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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poo Maalayae

From Pagal Nilavu · 1985

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Ilaiyaraaja, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Pagal Nilavu1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Poomaalaiyae thol sera vaaO flower garland, come join my shoulders
PoomaalaiyeO flower garland
Male :Yengum iru thol..Male: These two yearning shoulders...
Female :Thol sera vaaFemale: Come join my shoulders
Male :YengiyadhuMale: Longed for
Ilaya manadhuThe youthful mind
Female :Ilaya manadhuFemale: The youthful mind
Male :Inaiyum pozhuthuMale: At the moment of uniting
Female :Inaiyum pozhuthuFemale: At the moment of uniting
Female
Ilaya manadhuThe youthful mind
Male :Theemthana theemthanaMale: Rhythm beats (Theemthana theemthana)
Female :Inaiyum pozhuthuFemale: At the moment of uniting
Male :Theemthana theemthana..aaa..Male: Rhythm beats (Theemthana theemthana..aaa..)
Female :Poojai maniyosaiFemale: The sound of temple bells ringing
Poovai manadhaasaiThe young woman's heart's desire
Pudiyadhor ulagilae paranthadhaeFlew into a brand new world
Male
PoomaalaiyaeO flower garland
Female :Yengum iru thol..Female: These two yearning shoulders...
Male :Thol sera vaaMale: Come join my shoulders
Female :Vaasam varum pooFemale: O fragrant flower
Male :PoomaalaiyaeMale: O flower garland
Female :Yengum iru thol..Female: These two yearning shoulders...
Male :Thol sera vaaMale: Come join my shoulders
Female :Vaasam varum pooFemale: O fragrant flower
Male
Naan unai ninaikkathaIs there a day when I do not think of you?
Naal illaiyaeThere is no flower untouched by honey
Thaeninai theendatha poo illaiyaeFemale: Lalala...
Female :Lalala…Is there a day when I do not think of you?
Male
Naan unai ninaikkathaFemale: I gave myself to you
Naal illayeMale: There is no flower untouched by honey
Female :Ennai unakkendru koduthenFemale: I am a young peahen yearning for love everywhere
Male :Thaeninai theendatha poo illayae{A drop of honey on a flower's mouth
Female :Yengum ilam kaathal mayil naanFemale: Lalala...
Male
{Thaenthuli poovayilMale: Flower-eyed girl like a gentle deer}
Female :Lalala…Female: Lalala...
Male :Poovizhi maan saayal} (2){The colors painted by the maiden
Female :Lalala…In full richness
Female
{Kanni ezhuthumWill come and embrace
Vannam muzhuthumFor a whole lifetime}
Vandhu thazhuvumWithout knowing the date
Jenmam muzhuthum} (2)Without knowing time
Male
Naalum theriyaamalWe shall practice all arts every single day
Kaalam theriyaamalO flower garland
Kalaiyelaam pazhaguvomm anudhinamMale: These two yearning shoulders...
Female
PoomaalaiyaeFemale: Come join my shoulders
Male :Yengum iru thol..Male: O fragrant flower
Female :Thol sera vaaFemale: O flower garland
Male :Vaasam varum pooMale: These two yearning shoulders...
Female :PoomaalaiyaeFemale: Come join my shoulders
Male :Yengum iru thol..Lala lala laaa...
Female :Thol sera vaaFemale: A temple dove that does not wither in summer
Male
Lala lala laaa…Male: Lalala...
Female :Kodaiyil vaadathaFemale: A dream seen without seeing the god of love
Kovil puraaMale: Lalala...
Male :Lalala…A temple dove that does not wither in summer
Female :Kaamanai kaanamalMale: What doesn't sleep during the night?
Kaanum kanaaFemale: A dream seen without seeing the god of love..
Male :Lalala…Male: Every day, where does the mind wander?
Female
Kodaiyil vaadatha{The eyes shall not close
Kovil puraaMale: Lalala...
Male :Raavil thoongathu edhuFemale: Dawn should not arrive}
Female :Kaamanai kaanamalFemale: Lalala...
Kaanum kanaa..{A maiden's heart
Male :Naalum manam pogum yengoIs a perpetual dawn
Female
{Vizhigalum moodathuToday it will be revealed, pleasure will be understood}
Male :Lalala…As the wind strums like a lute
Female :Vidinthida koodathu} (2)And the river joins the rhythm
Female :Lalala…Dreams come true in this vivid experience
Male
{Kanni idhayamO flower garland
Endrum udhayamFemale: These two yearning shoulders...
Indru theriyum inbam puriyum} (2)Male: Come join my shoulders
Female
Kaatru suthi meettaFemale: O fragrant flower garland
Thaalam nathi kootaMale: These two yearning shoulders
Kanavugal ethirivarum anubavamFemale: Come join my shoulders
Male
PoomaalaiyaeMale: Longed for
Female :Yengum iru thol..Female: The youthful mind
Male :Thol sera vaaMale: At the moment of uniting
Female :Vaasam varum poomaalaiyaeFemale: At the moment of uniting
Male :Yengum iru tholThe youthful mind
Female :Thol sera vaaMale: Rhythm beats (Theemthana theemthana)
Male :YengiyadhuFemale: At the moment of uniting
Female :Ilaya manadhuMale: Rhythm beats (Theemthana theemthana..aaa..)
Male :Inaiyum pozhuthuFemale: The sound of temple bells ringing
Female :Inaiyum pozhuthuThe young woman's heart's desire
Female
Ilaya manadhuFlew into a brand new world
Male :Theemthana theemthanaO flower garland
Female :Inaiyum pozhuthuFemale: These two yearning shoulders...
Male :Theemthana theemthana..aaa..Male: Come join my shoulders
Female :Poojai maniyosaiFemale: O fragrant flower
Poovai manadhaasaiMale: O flower garland
Pudiyadhor ulagilae paranthadhaeFemale: These two yearning shoulders...
Male
PoomaalaiyaeMale & Female: Come join my shoulders
Female :Yengum iru thol..
Male :Thol sera vaa
Female :Vaasam varum poo
Male :Poomaalaiyae
Female :Yengum iru thol..
Male & Female :Thol sera vaa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Poomaalaiyae Thol Sera Vaa' from Pagal Nilavu is a romantic duet expressing deep yearning, intimacy, and the merging of two young hearts. The lovers metaphorically refer to each other as fragrant flowers and temple doves, expressing how their minds wander into dreams of love and togetherness where time and days lose all meaning.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Poomaalaiyae thol sera vaa

Comparing the beloved to a flower garland ('Poomaalaiyae') and a temple dove that doesn't wither in summer ('Kodaiyil vaadatha Kovil puraa').

Simile (Upamani)

Male :Poovizhi maan saayal

Comparing the maiden's eyes and grace to that of a deer ('Poovizhi maan saayal').

Monai (Alliteration)

Poojai maniyosai / Poovai manadhaasai

Repetition of initial consonants like 'Poojai' / 'Poovai' and 'Kanni' / 'Kaalam' creating musical rhythm.

Personification

Kaatru suthi meetta / Thaalam nathi koota

Attributing human qualities to nature, like the wind strumming music ('Kaatru suthi meetta') and the river keeping rhythm ('Thaalam nathi koota').

Did you know?

Trivia

Pagal Nilavu (1985) marked the directorial debut of veteran filmmaker Mani Ratnam in Tamil cinema. The film featured a hit soundtrack composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Gangai Amaran and sung by Ilaiyaraaja and S. Janaki.

Keep listening

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