Pooparikkum Nerathile
From Karaiyai Thodatha Alaigal · 1985
- Lyricist
- Muthulingam
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Chandrabose
- Details
- Karaiyai Thodatha Alaigal1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aa…..mmm….mm…..aa….aa…. | Aa... mmm... mm... aa... aa... |
| Male | |
| Pooparikkum neraththilae puyaladichchu ponathadaa | Just as I was about to pluck the flower, a storm struck and blew it away. |
| Thoduththa poovai aduththa manithan | The flower that was strung together, another man... |
| Eduththu povathai paarththukkadaa | ...look at him taking it away! |
| Poovo poovu poovo poovu…. | Flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers... |
| Male | |
| Pooparikkum neraththilae puyaladichchu ponathadaa | Just as I was about to pluck the flower, a storm struck and blew it away. |
| Thoduththa poovai aduththa manithan | The flower that was strung together, another man... |
| Eduththu povathai paarththukkadaa | ...look at him taking it away! |
| Poovo poovu poovo poovu poovo poovu poovo poovu | Flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers... |
| Male | |
| Nadhigal kaainthapin padakotta mudiyumaa | Can you row a boat after the rivers have dried up? |
| Kottai saainthapin kodiyaettram nadakkumaa | Can a flag hoisting happen after the fort has fallen? |
| Aa….aa….aa….. Nadhigal kaainthapin padakotta mudiyumaa | Aa... aa... aa... Can you row a boat after the rivers have dried up? |
| Kottai saainthapin kodiyaettram nadakkumaa | Can a flag hoisting happen after the fort has fallen? |
| Male | |
| Aippasi aadi maadhaththil thendralum veesumaa | Will a gentle breeze blow during the stormy month of Aippasi? |
| Kaattukku sendra poongili koottukku thirumpumaa | Will the sweet bird that flew off to the forest return to its nest? |
| Kaalam evarukkumingae kaaththirukka koodumaa | Does time ever wait for anyone here? |
| Poovo poovu poovo poovu…. | Flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers... |
| Male | |
| Pooparikkum neraththilae puyaladichchu ponathadaa | Just as I was about to pluck the flower, a storm struck and blew it away. |
| Thoduththa poovai aduththa manithan | The flower that was strung together, another man... |
| Eduththu povathai paarththukkadaa | ...look at him taking it away! |
| Poovo poovu poovo poovu…. | Flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers... |
| Male | |
| Alaigal ointha pin kadal neeril kulikkave | Thinking of bathing in the ocean only after the waves subside... |
| Ennum manithargal innaattil kodiyae | ...there are millions of such people in this country! |
| Alaigal ointha pin kadal neeril kulikkave | Thinking of bathing in the ocean only after the waves subside... |
| Ennum manithargal innaattil kodiyae | ...there are millions of such people in this country! |
| Male | |
| Gangaiyil vellam ponginaal karaigal podanum | When the Ganges overflows with flood, banks must be raised. |
| Aa…aa….Karaigal poda thavarinaal kalangi vaadanum | Aa... aa... If you fail to build banks, you will suffer in sorrow. |
| Kaalam evarukkumingae kaaththirukka koodumaa | Does time ever wait for anyone here? |
| Poovo poovu poovo poovu…. | Flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers... |
| Male | |
| Pooparikkum neraththilae puyaladichchu ponathadaa | Just as I was about to pluck the flower, a storm struck and blew it away. |
| Thoduththa poovai aduththa manithan | The flower that was strung together, another man... |
| Eduththu povathai paarththukkadaa | ...look at him taking it away! |
| Poovo poovu poovo poovu poovo poovu poovo poovu | Flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers... |
ஆ......ம்ம்ம்....ம்ம்......ஆ.....ஆ....
Aa... mmm... mm... aa... aa...
பூப்பறிக்கும் நேரத்திலே புயலடிச்சு போனதடா
தொடுத்த பூவை அடுத்த மனிதன்
எடுத்துப் போவதைப் பார்த்துக்கடா
பூவோ பூவு பூவோ பூவு......
Just as I was about to pluck the flower, a storm struck and blew it away.
