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Isaimozhi
Virudhagiri album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pookal Endrom

From Virudhagiri · 2010

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singer
Sadhana Sargam
Music director
Sundar C Babu
Movie name
Virudhagiri
Movie release year
2010
Lyrics added on
3 Nov 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pookkal endrom pengal
Pookkal endrum pariththu
Vaadavittu paarkkaththaana
Dheepam endrom pengal
Dheepam endrom
Theeyil thallivittu erikkaththaanaaa
Nilavendrom theya
Nadhiyendrom kaaya
Silaiyendrom yaenadaa
Kadaththavethaanadaa
Pookkal endrom pengal
Pookkal endrum pariththu
Vaadavittu paarkkaththaana
Piranthathum pugunthathum
Perumaiyai koottuvaal
Pasiyena varugaiyil
Paasaththai oottuvaal
Thanakkena edhaiyumae
Yaerkkavae maruppaval
Thannuyuir thanthuthaan
Unnuyir kaappaval
Pookkal endrom pengal
Pookkal endrum pariththu
Vaadavittu paarkkaththaana
Thaayavalin maarpagam
Paal tharum paaththiram
Kaamaththudan paarppathaal
Kalanguthae sariththiram
Karuvarai paalamthaan
Thoppulin kodiyadaa
Kavarchchiyaai rasippavan
Kaigalai udaiyadaa
Pookkal endrom pengal
Pookkal endrum pariththu
Vaadavittu paarkkaththaana
Dheepam endrom pengal
Dheepam endrom
Theeyil thallivittu erikkaththaanaaa
Thangam endrom
Pengal vairam endrom
Karppai vilai pesi virkkirom
Penmaiyai viyaapaaram seigirom
We called women flowers,
Are flowers meant to be plucked
Only to watch them wither away?
We called women lamps,
We called them lamps,
Only to push them into fire and burn them?
We called her the moon, only to let her wane,
We called her a river, only to let her run dry,
Why did we call her a sacred statue?
Only to smuggle and steal her away?
We called women flowers,
Are flowers meant to be plucked
Only to watch them wither away?
Both the home she was born in and the one she married into,
She fills with honor and pride.
When anyone comes to her hungry,
She feeds them with motherly love.
Anything just for herself,
She always refuses to accept.
Sacrificing her own life,
She is the one who protects yours.
We called women flowers,
Are flowers meant to be plucked
Only to watch them wither away?
A mother's breast
Is a pure vessel that gives milk,
When eyes look at it with lust,
Human history itself weeps in shame.
The sacred bridge from the womb
Is the umbilical cord, my friend!
Whoever looks at it with lust,
Go break his hands!
We called women flowers,
Are flowers meant to be plucked
Only to watch them wither away?
We called women lamps,
We called them lamps, yet into the fire
Did we push them just to burn?
We called them gold,
We called women diamonds,
Yet we fix a price and sell their dignity,
And turn womanhood into a trade.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This hard-hitting song serves as a powerful social commentary on society's hypocrisy towards women. Written by Na. Muthu Kumar, the lyrics contrast how society poetically exalts women as flowers, lamps, rivers, gold, and statues, yet systematically subjects them to objectification, domestic abuse, sexualization, and commercial degradation. The song forcefully demands an end to the exploitation of women and calls out the loss of respect for motherhood and female dignity in modern society.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (உருவகம் - Uruvagam)

Pookkal endrom pengal / Dheepam endrom pengal / Thangam endrom

Comparing women to various natural elements and precious items such as flowers, lamps, gold, and diamonds to contrast their inherent value with their mistreatment.

Monai (மோனை - Initial Assonance)

Piranthathum pugunthathum / Perumaiyai koottuvaal

Repetition of the initial consonant 'P' sound across lines to create poetic rhythm and emphasis.

Rhetorical Questioning

Vaadavittu paarkkaththaana / Theeyil thallivittu erikkaththaanaaa

Using persistent questions to challenge societal hypocrisy and force reflection on why women are praised poetically but mistreated in reality.

Did you know?

Trivia

Virudhagiri (2010) marked the directorial debut of veteran Tamil actor and politician Captain Vijayakanth. The lyrics written by two-time National Award winner Na. Muthu Kumar were widely praised for their bold stance against gender violence and objectification.

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