Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poongodithan Poothathamma

From Idhayam · 1991

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Idhayam
Movie release year
1991
Lyrics added on
21 Jul 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa
Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa
Paatedukka… thaamathikka
Vaadaikkaatru pooparithu
Ponathammaa…
Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa
Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa
Aasaikku thaal pottu
Adaiththenna laabam
Adhuthaanae kudam thannil
Erikindra theebam
Manthodu thirai pottu
Maraikindra mogam
Mazhaineerai pozhiyaamal
Irukkindra megam
Silarukku sila neram
Thunichalgal pirakkaathu
Thunichalgal pirakaamal
Kadhavugal thirakkaathu
Kaataatha kaadhalellaam
Meetaatha veenaiyai pol…
Ohoooo..ooo…ohooo…oooo…
Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa
Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa
Paatedukka… thaamathikka
Vaadaikkaatru pooparithu
Ponathammaa…
Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa
Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa
Thaaikooda azhukindra
Pillaikuththaanae
Pasiyendru parivodu
Paaloota varuvaal
Un veetu kannaadi
Aanaalum kooda
Mun vanthu nindraal thaan
Mugam kaatum ingae
Manadhukkul pala kodi
Ninaivugal irunthaalum
Uthadugal thirandhaal thaan
Udhavigal perakkoodum
Kozhaikku kaadhalenna
Oomaikku paadalenna…
Ohoooo..ooo…ohooo…oooo…
Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa
Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa
Paatedukka… thaamathikka
Vaadaikkaatru pooparithu
Ponathammaa…
Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa
Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa
Poonkodi thaan poothathammaa
Pon vandu thaan paarthathammaa
The flowering vine blossomed,
And the golden beetle just watched on.
As he hesitated to begin his song...
The chilly north wind plucked the flower
And carried it away...
The flowering vine blossomed,
And the golden beetle just watched on.
What is the point of putting a latch on desire,
And locking it away?
Isn't that just like a lamp
Burning hidden inside a pot?
Hiding passion behind a veil,
Concealing your deep longing,
Is like a cloud holding back
Without pouring down its rain.
For some, at certain moments,
Courage never awakens.
And without courage born within,
The doors will never open.
Love that is never expressed
Is like a veena (string instrument) that is never played...
Ohoooo... oooo... ohooo... oooo...
The flowering vine blossomed,
And the golden beetle just watched on.
As he hesitated to begin his song...
The chilly north wind plucked the flower
And carried it away...
The flowering vine blossomed,
And the golden beetle just watched on.
Even a mother,
Only when her child cries out,
Knows its hunger with love
And comes to feed it milk.
Even if it is a mirror
Inside your very own house,
Only when you stand before it
Will it show your reflection.
Even if millions of thoughts
Fill your heart within,
Only when your lips open
Can you receive any help.
What use is love to a coward?
What use is a song to a mute person?...
Ohoooo... oooo... ohooo... oooo...
The flowering vine blossomed,
And the golden beetle just watched on.
As he hesitated to begin his song...
The chilly north wind plucked the flower
And carried it away...
The flowering vine blossomed,
And the golden beetle just watched on.
The flowering vine blossomed,
And the golden beetle just watched on.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Buddhiyulla1962
AnnaiMelancholicTime
Vazhka Than2014
MarumunaiDesireRegret
Urikka Urikka2006
Idhaya ThirudanDesireMelancholic
Oru Paadal Naan Ketten (Pathos)1984
OsaiLongingMelancholic
Nilaave Vaa1986
Mouna RagamLongingMelancholic
Saamiyaaraa Ponavanukku1990
Ethir KaatruTimeMelancholic

From the same album

More songs from Idhayam

View album
Ohh Party Nalla1991
IdhayamPlayful
April Mayilae1991
IdhayamMelancholic
Pottu Vaitha Oru Vatta Nila1991
IdhayamWistful
Idhayamae Idhayamae1991
IdhayamMelancholic

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.