The flower that was strung together, another man...
...look at him taking it away!
Flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers...
பூப்பறிக்கும் நேரத்திலே புயலடிச்சு போனதடா
தொடுத்த பூவை அடுத்த மனிதன்
எடுத்துப் போவதைப் பார்த்துக்கடா
பூவோ பூவு பூவோ பூவு பூவோ பூவு பூவோ பூவு
Just as I was about to pluck the flower, a storm struck and blew it away.
The flower that was strung together, another man...
...look at him taking it away!
Flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers...
நதிகள் காய்ந்தபின் படகோட்ட முடியுமா
கோட்டை சாய்ந்தபின் கொடியேற்றம் நடக்குமா
ஆ....ஆ.....ஆ....நதிகள் காய்ந்தபின் படகோட்ட முடியுமா
கோட்டை சாய்ந்தபின் கொடியேற்றம் நடக்குமா
Can you row a boat after the rivers have dried up?
Can a flag hoisting happen after the fort has fallen?
Aa... aa... aa... Can you row a boat after the rivers have dried up?
Can a flag hoisting happen after the fort has fallen?
ஐப்பசி ஆடி மாதத்தில் தென்றலும் வீசுமா
காட்டுக்குச் சென்ற பூங்கிளி கூட்டுக்குத் திரும்புமா
காலம் எவர்க்குமிங்கே காத்திருக்கக் கூடுமா
பூவோ பூவு பூவோ பூவு......
Will a gentle breeze blow during the stormy month of Aippasi?
Will the sweet bird that flew off to the forest return to its nest?
Does time ever wait for anyone here?
Flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers...
பூப்பறிக்கும் நேரத்திலே புயலடிச்சு போனதடா
தொடுத்த பூவை அடுத்த மனிதன்
எடுத்துப் போவதைப் பார்த்துக்கடா
பூவோ பூவு பூவோ பூவு......
Just as I was about to pluck the flower, a storm struck and blew it away.
The flower that was strung together, another man...
...look at him taking it away!
Flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers...
அலைகள் ஓய்ந்த பின் கடல் நீரில் குளிக்கவே
எண்ணும் மனிதர்கள் இந்நாட்டில் கோடியே
அலைகள் ஓய்ந்த பின் கடல் நீரில் குளிக்கவே
எண்ணும் மனிதர்கள் இந்நாட்டில் கோடியே
Thinking of bathing in the ocean only after the waves subside...
...there are millions of such people in this country!
Thinking of bathing in the ocean only after the waves subside...
...there are millions of such people in this country!
கங்கையில் வெள்ளம் பொங்கினால் கரைகள் போடணும்
ஆஅ....ஆ.....கரைகள் போடத் தவறினால் கலங்கி வாடணும்
காலம் எவர்க்குமிங்கே காத்திருக்க கூடுமா...
பூவோ பூவு பூவோ பூவு......
When the Ganges overflows with flood, banks must be raised.
Aa... aa... If you fail to build banks, you will suffer in sorrow.
Does time ever wait for anyone here?
Flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers...
பூப்பறிக்கும் நேரத்திலே புயலடிச்சு போனதடா
தொடுத்த பூவை அடுத்த மனிதன்
எடுத்துப் போவதைப் பார்த்துக்கடா
பூவோ பூவு பூவோ பூவு பூவோ பூவு பூவோ பூவு......
Just as I was about to pluck the flower, a storm struck and blew it away.
The flower that was strung together, another man...
...look at him taking it away!
Flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers...
Aa…..mmm….mm…..aa….aa….
Aa... mmm... mm... aa... aa...
Pooparikkum neraththilae puyaladichchu ponathadaa
Just as I was about to pluck the flower, a storm struck and blew it away.
Thoduththa poovai aduththa manithan
The flower that was strung together, another man...
Eduththu povathai paarththukkadaa
...look at him taking it away!
Poovo poovu poovo poovu….
Flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers...
Pooparikkum neraththilae puyaladichchu ponathadaa
Just as I was about to pluck the flower, a storm struck and blew it away.
