O Shalini
From Pooveli · 1998
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Bharathwaj
- Details
- Pooveli1998
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| O shalini …o shalini | Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini |
| Kaadhal pennae thevai illai kobam | My beloved girl, there is no need for anger |
| Pookalukku pal mulaithaal paavam | If flowers grow teeth, it is a pity! |
| Hey kaadhal pennae thevai illai kobam | Hey my beloved girl, there is no need for anger |
| Pookalukku pal mulaithaal paavam | If flowers grow teeth, it is a pity! |
| Male | |
| Ennai paaraamal ponaal | If you go without looking at me |
| En ilamai thoongathadi | My youth will not sleep, my girl |
| Naan unnai chaeraamal ponaal | If I do not unite with you |
| Usal suttaalum vegaathadi | Even if roasted, the pulse will not cook, my girl |
| Male | |
| O shalini …o shalini | Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini |
| O shalini …o shalini | Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini |
| Kaadhal pennae thevai illai kobam | My beloved girl, there is no need for anger |
| Pookalukku pal mulaithaal paavam | If flowers grow teeth, it is a pity |
| Male | |
| Muga kangal paartha pinnae | After seeing through the eyes on my face |
| Naga kangal thoongaathu | Even the eyes on my fingernails cannot sleep |
| Kaadhalil soodu kandaal | If love catches heat |
| Thermometer thaangaathu | A thermometer cannot withstand it |
| Male | |
| Vinnodu erintha karkal | Stones thrown into the sky |
| Vinnai thaandi pogaathu | Cannot cross beyond the sky |
| Enakendru pirantha roja | The rose born just for me |
| Ennai thaandi pogaathu | Cannot go beyond me |
| Male | |
| Kanindha un paarvai | A single ripe glance from you |
| Ondru pothumae | Is more than enough |
| Kuraindha en ratham | My depleted blood |
| Meendum oodumae | Will flow once again |
| Naan pitchai ketten pennae | I begged like a mendicant, my girl |
| En odu udaithaai kannae | You broke my begging bowl, my darling |
| En nasta eedai unnai mattum ketpenae | As compensation for my loss, I will demand only you! |
| Male | |
| O shalini …o shalini | Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini |
| O shalini …o shalini | Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini |
| Kaadhal pennae thevai illai kobam | My beloved girl, there is no need for anger |
| Pookalukku pal mulaithaal paavam | If flowers grow teeth, it is a pity |
| Female | |
| Haa….aa.a….aaa….. | Haa….aa.a….aaa….. |
| Haa….aaa….aaa…..aa…….aa….aa…. | Haa….aaa….aaa…..aa…….aa….aa…. |
| Male | |
| En pola kaadhal seidhaal | If someone loves like I do |
| Lailaavum masivaalae | Even Laila would melt |
| Majunuvai maranthu vittu | She would forget Majnu |
| Ennoda varuvaalae | And come away with me |
| Male | |
| Madi yendhi ketta pinnum | Even after I ask with open hands |
| Marupathu nandralla | Refusing me is not good |
| Vayasukku vantha pinnum | Even after coming of age |
| Nee innum pennalla | You still do not act like a woman |
| Male | |
| Kangalil kaayangal paaradi | Look at the wounds in my eyes, girl |
| Kaadhalil van murai yen adi | Why this violence in love, girl? |
| Naan kenji kettu paarthen | I tried pleading and begging |
| Ini thirudi kolla paarthen | Now I will try to steal |
| Un koondhal mudhal paadham varai | From your hair down to your feet |
| Kollai adippen | I will plunder everything! |
| Male | |
| O shalini …o shalini | Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini |
| O shalini …o shalini | Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini |
| Kaadhal pennae thevai illai kobam | My beloved girl, there is no need for anger |
| Pookalukku pal mulaithaal paavam haan | If flowers grow teeth, it is a pity, haan |
| Male | |
| Ennai paaraamal ponaal | If you go without looking at me |
| En ilamai thoongathadi | My youth will not sleep, my girl |
| Naan unnai chaeraamal ponaal | If I do not unite with you |
| Usal suttaalum vegaathadi | Even if roasted, the pulse will not cook, my girl |
| Male | |
| O shalini …o shalini | Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini |
| O shalini …o shalini | Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini |
| Kaadhal pennae thevai illai kobam | My beloved girl, there is no need for anger |
| Pookalukku pal mulaithaal aiyooo paavam | If flowers grow teeth, oh dear, it is a pity! |
ஓ ஷாலினி....ஓ ஷாலினி
காதல் பெண்ணே தேவை இல்லை கோபம்
பூக்களுக்கு பல் முளைத்தால் பாவம்
ஹேய் காதல் பெண்ணே தேவை இல்லை கோபம்
பூக்களுக்கு பல் முளைத்தால் பாவம்
Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini
My beloved girl, there is no need for anger
If flowers grow teeth, it is a pity!
Hey my beloved girl, there is no need for anger
If flowers grow teeth, it is a pity!
