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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poo Medaiyo

From Aayiram Pookkal Malarattum · 1986

Lyricist
Mu. Metha
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
V. S. Narasimhan
Details
Aayiram Pookkal Malarattum1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Poo maedaiyo pon veenaiyoAre you a bed of flowers or a golden veena?
Neerodaiyo aruviyoAre you a stream or a waterfall?
Thaen kaatro poonguyiloAre you a sweet breeze or a singing cuckoo?
Nee pesa vaaCome, speak to me!
Nee pesinaal avai yaavum thaanaeIf you speak, all of those things...
Vaai moodumae badhil bathilWill remain silent in response!
Female
Poo maedai naan pon veenai naanI am the bed of flowers, I am the golden veena,
Neerodai naan aruvi naanI am the stream, I am the waterfall,
Kaatru naan poonguyil naanI am the breeze, I am the singing cuckoo,
Naan pesavoShall I speak?
Naan pesinaal malar thoovum solaiIf I speak, a garden showering blossoms...
Paai podumae adhil adhil….Will spread out a bed right there!
Male
Poo medaiyo…..Is it a bed of flowers...?
Male
Neelaampari raagamae yaengumaeEven the Neelambari ragam will yearn in envy,
Nee paadinaal bhoomiyae thoongumaeIf you sing, the entire earth will fall asleep.
Neelaampari raagamae yaengumaeEven the Neelambari ragam will yearn in envy,
Nee paadinaal bhoomiyae thoongumaeIf you sing, the entire earth will fall asleep.
Female
En raagam kaalgal thallaadumMy melody makes legs falter,
Un aasai poo soodumYour desire will be adorned with flowers.
Male :Kalyaana kaalam porkaalamMale: The wedding time is a golden time,
Kan podum thaamboolamThe eyes offer betel leaves of love.
Female :Kadhlin odamae kaigalil oodumaeFemale: The boat of love floats right in our hands,
Male :Mm…mmm nee moodum melaadai naan….Male: Mmm... I am the upper drape that covers you...
Female
Poo maedai naan pon veenai naanI am the bed of flowers, I am the golden veena,
Neerodai naan aruvi naanI am the stream, I am the waterfall,
Kaatru naan poonguyil naanI am the breeze, I am the singing cuckoo,
Female
Un paarvaigal poosuthae santhanamYour glances coat me in fragrant sandalwood paste,
Un vaarththaigal aanathae kungumamYour words have turned into sacred kumkum,
Un paarvaigal poosuthae santhanamYour glances coat me in fragrant sandalwood paste,
Un vaarththaigal aanathae kungumamYour words have turned into sacred kumkum,
Male
Vanthaanae kadhal sanyaasiThe ascetic of love has arrived,
Ennaagum nee yosiPonder over what will happen now!
Female :Un aasai vaanil ponmaegamFemale: A golden cloud in the sky of your desire,
Ennaagum en thegamWhat will become of my body?
Male :Paadalin pallavi paaduvai pairaviMale: Sing the refrain of the song, my Bhairavi!
Female :Mm…mmm neeyaagavey oododi vaa…Female: Mmm... Come running to me as my very self...
Male
Poo maedaiyo pon veenaiyoAre you a bed of flowers or a golden veena?
Neerodaiyo aruviyoAre you a stream or a waterfall?
Thaen kaatro poonguyiloAre you a sweet breeze or a singing cuckoo?
Nee pesa vaaCome, speak to me!
Female :Naan pesinaal malar thoovum solaiFemale: If I speak, a garden showering blossoms...
Paai podumae adhil adhil….Will spread out a bed right there!
Female
Poo maedai naan…..I am the bed of flowers...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Poo Maedaiyo from the 1986 movie Aayiram Pookkal Malarattum is a classic romantic duet that showcases poetic banter between two lovers. The hero begins by poetically questioning whether his lover is a flower bed, a golden veena, a stream, or a singing bird, claiming that her voice could silence nature's greatest sounds. The heroine playfully accepts these metaphors, declaring that her voice creates a garden of flowers. As the song progresses, their conversation shifts to themes of marriage, intimacy, and the soothing effect of her voice, which is said to lull the entire world to sleep like the soothing Neelambari ragam.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa)

Poo maedaiyo pon veenaiyo / Neerodaiyo aruviyo

The speaker poses rhetorical questions comparing the beloved to natural and musical beauty.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Poo maedai naan pon veenai naan / Neerodai naan aruvi naan

Directly identifying oneself with nature and music to accept the lover's praise.

Hyperbole (Aduvukku Mael Kooral)

Nee paadinaal bhoomiyae thoongumae

Exaggerating the soothing quality of the singer's voice to say it can put the entire earth to sleep.

Rhyme & Assonance (Edhukai and Monai)

Neelaampari raagamae yaengumae / Nee paadinaal bhoomiyae thoongumae

The repetition of initial and second-letter consonant sounds across lines creating melodic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Aayiram Pookkal Malarattum' (1986) featured music composed by V. S. Narasimhan with lyrics authored by the prominent Tamil poet Mu. Metha. The song makes specific cultural references to ragas like Neelambari (traditionally associated with lullabies) and Bhairavi.

Keep listening

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