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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poo Malai Podum

From Pagaivan · 1997

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Anuradha Sriram, Krishnaraj
Music director
Deva
Movie name
Pagaivan
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
9 Jun 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Poomaalai podum velai
Poontholil seru velai
Ponnaalai kaanum velai
Mounamaa
Poongaattru veesum velai
Poonjolai aadum velai
Pon maarbil theendum velai
Mayakkamaa….aa…aa..
Enthan moochchu
Unnai suttrithaan suzhalum
Enthan kangal unnai
Mattumthaan ariyum
Saththamindri
Yuththam ondril saranadaiyum
Raththam ellaam ushnam
Kondu kuliradaiyum
Poomaalai podum velai
Poontholil saerum velai
Ponnaalai kaanum velai
Mounamaa
Mullai poovai thottu
Muththam kodi ittu
Sontham sollaamal sugam kandathu
Kannil thoondil ittu
Ennai thoondi vittu
Konji yaethetho kadhai sonnathu
Thottu unnai eduththaal
Kanni vidum endru
Nenjil unnai naan pathiththaen
Pattu vidum munpu
Thottu vida enni
Kotti ennai naan koduththaen
Thiyaagamaa solladi
Mannil neeyindri naan yedhadi
Poomaalai podum velai
Poontholil seru velai
Ponnaalai kaanum velai
Mounamaa
Unthan paatham patta
Mannai naanum thottu
Nettri pottaaga naan sooduvaen
Unnai kaattru thottaal
Thalli kaavalittu anbu
Soththaaga kaappattruvaen
Jenmam pala thodarnthaen
Unnai enni alainthaen
Indru unnai naan adainthaen
Engum unnai thodarnthaen
Angam engum kalanthaen
Vinnil indru naan paranthaen
Jenmamae pothumae
Intha aanantham eediyillaiyae
Poogaattru veesum velai
Poonjolai aadum velai
Pon maarbai theendum velai
Mayakkamaa….aaaa….
Enthan moochchu
Unnai suttrithaan suzhalum
Enthan kangal unnai
Mattumthaan ariyum
Saththam indri
Yuththam ondril saranadaiyum
Raththam ellaam ushnam
Kondu kuliradaiyum
Poomaalai podum velai
Poontholil seru velai
Ponnaalai kaanum velai
Mounamaa
Poongaattru veesum velai
Poonjolai aadum velai
Pon maarbil theendum velai
Mayakkamaa….aa…aa..aa….
At the time of exchanging flower garlands,
At the time of resting on your flower-soft shoulders,
At the time of witnessing this golden day,
why this silence?
At the time the gentle breeze blows,
At the time the flower garden sways,
At the time I touch your golden chest,
are you lost in a sweet daze?
My breath
only swirls around you.
My eyes
recognize only you.
Without a sound,
it surrenders in a battle of love.
All my blood grows warm with passion,
and settles into a cool bliss.
At the time of exchanging flower garlands,
At the time of resting on your flower-soft shoulders,
At the time of witnessing this golden day,
why this silence?
Touching the jasmine blossom,
giving ten million kisses,
it found sweet joy without saying a word.
Casting a hook with your eyes,
stirring up longing in me,
you cuddled close and whispered sweet stories.
Fearing you might get hurt
if I held you in my hands,
I printed you inside my heart.
Before I could wither away,
longing to touch you,
I poured myself out and gave all of me.
Is it a sacrifice? Tell me, my love,
what am I on this earth without you?
At the time of exchanging flower garlands,
At the time of resting on your flower-soft shoulders,
At the time of witnessing this golden day,
why this silence?
The soil stepped on by your feet,
I will touch that earth
and wear it as a sacred dot on my forehead.
If even the wind dares to touch you,
I will push it away, stand guard,
and protect you as my dearest treasure.
Through many lifetimes I followed you,
thinking of you, I wandered,
and today, I have finally found you.
Everywhere, I followed you,
I blended into every part of you,
and today, I soar in the sky!
Just this one lifetime is enough,
nothing can match this boundless joy.
At the time the gentle breeze blows,
At the time the flower garden sways,
At the time I touch your golden chest,
are you lost in a sweet daze?
My breath
only swirls around you.
My eyes
recognize only you.
Without a sound,
it surrenders in a battle of love.
All my blood grows warm with passion,
and settles into a cool bliss.
At the time of exchanging flower garlands,
At the time of resting on your flower-soft shoulders,
At the time of witnessing this golden day,
why this silence?
At the time the gentle breeze blows,
At the time the flower garden sways,
At the time I touch your golden chest,
are you lost in a sweet daze?
Female
Male
Female
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Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Poomaalai Podum Velai' from the 1997 movie 'Pagaivan' is a passionate duet expressing deep romantic surrender and eternal devotion between two lovers. The lyrics describe moments of intimate togetherness, comparing love to a quiet war where passion warms the blood yet brings a soothing coolness to the soul. The couple celebrates finding each other after lifetimes of longing, declaring that even a single life filled with such incomparable joy is complete.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaal / Initial Alliteration

Poomaalai podum velai / Poontholil seru velai

Repetition of the initial 'Poo/Pon' sound across consecutive lines creating melodic harmony (Poomaalai, Poontholil, Ponnaalai, Poongaattru, Poonjolai).

Iyaibu / End Rhyme

Poomaalai podum velai... Poontholil seru velai...

Repetition of the refrain 'velai' at the end of consecutive lines emphasizing time and mood.

Uruvagaim / Metaphor

Pon maarbil theendum velai

Describing shoulders as flower-soft ('Poontholil') and chest as golden ('Pon maarbil').

Oxymoron / Paradox

Raththam ellaam ushnam kondu kuliradaiyum

Juxtaposition of warmth and coldness ('ushnam kondu kuliradaiyum') to represent complex physical and emotional sensations.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Pagaivan' (1997) starring Ajith Kumar, Sathyaraj, and Anjala Zaveri featured music composed by Deva. The track 'Poomaalai Podum Velai' stands out as one of Deva's signature melodies of the late '90s, sung brilliantly by Krishnaraj and Anuradha Sriram.

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