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Anbukku Naan Adimai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kaaththodu Poovurasa

From Anbukku Naan Adimai · 1980

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Anbukku Naan Adimai
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
12 Nov 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kathodu poovurasa
Poova vandurasa
Unnodu na….an
Ennodu nee
Poovaa kaathaa urasa
Kathodu poovurasa
Poovodu vandurasa
Unnodu na….an
Ennodu nee
Poovaa kaathaa urasa
Yeththam pottu
Eracha thanni oodum
Yeththam pottu
Eracha thanni oodum
Yen athu yen athai
Thedum vayalum paadum
Aaraatho dhagam vantha
Aasa mogam vantha
Aathadi aalaagi naalachutho
Kathodu poovurasa
Poovodu vandurasa
Unnodu na….an
Male :Aaan ….ennodu nee
Poovaa kaathaa urasa
Kodaikkaanal kurinji
Malarin jaadhi
Kodaikkaanal kurinji malarin jaadhi
Yaar athu yaar adhai
Ketta theriyum sedhi
Naan thaanae chinna ponnu
Poovum naanum onnu
Naan yaaru thaenaaru
Neeraada vaa
Kathodu poovurasa
Poovodu vandurasa
Unnodu na….an
Female :Aaan ….ennodu nee
Poovaa kaathaa urasa
As a flower brushes against the ear,
As a bee brushes against a flower,
I with you...
You with me...
Brushing softly like a flower and the breeze...
As a flower brushes against the ear,
As a bee brushes against a flower,
I with you...
You with me...
Brushing softly like a flower and the breeze...
Lifted by the water sweep,
The drawn water flows along...
Lifted by the water sweep,
The drawn water flows along...
Why is that? Why does
The waiting field seek it and sing?
Won't it be quenched when thirst arrives,
When longing and desire awaken?
Oh my, has it been so long since you came of age?
As a flower brushes against the ear,
As a bee brushes against a flower,
I with you...
Male: Ah... You with me...
Brushing softly like a flower and the breeze...
Like the Kurinji flower of Kodaikanal,
Of that rare blossom's kind,
Born of the Kodaikanal Kurinji flower's kind,
Who is she? If anyone
Asks, the story will be known!
I am indeed that young girl,
The flower and I are one and the same,
Who am I? A river of honey,
Come, bathe in me!
As a flower brushes against the ear,
As a bee brushes against a flower,
I with you...
Female: Ah... You with me...
Brushing softly like a flower and the breeze...
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Kathodu Poovurasa' is a classic romantic duet from the 1980 film 'Anbukku Naan Adimai'. The song uses vivid imagery drawn from nature—such as the breeze gently caressing a flower, a bee hovering over blossoms, and irrigation water nourishing the fields—to symbolize the intimate physical and emotional connection between two lovers. Through metaphors like the rare Kurinji flower of Kodaikanal and a flowing river of honey, the song evokes youthful romance, beauty, and intense desire. The back-and-forth lyrical play between the male and female voices underscores their deep mutual adoration and sense of oneness with each other and nature.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile and Metaphor (Uvamai / Uvameyam)

Poovaa kaathaa urasa

Compares the subtle touch and affection between lovers to the physical closeness of the wind brushing against a flower ('Poovaa kaathaa urasa').

Rhyme and Alliteration (Edhugai and Monai)

Kathodu poovurasa / Poovodu vandurasa

The repetition of 'urasa' at the end of consecutive lines creates a rhythmic, melodic flow standard in Tamil lyricism ('poovurasa' / 'vandurasa').

Metaphor (Uvameyam)

Naan yaaru thaenaaru

The speaker metaphorically equates herself to 'thaenaaru' (a river of honey), representing sweetness, abundance, and warmth.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Anbukku Naan Adimai' (1980) stars Rajinikanth and Rati Agnihotri, directed by R. Thyagarajan. The song was composed by maestro Ilaiyaraaja with iconic lyrics written by Vaali, sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and P. Susheela.

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