Poongodithan Poothathamma
From Idhayam · 1991
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Idhayam1991
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa | The flowering creeper has blossomed. |
| Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa | The golden beetle has seen it. |
| Paatedukka… thaamathikka | As it delayed to break into song... |
| Vaadaikkaatru pooparithu | The northern wind plucked the flower |
| Ponathammaa… | And went away... |
| Male | |
| Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa | The flowering creeper has blossomed. |
| Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa | The golden beetle has seen it. |
| Male | |
| Aasaikku thaal pottu | What is gained by bolting up |
| Adaiththenna laabam | Your desires and locking them? |
| Adhuthaanae kudam thannil | Is that not like a lamp |
| Erikindra theebam | Burning inside a pot? |
| Male | |
| Manthodu thirai pottu | Passion hidden behind |
| Maraikindra mogam | A curtain of hesitation, |
| Mazhaineerai pozhiyaamal | Is like a cloud that does not |
| Irukkindra megam | Pour down rain water. |
| Male | |
| Silarukku sila neram | For some people, at certain times, |
| Thunichalgal pirakkaathu | Courage does not arise. |
| Thunichalgal pirakaamal | Without courage being born, |
| Kadhavugal thirakkaathu | Doors will never open. |
| Kaataatha kaadhalellaam | Unexpressed love is like |
| Meetaatha veenaiyai pol… | An unplayed Veena... |
| Ohoooo..ooo…ohooo…oooo… | Ohoooo..ooo...ohooo...oooo... |
| Male | |
| Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa | The flowering creeper has blossomed. |
| Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa | The golden beetle has seen it. |
| Paatedukka… thaamathikka | As it delayed to break into song... |
| Vaadaikkaatru pooparithu | The northern wind plucked the flower |
| Ponathammaa… | And went away... |
| Male | |
| Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa | The flowering creeper has blossomed. |
| Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa | The golden beetle has seen it. |
| Male | |
| Thaaikooda azhukindra | Even a mother will only feed |
| Pillaikuththaanae | A child that cries, |
| Pasiyendru parivodu | Coming with affection |
| Paaloota varuvaal | To nurse it when hungry. |
| Male | |
| Un veetu kannaadi | Even if it is your own mirror at home, |
| Aanaalum kooda | Even then, |
| Mun vanthu nindraal thaan | Only when you stand before it, |
| Mugam kaatum ingae | It will reflect your face here. |
| Male | |
| Manadhukkul pala kodi | Even if millions of thoughts |
| Ninaivugal irunthaalum | Reside within your mind, |
| Uthadugal thirandhaal thaan | Only if your lips open |
| Udhavigal perakkoodum | Can you receive help. |
| Kozhaikku kaadhalenna | What is love to a coward? |
| Oomaikku paadalenna… | What is a song to a mute person? |
| Ohoooo..ooo…ohooo…oooo… | Ohoooo..ooo...ohooo...oooo... |
| Male | |
| Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa | The flowering creeper has blossomed. |
| Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa | The golden beetle has seen it. |
| Paatedukka… thaamathikka | As it delayed to break into song... |
| Vaadaikkaatru pooparithu | The northern wind plucked the flower |
| Ponathammaa… | And went away... |
| Male | |
| Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa | The flowering creeper has blossomed. |
| Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa | The golden beetle has seen it. |
| Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa | The flowering creeper has blossomed. |
| Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa | The golden beetle has seen it. |
பூங்கொடிதான்
பூத்ததம்மா பொன்வண்டு
தான் பார்த்ததம்மா
பாட்டெடுக்க தாமதிக்க
வாடைக் காற்று பூப்பறித்து
போனதம்மா
The flowering creeper has blossomed.
The golden beetle has seen it.
As it delayed to break into song...
The northern wind plucked the flower
And went away...
பூங்கொடிதான்
பூத்ததம்மா பொன்வண்டு
தான் பார்த்ததம்மா
The flowering creeper has blossomed.
