Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poonnkuyil Paadinal

From Nammavar · 1994

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Mahesh Mahadevan
Details
Nammavar1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Poonguyil paadinaalIf the flower-cuckoo sings,
Nalla sangeethamit is good music.
Male :Kuzhandhaiyin azhugaiyumMale: Even a baby's cry
Nalla sangeethamis good music.
Female
Osai ellaam theerndhu ponaalIf all sounds come to an end,
Yaedhu sangeethamwhere is music?
Male :Sathangal illaadhaMale: Silence without noise
Maunangal sangeethamis music,
Female
Sandaiyum sangeethameven a quarrel is music.
Poonguyil paadinaal nalla sangeethamIf the flower-cuckoo sings, it is good music.
Male :Kuzhandhaiyin azhugaiyumMale: Even a baby's cry
Nalla sangeethamis good music.
Female
Osai ellaam theerndhu ponaalIf all sounds come to an end,
Yaedhu sangeethamwhere is music?
Male :Sathangal illaadhaMale: Silence without noise
Maunangal sangeethamis music,
Female
Sandaiyum sangeethameven a quarrel is music.
Female
Laalalaalallaa lallaalalaa…Laalalaalallaa lallaalalaa…
Laalalaa laalalaa lallaa…Laalalaa laalalaa lallaa…
Female :Laalla laalaallaa…Female: Laalla laalaallaa…
Male :Hmm hmm mmmMale: Hmm hmm mmm
Female :Laalla laalaallaa…Female: Laalla laalaallaa…
Male :Hmm hmm mmmMale: Hmm hmm mmm
Female :Lalla laalaallalaa laallalaa…Female: Lalla laalaallalaa laallalaa…
Male :hmm mm mm hmmmMale: hmm mm mm hmmm
Female
Sruthiyil serum raagamA melody that harmonizes with pitch
Endrum karkanduis always sweet like rock candy.
Male :Poovil paadum vanduMale: The bee singing on a flower,
Enna sudhi konduwhat pitch does it adhere to?
Female
Neengal podum sandhamThe rhythm you set
Inbam aanandhambrings pure bliss and joy.
Male :Mazhaiyin sandham ondraeMale: Only the sound of rain
Endrum suya sandhamis forever a natural rhythm.
Female
Naesamaaga neengalWith love, what song
Ketpadhenna paattuare you asking to hear?
Male
Moongil meedhu kaatruThe wind brushing against bamboo
Modhiya pazhampaattuis an age-old song.
Female
Poonguyil paadinaalIf the flower-cuckoo sings,
Nalla sangeethamit is good music.
Male :Kuzhandhaiyin azhugaiyumMale: Even a baby's cry
Nalla sangeethamis good music.
Female
Engum kadavul thaedumSearching for God everywhere
Dheiva sangeethamis divine music.
Male :Edhilum manidham thaedumMale: Searching for humanity in everything
Engal sangeethamis our music.
Female
Dhevalogam ketkumWhat the heavenly realm listens to
Jeeva sangeethamis the music of life.
Male
Ezhai kudisai ketkumWhat reaches a poor man's hut
Engal sangeethamis our music.
Female
Kaasu maalai thaanaeIs a garland of cash
Kalaiyin sanmaanamthe true reward for art?
Male
Kannin thuligal thaanaeTears of emotion in eyes
Kalaigalin vegumaanamare the real prize for arts.
Female
Poonguyil paadinaalIf the flower-cuckoo sings,
Nalla sangeethamit is good music.
Male :Kuzhandhaiyin azhugaiyumMale: Even a baby's cry
Nalla sangeethamis good music.
Female
Osai ellaam theerndhu ponaalIf all sounds come to an end,
Yaedhu sangeethamwhere is music?
Male :Sathangal illaadhaMale: Silence without noise
Maunangal sangeethamis music,
Female
Sandaiyum sangeethameven a quarrel is music.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poetic track from the movie Nammavar explores the philosophical nature of music and sound. It redefines music beyond formal classical tunes, expanding it to encompass everyday soundscapes—a baby's cry, falling rain, wind whistling through bamboo groves, and even silence itself. The song emphasizes that genuine art is rooted in human emotion, warmth, and natural existence rather than material rewards.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Oxymoron / Paradox

Sathangal illaadha Maunangal sangeetham

Describing silence ('Maunangal') and arguments ('Sandaiyum') as music ('Sangeetham') presents a poetic paradox that redefines music as any auditory or emotional presence.

Simile (Uvamai)

Sruthiyil serum raagam Endrum karkandu

Comparing a melodic raga in tune to the sweetness of rock candy ('karkandu').

Initial Rhyme (Monai)

Kaasu maalai thaanae / Kannin thuligal thaanae

Repetition of initial phonetic sounds across lines like 'Kaasu' and 'Kannin'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The soundtrack for Nammavar (1994) was composed by Mahesh Mahadevan, who received a Special Mention at the National Film Awards for his work on the film. The movie starred Kamal Haasan and Gautami, with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu.

Keep listening

More from Nammavar