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Isaimozhi
Udhaya album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pookum Malarai

From Udhaya · 2004

Lyricist
Pazhani Bharathi
Singer
Hariharan
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Udhaya
Movie release year
2004
Lyrics added on
21 Aug 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pookum malarai
Kaigal kulukki
Thendral sollum
Kalai vanakkam
Oho ho ho
Alara cheval adhikaalai
Mella mella vizhikkum therukkal
{Annai vayalgal
Pillai manangal
Ullam thirandhu
Pesum chanangal}(2)
Chinna sirippu podhumae
Chella nanbanae
Kodi selvam yedharkku
Netri chulikkum podhilum
Patharum nanbanae
Uravu podhum enakku
Chinna sirippu podhumae
Chella nanbanae
Kodi selvam yedharkku
Netri chulikkum podhilum
Patharum nanbanae
Uravu podhum enakku
Lala la la….lala laa
Hey
Lala lala laaa
Lala la la….lala laa
Lala lala lala laa
Pachai thaalil
Vellai ezhuththu
Kalli chediyil kaadhal kavidhai
Kichu kichu yaar
Moottivittadhu
Vedithu sirikkum paruthi chedigal
Oho ho ho
Thottu pookkum
Pul veligal
Ivai allava suga varangal
Oho ho ho
Thottu pookkum
Pul veligal
Ivai allava suga varangal
Chinna sirippu podhumae
Chella nanbanae
Chorus :Kodi selvam yedharkku
Male :Netri chulikkum podhilum
Patharum nanbanae
Chorus :Uravu podhum enakku
Kanavae… kanavae …….
{Pinnal chedi vizhudhu
Oonjal aada kodukkum
Aalamaram kooda thozhi enakku} (2)
Ser padindha vetti
Melliya seruppu
Maalai sandhai koochal isai enakku
Kaigalai neetti
Nilavai thodum
Yogam vendum enakku
Yogam vendum enakku…
Yogam vendum enakku…
Yogam vendum enakku…
{Chinna sirippu podhumae
Chella nanbanae
Chorus :Kodi selvam yedharkku
Male :Netri chulikkum podhilum
Patharum nanbanae
Chorus :Uravu podhum enakku} (2)
Male :Kodi selvam yedharku……..
With the blooming flower,
shaking hands,
the gentle breeze says,
"Good morning!"
Oho ho ho
As the rooster crows at dawn,
the streets slowly wake up.
Nurturing motherly fields,
innocent child-like hearts,
and people speaking
with their hearts wide open.
A simple smile is enough,
my dear friend,
why do I need millions in wealth?
Even when I furrow my brow,
you worry for me, my friend—
that bond is enough for me.
A simple smile is enough,
my dear friend,
why do I need millions in wealth?
Even when I furrow my brow,
you worry for me, my friend—
that bond is enough for me.
Lala la la... lala la
Hey
Lala lala laa
Lala la la... lala la
Lala lala lala la
On a green sheet,
with white writing,
a love poem on a cactus plant.
Who tickled them,
stirring up giggles?
The cotton plants burst into laughter!
Oho ho ho
Grasslands blooming
at a gentle touch—
aren't these the sweet blessings of life?
Oho ho ho
Grasslands blooming
at a gentle touch—
aren't these the sweet blessings of life?
A simple smile is enough,
my dear friend,
Chorus: Why do I need millions in wealth?
Male: Even when I furrow my brow,
you worry for me, my friend—
Chorus: That bond is enough for me.
Oh dream... dream...
Giving its braided roots
for me to swing upon,
even the banyan tree is a friend to me.
A mud-stained veshti (cotton wrap),
simple light slippers,
and the noisy evening market is music to me.
Reaching out my hands
to touch the moon—
that is the good fortune I desire.
That is the good fortune I desire...
That is the good fortune I desire...
That is the good fortune I desire...
A simple smile is enough,
my dear friend,
Chorus: Why do I need millions in wealth?
Male: Even when I furrow my brow,
you worry for me, my friend—
Chorus: That bond is enough for me.
Male: Why do I need millions in wealth...
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Pookum Malarai is a joyful, nature-loving song celebrating the simplicity of rural life, genuine human connections, and peace of mind over material wealth. The protagonist feels that even immense riches are worthless compared to a true friend who empathizes with one's pain and the serene comfort provided by nature.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Thendral sollum Kalai vanakkam

The gentle breeze is personified as greeting blooming flowers with a good morning, and cotton pods bursting open are described as plants bursting into laughter.

Metaphor

Annai vayalgal Pillai manangal

Fields are metaphorically referred to as a nurturing mother ('Annai vayalgal'), and simple human minds are likened to innocent children ('Pillai manangal').

Imagery

Ser padindha vetti Melliya seruppu

Vivid visual and auditory imagery is used to portray rural life, such as mud-stained veshtis, market noise turned into music, and banyan roots acting as swings.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features music composed by A. R. Rahman for the movie Udhaya (2004), starring Vijay and Simran, with lyrics penned by Pazhani Bharathi.

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