The golden beetle has seen it.
ஆசைக்குத் தாழ்
போட்டு அடைத்தென்ன
லாபம் அதுதானே குடம்
தன்னில் எரிகின்ற தீபம்
What is gained by bolting up
Your desires and locking them?
Is that not like a lamp
Burning inside a pot?
மனதோடு திரை
போட்டு மறைக்கின்ற
மோகம் மழைநீரைப்
பொழியாமல் இருக்கின்ற
மேகம்
Passion hidden behind
A curtain of hesitation,
Is like a cloud that does not
Pour down rain water.
சிலருக்குச் சில
நேரம் துணிச்சல்கள்
பிறக்காது துணிச்சல்கள்
பிறக்காமல் கதவுகள்
திறக்காது காட்டாத
காதலெல்லாம் மீட்டாத
வீணையைப் போல்
ஓஹோ ஓஓ ஓஹோ ஓஓ
For some people, at certain times,
Courage does not arise.
Without courage being born,
Doors will never open.
Unexpressed love is like
An unplayed Veena...
Ohoooo..ooo...ohooo...oooo...
பூங்கொடிதான்
பூத்ததம்மா பொன்வண்டு
தான் பார்த்ததம்மா
பாட்டெடுக்க தாமதிக்க
வாடைக் காற்று பூப்பறித்து
போனதம்மா
The flowering creeper has blossomed.
The golden beetle has seen it.
As it delayed to break into song...
The northern wind plucked the flower
And went away...
பூங்கொடிதான்
பூத்ததம்மா பொன்வண்டு
தான் பார்த்ததம்மா
The flowering creeper has blossomed.
The golden beetle has seen it.
தாய்கூட அழுகின்ற
பி்ள்ளைக்குத்தானே பசியென்று
பரிவோடு பாலூட்ட வருவாள்
Even a mother will only feed
A child that cries,
Coming with affection
To nurse it when hungry.
உன்வீட்டுக்
கண்ணாடி ஆனாலும்
கூட முன் வந்து
நின்றால்தான் முகம்
காட்டும் இங்கே
Even if it is your own mirror at home,
Even then,
Only when you stand before it,
It will reflect your face here.
மனதுக்குள்
பலகோடி நினைவுகள்
இருந்தாலும் உதடுகள்
திறந்தால்தான் உதவிகள்
பெறக்கூடும் கோழைக்குக்
காதலென்ன ஊமைக்குப்
பாடலென்ன ஓஹோ ஓஓ
ஓஹோ ஓஓ
Even if millions of thoughts
Reside within your mind,
Only if your lips open
Can you receive help.
What is love to a coward?
What is a song to a mute person?
Ohoooo..ooo...ohooo...oooo...
பூங்கொடிதான்
பூத்ததம்மா பொன்வண்டு
தான் பார்த்ததம்மா
பாட்டெடுக்க தாமதிக்க
வாடைக் காற்று பூப்பறித்து
போனதம்மா
The flowering creeper has blossomed.
The golden beetle has seen it.
As it delayed to break into song...
The northern wind plucked the flower
And went away...
பூங்கொடிதான்
பூத்ததம்மா பொன்வண்டு
தான் பார்த்ததம்மா
பூங்கொடிதான்
பூத்ததம்மா பொன்வண்டு
தான் பார்த்ததம்மா
The flowering creeper has blossomed.
The golden beetle has seen it.
The flowering creeper has blossomed.
The golden beetle has seen it.
Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa
The flowering creeper has blossomed.
Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa
The golden beetle has seen it.
Paatedukka… thaamathikka
As it delayed to break into song...
Vaadaikkaatru pooparithu
The northern wind plucked the flower
Ponathammaa…
And went away...
Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa
The flowering creeper has blossomed.
Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa
The golden beetle has seen it.
Aasaikku thaal pottu
What is gained by bolting up
Adaiththenna laabam
Your desires and locking them?