என்னை பாராமல் போனால்
என் இளமை தூங்காதடி
நான் உன்னை சேராமல் போனால்
உடல் சுட்டாலும் வேகாதடி
If you go without looking at me
My youth will not sleep, my girl
If I do not unite with you
Even if roasted, the pulse will not cook, my girl
ஓ ஷாலினி....ஓ ஷாலினி
ஓ ஷாலினி....ஓ ஷாலினி
காதல் பெண்ணே தேவை இல்லை கோபம்
பூக்களுக்கு பல் முளைத்தால் பாவம்
Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini
Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini
My beloved girl, there is no need for anger
If flowers grow teeth, it is a pity
முக கண்கள் பார்த்த பின்னே
நக கண்கள் தூங்காது
காதலில் சூடு கண்டால்
தெர்மாமீட்டர் தாங்காது
After seeing through the eyes on my face
Even the eyes on my fingernails cannot sleep
If love catches heat
A thermometer cannot withstand it
விண்ணோடு எறிந்த கற்கள்
விண்ணை தாண்டி போகாது
எனக்கென்று பிறந்த ரோஜா
என்னை தாண்டி போகாது
Stones thrown into the sky
Cannot cross beyond the sky
The rose born just for me
Cannot go beyond me
கனிந்த உன் பார்வை
ஒன்று போதுமே
உறைந்த என் ரத்தம்
மீண்டும் ஓடுமே
நான் பிச்சை கேட்டேன் பெண்ணே
என் ஓடு உடைத்தாய் கண்ணே
என் நஷ்ட ஈடாய் உன்னை மட்டும் கேட்பேனே
A single ripe glance from you
Is more than enough
My depleted blood
Will flow once again
I begged like a mendicant, my girl
You broke my begging bowl, my darling
As compensation for my loss, I will demand only you!
ஓ ஷாலினி....ஓ ஷாலினி
ஓ ஷாலினி....ஓ ஷாலினி
காதல் பெண்ணே தேவை இல்லை கோபம்
பூக்களுக்கு பல் முளைத்தால் பாவம்
Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini
Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini
My beloved girl, there is no need for anger
If flowers grow teeth, it is a pity
ஹா....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....
ஹா....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆ.....ஆ....ஆ....
Haa….aa.a….aaa…..
Haa….aaa….aaa…..aa…….aa….aa….
என் போல காதல் செய்தால்
லைலாவும் மசிவாலே
மஜ்னுவை மறந்துவிட்டு
என்னோடு வருவாளே
If someone loves like I do
Even Laila would melt
She would forget Majnu
And come away with me
மடி ஏந்தி கேட்டபின்னும்
மறுப்பது நன்றல்ல
வயசுக்கு வந்த பின்னும்
நீயும் பெண்ணல்ல
Even after I ask with open hands
Refusing me is not good
Even after coming of age
You still do not act like a woman
கண்களில் காயங்கள் பாரடி
காதலில் வன்முறை ஏனடி
நான் கெஞ்சி கேட்டு பார்த்தேன்
இனி திருடி கொள்ள பார்த்தேன்
உன் கூந்தல் முதல் பாதம் வரை
கொள்ளை அடிப்பேன்
Look at the wounds in my eyes, girl
Why this violence in love, girl?
I tried pleading and begging
Now I will try to steal
From your hair down to your feet
I will plunder everything!
ஓ ஷாலினி....ஓ ஷாலினி
ஓ ஷாலினி....ஓ ஷாலினி
காதல் பெண்ணே தேவை இல்லை கோபம்
பூக்களுக்கு பல் முளைத்தால் பாவம்
Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini
Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini
My beloved girl, there is no need for anger
If flowers grow teeth, it is a pity, haan
என்னை பாராமல் போனால்
என் இளமை தூங்காதடி
நான் உன்னை சேராமல் போனால்
உசல் சுட்டாலும் வேகாதடி
If you go without looking at me
My youth will not sleep, my girl
If I do not unite with you
Even if roasted, the pulse will not cook, my girl
ஓ ஷாலினி....ஓ ஷாலினி
ஓ ஷாலினி....ஓ ஷாலினி
காதல் பெண்ணே தேவை இல்லை கோபம்
பூக்களுக்கு பல் முளைத்தால் ஐயோ பாவம்
Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini
Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini
My beloved girl, there is no need for anger
If flowers grow teeth, oh dear, it is a pity!
O shalini …o shalini
Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini
Kaadhal pennae thevai illai kobam
My beloved girl, there is no need for anger
Pookalukku pal mulaithaal paavam
If flowers grow teeth, it is a pity!
Hey kaadhal pennae thevai illai kobam
Hey my beloved girl, there is no need for anger
Pookalukku pal mulaithaal paavam
If flowers grow teeth, it is a pity!
