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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Elumicham Poove

From Thudhu Po Chellakiliye · 1991

Lyricist
Kalidasan
Singers
Mano, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Deva
Details
Thudhu Po Chellakiliye1991

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Elumbicham pooveLemon flower
Elumbicham poove elumbicham pooveLemon flower, lemon flower
Yaenintha ullasamWhy this joy?
Male
Elumbicham pooveLemon flower
Elumbicham poove….yenintha ullasamLemon flower... why this joy?
Ilavatta nenjam kodi kattum naeramIt is the time for young hearts to fly their flag
Aayiram santhoshamA thousand happinesses
Female
Thamarai mottukalLotus buds
Thandhi adikuthu thaagathil thallaadiSend telegrams, staggering in thirst
Maamara chittuku dhavani kattaTo drape a half-saree on the mango-tree sparrow
Maamanum vanthanadiThe lover has arrived, dear girl
Male
Elumbicham pooveLemon flower
Female
Elumbicham pooveLemon flower
Ûlumbicham pooveLemon flower
Yaenintha ullasamWhy this joy?
Ilavatta nenjam kodi kattum naeramIt is the time for young hearts to fly their flag
Aayiram santhoshamA thousand happinesses
Female
VekkapattuFeeling shy
Odum  pudhu nananRunning new stream of modesty
Intha malrai malra sonnatheyTold this flower to bloom
Thikki thikki paesum udal koosumStuttering words and tingling body
Ithu paruvam pazhagi thanthoDid youth teach all of this?
Male
Aalaana ponnukkuFor the girl who has come of age
Thaaltha vetkathaiThis deep shyness
yarsolli thanthathooWho taught it to her?
Aandha poovukul thaennoorum inippuThe sweetness oozing honey inside that flower
Thaanga vanthathammaHas come to be held, my dear
Female
Pakkathile vaaCome close
Oru parisam podavaaShall I place the bride-price gift?
Oru sontham vanthathendruSaying a new bond has arrived
Thottukka varavaShall I come to touch you?
Chorus
Varalaam tham thamYou may come, tham tham
Thannam thannam varalaam…..All by yourself, you may come...
Male
Elumbicham pooveLemon flower
Ûlumbicham pooveLemon flower
Yaenintha ullasamWhy this joy?
Ilavata nenjam Kodi kattum naeramIt is the time for young hearts to fly their flag
Aayiram santhoshamA thousand happinesses
Male
Ettupatti oorum manam veesumSpreading fragrance across eight surrounding villages
Adi madurai mullaiyeOh Madurai jasmine!
Pottu vacha poove pudhu thaeneBindi-adorned flower, fresh honey!
Adi pudhusa samanja pullaiyeOh girl who has newly come of age!
Female
KaviriyaathukkuFor the Kaveri river
Kaatora pookalThe riverside flowers
Kalyaana seethanamoAre they wedding gifts?
Kandaangi saelaikulInside the Kandangi saree
Kondaadum pennukuFor the woman celebrating
Nee oru vaaganamaeYou are her chariot
Male
Shenbagamae vaOh Shenbagam flower, come
Pudhu sandhanam poosa vaShall I apply fresh sandalwood paste?
Adi chinna ponnaeOh young girl
Konjam sungam alli tharavaShall I gather and pay love tax?
Chorus :Tharalaam tham thamChorus: You may give, tham tham
Thannam thannam Tharalaam…..All by yourself, you may give...
Female
Elumbicham pooveLemon flower
Ûlumbicham pooveLemon flower
Yaenintha ullasamWhy this joy?
Ilavata nenjam Kodi kattum naeramIt is the time for young hearts to fly their flag
Aayiram santhoshamA thousand happinesses
Male
Thamarai mottukalLotus buds
Thandhi adikuthu thaagathil thallaadiSend telegrams, staggering in thirst
Maamara chittuku dhavani kattaTo drape a half-saree on the mango-tree sparrow
Maamanum vanthanadiThe lover has arrived, dear girl
Female
Elumbicham pooveLemon flower
Elumbicham poove yenintha ullasamLemon flower, why this joy?
Male :Ilavatta nenjam kodi kattum naeramMale: It is the time for young hearts to fly their flag
Aayiram santhoshamA thousand happinesses

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Thudhu Po Chellakiliye' features the duet 'Elumbicham Poove' composed by Deva, expressing the exuberant blossoming of youthful love and romance following a young girl's coming-of-age ceremony. The song uses rich pastoral imagery—lemon blossoms, lotus buds, river flowers, and Madurai jasmine—to describe the heroine's bashful transition into womanhood and her lover's playful advances as he arrives to claim her hand in marriage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor & Imagery

Maamara chittuku dhavani katta

Comparing the heroine to delicate natural elements like 'Elumbicham poove' (lemon blossom), 'Madurai mullai' (Madurai jasmine), and 'Maamara chittu' (sparrow on a mango tree).

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Ilavatta nenjam kodi kattum naeram

Tamil poetic rhyme where the second letter matches across lines, seen in 'Elumbicham' and 'Ilavatta' or 'Vekkapattu' and 'Thikki'.

Anaaphora / Repetition

Elumbicham poove elumbicham poove

Repetition of words like 'Elumbicham poove' and rhythmic refrain syllables ('Tham tham') to build musical cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Thudhu Po Chellakiliye' (1991) features music by Deva during his early golden period in the 1990s. Lyricist Kalidasan was renowned for infusing native rural Tamil flavor and traditional cultural motifs into his folk-pop duets.

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