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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poongaatre Inge

From Walter Vetrivel · 1993

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, Uma Ramanan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Walter Vetrivel
Movie release year
1993
Lyrics added on
23 May 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Poongaatrae ingae vandhu vaazhthu Poo pondra pillai mugam paarthu Paaraati chollu oru paattu Paal pondra vellai manam paarthu Yaar solluvadhu ingu thaai illai yena Naan konjiduven unai en pillai yena Endrum vaadaamal raajaa nee vaazhga
Poongaatrae ingae vandhu vaazhthu Poo pondra pillai mugam paarthu
Kaaviri polae gangai polae Un perum un seerum pongida vendum Dhesam unai pesida vendum
Undhan annanai polae Mannin melae Ooraargal paaraatta vaazhndhida vendum Annai manam vaazhthida vendum
Chinna chinna vaarthai Ondru rendu pesum Thambi undhan vaazhvil Thendral vandhu veesum
Kaalam un vasamae Yena paadum en manamae Naalum en arugil Manam veesum sandhanamae Endrum vaadaamal raajaa nee vaazhga
Ennidam unnai thandhaal annai Kan moodi sendraalae sendraval andru Sonna sollum nenjinil undu
Endhan kangalil paarvai vandhaal Mudhal paarvaiyilae Aiyaa un pon mugam paarppen Pinbu endhan mannanai paarppen
Annan anni polae Dheivam undo kooru Unnai enni naalum Vaazhum ullam paaru
Ponnae pon maniyae Engal kannae kan maniyae Pesum chithiramae Oli veesum rathinamae Endrum vaadaamal raajaa nee vaazhga
Yaar solluvadhu ingu thaai illai yena
Naan konjiduven unai en pillai yena
O gentle breeze, come here and bless him, looking at this child's flower-like face! Sing a song of praise, seeing his pure, innocent heart! Who says you have no mother here? I will cherish you as my own child. May you live long and never fade, my little prince!
O gentle breeze, come here and bless him, looking at this child's flower-like face!
Like the Kaveri and the Ganga, your name and glory should overflow; the entire nation should speak of you!
Just like your elder brother, you must live on this earth praised by everyone, while our mother's soul blesses you!
My little brother, speaking just a few tiny words, a sweet breeze of joy will blow through your life!
My heart sings that time is on your side, sweet sandalwood that stays fragrant beside me every day! May you live long and never fade, my little prince!
Mother entrusted you to me before she closed her eyes forever; the words she spoke that day are still etched in my heart.
If sight ever comes to my eyes, in that very first glance I will see your golden face, and only then will I look at my husband.
Tell me, is there any god like an elder brother and sister-in-law? Look at this heart that lives every day thinking only of you!
O precious gold, the apple of our eye, a living portrait, a radiant jewel! May you live long and never fade, my little prince!
Who says you have no mother here?
I will cherish you as my own child!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from the film Walter Vetrivel (1993) is a deeply emotional lullaby and testament to unconditional familial love. It portrays the immense affection of an elder brother and sister-in-law toward a young child who lost his mother at birth. Fulfilling a promise made to the dying mother, the sister-in-law treats the child as her own offspring, declaring that true motherhood lies in love and upbringing rather than mere birth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

“Poo pondra pillai mugam paarthu ... Paal pondra vellai manam paarthu”

Compares the child's face to a soft flower ('Poo pondra') and his pure heart to white milk ('Paal pondra').

Metaphor (Uvagam)

“Pesum chithiramae Oli veesum rathinamae”

Metaphorically addresses the child as a talking painting ('Pesum chithiramae') and a glowing ruby ('Oli veesum rathinamae').

Rhyme & Assonance (Edhugai / Monai)

“Kaaviri polae gangai polae / Ponnae pon maniyae Engal kannae kan maniyae”

Use of matching second-letter consonant sounds (Edhugai) like Kaaviri/Gangai and Ponnae/Engal for rhythmic poetic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vaali, 'Walter Vetrivel' (1993) was a major blockbuster starring Sathyaraj, Prabhu, and Sukanya. The song beautifully captures the non-biological maternal bond, a recurring emotional motif in 90s Tamil family dramas.

Keep listening

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