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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pillai Pookkal Illaiyendral

From En Vazhi Thani Vazhi · 1988

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
R. D. Burman
Details
En Vazhi Thani Vazhi1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
{Pillai pookal illai yendraalIf there are no child-flowers,
Mannil pookkal illaiThere are no flowers on earth.
Chorus :Mmm mmChorus: Mmm mm
Female :Pillai polae vaazhndhaal ingaeFemale: If one lives like a child here,
Thollai enbadhum illaiThere is no such thing as trouble.
Chorus :Mmm mm mm…} (2)Chorus: Mmm mm mm…
Female
Vellai nilaavai thatti thattiDid God craft the child by shaping the white moon?
Pillai seidhaanaDid He make the child?
Chorus :Mmm mm mmChorus: Mmm mm mm
Female :Mullai poovai salavai seidhuFemale: Did He wash the jasmine flower clean
Ullam seidhaana..To create its heart?
Chorus :Mmm mm mm mmChorus: Mmm mm mm mm
Female
Pillai pookal illai yendraalIf there are no child-flowers,
Mannil pookkal illaiThere are no flowers on earth.
Chorus :Mmm mmChorus: Mmm mm
Female :Pillai polae vaazhndhaal ingaeFemale: If one lives like a child here,
Thollai enbadhum illaiThere is no such thing as trouble.
Chorus :Mmm mm mm…Chorus: Mmm mm mm…
Chorus
…………………...
Female
Vandhadhu ellam sondham endraalIf everything that comes into life is family,
Thunbam illaiyaeThere is no sorrow.
Vaanathirkkum paasathirkkum ellai illaiyaeThere is no boundary to the sky or to affection.
Nenjukkullae kaayam thaanae veru illaiyaeThere is only a wound inside the heart, nothing else.
Pinju kaigal nenjil pattaal sogam illaiyaeIf tiny hands touch the chest, there is no sadness.
Female
PoovaagirenI blossom into a flower.
Kanavan illai indru thaaiyaagirenWithout a husband, today I become a mother.
Vayadhu kuraindhadhuMy age has decreased,
Ungal polae vaazh vandhullaenI have come to live like you all.
Female
Pillai pookal illai yendraalIf there are no child-flowers,
Mannil pookkal illaiThere are no flowers on earth.
Chorus :Mmm mmChorus: Mmm mm
Female :Pillai polae vaazhndhaal ingaeFemale: If one lives like a child here,
Thollai enbadhum illaiThere is no such thing as trouble.
Chorus :Mmm mm mm…Chorus: Mmm mm mm…
Female
Vellai nilaavai thatti thattiDid God craft the child by shaping the white moon?
Pillai seidhaanaDid He make the child?
Chorus :Mmm mm mmChorus: Mmm mm mm
Female :Mullai poovai salavai seidhuFemale: Did He wash the jasmine flower clean
Ullam seidhaana..To create its heart?
Chorus :Mmm mm mm mmChorus: Mmm mm mm mm
Female
Pillai pookal illai yendraalIf there are no child-flowers,
Mannil pookkal illaiThere are no flowers on earth.
Chorus :Mmm mmChorus: Mmm mm
Female :Pillai polae vaazhndhaal ingaeFemale: If one lives like a child here,
Thollai enbadhum illaiThere is no such thing as trouble.
Chorus :Mmm mm mm…Chorus: Mmm mm mm…
Chorus
……………………………….....
Female
Naalai engal naalai endruGo with faith, believing that tomorrow is our day.
Nambhi sellungalWalk forward with confidence.
Mannil kaalai oondri kondu vinnai thodungalPlant your feet on the earth and touch the sky.
Munnoor sonnadhu nalladhu undu kattru kollungalLearn the good wisdom that ancestors spoke.
Moodar sonnadhu undu undu vittu thallungalDiscard the foolish things that fools said.
Female
SelvangalaeOh precious treasures!
Dhinamum valargindra thangangalaeOh pure gold that grows every day!
Azhudha manasukkuFor a heart that has wept,
Neengal dhaanae aarudhalgalaeAren't you the true solace?
Female
Pillai pookal illai yendraalIf there are no child-flowers,
Mannil pookkal illaiThere are no flowers on earth.
Chorus :Mmm mmChorus: Mmm mm
Female :Pillai polae vaazhndhaal ingaeFemale: If one lives like a child here,
Thollai enbadhum illaiThere is no such thing as trouble.
Chorus :Mmm mm mm…Chorus: Mmm mm mm…
Female
Vellai nilaavai thatti thattiDid God craft the child by shaping the white moon?
Pillai seidhaanaDid He make the child?
Chorus :Mmm mm mmChorus: Mmm mm mm
Female :Mullai poovai salavai seidhuFemale: Did He wash the jasmine flower clean
Ullam seidhaana..To create its heart?
Chorus :Mmm mm mm mmChorus: Mmm mm mm mm
Female
Pillai pookal illai yendraalIf there are no child-flowers,
Mannil pookkal illaiThere are no flowers on earth.
Chorus :Mmm mmChorus: Mmm mm
Female :Pillai polae vaazhndhaal ingaeFemale: If one lives like a child here,
Thollai enbadhum illaiThere is no such thing as trouble.
Chorus :Mmm mm mm…Chorus: Mmm mm mm…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This gentle and moving song celebrates the beauty, purity, and healing nature of children. The protagonist compares children to delicate flowers crafted from the white moon and jasmine petals, emphasizing that living with childlike innocence removes life's troubles and heals emotional wounds. She finds motherly joy in caring for children, feeling her own youth renewed through their presence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Pillai pookal illai yendraal

Children are directly equated to flowers ('Pillai pookal') and growing gold ('Dhinamum valargindra thangangalae') to highlight their preciousness.

Cosmic Imagery & Sculptural Metaphor

Vellai nilaavai thatti thatti Pillai seidhaana

Poetic imagination visualizes God shaping the bright white moon to create a pure child.

Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)

Munnoor sonnadhu nalladhu undu kattru kollungal / Moodar sonnadhu undu undu vittu thallungal

Contrasts ancient wisdom ('Munnoor sonnadhu') worth learning with foolish talk ('Moodar sonnadhu') worth discarding.

Etukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Munnoor sonnadhu nalladhu undu... / Moodar sonnadhu undu undu...

Rhyming of the second letter 'n' across lines ('Munnoor' / 'Moodar') creating phonetic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Chandrabose with lyrics by Vairamuthu and sung by K. S. Chithra, this tender lullaby-style track from 'En Vazhi Thani Vazhi' (1988) showcases Chandrabose's versatility in melodic, emotion-heavy compositions alongside his popular energetic folk hits of the late 80s.

Keep listening

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