Adhuthaanae kudam thannil
Is that not like a lamp
Erikindra theebam
Burning inside a pot?
Manthodu thirai pottu
Passion hidden behind
Maraikindra mogam
A curtain of hesitation,
Mazhaineerai pozhiyaamal
Is like a cloud that does not
Irukkindra megam
Pour down rain water.
Silarukku sila neram
For some people, at certain times,
Thunichalgal pirakkaathu
Courage does not arise.
Thunichalgal pirakaamal
Without courage being born,
Kadhavugal thirakkaathu
Doors will never open.
Kaataatha kaadhalellaam
Unexpressed love is like
Meetaatha veenaiyai pol…
An unplayed Veena...
Ohoooo..ooo…ohooo…oooo…
Ohoooo..ooo...ohooo...oooo...
Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa
The flowering creeper has blossomed.
Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa
The golden beetle has seen it.
Paatedukka… thaamathikka
As it delayed to break into song...
Vaadaikkaatru pooparithu
The northern wind plucked the flower
Ponathammaa…
And went away...
Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa
The flowering creeper has blossomed.
Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa
The golden beetle has seen it.
Thaaikooda azhukindra
Even a mother will only feed
Pillaikuththaanae
A child that cries,
Pasiyendru parivodu
Coming with affection
Paaloota varuvaal
To nurse it when hungry.
Un veetu kannaadi
Even if it is your own mirror at home,
Aanaalum kooda
Even then,
Mun vanthu nindraal thaan
Only when you stand before it,
Mugam kaatum ingae
It will reflect your face here.
Manadhukkul pala kodi
Even if millions of thoughts
Ninaivugal irunthaalum
Reside within your mind,
Uthadugal thirandhaal thaan
Only if your lips open
Udhavigal perakkoodum
Can you receive help.
Kozhaikku kaadhalenna
What is love to a coward?
Oomaikku paadalenna…
What is a song to a mute person?
Ohoooo..ooo…ohooo…oooo…
Ohoooo..ooo...ohooo...oooo...
Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa
The flowering creeper has blossomed.
Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa
The golden beetle has seen it.
Paatedukka… thaamathikka
As it delayed to break into song...
Vaadaikkaatru pooparithu
The northern wind plucked the flower
Ponathammaa…
And went away...
Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa
The flowering creeper has blossomed.
Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa
The golden beetle has seen it.
Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa
The flowering creeper has blossomed.
Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa
The golden beetle has seen it.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Poonkodi Thaan Poothathammaa from the movie Idhayam (1991) is a poignant philosophical song about unexpressed love and the tragic price of hesitation. Lyricist Vaali uses metaphors of nature—a bee delaying to sing to a flower before the wind blows it away, a lamp hidden inside a pot, a cloud withholding rain, and an unplayed veena—to highlight how keeping feelings locked inside leads to regret. The song serves as a compelling call to action for the introverted protagonist to speak his heart before time runs out. Emphasizing that even a mother feeds a child only when it cries, the song underlines the fundamental necessity of communication and courage in love and life.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamaani)
“Kaataatha kaadhalellaam Meetaatha veenaiyai pol…”
Compares unexpressed love to an unplucked/unplayed veena.
Metaphor (Uruvagai)
“Adhuthaanae kudam thannil Erikindra theebam”
Compares repressed desire to a lamp burning hidden inside a pot.
Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Thunichalgal pirakkaathu / Kadhavugal thirakkaathu”
The second letter 'n' matches in 'Manthodu' and 'Mainthenna' / 'Kudam' contexts, or 'Thunichalgal' and 'Kadhavugal' ('na'/'da').
Anaaphora / Repetition
“Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa / Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa”
Repetition of the refrain highlighting the central metaphor of the bee and flower.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Poonkodi Thaan Poothathammaa' was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam for the 1991 film Idhayam. The movie centers on a shy, introverted medical student who continually hesitates to express his love, making this song the philosophical centerpiece of the entire film.
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