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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poombaaraiyil

From En Uyir Kannamma · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
En Uyir Kannamma1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Poonbaaraiyil pottu vachaThe female flower-bird adorned with a bindi on the rock
PoonguruviOh beautiful flower-bird
Veembaaga thaan serndhadhoruStubbornly joined together with it, a
Aan kuruviMale bird
Thannanthani aalaaAll by herself
Iva ninnirundhaa saamiShe stood alone, oh God
Ippo rendum kettu ponaaNow both are ruined
Idhukkenna vazhi kaamiShow us a way out for this
Thannanthani aalaaAll by herself
Iva ninnirundhaa saamiShe stood alone, oh God
Ippo rendum kettu ponaaNow both are ruined
Idhukkenna vazhi kaamiShow us a way out for this
Male
Poonbaaraiyil pottu vachaThe female flower-bird adorned with a bindi on the rock
PoonguruviOh beautiful flower-bird
Veembaaga thaan serndhadhoruStubbornly joined together with it, a
Aan kuruviMale bird
Male
Thannaalae pen oruthiOn her own, a woman
Thaayaaga aana kadhaiThe story of how she became a mother
Undaakki vaithavanaeEven the creator who made it
Orr naalum arindhadhillaiHas never truly understood
Male
Kannaana kaadhaliyaiKeeping his precious darling
Kannil vaithu paadugiraanIn his eyes, he sings for her
Kalyaana oonjalilaeOn the wedding swing
Karpanaiyil aadugiraanHe sways in his imagination
Male
Yaaraalum vidai kodukkaA riddle to which no one
Aagaadha vidukadhaiyaiCan ever give an answer
Ooraarkku pottu vaithaai nee thaanaeYou posed it to the villagers, didn't you?
Ennaagum naalai endru yen maraithaaiWhy did you hide what will happen tomorrow?
Male
Poonbaaraiyil pottu vachaThe female flower-bird adorned with a bindi on the rock
PoonguruviOh beautiful flower-bird
Veembaaga thaan serndhadhoruStubbornly joined together with it, a
Aan kuruviMale bird
Thannanthani aalaaAll by herself
Iva ninnirundhaa saamiShe stood alone, oh God
Ippo rendum kettu ponaaNow both are ruined
Idhukkenna vazhi kaamiShow us a way out for this
Male
Poonbaaraiyil pottu vachaThe female flower-bird adorned with a bindi on the rock
PoonguruviOh beautiful flower-bird
Veembaaga thaan serndhadhoruStubbornly joined together with it, a
Aan kuruviMale bird
Male
Annaalil potta vidhaiThe seed sown back in those days
Innaalil valarudhingaeIs growing here today
Anbaana kaadhal kadhaiThe tender story of love
Andraadam thodarudhangaeContinues here every single day
Male
Ullaasa raagathilaeIn a cheerful melody
Paadudhoru sodi kuyilSings a paired cuckoo
Sollaamal maunathilaeWithout speaking, in silence
Vaadudhoru oomai kuyilWithered stands a mute cuckoo
Male
Vaai poottu pottukittaaShe locked her own lips
Vandhadhai yethukittaaShe accepted whatever came her way
Paai pottu thanai izhandha poonthogaiSpreading the mat, the graceful peacock lost herself
Thannaalae vandha vinai thaan sumandhaalShe bore the burden of fate brought upon herself
Male
Poonbaaraiyil pottu vachaThe female flower-bird adorned with a bindi on the rock
PoonguruviOh beautiful flower-bird
Veembaaga thaan serndhadhoruStubbornly joined together with it, a
Aan kuruviMale bird
Thannanthani aalaaAll by herself
Iva ninnirundhaa saamiShe stood alone, oh God
Ippo rendum kettu ponaaNow both are ruined
Idhukkenna vazhi kaamiShow us a way out for this
Thannanthani aalaaAll by herself
Iva ninnirundhaa saamiShe stood alone, oh God
Ippo rendum kettu ponaaNow both are ruined
Idhukkenna vazhi kaamiShow us a way out for this
Male
Poonbaaraiyil pottu vachaThe female flower-bird adorned with a bindi on the rock
PoonguruviOh beautiful flower-bird
Veembaaga thaan serndhadhoruStubbornly joined together with it, a
Aan kuruviMale bird

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

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