Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Pagalil Oru Iravu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

llamai Enum Poongaatru

From Pagalil Oru Iravu · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Pagalil Oru Iravu
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
9 Feb 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ilamaiyenum poongaatru
Paadiyadhu oru paattu
Oru pozhudu oru aasai
Sugam sugam adhilae orae sugam
Ilamaiyenum poongaatru
Paadiyadhu oru paattu
Oru pozhudu oru aasai
Sugam sugam adhilae orae sugam
Orae veenai orae raagam
Thannai marandhu
Mannil vizhundhu
Ilamai malarin meedhu
Thannai izhandha vandu
Dhega sugaththil kavanam
Kaattu vazhiyil payanam
Gangai nadhikku
Mannil anaiyaa…
Ilamaiyenum poongaatru
Angam muzhudhum
Pongum ilamai
Idham padhamaai thondra
Alli anaiththa kaigal
Ketka ninaiththaal marandhaal
Kelvi ezhumun vizhundhaal
Endha udalo
Endha uravo
Ilamaiyenum poongaatru
Mangai inamum
Mannan inamum
Kulam gunamum enna
Dhegam thudiththaal kannedhu
Koondhal kalaindha kaniyae
Konji suvaiththa kiliyae
Intha nilaidhaan
Enna vidhiyoo
Ilamaiyenum poongaatru
Paadiyadhu oru paattu
Oru pozhudil oru aasai
Sugam sugam adhilae orae sugam
Orae veenai orae raagam
Orae veenai orae raagam
The gentle breeze called youth
Sang a song.
A desire born of a moment,
Pleasure, pleasure—nothing but pure joy.
The gentle breeze called youth
Sang a song.
A desire born of a moment,
Pleasure, pleasure—nothing but pure joy.
One veena, one melody.
Forgetting itself,
Falling to the ground,
Upon the flower of youth,
A beetle lost itself in passion.
Focused only on the pleasures of the body,
A journey down a wild path.
For the flowing river Ganga,
Can an earthen dam hold it back?
The gentle breeze called youth...
All over the body,
Youth overflowed,
Feeling soothing and tender.
Hands gathered and embraced,
She thought to question, but forgot;
Before a question could arise, she surrendered.
Whichever body it was...
Whatever the bond was...
The gentle breeze called youth...
Womanhood,
And manhood—
What do lineage or character matter?
When the body aches with desire, it is blind.
O sweet fruit with tousled hair,
O tender parrot caressed and tasted,
This helpless state,
What kind of fate is it?
The gentle breeze called youth
Sang a song.
A desire born of a moment,
Pleasure, pleasure—nothing but pure joy.
One veena, one melody.
One veena, one melody.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Ilamaiyenum Poongaatru is a deeply evocative song exploring the irresistible pull of youth, desire, and physical intimacy. Kannadasan poetically depicts how passion intoxicates the human spirit through delicate metaphors of bees, flowers, and unrestrained rivers. The lyrics portray how intense sensory pleasure temporarily erases awareness of social boundaries, moral questioning, and self-restraint, likening youthful passion to a journey through a wild path where physical longing overflows beyond control. Ultimately, the song reflects on the helplessness of human beings when consumed by love and physical desire, framing intimacy as an overwhelming force of destiny. It blends a contemplative tone with sensory rich imagery to highlight both the bliss and the melancholic vulnerability of surrender.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Ilamaiyenum poongaatru”

Youth is directly compared to a gentle breeze ('Ilamaiyenum poongaatru'), establishing the light yet pervasive atmosphere of desire.

Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Thannai marandhu / Mannil vizhundhu”

The second consonant 'nna' rhymes across adjacent lines ('Thannai' / 'Mannil'), creating rhythmic harmony in Tamil poetry.

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa)

“Gangai nadhikku / Mannil anaiyaa…”

The lyricist asks rhetorically whether an earthen dam can hold back a surging river like the Ganges, symbolizing uncontrollable youthful passion.

Visual and Tactile Imagery

“Koondhal kalaindha kaniyae”

Sensory words like 'Koondhal kalaindha kaniyae' (fruit with tousled hair) evoke vivid visual and intimate touch imagery.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam for the 1979 film 'Pagalil Oru Iravu', this song is historically famous for its revolutionary acoustic guitar bassline and smooth arrangement, which set a new benchmark for romantic compositions in Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Kaatru Vaanga Ponen1965
Kalangarai VilakkamBeautyNature
Thendral Vandhu1967
PanthayamDesireBeauty
Senthazham Poovil1978
Mullum MalarumNatureDesire
Azhagiya Thennajsolai1968
Deiveega UravuNatureBeauty
Thendral Varum Theru1994
Thendral Varum TheruNatureBeauty
Un Kathodu Kathoru1982
NijangalYouthDesire

From the same album

More songs from Pagalil Oru Iravu

View album
Thottam Konda Rasave1979
Pagalil Oru IravuCelebratory
Ponnaram Poovaram1979
Pagalil Oru IravuRomantic
Kalaiyo Silaiyo1979
Pagalil Oru IravuRomantic
Thaamtha Theemtha Aadum1979
Pagalil Oru IravuCelebratory

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.