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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaathukku Pookkal

From Kannan Varuvaan · 2000

Lyricist
Pa. Vijay
Singers
Hariharan, Sujatha Mohan
Music director
Sirpy
Details
Kannan Varuvaan2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
………………………….
Male
……………….Female :……………………
Male
Kaathuku pookal sondhamFlowers belong to the wind,
Poovuku vaasam sondhamFragrance belongs to the flower.
Vaasathuku sondhakaari varuvaalaWill the owner of that fragrance come?
En vaazhkaikoru artham solli tharuvaalaaWill she teach me the meaning of my life?
Male
…………………………………….
Male
Thaalaatu kekavum illaI have never heard a lullaby,
Thaai paasam paarthadhum illaI have never felt a mother's affection.
Enakoru sondham solla varuvaalaaWill someone come to call me her own?
En nenjukulla malliyapoo tharuvaalaaWill she bestow a jasmine flower inside my heart?
Male
Pathu viralum enaku maathiramJust for me, all my ten fingers
Pullaanguzhalaai maara venumaeShould transform into flutes.
Endha saami enaku andha varam kodukumWhich deity will grant me that boon?
Nalla varam kodukumAnd grant me a benevolent boon?
Male
Meenaa maari neeril neendhanumI want to swim in the water like a fish,
Kuyilaa maari vinnil parakanumI want to fly in the sky like a cuckoo.
Kaathaa marama poova naanum vaazhndhidanumI wish to live as the wind, a tree, or a flower,
Oruthi thunai venumI need the companionship of a woman.
Male
Saami silaigal nooru aayiramA hundred thousand idols of gods,
Senju senju naanum vaikirenI keep crafting and placing them.
Saami onnu kannu muliuchu paathidumaaWill at least one god open its eyes and look?
Avala kaatidumaaWill it point her out to me?
Male
Kaathuku pookal sondhamFlowers belong to the wind,
Poovuku vaasam sondhamFragrance belongs to the flower.
Vaasathuku sondhakaari varuvaalaWill the owner of that fragrance come?
En vaazhkaikoru artham solli tharuvaalaaWill she teach me the meaning of my life?
Female
……………………………………….
Male
Mayilae mayilae thogai tharuviyaOh peacock, peacock, will you grant me your plumage?
Thogai adhilae selai neiyanumI need to weave a saree out of those feathers.
Yaarukunnu mayilae needhaan ketkaadhaeOh peacock, do not ask for whom it is,
Enaku theriyaadhaeFor I myself do not know.
Male
Nilavae nilavae vinmeen tharuviyaOh moon, moon, will you grant me stars?
Vinmeen adhilae veedu kattanumI need to build a home using those stars.
Yaarukunnu nilavae needhan ketkaadhaeOh moon, do not ask for whom it is,
Enakae theriyaadhaeFor even I do not know.
Male
Maramae maramae kilaigal tharuviyaOh tree, tree, will you grant me your branches?
Kilaiyil kiliku oonjal kattanumTo tie a swing for a parrot on the branch.
Yaaru andha kili dhaan endru ketkaadhaeDo not ask who that parrot is,
Nesamaa theriyaadhaeTruly, I do not know.
Female
Kaathuku pookal sondhamFlowers belong to the wind,
Poovuku vaasam sondhamFragrance belongs to the flower.
Vaasathuku sondhakaari varuvaalaeThe owner of that fragrance will surely come,
Un vaazhkaikoru artham solli tharuvaalaeShe will teach you the true meaning of your life.
Female
…………………………………….

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Kaathuku Pookal Sondham' expresses the deep yearning of an orphan who has grown up without parental affection and longs for love and companionship. He dreams of finding a soulmate who will bring meaning to his empty life and fill his heart with joy. In his innocence and deep longing, he converses with elements of nature like peacocks, the moon, and trees, asking them for gifts to prepare for a beloved he has not yet met.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Meenaa maari neeril neendhanum / Kuyilaa maari vinnil parakanum

Comparing the desire to swim freely like a fish ('Meenaa maari') and fly in the sky like a cuckoo ('Kuyilaa maari').

Personification (Tharutkollal)

Mayilae mayilae thogai tharuviya / Nilavae nilavae vinmeen tharuviya

Addressing non-human elements of nature directly (Peacock, Moon, Tree) as if they are sentient beings who can converse and grant favors.

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

Mayilae mayilae / Nilavae nilavae / Maramae maramae

Repetition of words at the beginning of consecutive lines for poetic emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Kaathuku Pookal Sondham' is from the 2000 Tamil romantic drama film 'Kannan Varuvaan', starring Karthik, Divya Unni, and Goundamani. The soundtrack was composed by Sirpy, with lyrics written by Pa. Vijay.

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