Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Punnagai Poove

From 12B · 2001

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Kay Kay, Prashanthini
Music director
Harris Jayaraj
Details
12B2001

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oru punnagai poovaeOh flower of a smile!
Siru pookkalin theevaeOh island of small flowers!
Hmmm..mmmmm…mmmmHmmm..mmmmm…mmmm
Chorus
Lal la la la la la laala laa…Lal la la la la la laala laa…
Lal la la la la la laala laa…Lal la la la la la laala laa…
Laa la laa …la laa laa…Laa la laa …la laa laa…
Male
Engeyo pogindra megam nirkkuthuThe cloud passing by somewhere has stopped,
En perai unn perai solli alaikkuthuCalling out by uttering my name and your name.
Love pannu….love pannuFall in love... fall in love!
Ohooo…hooooo..hooo.hooOhooo…hooooo..hooo.hoo
Male
Oru punnagai poovaeOh flower of a smile!
Siru pookkalin theevaeOh island of small flowers!
Nee ennai mattum kaadhal pannuLove only me!
En vaaliba nenjamMy youthful heart
Unn kaaladi kenjumBegs at your feet,
Siru kaadhal pichai podu kannuOffer a small alms of love, my dear!
Male
Naa kenji ketkum neramWhen I beg and ask you,
Unn nenjin oram eeramIs there a touch of tenderness in a corner of your heart?
Ahh… chacho achoAh... oh dear, oh dear!
Kaadhal vaarathooo….Won't love come?
Male
Engeyo pogindra megam nirkkuthuThe cloud passing by somewhere has stopped,
En perai unn perai solli alaikkuthuCalling out by uttering my name and your name.
Love pannu….love pannuFall in love... fall in love!
Chorus
Dhaiyarae..dhaiyarae..dhai dhai dhai dhaiyarae…Dhaiyarae..dhaiyarae..dhai dhai dhai dhaiyarae…
Dhaiyarae..dhaiyarae..dhai dhai dhai dhaiyarae…Dhaiyarae..dhaiyarae..dhai dhai dhai dhaiyarae…
Male
Suriyan vaasal vanthuThe Sun will come to your doorstep,
Ice cream koodukkumAnd give you ice cream!
Chorus
Udaathaamaa… peelaathammaa…Don't bluff, girl... don't spin tall tales, girl!
Female
Chandiran ullae vanthuThe Moon will come inside,
Chocolate koodukkumAnd give you chocolates!
Chorus
Suthaathamma.. reeluthaammaaDon't spin yarns, girl... don't reel us in, girl!
Male
Unn padukkai araiyilaeIn your bedroom,
Oru vasantham vendumaaDo you want a spring season?
Unn kuliyal araiyilaeIn your bathroom,
Winter season vendumaaDo you want a winter season?
Nee maara sonnathumThe moment you ask it to change,
Naangu seasonum maara vendumaaShould all four seasons change?
Love pannuFall in love!
Male
Engeyo pogindra megam nirkkuthuThe cloud passing by somewhere has stopped,
En perai unn perai solli alaikkuthuCalling out by uttering my name and your name.
Love pannu….love pannuFall in love... fall in love!
Chorus
Ailae ailae looh..laelae laelae oohh..Ailae ailae looh..laelae laelae oohh..
Ailae ailae looh..laelae laelae oohh..Ailae ailae looh..laelae laelae oohh..
Chorus
Meiyaagumaa…meiyaagumaaWill it come true... will it come true?
Male
Sodakkondru pottathumJust as you snap your fingers,
Sorgam vendumaa…Do you want heaven?
Chorus
Meiyaagumaa…meiyaagumaaWill it come true... will it come true?
Female
Ada vellai vellaiyaaiOh, pure and white,
Or iravu vendumaaDo you want a bright night?
Pudhu velicham podavaeTo cast a fresh light,
Iru nilavu vendumaaDo you want two moons?
Male
Unnai kaalai maalaiyumSurrounding you morning and evening,
Sutri varuvathuFollowing you around,
Kaadhal seiyavaeIs all just to make love!
Love pannu…Chorus : Aiyo pannuFall in love... Chorus: Oh, please do!
Male
Engeyo pogindra megam nirkkuthuThe cloud passing by somewhere has stopped,
En perai unn perai solli alaikkuthuCalling out by uttering my name and your name.
Love pannu….Chorus :Love pannuFall in love... Chorus: Fall in love!
Love pannu…Chorus :Aiyo pannuFall in love... Chorus: Oh, please do!
Male
Oru punnagai poovaeOh flower of a smile!
Siru pookkalin theevaeOh island of small flowers!
Nee ennai mattum kaadhal pannuLove only me!
En vaaliba nenjamMy youthful heart
Unn kaaladi kenjumBegs at your feet,
Siru kaadhal pichai podu kannuOffer a small alms of love, my dear!
Female
Nee kenji ketkum neramAs you beg and ask me,
Yen nenjin oram eeramThere is a touch of tenderness in a corner of my heart.
Aah chacho acho kaadhal vanthaachoo…Ah... oh dear, oh dear, love has arrived!
Chorus
{Lal la la la la la laala laa…{Lal la la la la la laala laa…
Lal la la la la la laala laa…Lal la la la la la laala laa…
Laa la laa …la laa laa…} (2)Laa la laa …la laa laa…} (2)
Laa la laa …la laa laa..(4)Laa la laa …la laa laa.. (4)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

‘Oru Punnagai Poove’ from the film 12B is a playful, romantic, and youthful persuasion duet. The protagonist earnest-yet-playfully begs his beloved to accept his love, offering whimsical and grand promises—such as the Sun bringing ice cream and the Moon delivering chocolates—while playful backing voices tease his exaggerations. The lyrics weave modern urban Tamil slang with poetic imagery to capture the lighthearted innocence of young courtship. Throughout the track, the emotional arc shifts from romantic pleading to a playful exchange of banter, culminating in the female protagonist subtly admitting that his earnest begging has softened her heart. By combining imaginative hyperbole with catchy contemporary refrains like 'Love Pannu', the song encapsulates the vibrant, energetic spirit of early 2000s Tamil youth romance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Oru punnagai poovae / Siru pookkalin theevae

The speaker directly addresses the beloved as a 'flower of a smile' and an 'island of small flowers', metaphors representing her beauty and charm.

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

En vaaliba nenjam / Unn kaaladi kenjum

The second letters 'n' (ன்) in 'nenjam' and 'kenjum' rhyme, creating a rhythmic and melodious Tamil poetic effect.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi Ani)

Suriyan vaasal vanthu / Ice cream koodukkum

Extravagant exaggeration where the speaker promises that the Sun will personally deliver ice cream to her door.

Slang / Colloquial Refrain

Udaathaamaa… peelaathammaa… / Suthaathamma.. reeluthaammaa

Use of Chennai Tamil youth slang ('peelaa', 'reel') to playfully mock exaggerated promises.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed with missing composer details in the prompt context, '12B' (2001) famously marked the debut album of legendary music composer Harris Jayaraj after his blockbuster debut earlier that same year with 'Minnale'. The film was directed by Jeeva and starred Shaam, Simran, and Jyothika. The track 'Oru Punnagai Poove' became an instant chartbuster among college youth, sung by Kartik, Tippu, and Febi Mani.

Keep listening

More from 12B