Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poo Manakkum Poonkuzhali

From Rathapasam · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Rathapasam1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aaaa..aaaaa….aaa…….Aaaa..aaaaa….aaa…….
Male
Poo manakkam poonguzhaliOh flower-fragrant woman with flower-adorned hair,
Poojai dhevadhaiyooare you a deity worthy of worship?
Thaen manakkum maeni ellaamIs your entire body, smelling sweet like honey,
Deva kaaviyamooa divine epic written by gods?
Male
Poo manakkam poonguzhaliOh flower-fragrant woman with flower-adorned hair,
Poojai dhevadhaiyooare you a deity worthy of worship?
Thaen manakkum maeni ellaamIs your entire body, smelling sweet like honey,
Deva kaaviyamooa divine epic written by gods?
Male
Manjal vaanilae vandha pournamiLike a full moon appearing in a yellow twilight sky,
Uyar kaaman mandhiram neeyou are the sublime chant of Kamadeva, the god of love.
Manjal vaanilae vandha pournamiLike a full moon appearing in a yellow twilight sky,
Uyar kaaman mandhiram neeyou are the sublime chant of Kamadeva, the god of love.
Sanga thaerilae vandha senthamilYou are pure Sangam Tamil arriving on a royal chariot,
Tharum moga nadagam neebringing a theatrical drama of enchanting passion.
Sanga thaerilae vandha senthamilYou are pure Sangam Tamil arriving on a royal chariot,
Tharum moga nadagam neebringing a theatrical drama of enchanting passion.
Male
Poo manakkam poonguzhaliOh flower-fragrant woman with flower-adorned hair,
Poojai dhevadhaiyooare you a deity worthy of worship?
Thaen manakkum maeni ellaamIs your entire body, smelling sweet like honey,
Deva kaaviyamooa divine epic written by gods?
Male
Vanna selaiyil thanjai gopuramLike the majestic temple tower of Thanjavur clad in a colorful saree,
Mella aadi asaikkindrathois it gently swaying and moving?
Vanna selaiyil thanjai gopuramLike the majestic temple tower of Thanjavur clad in a colorful saree,
Mella aadi asaikkindrathois it gently swaying and moving?
Andha kovilil rendu deepangalThe twin lamps inside that sacred temple,
Kannil jodhi tharugindrathooare they radiating divine light through your eyes?
Male
Poo manakkam poonguzhaliOh flower-fragrant woman with flower-adorned hair,
Poojai dhevadhaiyooare you a deity worthy of worship?
Thaen manakkum maeni ellaamIs your entire body, smelling sweet like honey,
Deva kaaviyamooa divine epic written by gods?
Male
Mangai moganam thandha gnyabagamThe cherished memory of the beautiful maiden's charm
Oru ragam paaduthammasings a musical melody.
Indha raagamum andha paadalumThis current melody and that past song
Ondru pola thondruthamma….seem to merge into one and the same...
Male
Poo manakkam poonguzhaliOh flower-fragrant woman with flower-adorned hair,
Poojai dhevadhaiyooare you a deity worthy of worship?
Thaen manakkum maeni ellaamIs your entire body, smelling sweet like honey,
Deva kaaviyamooa divine epic written by gods?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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

More from Rathapasam