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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ilavatta Poove

From Government Mappillai · 1992

Lyricist
Kalidasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Deva
Details
Government Mappillai1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
……………………
Male
Ilavatta poove ila vatta pooveOh youthful flower, youthful flower,
YelelangiliyaeOh sweet singing parrot!
Parivatta melam kodikattungneramIt is time for the ceremonial drums to beat and the wedding flag to fly,
Vaa vaa vaa veliyaeCome, come, come outside!
Adi aathadi manam kaathadi aayaachuOh my, my heart has become like a kite,
Adhu aagaaya thaer yeri poyaachuIt has climbed into the sky on a heavenly chariot!
Male
Vayasu pullaYoung girl,
Chorus :Jhum chak jhum chak jhumJhum chak jhum chak jhum
Male :Manasu kullaInside the heart,
Chorus :Dumtakku dumtakku dumDumtakku dumtakku dum
Male
Vayasu pullaYoung girl,
Jhum chak melamJhum chak drum beats,
Manasu kullaInside the heart,
Dumtakku thaalamDumtakku rhythm!
Female
Ilavatta poove ila vatta pooveOh youthful flower, youthful flower,
YelelangiliyaeOh sweet singing parrot!
Parivatta melam kodikattungneramIt is time for the ceremonial drums to beat and the wedding flag to fly,
Vaa vaa vaa veliyaeCome, come, come outside!
Chorus
……………………
Male
Saerthu vecha aasai ellamAll the stored-up desires,
Poothu nikkum naal aachuThe day has arrived for them to blossom.
Seppu kodam rendu vechuPlace two copper pots,
Saamikku nee paal kaaichuBoil milk for God.
Female
Yetham podum machaana thaanAccept the hard-working cousin,
Yethukittu thaali kattuAnd let him tie the sacred thread.
Yekkam vandha nenja suthiAround the heart filled with longing,
Seekirama vaeli kattuQuickly build a fence.
Male
Mudhal naal irava therinjikkaUnderstand the first night,
Female :Andru muzhusa muzhikanum purinjikkaFemale: Understand that you must stay awake all night!
Male :Paalaiyum pazhathaiyum eduthukkaMale: Take the milk and fruits,
Female :Adha padukkura bodhu kudichukkaFemale: Drink them when you go to bed.
Male :Adi aalangkolunthae asathikka asathikkaMale: Oh tender banyan shoot, dazzle him, dazzle him!
Female
Ilavatta poove ila vatta pooveOh youthful flower, youthful flower,
YelelangiliyaeOh sweet singing parrot!
Parivatta melam kodikattungneramIt is time for the ceremonial drums to beat and the wedding flag to fly,
Vaa vaa vaa veliyaeCome, come, come outside!
Chorus
……………………
Female
Vedha vedhannu veneer vechuPrepare comfortably warm water,
Virupam pola thechu vidadiAnd rub it gently as desired.
Veda kozhi soupu vechuMake country chicken soup,
Viru viruppa yethi vidadiAnd boost the energy excitedly!
Male
Kadha kadhappu udambil yeraFor warmth to spread through the body,
Kaala konjam neevi vidadiGently massage the legs a bit.
Kannu kutty pola unnaTo make him spin around you like a calf,
Suthi vara saavi kodadiWind him up like a toy key!
Female
Purushana pudavaiyil mudinjikkaTie your husband to the edge of your saree,
Male :Dhenam pudhu pudhu sugangala therinjikkaMale: Learn new pleasures every day!
Female :Kudumbatha nadathida paduchikkaFemale: Learn how to manage the family,
Male :Avan kudumiya kaiyila pudichikkaMale: Hold his reins firmly in your hand!
Female :Ada aadi pogattum adhu vara poruthukkaFemale: Let the month of Aadi pass, wait until then!
Male
Ilavatta poove ila vatta pooveOh youthful flower, youthful flower,
YelelangiliyaeOh sweet singing parrot!
Female :Parivatta melam kodikattungneramFemale: It is time for the ceremonial drums to beat and the wedding flag to fly,
Vaa vaa vaa veliyaeCome, come, come outside!
Male
Adi aathadi manam kaathadi aayaachuOh my, my heart has become like a kite,
Female :Adhu aagaaya thaer yeri poyaachuFemale: It has climbed into the sky on a heavenly chariot!
Male
Vayasu pullaYoung girl,
Chorus :Jhum chak jhum chak jhumJhum chak jhum chak jhum
Female :Manasu kullaFemale: Inside the heart,
Chorus :Dumtakku dumtakku dumChorus: Dumtakku dumtakku dum
Male
Vayasu pullaYoung girl,
Jhum chak melamJhum chak drum beats,
Female :Adichukka diFemale: Beat it!
Dumtakku thaalamDumtakku rhythm!
Male
Ilavatta poove ila vatta pooveOh youthful flower, youthful flower,
YelelangiliyaeOh sweet singing parrot!
Female :Parivatta melam kodikattungneramFemale: It is time for the ceremonial drums to beat and the wedding flag to fly,
Vaa vaa vaa veliyaeCome, come, come outside!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Ilavatta Poove is a vibrant folk dance track from the 1992 Tamil movie Government Mappillai. The song celebrates youthful romance, village wedding festivities, and playful marital anticipation. Addressed affectionately to a young bride-to-be, the opening stanzas liken her beauty and spirit to a tender flower and a sweet-calling parrot, calling her out to join the grand celebrations as ritual drums herald the wedding.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Urvagam)

Ilavatta poove ila vatta poove Yelelangiliyae

Compares a young woman directly to a blooming flower ('Ilavatta poove') and a parrot ('Yelelangiliyae') to convey youthfulness, beauty, and innocence.

Simile (Uvamai)

Kannu kutty pola unna Suthi vara saavi kodadi

Compares the husband's devotion to a young calf ('Kannu kutty pola') following his wife continuously.

Onomatopoeia (Oli-kkurippu)

Jhum chak jhum chak jhum / Dumtakku dumtakku dum

Uses rhythmic folk sound syllables ('Jhum chak', 'Dumtakku') to mimic traditional wedding drumbeats and evoke festive energy.

Rhyme (Edhukai)

Vedha vedhannu veneer vechu / Veda kozhi soupu vechu

Employs second-letter rhyming across consecutive lines ('Vedha vedhannu' and 'Veda kozhi') to enhance melodic rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Government Mappillai (1992) is a rural comedy-drama directed by Manivannan. Lyricist Kalidasan frequently penned rustic folk numbers that mixed traditional Tamil village metaphors with playful humor.

Keep listening

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