ambaiCupid's arrow,
Kannirendil poottukindraaiYou load into both eyes,
Kadhal ennum theeyaiThe fire called love,
Nenjil moottukindraaiYou kindle in my heart!
Male
Vaadai thannilIn the cold breeze,
Neeyum ennai vaattukkindraaiYou torment me as well,
Vaalipaththin aasai thanni meettugindraaiYou play the strings of youth's desire!
Female
En raja soodum roja poovoAre you the rose flower worn by my king?
Immaanin maanin aasai thaenae vaaCome, sweet honey of this deer-like one,
En vizhigalin vazhiyaeThrough the path of my eyes!
Male
Deva malligai poovey pooveOh divine jasmine flower, flower!
Thaenil ooridum theeveOh island soaked in honey!
Female :Poovil aadidum kaattrae kaattaeOh breeze dancing on flowers, breeze!
Sinthu senthamizh pattaeOh classic musical song of sweet Tamil!
Male
Nee kadhal chiththiramaAre you a portrait of love?
En kannin soppanamaaAre you a dream of my eyes?
Female :Idhu moga manthiramaaIs this a spell of passion?
Enai yaeikkum thanthiramaaOr a trick that deceives me?
Male :Adi maanae maanae aasai thaenae vaaHey deer-like girl, desirable honey, come!
En vizhigalin vazhiyaeThrough the path of my eyes!
Female
Poovil aadidum kaattrae kaattaeOh breeze dancing on flowers, breeze!
Sinthu senthamizh pattaeOh classic musical song of sweet Tamil!
Male :Deva malligai poovey pooveOh divine jasmine flower, flower!
Thaenil ooridum theeveOh island soaked in honey!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Deva Malligai Poovey is a classic romantic duet from the 1990 Tamil movie Nadigan. The song portrays a playful yet deeply affectionate dialogue between two lovers who express their romantic fascination and longing through rich metaphors of nature, music, and divine beauty. The male lover praises the heroine as a divine jasmine flower and a honeyed island, while the heroine responds comparing him to a soothing breeze and sweet classical music.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor

Deva malligai poovey poove / Thaenil ooridum theeve

Comparing the heroine to a jasmine flower ('Deva malligai') and an island soaked in honey ('Thaenil ooridum theeve').

Anaphora / Repetitive Structure

Thendral oru puram minnal oru puram

The repetitive use of 'oru puram' (on one side) creates a rhythmical poetic contrast describing dual emotions and traits.

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Aadaikkatti aada vantha vaanavillae / Aasai ennum maalai katti vaadi ingae

The second consonant 'd' rhymes across adjacent lines ('Aadaikkatti' / 'Aasai').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja, 'Deva Malligai' features the iconic vocal pairing of S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki. The film Nadigan starred Sathyaraj and Khushbu and was a massive box office hit, with this track remaining one of the most cherished romantic melodies of the 1990s.

Keep listening

More from Nadigan