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Lyrics & meaning

Poo Manakkum Poonkuzhali

From Rathapasam · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Rathapasam
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
4 Dec 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aaaa..aaaaa….aaa…….
Poo manakkam poonguzhali
Poojai dhevadhaiyoo
Thaen manakkum maeni ellaam
Deva kaaviyamoo
Poo manakkam poonguzhali
Poojai dhevadhaiyoo
Thaen manakkum maeni ellaam
Deva kaaviyamoo
Manjal vaanilae vandha pournami
Uyar kaaman mandhiram nee
Manjal vaanilae vandha pournami
Uyar kaaman mandhiram nee
Sanga thaerilae vandha senthamil
Tharum moga nadagam nee
Sanga thaerilae vandha senthamil
Tharum moga nadagam nee
Poo manakkam poonguzhali
Poojai dhevadhaiyoo
Thaen manakkum maeni ellaam
Deva kaaviyamoo
Vanna selaiyil thanjai gopuram
Mella aadi asaikkindratho
Vanna selaiyil thanjai gopuram
Mella aadi asaikkindratho
Andha kovilil rendu deepangal
Kannil jodhi tharugindrathoo
Poo manakkam poonguzhali
Poojai dhevadhaiyoo
Thaen manakkum maeni ellaam
Deva kaaviyamoo
Mangai moganam thandha gnyabagam
Oru ragam paaduthamma
Indha raagamum andha paadalum
Ondru pola thondruthamma….
Poo manakkam poonguzhali
Poojai dhevadhaiyoo
Thaen manakkum maeni ellaam
Deva kaaviyamoo
Ah... ah... ah... ah...
O woman with fragrant flowers in your hair,
are you a goddess of worship?
Your entire honey-sweet body,
is it a divine epic poem?
O woman with fragrant flowers in your hair,
are you a goddess of worship?
Your entire honey-sweet body,
is it a divine epic poem?
Like a bright full moon in a golden sky,
you are a sacred chant of Kamadevan (the god of love)!
Like a bright full moon in a golden sky,
you are a sacred chant of Kamadevan (the god of love)!
Brought by pure Tamil on the chariot of the Sangam (ancient Tamil literary academy),
you are a play full of desire!
Brought by pure Tamil on the chariot of the Sangam (ancient Tamil literary academy),
you are a play full of desire!
O woman with fragrant flowers in your hair,
are you a goddess of worship?
Your entire honey-sweet body,
is it a divine epic poem?
Draped in a colorful sari, is the Thanjavur temple tower
swaying and dancing so gently?
Draped in a colorful sari, is the Thanjavur temple tower
swaying and dancing so gently?
Are two sacred lamps from that temple
shining as the light in your eyes?
O woman with fragrant flowers in your hair,
are you a goddess of worship?
Your entire honey-sweet body,
is it a divine epic poem?
The memories of your enchanting charm
sing like a sweet melody!
This melody and that song
seem to blend together as one!
O woman with fragrant flowers in your hair,
are you a goddess of worship?
Your entire honey-sweet body,
is it a divine epic poem?
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Poo Manakkam Poonguzhali is a romantic song from the 1980 Tamil film Rathapasam, composed by M. S. Vishwanathan, written by Kannadasan, and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. The protagonist expresses his deep admiration and romantic adoration for his beloved, extolling her beauty through divine and classic Tamil literary metaphors. He compares her beauty to a worship-worthy goddess, a divine epic, a full moon set against an evening sky, classical Sangam Tamil literature, and the majestic architectural beauty of the Thanjavur temple tower. The song captures a blend of divine reverence and romantic devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai Ani (Metaphor / Simile)

“Vanna selaiyil thanjai gopuram mella aadi asaikkindrathoVasaniyil thanjai gopuram mella aadi asaikkindratho”

Uyarvu Navitchi Ani (Hyperbole)

“Thaen manakkum maeni ellaam deva kaaviyamoo”

Imagery

“Manjal vaanilae vandha pournami”

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyricist Kannadasan blends classical Tamil cultural icons—such as Sangam Tamil literature and the grand Thanjavur Brihadisvara Temple gopuram—to build an elevated portrait of female beauty, rendered in the rich classical voice of S. P. Balasubrahmanyam under M. S. Vishwanathan's composition.

Keep listening

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