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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pala Rathiri Pochu

From Iravu Pookkal · 1985

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Vani Jairam, Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Iravu Pookkal1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Pala raaththiri pochchu thookkam thookkamMany nights of sleep are gone, sleep is gone
Siva raaththiri aachchu niththam niththamEvery single night has turned into a sleepless night
Aththaan vanthaan kaiyanaikkaththaanMy beloved came to embrace me with his hands
Niththam thanthaan nenjinaikkaththaanEvery day he offered his heart to warm mine
Aththaan vanthaan kaiyanaikkaththaanMy beloved came to embrace me with his hands
Niththam thanthaan nenjinaikkaththaanEvery day he offered his heart to warm mine
Female
Pala raaththiri pochchu thookkam thookkamMany nights of sleep are gone, sleep is gone
Siva raaththiri aachchu niththam niththamEvery single night has turned into a sleepless night
Male
Thottathum vettuthu idaiAt the slightest touch, her waist recoils softly
Kattudal piramibipuk kadaiHer sculpted body is a marvel to behold
Thottathum vettuthu idaiAt the slightest touch, her waist recoils softly
Female :OhoFemale: Oho
Male :Ho kattudal piramibipuk kadaiMale: Ho, her sculpted body is a marvel to behold
Female :OhoFemale: Oho
Female
Punnaap ponathina em maeniThough my body turned sore from yearning
Poova valam varuthu senthaeneeThe sweet honeybee circles around like a blossom
Male :Kannaal kadhaiya mattum sollaathaeMale: Do not speak stories only through your eyes
Kaiyaal anaichchu puttu sellaathaeDo not walk away after embracing me with your arms
Female :Kukkuru kukkooFemale: Kukkuru kukkoo
Male :Kukkuru kukkooMale: Kukkuru kukkoo
Female :Kukkuru kukkooFemale: Kukkuru kukkoo
Male :Kukkuru kukkooMale: Kukkuru kukkoo
Female :Kukkuru kukkookukkuru kurukurukukoooFemale: Kukkuru kukkookukkuru kurukurukukooo
Female
Pala raaththiri pochchu thookkam thookkamMany nights of sleep are gone, sleep is gone
Siva raaththiri aachchu niththam niththamEvery single night has turned into a sleepless night
Aththaan vanthaan kaiyanaikkaththaanMy beloved came to embrace me with his hands
Niththam thanthaan nenjinaikkaththaanEvery day he offered his heart to warm mine
Aththaan vanthaan kaiyanaikkaththaanMy beloved came to embrace me with his hands
Niththam thanthaan nenjinaikkaththaanEvery day he offered his heart to warm mine
Female
Pala raaththiri pochchu thookkam thookkamMany nights of sleep are gone, sleep is gone
Siva raaththiri aachchu niththam niththamEvery single night has turned into a sleepless night
Male
Thaedinae maasa kanakkaaI searched for you for months on end
Adi jinjina injina sikkaaHey girl, you didn't get caught easily
Thaedinae maasa kanakkaaI searched for you for months on end
Female :OhoFemale: Oho
Male :Adi jinjina injina sikkaaMale: Hey girl, you didn't get caught easily
Female :OhoFemale: Oho
Female
Kokku thalaiyil venna vekkaathaeDon't try to put butter on a crane's head to trick me
Kozhi kozhampukkithu sikkaathaeThis bird won't fall into the chicken curry pot so easily
Male :Paaththae paranthu vala pottaendeeMale: Having spotted you, I flew over and cast my net
Thottaa vittu vidavum maattaendeeOnce I touch you, I will never let you go
Female :Kukkuru kukkooFemale: Kukkuru kukkoo
Male :Kukkuru kukkooMale: Kukkuru kukkoo
Female :Kukkuru kukkooFemale: Kukkuru kukkoo
Male :Kukkuru kukkooMale: Kukkuru kukkoo
Female :Kukkuru kukkookukkuru kurukurukukoooFemale: Kukkuru kukkookukkuru kurukurukukooo
Female
Pala raaththiri pochchu thookkam thookkamMany nights of sleep are gone, sleep is gone
Siva raaththiri aachchu niththam niththamEvery single night has turned into a sleepless night
Aththaan vanthaan kaiyanaikkaththaanMy beloved came to embrace me with his hands
Niththam thanthaan nenjinaikkaththaanEvery day he offered his heart to warm mine
Aththaan vanthaan kaiyanaikkaththaanMy beloved came to embrace me with his hands
Niththam thanthaan nenjinaikkaththaanEvery day he offered his heart to warm mine
Female
Pala raaththiri pochchu thookkam thookkamMany nights of sleep are gone, sleep is gone
Siva raaththiri aachchu niththam niththamEvery single night has turned into a sleepless night
Pala raaththiri pochchu thookkam thookkamMany nights of sleep are gone, sleep is gone
Siva raaththiri aachchu niththam niththamEvery single night has turned into a sleepless night

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Pala Raaththiri Pochchu' from the film Iravu Pookkal (1985) is a playful duet capturing the romantic banter and night-long sleeplessness of two lovers. The lyrics utilize popular Tamil colloquialisms to express passionate yearning, where the sleepless nights are metaphorically compared to 'Sivarathri' (a night-long vigil). The couple engages in playful teasing, with the hero boasting about his attempts to capture her affection and the heroine teasingly warning him not to fall for foolish tricks.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Idiom

Siva raaththiri aachchu niththam niththam

Comparing sleepless nights of romantic longing to 'Siva raaththiri', which traditionally implies an all-night spiritual vigil.

Proverbial Metaphor (Tamil Idiom)

Kokku thalaiyil venna vekkaathae

The line 'Kokku thalaiyil venna vekkaathae' uses the traditional Tamil folk proverb about attempting to catch a crane by putting butter on its head, meaning 'don't try foolish tricks on me'.

Rhyme / Monorhyme (Emonai & Etukai)

Aththaan vanthaan kaiyanaikkaththaan / Niththam thanthaan nenjinaikkaththaan

End-rhyme and rhythm matching with 'kaiyanaikkaththaan' and 'nenjinaikkaththaan'.

Onomatopoeia

Female :Kukkuru kukkookukkuru kurukurukukooo

Imitation of rooster calls ('Kukkuru kukkoo') to signal dawn breaking over their night-long romantic banter.

Did you know?

Trivia

Iravu Pookkal (1985) is a lesser-known B-grade Tamil film featuring lyrics written by Gangai Amaran. The song showcases Gangai Amaran's signature style of blending colloquial Tamil proverbs and rural folk humor into catchy film lyrics.

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