- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Bharathwaj, Charlie, Manorama, Chorus
- Music director
- Bharathwaj
- Movie name
- Pooveli
- Movie release year
- 1998
- Lyrics added on
- 22 Feb 2019
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mooku sevanthavalae..a.e…ae….
Mun kosavum vechavalae
Theiyilaiya killi putta
Thirumbavum thulir vidumae
Aavi killi ponavalae
Aduthu eppo uyir varumo
Kadhai solla poren
Vidu kadhai solla poren
Kadhai solla poren
Vidu kadhai solla poren
En vidu kadhaikku vidaiya sonna
Soth ezhuthi thaaren
Sollunga mappilai sollunga
Unga vidu kathiyai sollunga
Sollunga mappilai sollunga
Unga vidu kathiyai sollunga
Muthu muthaa vidaiyai sonna
Rokkam allí kodunga
Illa thappu thappaai badhila sonna
Sambalathil pidinga
Kekka oru kadhillai
Pakka oru kannillai
Pesa oru vaayillai enakku
Enna thedi vandha
Needhi undu unakku
Naan yaaru… naan yaaru
Tharaasu a tharaasu
Ahaa sabash
Kadhai solla porom
Vidu kadhai solla porom
Kadhai solla porom
Vidu kadhai solla porom
En vidu kadhaikku vidaiya sonna
Soth ezhuthi thaarom
Sollunga sollunga sollunga
Unga vidu kadhaiyai sollunga
Sollunga sollunga sollunga
Unga vidu kadhaiyai sollunga
Paruppu kolambu manapathen
Male :Nei ootri irupangappa
Chorus :Padai veeran saavathen
Male :Oosi pona paruppu kolamba thinniruppano
Enga thirupi sollunga
Paruppu kolambu manapathen
Padai veeran saavathen
Perungayathaal
Perun kaayathaal
Kadhai solla poren
Vidu kadhai solla poren
Male :Neeyuma
Female :En vidu kadhaikku vidaiya sonna
Soth ezhuthi thaaren
Sollunga patti sollunga
Unga vidu kadhayai sollunga
Sollunga patti sollunga
Unga vidu kadhayai sollunga
Erukka ilai pazhupathen
Male :Kizhinchathu po
Female :Eruma kannu azhuvathen
Male :Erukaa ilai eduthu
Eruma kannuku potta thinuttu podhu
Mela sollu
Erukka ilai pazhupathen
Eruma kannu azhuvathen
Paal vathiponaal
Paal vathiponaal
Mappilai ayusu poora
Muzhichittu nikkara maari onnu
Eduthu vidunga paakkalam
Unakkul irukku enakkul irukku
Uyirum illai
Chorus :Hmm hmmm
Male :Kaiyil sikkathu kannil theriyathu
Kaatrum illai
Female :Hoo hoo
Unarchi irunthaalum uruvam irukkathu
Kadavulum illai
Chorus :Ho hooo
Male :Idhu illatha dhesam edhuvum kidaiyathu
Vanamum illa
Adhu enna…adhu enna
Adhaan adhaanya kaadhal
O girl with the blushing red nose... ah-ae-ae...
O girl wearing saree pleats in front!
If a tea leaf is plucked,
it will sprout fresh leaves again.
But you plucked my soul away and left,
when will my life return?
I am going to tell a story,
I am going to tell a riddle.
I am going to tell a story,
I am going to tell a riddle.
If you give the answer to my riddle,
I will write over my property to you.
Tell us, young man, tell us!
Tell us your riddle!
Tell us, young man, tell us!
Tell us your riddle!
If we give you pearl-like right answers,
shower us with heaps of cash.
But if we give you wrong answers,
deduct it from our wages!
I have no ear to hear,
I have no eye to see,
and I have no mouth to speak.
Yet if you come seeking me,
you will find justice.
Who am I... who am I?
The weighing balance, ah, the weighing scale!
Aha, well done!
We are going to tell a story,
we are going to tell a riddle.
We are going to tell a story,
we are going to tell a riddle.
If you answer our riddle,
we will write over our property to you.
Tell us, tell us, tell us!
Tell us your riddle!
Tell us, tell us, tell us!
Tell us your riddle!
Why does lentil curry smell so fragrant?
Male: They must have poured ghee into it!
Chorus: Why does a soldier die in battle?
Male: Did he eat spoiled lentil curry or what?
Come on, say it again!
Why does lentil curry smell so fragrant?
Why does a soldier die in battle?
Because of asafoetida (perungayam)!
Because of a fatal wound (perunkaayam)!
I am going to tell a story,
I am going to tell a riddle.
Male: You too?
Female: If you give the answer to my riddle,
I will write over my property to you.
Tell us, grandma, tell us!
Tell us your riddle!
Tell us, grandma, tell us!
Tell us your riddle!
Why does the milkweed leaf turn yellow?
Male: Oh no, we are done for!
Female: Why do the buffalo's eyes weep?
Male: If you take a milkweed leaf
and place it before the buffalo, it will just eat it!
Go on, tell us the real answer!
Why does the milkweed leaf turn yellow?
Why do the buffalo's eyes weep?
When its milky sap dries up!
When its milk runs dry!
Mister, give us a riddle that keeps us
wide awake and thinking our whole lives!
Throw one at us, let us see!
It is inside you, it is inside me,
yet it is not a living soul.
Chorus: Mmm mmm...
Male: You cannot hold it in your hand, you cannot see it with your eyes,
yet it is not the wind.
Female: Ho ho...
It has deep feeling, but no physical form,
yet it is not God.
Chorus: Ho ho-oo...
Male: There is no country where it does not exist,
yet it is not the wilderness.
What is it... what is it?
That, my friend, is love!
Male
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Mooku Sevanthavalae from the 1998 Tamil movie Pooveli (composed by Bharadwaj, written by Vairamuthu) is a joyful folk-style riddle song (Vidu Kadhai Paattu). Set in a festive family atmosphere, the characters challenge each other with humorous and clever riddles, playfully betting their property or salary on the answers.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Pun / Double Entendre (Cilēṭai)
“Perungayathaal / Perun kaayathaal”
Clever wordplay using 'Perungayam' (asafoetida spice, which makes curry aromatic) and 'Perun kaayam' (a severe physical wound, which causes a soldier's death).
Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kekka oru kadhillai / Pakka oru kannillai / Pesa oru vaayillai enakku”
Consonance on the second letter across lines (Kekka / Pakka / Pesa) establishing a rhythmic cadence typical of traditional riddles.
Personification & Metaphor
“Unakkul irukku enakkul irukku / Uyirum illai... Adhaan adhaanya kaadhal”
Love is framed as an omnipresent, formless entity living inside people without physical life or divine presence.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track from Pooveli features music composed by Bharadwaj and lyrics by Vairamuthu, directed by Vikraman. The song highlights traditional Tamil folk riddle games (Vidu Kadhai Paattu), often performed in celebratory and family settings.
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