Ennai paaraamal ponaal
If you go without looking at me
En ilamai thoongathadi
My youth will not sleep, my girl
Naan unnai chaeraamal ponaal
If I do not unite with you
Usal suttaalum vegaathadi
Even if roasted, the pulse will not cook, my girl
O shalini …o shalini
Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini
O shalini …o shalini
Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini
Kaadhal pennae thevai illai kobam
My beloved girl, there is no need for anger
Pookalukku pal mulaithaal paavam
If flowers grow teeth, it is a pity
Muga kangal paartha pinnae
After seeing through the eyes on my face
Naga kangal thoongaathu
Even the eyes on my fingernails cannot sleep
Kaadhalil soodu kandaal
If love catches heat
Thermometer thaangaathu
A thermometer cannot withstand it
Vinnodu erintha karkal
Stones thrown into the sky
Vinnai thaandi pogaathu
Cannot cross beyond the sky
Enakendru pirantha roja
The rose born just for me
Ennai thaandi pogaathu
Cannot go beyond me
Kanindha un paarvai
A single ripe glance from you
Ondru pothumae
Is more than enough
Kuraindha en ratham
My depleted blood
Meendum oodumae
Will flow once again
Naan pitchai ketten pennae
I begged like a mendicant, my girl
En odu udaithaai kannae
You broke my begging bowl, my darling
En nasta eedai unnai mattum ketpenae
As compensation for my loss, I will demand only you!
O shalini …o shalini
Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini
O shalini …o shalini
Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini
Kaadhal pennae thevai illai kobam
My beloved girl, there is no need for anger
Pookalukku pal mulaithaal paavam
If flowers grow teeth, it is a pity
Haa….aa.a….aaa…..
Haa….aa.a….aaa…..
Haa….aaa….aaa…..aa…….aa….aa….
Haa….aaa….aaa…..aa…….aa….aa….
En pola kaadhal seidhaal
If someone loves like I do
Lailaavum masivaalae
Even Laila would melt
Majunuvai maranthu vittu
She would forget Majnu
Ennoda varuvaalae
And come away with me
Madi yendhi ketta pinnum
Even after I ask with open hands
Marupathu nandralla
Refusing me is not good
Vayasukku vantha pinnum
Even after coming of age
Nee innum pennalla
You still do not act like a woman
Kangalil kaayangal paaradi
Look at the wounds in my eyes, girl
Kaadhalil van murai yen adi
Why this violence in love, girl?
Naan kenji kettu paarthen
I tried pleading and begging
Ini thirudi kolla paarthen
Now I will try to steal
Un koondhal mudhal paadham varai
From your hair down to your feet
Kollai adippen
I will plunder everything!
O shalini …o shalini
Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini
O shalini …o shalini
Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini
Kaadhal pennae thevai illai kobam
My beloved girl, there is no need for anger
Pookalukku pal mulaithaal paavam haan
If flowers grow teeth, it is a pity, haan
Ennai paaraamal ponaal
If you go without looking at me
En ilamai thoongathadi
My youth will not sleep, my girl
Naan unnai chaeraamal ponaal
If I do not unite with you
Usal suttaalum vegaathadi
Even if roasted, the pulse will not cook, my girl
O shalini …o shalini
Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini
O shalini …o shalini
Oh Shalini... Oh Shalini
Kaadhal pennae thevai illai kobam
My beloved girl, there is no need for anger
Pookalukku pal mulaithaal aiyooo paavam
If flowers grow teeth, oh dear, it is a pity!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'O Shalini' is a lively and charming romantic song from the movie Pooveli (1998). The protagonist earnestly woos his beloved, Shalini, pleading with her to shed her anger. Through surreal hyperbole and colorful imagery, he compares her soft, delicate beauty to a flower, remarking that her anger is as bizarre and unnatural as a flower growing sharp teeth. He conveys how her distance disrupts his peace, causing him restless nights and draining his vitality. As the song unfolds, the hero playfully boasts about the unmatched depth of his passion, claiming it could even lure the legendary Laila away from Majnu. He highlights how a mere glance from her revitalizes him, moving from gentle entreaties to humorous threats of 'robbing' her affection entirely from hair to toe. Written by Vairamuthu, the song encapsulates intense romantic longing, playful charm, and classic Tamil poetic tropes.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navirchi Ani)
“Kaadhalil soodu kandaal / Thermometer thaangaathu”
Exaggerates the heat of love to such an extreme level that a scientific instrument like a thermometer would break.
Metaphor & Imagery
“Pookalukku pal mulaithaal paavam”
Compares the delicate nature of a woman to a soft flower, presenting her anger through the vivid, unnatural imagery of a flower growing teeth.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyming)
“Muga kangal paartha pinnae / Naga kangal thoongaathu”
The second consonant 'ga' in 'Muga' and 'Naga' creates a harmonious Tamil rhythmic rhyme across the consecutive lines.
Allusion (Thonmam)
“Lailaavum masivaalae / Majunuvai maranthu vittu”
Refers to the famous folk tale of Laila and Majnu to emphasize the compelling force of his love.
Did you know?
Trivia
'O Shalini' from Pooveli (1998) features music composed by Bharadwaj and was rendered by singer Hariharan. Director Vikraman's films are renowned for wholesome family dramas and chartbuster music, and Pooveli was one of Bharadwaj's major breakthrough albums in the late 1990s. Lyricist Vairamuthu famously incorporated modern terms and scientific metaphors (like 'thermometer') alongside traditional poetic idioms in this song.
Keep listening
More from Pooveli
Pooveli
Pooveli
Pooveli
Pooveli
Pooveli
Pooveli