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Lyrics & meaning

Pachamala Poovu

From Kizhakku Vasal · 1990

Lyricist
R. V. Udhaya Kumar
Singer
Mano
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kizhakku Vasal1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
{ Pacha mala poovuFlower of the green mountain,
Nee uchi malai thenuYou are the honey from the high peak,
Kuthankurai yethuWithout any fault or flaw,
Nee nanthavana theru } (2)You are the chariot of the flower garden.
Male
Azhagae ponnumaniOh beauty, precious golden gem,
Siricha vellimaniWhen you laugh, it rings like a silver bell,
Kiliyae kannuranguOh parrot, close your eyes and sleep,
Dhoori dhoori hoiRock-a-bye, rock-a-bye, hoi!
Male
Pacha mala poovuFlower of the green mountain,
Nee uchi malai thenuYou are the honey from the high peak,
Kuthankurai yethuWithout any fault or flaw,
Nee nanthavana theruYou are the chariot of the flower garden.
Male
{ Kaathodu malaraadaAs flowers dance with the wind,
Kaarkuzhal aadaAs dark hair sways along,
Kaathoram lolaakuThe earring beside the ear,
Sangathi paada } (2)Sings a sweet musical tune.
Male
Manjalo dhegamA turmeric-hued golden body,
Konja varum megamThe cloud comes to caress,
Anjugam thoongaFor the sweet parrot to sleep,
Kondu varum raagamIt brings forth a lullaby melody.
Male
Nilava vaan nilavaThe moon, oh moon in the sky,
Naan pudichu vaarenI shall catch and bring it to you,
Kuyilae poonkuyilaeOh cuckoo, sweet flower cuckoo,
Paateduthu thaaren hoiI will sing and give you a song, hoi!
Male
Pacha mala poovuFlower of the green mountain,
Nee uchi malai thenuYou are the honey from the high peak,
Kuthankurai yethuWithout any fault or flaw,
Nee nanthavana theruYou are the chariot of the flower garden.
Male
Azhagae ponnumaniOh beauty, precious golden gem,
Siricha vellimaniWhen you laugh, it rings like a silver bell,
Kiliyae kannuranguOh parrot, close your eyes and sleep,
Dhoori dhoori hoiRock-a-bye, rock-a-bye, hoi!
Male
Pacha mala poovuFlower of the green mountain,
Nee uchi malai thenuYou are the honey from the high peak,
Kuthankurai yethuWithout any fault or flaw,
Nee nanthavana theruYou are the chariot of the flower garden.
Male
{ Poonaathu mugamLooking at the face soft like a breeze,
Paathu vennila naanaThe full moon blushes in shyness,
Thaalaamal thadamUnable to bear the sight, leaving tracks,
Paarthu vantha vazhi poga } (2)It retreats back along the path it came.
Male
Sithirathu solaA picturesque garden grove,
Muthu mani maalaA string of pearl beads,
Mothathula thaarenI shall gift you everything entirely,
Thukamenna maanaeWhy be sad, my dear deer?
Male
Vannamaa vaanavillilFrom the colorful rainbow,
Nool eduthu vaarenI shall fetch a thread,
Vinnilae nool pudichuTaking thread from the sky,
Selai thachu thaaren hoiI will weave a saree for you, hoi!
Male
Pacha mala poovuFlower of the green mountain,
Nee uchi malai thenuYou are the honey from the high peak,
Kuthankurai yethuWithout any fault or flaw,
Nee nanthavana theruYou are the chariot of the flower garden.
Male
Azhagae ponnumaniOh beauty, precious golden gem,
Siricha vellimaniWhen you laugh, it rings like a silver bell,
Kiliyae kannuranguOh parrot, close your eyes and sleep,
Dhoori dhoori hoiRock-a-bye, rock-a-bye, hoi!
Male
Pacha mala poovuFlower of the green mountain,
Nee uchi malai thenuYou are the honey from the high peak,
Kuthankurai yethuWithout any fault or flaw,
Nee nanthavana theruYou are the chariot of the flower garden.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Pacha Mala Poovu from the movie Kizhakku Vasal (1990) is one of the most iconic and beloved lullabies in Tamil cinema. Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and penned by director R. V. Udhayakumar, the song expresses immense, unblemished affection. The singer lovingly compares the heroine to pure, untouched elements of nature—a rare wild flower on a green hill, pure peak honey, a silver bell, and a precious parrot. To comfort her and lull her into peaceful slumber, the narrator offers imaginative, hyperbolic promises of affection, such as plucking the moon from the sky and weaving a saree out of colorful rainbow threads to take away her sorrow.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagatam)

Pacha mala poovu / Nee uchi malai thenu

Compares the beloved directly to pristine nature without using comparative words ('Pacha mala poovu / Nee uchi malai thenu').

Simile & Imagery (Uvamai)

Siricha vellimani

Compares the sound of her innocent laughter to the gentle ringing of silver bells ('Siricha vellimani').

Personification (Tharkiropetta Ani)

Poonaathu mugam paathu vennila naana

Attributes human emotions like shyness to the moon, describing it retreat in awe upon seeing her face.

Hyperbole (Athiyayokthi Ani)

Vannamaa vaanavillil nool eduthu vaaren

Poetic exaggeration of pulling threads from a rainbow in the sky to weave a saree.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Vannamaa vaanavillil ... Vinnilae nool pudichu

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across consecutive lines ('Vannamaa' / 'Vinnilae').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and written by R. V. Udhayakumar, 'Pacha Mala Poovu' earned singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 1990. The track remains an evergreen masterpiece in rural Tamil cinema music.

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