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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Pokiri Raathiri

From Idhu Namma Bhoomi · 1992

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, Swarnalatha
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Idhu Namma Bhoomi1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oru pokkiri raathiriA rogue night's
Paarkkura paarvai thaanVery gaze,
Unna thaakkudhu kekkudhuStrikes you and makes demands;
Pookkudhu aasai thaanDesire blooms indeed!
Male
Pirakkudhu sabalam sabalamTemptation is born, temptation!
Koduppadhu sulabam sulabamTo give in is easy, easy!
Mana kaayangal aaraadho kaadhalaal thaanWon't heart's wounds heal through love alone?
Oru aarudhal koorinen aadhalaal thaanI offered a word of comfort, that is why!
Male
Oru pokkiri raathiriA rogue night's
Paarkkura paarvai thaanVery gaze...
Male
Kalloori vaasalilae nattu vaithaPlanted at the college gates,
Kaadhal vidhaiThe seed of love,
Kaayaagi kanindhu varumWill grow into fruit and ripen,
Kaalam ulla kaalam varaiFor as long as time endures!
Female
Kalyaana pandhalukkuFor the wedding canopy,
Kaathirukkum vaazha idhuThis plantain tree awaits.
Kannaa un kai anaikkaOh my love, to be embraced in your arms,
Poothirukkum thaazhai idhuThis fragrant screwpine has bloomed.
Male
Singaara maeni thaanA gorgeous form indeed,
Sokka velli paarkudamA pure silver pot of milk.
Female
Sindhaamal nee idhaiWithout spilling a drop,
Allugindra naal varumThe day you gather it up will come.
Male
Eppodhu aarambamWhen will it begin,
Andhappura naadagamThe drama of the inner palace?
Female
Yen indha thaamadhamWhy this delay?
Enna solla kaaranamWhat reason can be given?
Male
Kaathiru kannaeWait, my dear!
Kodi naattalaam hoiWe can hoist our flag, oh!
Female
Kaadhalae vellumThat love will triumph,
Ena kaattalaam hoiWe can demonstrate, oh!
Male
Oru pokkiri raathiriA rogue night's
Paarkkura paarvai thaanVery gaze...
Female :Unna thaakkudhu kekkudhuStrikes you and makes demands;
Pookkudhu aasai thaanDesire blooms indeed!
Female
Ennodu nee irundhaalIf you are with me,
Nenjukkoru nimmadhi thaanThere is peace for my heart.
Illaamal thanithirundhaalIf left alone without you,
Ambu patta paingili thaanI am a young parrot struck by an arrow.
Male
Eppodhum en manadhuAlways my heart
Unnai suttri kolam idumDraws traditional patterns around you.
Thannandhani endrirundhaalIf left all by itself,
Thathalitthu olam idumIt falters and cries out in distress.
Female
En koondhal vaendudhuMy hair yearns for
Unnudaiya poo charamYour string of flowers.
Ennaalil kai varumOn which day will it reach my hand,
Unnudaiya modhiramYour wedding ring?
Male
En dhaegam yaavumaeMy entire body
Unnudaiya seedhanamIs your dowry and gift.
Paarthaalum theerumoWill it ever be satisfied by just looking,
Un azhagu noodhanamAt your fresh, novel beauty?
Female
Kaadhalaal koovumCooing with love,
Oru poonguyil hoiA songbird of flowers, oh!
Male
Poonguyil maevumSought by the songbird,
Ilam aan kuyil hoiA young male cuckoo, oh!
Female
Oru pokkiri raathiriA rogue night's
Paarkkura paarvai thaanVery gaze,
Unna thaakkudhu kekkudhuStrikes you and makes demands;
Pookkudhu aasai thaanDesire blooms indeed!
Female
Pirakkudhu sabalam sabalamTemptation is born, temptation!
Koduppadhu sulabam sulabamTo give in is easy, easy!
Mana kaayangal aaraadho kaadhalaal thaanWon't heart's wounds heal through love alone?
Oru aarudhal koorinen aadhalaal thaanI offered a word of comfort, that is why!
Male
Oru pokkiri raathiriA rogue night's
Paarkkura paarvai thaanVery gaze,
Female
Unna thaakkudhu kekkudhuStrikes you and makes demands;
Pookkudhu aasai thaanDesire blooms indeed!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Oru Pokkiri Raathiri' captures a romantic conversation between two lovers exploring their deep physical passion and spiritual togetherness. Describing the alluring, mysterious nature of the night as a 'rogue', the lyrics depict how nocturnal solitude heightens desire and stirs sweet temptations that only mutual affection can soothe.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Pirakkudhu sabalam sabalam / Koduppadhu sulabam sulabam

The second letter 'ra' (in Pirakkudhu) and 'du' (in Koduppadhu) mirror rhythm, while 'sabalam' and 'sulabam' match structural rhyming pattern in Tamil poetry.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Sokka velli paarkudam

The lover's pure body and innocence are metaphorically equated to a flawless silver pot filled with milk.

Simile (Upamani)

Ambu patta paingili thaan

The woman compares her helpless, aching state when separated from her lover to a sweet parrot wounded by an arrow.

Monai (First-letter Alliteration)

Kaathiru kannae / Kodi naattalaam hoi

Alliteration of the initial 'Ka' sound across consecutive phrases creates a pleasant musical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film *Idhu Namma Bhoomi* (1992) stars Vijayakanth and Kushboo, directed by P. Vasu with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics penned by the celebrated poet Vaali.

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