Thoduththa poovai aduththa manithan
The flower that was strung together, another man...
Eduththu povathai paarththukkadaa
...look at him taking it away!
Poovo poovu poovo poovu poovo poovu poovo poovu
Flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers...
Nadhigal kaainthapin padakotta mudiyumaa
Can you row a boat after the rivers have dried up?
Kottai saainthapin kodiyaettram nadakkumaa
Can a flag hoisting happen after the fort has fallen?
Aa….aa….aa….. Nadhigal kaainthapin padakotta mudiyumaa
Aa... aa... aa... Can you row a boat after the rivers have dried up?
Kottai saainthapin kodiyaettram nadakkumaa
Can a flag hoisting happen after the fort has fallen?
Aippasi aadi maadhaththil thendralum veesumaa
Will a gentle breeze blow during the stormy month of Aippasi?
Kaattukku sendra poongili koottukku thirumpumaa
Will the sweet bird that flew off to the forest return to its nest?
Kaalam evarukkumingae kaaththirukka koodumaa
Does time ever wait for anyone here?
Poovo poovu poovo poovu….
Flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers...
Pooparikkum neraththilae puyaladichchu ponathadaa
Just as I was about to pluck the flower, a storm struck and blew it away.
Thoduththa poovai aduththa manithan
The flower that was strung together, another man...
Eduththu povathai paarththukkadaa
...look at him taking it away!
Poovo poovu poovo poovu….
Flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers...
Alaigal ointha pin kadal neeril kulikkave
Thinking of bathing in the ocean only after the waves subside...
Ennum manithargal innaattil kodiyae
...there are millions of such people in this country!
Alaigal ointha pin kadal neeril kulikkave
Thinking of bathing in the ocean only after the waves subside...
Ennum manithargal innaattil kodiyae
...there are millions of such people in this country!
Gangaiyil vellam ponginaal karaigal podanum
When the Ganges overflows with flood, banks must be raised.
Aa…aa….Karaigal poda thavarinaal kalangi vaadanum
Aa... aa... If you fail to build banks, you will suffer in sorrow.
Kaalam evarukkumingae kaaththirukka koodumaa
Does time ever wait for anyone here?
Poovo poovu poovo poovu….
Flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers...
Pooparikkum neraththilae puyaladichchu ponathadaa
Just as I was about to pluck the flower, a storm struck and blew it away.
Thoduththa poovai aduththa manithan
The flower that was strung together, another man...
Eduththu povathai paarththukkadaa
...look at him taking it away!
Poovo poovu poovo poovu poovo poovu poovo poovu
Flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers, flowers, oh flowers...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a poignant, philosophical reflection on heartbreak, lost opportunities, and the relentless passage of time. The protagonist laments that just when he was about to claim his love—symbolized by plucking a flower—unforeseen circumstances intervened, and someone else walked away with his happiness. He compares his tragic delay to impossible scenarios, such as trying to row a boat in a dry river or waiting for ocean waves to completely stop before taking a dip. Through these vivid metaphors, lyricist Muthulingam emphasizes the dangers of hesitation and missed chances. The song conveys a universal truth: time waits for no one, and failing to act at the crucial moment leaves a person with nothing but regret and grief.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Thoduththa poovai aduththa manithan eduththu povathai paarththukkadaa”
The flower represents the protagonist's love interest or happiness, which was taken away by another before he could claim it.
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Ani)
“Nadhigal kaainthapin padakotta mudiyumaa”
Asking questions that imply an obvious negative answer to emphasize the impossibility of reclaiming lost time or opportunity.
Proverbial Metaphor / Idiom
“Alaigal ointha pin kadal neeril kulikkave ennum manithargal innaattil kodiyae”
Uses the famous Tamil proverb concept of waiting for ocean waves to stop before bathing, symbolizing foolish procrastination.
Did you know?
Trivia
Karaiyai Thodatha Alaigal (1985) featured music by Chandrabose, a popular composer of the 1980s Tamil film industry known for his folk-tinged melodies and expressive ballads. Sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, this track stands out for its deep philosophical lyrics penned by Muthulingam.
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