Oru Poonga Vanam
From Agni Natchathiram · 1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Oru poongaavanam pudhumanam | A flower garden with a fresh fragrance, |
| Adhil romaanjanam dhinam dhinam | Filled with new thrills day after day. |
| Ulaavarum kanaakkal kannilae | Wandering dreams floating in the eyes, |
| Oraayiram vinaakkal nenjilae… | A thousand questions lingering in the heart... |
| Female | |
| Oru poongaavanam pudhumanam | A flower garden with a fresh fragrance. |
| Female | |
| Naan kaalainera thaamarai | I am a lotus blooming in the morning, |
| En gaanam yaavum thenmazhai | All my songs are a shower of honey. |
| Naan kaalnadakkum devadhai | I am an angel walking on earth, |
| En kovilindha maaligai | This grand mansion is my temple. |
| Ennaalum thendral vanthu veesidum | Every day, the gentle breeze blows past, |
| Ennodu thozhi pola pesidum | Talking to me just like a close friend. |
| Ulaavarum kanaakkal kannilae | Wandering dreams floating in the eyes, |
| Oraayiram vinaakkal nenjilae… | A thousand questions lingering in the heart... |
| Female | |
| Oru poongaavanam pudhumanam | A flower garden with a fresh fragrance. |
| Female | |
| Naan vaanavillai vendinaal | If I ever wish for a rainbow, |
| Orr vilaikoduthu vaanguven | I will buy it no matter the price. |
| Ven mega koottam yaavaiyum | All these clusters of white clouds, |
| En methaiyaakki thoonguven | I will turn into my bed and sleep on them. |
| Santhosha pookkal enthan solaiyil | Flowers of joy bloom in my garden, |
| Sangeetham paadum anthi maalaiyil | Singing melodious tunes in the twilight evening. |
| Ulaavarum kanaakkal kannilae | Wandering dreams floating in the eyes, |
| Oraayiram vinaakkal nenjilae… | A thousand questions lingering in the heart... |
| Female | |
| Oru poongaavanam pudhumanam | A flower garden with a fresh fragrance. |
| Ulaavarum kanaakkal kannilae | Wandering dreams floating in the eyes, |
| Oraayiram vinaakkal nenjilae… | A thousand questions lingering in the heart... |
| Oru poongaavanam pudhumanam…. | A flower garden with a fresh fragrance.... |
ஒரு பூங்காவனம்
புதுமணம் அதில் ரோமாஞ்சனம்
தினம்தினம் உலாவரும் கனாக்கள்
கண்ணிலே ஓராயிரம் வினாக்கள்
நெஞ்சிலே
A flower garden with a fresh fragrance,
Filled with new thrills day after day.
Wandering dreams floating in the eyes,
A thousand questions lingering in the heart...
ஒரு பூங்காவனம்
புதுமணம்
A flower garden with a fresh fragrance.
நான் காலைநேரத்
தாமரை என் கானம் யாவும்
தேன்மழை நான் கால்நடக்கும்
தேவதை என் கோவில் இந்த
மாளிகை எந்நாளும் தென்றல்
வந்து வீசிடும் என்னோடு தோழி
போலப் பேசிடும் உலாவரும்
கனாக்கள் கண்ணிலே ஓராயிரம்
வினாக்கள் நெஞ்சிலே
I am a lotus blooming in the morning,
All my songs are a shower of honey.
I am an angel walking on earth,
This grand mansion is my temple.
Every day, the gentle breeze blows past,
Talking to me just like a close friend.
Wandering dreams floating in the eyes,
A thousand questions lingering in the heart...
ஒரு பூங்காவனம்
புதுமணம்
A flower garden with a fresh fragrance.
நான் வானவில்லை
வேண்டினால் ஓர் விலை
கொடுத்து வாங்குவேன்
வெண் மேகக் கூட்டம்
யாவையும் என் மெத்தையாக்கி
தூங்குவேன் சந்தோஷப் பூக்கள்
எந்தன் சோலையில் சங்கீதம்
பாடும் அந்தி மாலையில் உலா
வரும் கனாக்கள் கண்ணிலே
ஓராயிரம் வினாக்கள் நெஞ்சிலே
If I ever wish for a rainbow,
I will buy it no matter the price.
All these clusters of white clouds,
I will turn into my bed and sleep on them.
