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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poo Maalai

From Thanga Magan (1983 film) · 1983

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thanga Magan (1983 film)1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Poo maalaiA garland of flowers
Oru paavai aanathuHas turned into a maiden
Pon maalaiThe golden evening
Pudhu paattu paaduthuSings a new song
Idhai paarka paarka pudhumaiWatching this repeatedly is a wonder
Isai ketka ketka inimaiListening to this music repeatedly is delightful
Ennai yaar thaan velvadhuWho can ever defeat me?
Poo maalaiA garland of flowers
Oru paavai aanadhuHas turned into a maiden
Male
Hey heyhey heyhey heyHey heyhey heyhey hey
HeyyyyyyyHeyyyyyyy
Heyyy laalalala…Heyyy laalalala…
Lalala lalala, lalala aaa aa aaaa aaa…Lalala lalala, lalala aaa aa aaaa aaa…
Male
Poo maalaiCan a flower garland
Oru paavai aagumaaBecome a maiden?
Pon maalaiCan the golden evening
Oru paattu paadumaaSing a song?
Idhu paarka paarka pudhumaiSeeing this repeatedly is a novelty
Idhai ketka ketka kodumaiHearing this repeatedly is torture
Ada yaar thaan solvadhuWho can say for sure?
Poo maalaiCan a flower garland
Oru paavai aagumaaBecome a maiden?
Female
Thanna nanana naaThanna nanana naa
Thanna nanana naaThanna nanana naa
Thanna nanana naa naaa….hoi.Thanna nanana naa naaa….hoi.
Female
Paadum bothu poongaatruLike a breeze when singing
Paayum bothu neerootruLike a flowing stream when rushing
Ennai pola penn illaiThere is no woman like me
Pennai vendra aan illaiThere is no man who has conquered woman
Male
Muttai podum pettai kozhiyaeOh egg-laying hen
Seval kooda poraattamaaAre you fighting with a rooster?
Kondai cheval kothum velaiyilWhen the crested rooster pecks
Pettai kozhi thaangaadhammaaThe hen will not be able to bear it
Female
Thappaana thaalangal podaathaeDo not play wrong rhythms
Male :Thagujigu thagujiga thaguMale :Thagujigu thagujiga thagu
Thagath thaagadhagath thaaga thagaThagath thaagadhagath thaaga thaga
Female :Thappaana thaalangal podaathaeFemale :Do not play wrong rhythms
Uppukkal vairakkal aagaathaeSalt stones cannot become diamonds
Naanoru naatiya devadhai paaruLook, I am a goddess of dance
Female
Poo maalaiA garland of flowers
Oru paavai aanadhuHas turned into a maiden
Pon maalaiThe golden evening
Pudhu paadal paadudhuSings a new song
Male
Saami kooda aada thaanTo dance even with God Lord Shiva
Sakthi potti poda thaanTo compete with Goddess Sakthi
Ambaal paadu enna aachuWhat happened to Goddess Ambaal?
Ambalathil ninnae pochuShe stood defeated in the hall of dance
Female
Kaalai thookki neeyum aadalaamYou too may dance by lifting your leg
Male :Ahaa..Male :Ahaa..
Female :Kadavul endru per aagumaaFemale :Will you earn the name of God?
Male :Oho..Male :Oho..
Female :Kaakkai kooda paattu paadalaamFemale :Even a crow can sing a song
Male :Oye..Male :Oye..
Female :Kuyilin geedham polaagumaaFemale :Will it ever equal the cuckoo's song?
Male
Ennodu nee vanthu modhaathaeDo not clash with me
Thagujigu thagujiga thaguThagujigu thagujiga thagu
Thagath thaagu thagu thagu thaguThagath thaagu thagu thagu thagu
Ennodu nee vandhu modhaatheDo not clash with me
Un pappu ingae thaan vegaathaeYour tricks will not work here
Aadalil paadalil vallavan paaruLook at the master of dance and song
Male
Poo maalaiCan a flower garland
Oru paavai aagumaa haa ….Become a maiden haa...
Pon maalaiCan the golden evening
Oru paattu paadumaa …Sing a song...
Female
Idhai paarka paarka pudhumaiSeeing this repeatedly is a novelty
Idhai ketka ketka kodumaiHearing this repeatedly is torture
Idhai yaar thaan solvadhuWho can say for sure?
Poo maalai oru paavai aanadhuA flower garland has turned into a maiden
Male
……………………………….................................
Female :……………………………….Female :...............................

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Poo Maalai Oru Paavai Aanadhu is a high-energy duet from the 1983 Tamil film Thanga Magan, composed by Ilaiyaraaja and written by Vaali. The song represents a classic musical and dance duel between the lead protagonists, featuring humorous taunts and banter where each claims artistic supremacy over the other. The heroine praises her own grace, calling herself a goddess of dance, while the hero lightheartedly dismisses her boasting by making witty comparisons to roosters and hens or referencing the mythological dance battle between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Ultimately, the song serves as a playful celebration of talent, rhythm, and competitive affection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagham)

Uppukkal vairakkal aagaathae

Comparing salt stones to diamonds ('Uppukkal vairakkal aagaathae') to illustrate that pretenders cannot replace real brilliance.

Rhyme & Assonance (Ethugai)

Paadum bothu poongaatru / Paayum bothu neerootru

Matching second-consonant phonetic sounds across lines ('Paadum bothu' / 'Paayum bothu').

Allusions (Purana Kurippu)

Saami kooda aada thaan Sakthi potti poda thaan

Referencing the famous cosmic dance duel between Lord Shiva (Saami) and Goddess Parvati/Ambaal (Sakthi) in Chidambaram.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track from Thanga Magan (1983), starring Rajinikanth and Poornima Jayaram, was composed by maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam alongside S. Janaki. Vaali's playful lyrics and Solkattu (rhythmic dance syllables) made this musical challenge duet immensely popular.

Keep listening

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