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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Poovai Pondra

From Thappu Kanakku · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Thappu Kanakku1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Aaa….aahaa….haa….aa….Aaa… aahaa… haa… aa…
Female :Aa….aa….aa….Female: Aa… aa… aa…
Chorus :Aaa….aahaa….haa….aa….Chorus: Aaa… aahaa… haa… aa…
Female :Aa….aa….aa….Female: Aa… aa… aa…
Chorus :Aaa….aahaa….haa….aa….Chorus: Aaa… aahaa… haa… aa…
Aaa….aahaa….haa…..aa….aa…..aa….aa…Aaa… aahaa… haa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Female
Oru poovai pdra poovai ivalThis girl, who was once a tender flower bud,
Indru poojai malaraanaalHas today become a sacred flower offered in worship.
Dhinam theyum nilavaaitheintha magalThe daughter who waned like the moon day by day,
Indru kovil vilakkaanaalHas today turned into the bright lamp of the temple.
Thiru koyil vilakkaanaalShe has become the sacred temple lamp.
Male
Vaanam bhoomi vaazhththuraikkaAs the heavens and earth shower their blessings,
Pudhu gaanam paadugiraalShe sings a joyous new melody.
Maalai soodum mannavaninOn the sacred chest of her king who wears the garland,
Thiru maarbil aadugiraalShe sways gracefully in love.
Thiru maarbil aadugiraalShe sways gracefully on his sacred chest.
Male
Maadhoru muththucharamA string of pearls among women,
Naaloru aththippazham thenil kuzhaikkindraalShe blends a fig fruit in honey every single day.
Naan aval pakkam vara naalvagai vetkkam varaAs I draw near her, triggering the four types of shyness,
Thegam kothikkindraalHer body boils with yearning passion.
Female
Kadhalan paththu tharamThe lover touches her ten times over,
Kai thoda vittu tharum kaalam pirakkaathoWill a time not dawn that allows his hands to touch freely?
Kovalan anbai perumReceiving Kovalan's deep love,
Maadhavi anthapuram vaasal thirakkaathoWill the doors to Madhavi's inner sanctum not open wide?
Male
Nam uravugal malarnthathu kannaalaeOur bond blossomed through our eyes, my dear,
Inba ulagangal therinthathu pennaalaeWorlds of pure bliss were revealed through this woman.
Female :En pozhuthugal pularnthathu unnaalaeFemale: My new dawns arrived only because of you,
Aasai vizhuthugal valarnthathu thannaalaeThe roots of desire grew naturally on their own.
Male
Vaanam bhoomi vaazhththuraikkaAs the heavens and earth shower their blessings,
Pudhu gaanam paadugiraalShe sings a joyous new melody.
Maalai soodum mannavaninOn the sacred chest of her king who wears the garland,
Thiru maarbil aadugiraalShe sways gracefully in love.
Thiru maarbil aadugiraalShe sways gracefully on his sacred chest.
Chorus
Aaa….aahaa….haa….aa….Aaa… aahaa… haa… aa…
Aaa….aahaa….haa…..aa….aa…..aa….aa…Aaa… aahaa… haa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Male
Naayagan thottuth tharaAs the hero touches and bestows affection,
Naayagi vittu thara kadhal vilaiyaattuAnd the heroine yields, it becomes the romantic play of love.
Naanoru muththam tharaFor me to give a loving kiss,
Nee athai niththam thara maanae thalaiyaattuNod your head, my gentle deer, to yield to it daily!
Female
Naaduthu itchaikili naanuthu pachchai kiliThe bird of desire yearns while the green parrot blushes,
Mogam thaniyaathoWill this intense longing ever subside?
Aasaiyil ullam vara anantha vellam varaAs the heart overflows with desire and a flood of bliss arrives,
Aadai nanaiyaathoWill our garments not get drenched?
Male
En unarchigal ezhunthathu ippothuMy deep feelings have awakened right now,
Naangu udhadugal inaivathu eppothuWhen will our four lips finally unite?
Female :En uruvamum paruvamum ennaagumFemale: What will become of my form and youthful beauty?
Unthan viral pada viral thoda punnaagumIf your fingers touch and trace me, it turns into a tender wound of bliss!
Female
Oru poovai pdra poovai ivalThis girl, who was once a tender flower bud,
Indru poojai malaraanaalHas today become a sacred flower offered in worship.
Male :Maalai soodum mannavaninMale: On the sacred chest of her king who wears the garland,
Thiru maarbil aadugiraal aaa…..She sways gracefully on his sacred chest, ah…
Thiru maarbil aadugiraalShe sways gracefully on his sacred chest.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song celebrates the transformative journey of love, innocence, and marital union. It portrays a woman who transitions from a delicate flower bud into a venerated temple lamp, symbolizing her elevated role and sacred dignity in her lover's life. The lyrics capture the tender interplay of intimacy, shyness, and rising passion between the lovers, comparing their affection to iconic literary lore such as the love story of Kovalan and Madhavi from Silappatikaram. The romantic dialogue expresses a deep emotional and sensory connection where desire blossoms organically. Through vivid imagery of nature, flowers, and intimate touch, the song highlights the spiritual and physical union of two souls whose love is celebrated and blessed by the heavens and the earth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani (Simile) & Metaphor

Dhinam theyum nilavaaitheintha magal / Indru kovil vilakkaanaal

Compares the woman fading like a moon to becoming a glowing sanctuary lamp, metaphorically describing her transformation.

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Maadhoru muththucharam / Naaloru aththippazham thenil kuzhaikkindraal

The second letter 'd' (த) in 'Maadhoru' matches 'l'/'t' rhythm in 'Naaloru', creating a melodious Tamil poetic rhyme.

Cultural/Literary Allusion

Kovalan anbai perum / Maadhavi anthapuram vaasal thirakkaatho

Refers to Kovalan and Madhavi from the epic Silappatikaram to evoke legendary romantic intimacy.

Personification & Metaphor

Naaduthu itchaikili naanuthu pachchai kili

Personifies desire as a yearning bird ('itchaikili') and the female beloved as a blushing green parrot ('pachchai kili').

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics for this song were penned by the veteran lyricist Vaali for the 1988 Tamil film 'Thappu Kanakku'. The song makes extensive use of classical Tamil literary references, such as the classical epic characters Kovalan and Madhavi, as well as traditional Tamil concepts like 'Naalvagai Vetkkam' (the fourfold shyness inherent to a maiden in Tamil literature).

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