Flowers of joy bloom in my garden,
Singing melodious tunes in the twilight evening.
Wandering dreams floating in the eyes,
A thousand questions lingering in the heart...
ஒரு பூங்காவனம்
புதுமணம் உலாவரும்
கனாக்கள் கண்ணிலே
ஓராயிரம் வினாக்கள்
நெஞ்சிலே ஒரு பூங்காவனம்
புதுமணம்
A flower garden with a fresh fragrance.
Wandering dreams floating in the eyes,
A thousand questions lingering in the heart...
A flower garden with a fresh fragrance....
Oru poongaavanam pudhumanam
A flower garden with a fresh fragrance,
Adhil romaanjanam dhinam dhinam
Filled with new thrills day after day.
Ulaavarum kanaakkal kannilae
Wandering dreams floating in the eyes,
Oraayiram vinaakkal nenjilae…
A thousand questions lingering in the heart...
Oru poongaavanam pudhumanam
A flower garden with a fresh fragrance.
Naan kaalainera thaamarai
I am a lotus blooming in the morning,
En gaanam yaavum thenmazhai
All my songs are a shower of honey.
Naan kaalnadakkum devadhai
I am an angel walking on earth,
En kovilindha maaligai
This grand mansion is my temple.
Ennaalum thendral vanthu veesidum
Every day, the gentle breeze blows past,
Ennodu thozhi pola pesidum
Talking to me just like a close friend.
Ulaavarum kanaakkal kannilae
Wandering dreams floating in the eyes,
Oraayiram vinaakkal nenjilae…
A thousand questions lingering in the heart...
Oru poongaavanam pudhumanam
A flower garden with a fresh fragrance.
Naan vaanavillai vendinaal
If I ever wish for a rainbow,
Orr vilaikoduthu vaanguven
I will buy it no matter the price.
Ven mega koottam yaavaiyum
All these clusters of white clouds,
En methaiyaakki thoonguven
I will turn into my bed and sleep on them.
Santhosha pookkal enthan solaiyil
Flowers of joy bloom in my garden,
Sangeetham paadum anthi maalaiyil
Singing melodious tunes in the twilight evening.
Ulaavarum kanaakkal kannilae
Wandering dreams floating in the eyes,
Oraayiram vinaakkal nenjilae…
A thousand questions lingering in the heart...
Oru poongaavanam pudhumanam
A flower garden with a fresh fragrance.
Ulaavarum kanaakkal kannilae
Wandering dreams floating in the eyes,
Oraayiram vinaakkal nenjilae…
A thousand questions lingering in the heart...
Oru poongaavanam pudhumanam….
A flower garden with a fresh fragrance....
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a joyful celebration of youthful fantasy, innocence, and carefree exuberance. The protagonist describes her life as a vibrant, fragrant flower garden overflowing with grand dreams and tender curiosities. Living in a world of luxury and imagination, she sees herself as a morning lotus and a walking angel who converses with the gentle breeze like a companion.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Naan kaalainera thaamarai / En gaanam yaavum thenmazhai”
The speaker directly equates herself to a fresh 'morning lotus' and her singing to a 'rain of honey', poetically emphasizing her purity and sweet voice.
Simile (Uwamai Ani)
“Ennodu thozhi pola pesidum”
The gentle breeze (thendral) is explicitly compared to a female friend ('thozhi pola') who converses with her.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)
“Naan vaanavillai vendinaal orr vilaikoduthu vaanguven”
Exaggeration used to depict youthful grandeur—claiming she can purchase a rainbow if she desires one.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Santhosha pookkal enthan solaiyil / Sangeetham paadum anthi maalaiyil”
Repetition of the initial 'Sa' sound in 'Santhosha' and 'Sangeetham' creates a pleasant auditory rhythm.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. Janaki, 'Oru Poongaavanam Pudhumanam' from Agni Natchathiram (1988) is famous for its lush orchestrations and modern jazz-pop fusion sensibilities. Directed by Mani Ratnam, the song's visual aesthetic—featuring actress Nirosha—is widely celebrated for cinematographer P.C. Sreeram's iconic use of soft lighting, smoke effects, and dynamic framing.
Keep listening
More from Agni Natchathiram
Agni Natchathiram
Agni Natchathiram
Agni Natchathiram
Agni Natchathiram