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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poonkatrae

From Friends · 2001

Lyricist
Pazhani Bharathi
Singer
Hariharan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Friends2001

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Poongatrae konjamGentle breeze, a little,
Unmai solla varuvaiyaWill you come to tell the truth?
Poradum niyaayamFor the struggling justice,
Saatchi solli povaiyaaWill you leave after bearing witness?
Male
Megangal kalaiyalamClouds may scatter,
Vaanamae kalaiyumaWill the sky ever scatter?
Ullangal kalangalaamHearts may be troubled,
Unmaiyae kalangumaWill the truth ever be tarnished?
Aarudhal koorayooWon't you offer solace,
Arugil vandhuBy coming near?
Male
Poongatrae konjamGentle breeze, a little,
Unmai solla varuvaiyaWill you come to tell the truth?
Poradum niyaayamFor the struggling justice,
Saatchi solli povaiyaaWill you leave after bearing witness?
Male
Alaigalaai aadudhaeSwaying like waves,
Anbennum ullangalaeAre these hearts filled with love.
Analilae urugudhaeMelting in the fire,
Melugu pol sondhangalaeLike wax are these relationships.
Male
Paadidum kuyil thoppilIn the grove of singing cuckoos,
Yaar ambu yeithaarWho shot an arrow?
Veenaiyai viragaagaViewing a divine veena as mere firewood,
Yaar ingu kaanbaarWho here sees it that way?
Kaalamae un lelaiyaeOh Time, is this your cruel game?
Ini maarumoWill it change from now on?
Male
Poongatrae konjamGentle breeze, a little,
Unmai solla varuvaiyaWill you come to tell the truth?
Poradum niyaayamFor the struggling justice,
Saatchi solli povaiyaaWill you leave after bearing witness?
Male
Paravaigal koodidumA spring time once existed,
Vasanthamai orr kaalamWhere birds gathered together.
Paruvangal maarinaalWhen the seasons turn,
Pirandhidum orr kaalamA new era will be born.
Male
Maalaiyil poothadumBlossoming in the evening,
Malligaiyin kootamIs a cluster of jasmines.
Maalaiyai seraamalWithout joining into a garland,
Enna indha maatramWhat is this strange transformation?
Oviyam uruvagumoCan a painting take shape,
Suvar indriyaeWithout a supporting wall?
Male
Poongatrae konjamGentle breeze, a little,
Unmai solla varuvaiyaWill you come to tell the truth?
Poradum niyaayamFor the struggling justice,
Saatchi solli povaiyaaWill you leave after bearing witness?
Male
Megangal kalaiyalamClouds may scatter,
Vaanamae kalaiyumaWill the sky ever scatter?
Ullangal kalangalaamHearts may be troubled,
Unmaiyae kalangumaWill the truth ever be tarnished?
Aarudhal koorayooWon't you offer solace,
Arugil vandhuBy coming near?
Male
Poongatrae konjamGentle breeze, a little,
Unmai solla varuvaiyaWill you come to tell the truth?
Poradum niyaayamFor the struggling justice,
Saatchi solli povaiyaaWill you leave after bearing witness?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Poongatrae Konjam is a deeply emotional, reflective song from the movie Friends (2001), composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and written by Pazhani Bharathi. The song expresses deep anguish, longing for justice, and the heartbreak caused by painful misunderstandings between lifelong friends. The protagonist addresses the gentle breeze, pleading for it to stand as a witness to the truth and bring comfort to troubled minds. Through rich metaphors—such as clouds scattering against an eternal sky, wax melting in fire, and a precious veena reduced to firewood—the song highlights how temporary untruths threaten to destroy priceless bonds, while maintaining an underlying hope that time will heal the wounds and reveal the undeniable truth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Megangal kalaiyalam / Vaanamae kalaiyuma

Comparing misunderstandings to transient clouds and truth to the eternal, immovable sky.

Simile

Melugu pol sondhangalae

Comparing fragile human relationships suffering under hardship to wax melting in heat.

Rhetorical Question

Veenaiyai viragaaga / Yaar ingu kaanbaar

Questioning who could be blind enough to destroy a delicate harmony by mistaking a musical instrument for firewood.

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Alaigalaai aadudhae / Analilae urugudhae

The second letter 'la' / 'na' rhymes across adjacent lines, giving a rhythmic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed as Unknown in the context, the song is composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by Hariharan. It serves as the emotional anchor in the 2001 blockbuster film Friends, playing during a critical dramatic turning point where the central bond between the characters played by Vijay and Suriya fractures due to a conspiracy.

Keep listening

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