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En Uyir Kannamma album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Poombaaraiyil

From En Uyir Kannamma · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
En Uyir Kannamma
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
25 May 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Poonbaaraiyil pottu vacha
Poonguruvi
Veembaaga thaan serndhadhoru
Aan kuruvi
Thannanthani aalaa
Iva ninnirundhaa saami
Ippo rendum kettu ponaa
Idhukkenna vazhi kaami
Thannanthani aalaa
Iva ninnirundhaa saami
Ippo rendum kettu ponaa
Idhukkenna vazhi kaami
Poonbaaraiyil pottu vacha
Poonguruvi
Veembaaga thaan serndhadhoru
Aan kuruvi
Thannaalae pen oruthi
Thaayaaga aana kadhai
Undaakki vaithavanae
Orr naalum arindhadhillai
Kannaana kaadhaliyai
Kannil vaithu paadugiraan
Kalyaana oonjalilae
Karpanaiyil aadugiraan
Yaaraalum vidai kodukka
Aagaadha vidukadhaiyai
Ooraarkku pottu vaithaai nee thaanae
Ennaagum naalai endru yen maraithaai
Poonbaaraiyil pottu vacha
Poonguruvi
Veembaaga thaan serndhadhoru
Aan kuruvi
Thannanthani aalaa
Iva ninnirundhaa saami
Ippo rendum kettu ponaa
Idhukkenna vazhi kaami
Poonbaaraiyil pottu vacha
Poonguruvi
Veembaaga thaan serndhadhoru
Aan kuruvi
Annaalil potta vidhai
Innaalil valarudhingae
Anbaana kaadhal kadhai
Andraadam thodarudhangae
Ullaasa raagathilae
Paadudhoru sodi kuyil
Sollaamal maunathilae
Vaadudhoru oomai kuyil
Vaai poottu pottukittaa
Vandhadhai yethukittaa
Paai pottu thanai izhandha poonthogai
Thannaalae vandha vinai thaan sumandhaal
Poonbaaraiyil pottu vacha
Poonguruvi
Veembaaga thaan serndhadhoru
Aan kuruvi
Thannanthani aalaa
Iva ninnirundhaa saami
Ippo rendum kettu ponaa
Idhukkenna vazhi kaami
Thannanthani aalaa
Iva ninnirundhaa saami
Ippo rendum kettu ponaa
Idhukkenna vazhi kaami
Poonbaaraiyil pottu vacha
Poonguruvi
Veembaaga thaan serndhadhoru
Aan kuruvi
In Poombarai,
a little bird wearing a bindi,
stubbornly,
a male bird came and joined her.
All on her own,
she was standing, oh Lord!
Now that she is left helpless and lost,
show her a way out of this.
All on her own,
she was standing, oh Lord!
Now that she is left helpless and lost,
show her a way out of this.
In Poombarai,
a little bird wearing a bindi,
stubbornly,
a male bird came and joined her.
The story of how a girl
became a mother all on her own,
the one who caused it all
has never known for a single day.
His beloved, dear as his own eyes,
he keeps in his sight and sings of her.
On a wedding swing,
he sways in his dreams.
A riddle that no one
could ever find an answer to,
you set before the people of this town, didn't you?
Why did you hide what tomorrow will bring?
In Poombarai,
a little bird wearing a bindi,
stubbornly,
a male bird came and joined her.
All on her own,
she was standing, oh Lord!
Now that she is left helpless and lost,
show her a way out of this.
In Poombarai,
a little bird wearing a bindi,
stubbornly,
a male bird came and joined her.
The seed planted back then
is growing here today.
The sweet story of love
continues over there every day.
In a joyful melody,
a cuckoo sings with its mate.
Without a word, in silence,
a mute cuckoo withers in pain.
She locked her lips,
and accepted whatever came her way.
The lovely girl who gave herself away on the mat,
bore the burden of the fate brought upon her.
In Poombarai,
a little bird wearing a bindi,
stubbornly,
a male bird came and joined her.
All on her own,
she was standing, oh Lord!
Now that she is left helpless and lost,
show her a way out of this.
All on her own,
she was standing, oh Lord!
Now that she is left helpless and lost,
show her a way out of this.
In Poombarai,
a little bird wearing a bindi,
stubbornly,
a male bird came and joined her.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song uses avian metaphors to portray the tragedy of love, unplanned motherhood, and societal hardship. The female protagonist, depicted as a tender flower-bird (Poonguruvi), finds her life disrupted after uniting with her lover (Aan kuruvi). Though she once stood independently, circumstances and destiny bring suffering, turning her into a silent spectator of her own tragic life. The lyricist Vaali appeals directly to the Divine, questioning why destiny creates riddles that human beings cannot solve and why the future remains painfully hidden from those in despair.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Poonbaaraiyil pottu vacha Poonguruvi”

The lead characters are metaphorically depicted as 'Poonguruvi' (flower bird) and 'Aan kuruvi' (male bird) to represent innocent lovers in nature.

Contrast / Antithesis

“Paadudhoru sodi kuyil / Vaadudhoru oomai kuyil”

Contrasting 'Sodi kuyil' (a happy paired cuckoo singing melodies) with 'Oomai kuyil' (a silent, grieving cuckoo).

Alliteration (Monai)

“Annaalil potta vidhai / Innaalil valarudhingae”

Initial phonetic harmony across corresponding line positions ('Annaalil' and 'Innaalil').

Emphasis through Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

“Thannanthani aalaa Iva ninnirundhaa saami”

The phrase 'Thannanthani' intensifies the sense of complete solitude and abandonment.

Did you know?

Trivia

En Uyir Kannamma (1988) was directed by Sivachandran and featured music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with memorable lyrics penned by Vaali.

Keep listening

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