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Lyrics & meaning

Poopookkum Oosai

From Minsara Kanavu · 1997

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Sujatha, Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Minsara Kanavu
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
10 Jan 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Poopookkum oosai adhai ketkathaan aasai
Pulviriyum oosai adhai ketkathaan aasai
Poopookkum oosai adhai ketkathaan aasai
Pulviriyum oosai adhai ketkathaan aasai
Patchigalin kuukukoo poochigalin ring ring ring
Sangeedham sollitharumae thangappennae
Kaaloodu salangai pootti karaiyellaam veenai meetti
Nadhipaadum paadal kelaai pattuppennae
Bhoomi oru veenai adhai kaatrin kaigal meettudhae
Ketkum oliyellam
Ada sa ri ga ma pa dha ni sa ri…
Poopookkum oosai adhai ketkathaan aasai
Pulviriyum oosai adhai ketkathaan aasai
Kanthoongum nerathil maunathin jaamathil
Gadigaara satham sangeedham
Kankanaa dhoorathil suthiserum thaalathil
Rayil poagum oosai sangeedham
Pasikonda naeram thaalikkum oosai
Sandhosha sangeedham
Thaalaattum annaikkellaam thangal pillai maarbai mutti
Paalunnum satham sangeedham
Hilkorae hilkorae hilkorae hilkorae
Mangalaarae mangalaarae dhoori dhoori baiyyaa
Hilkorae hilkorae hilkorae hilkorae
Jangalaarae jangalaarae dhoomeeraadhae dhaiyyaa
Poopookkum oosai adhai ketkathaan aasai
Pulviriyum oosai adhai ketkathaan aasai
Chitchittu kuruvigalum chillenru neeraadi
Siragularthum oosai sangeedham
Karaikonda paaraimel kadal konda alaivandhu
Kaithattum oosai sangeedham
Kaatrodu thennai asaigindra oosai
Sirungaara sangeedham
Muthaadum neerin melae thathi
Thathi thaavi chellum
Thavalaikkal oosai sangeedham
Hilkorae hilkorae hilkorae hilkorae
Mangalaarae mangalaarae dhoori dhoori baiyyaa
Hilkorae hilkorae hilkorae hilkorae
Jangalaarae jangalaarae dhoomeeraadhae dhaiyyaa
Poopookkum oosai adhai ketkathaan aasai
Pulviriyum oosai adhai ketkathaan aasai
Patchigalin kuukukoo poochigalin ring ring ring
Sangeedham sollitharumae thangappennae
Kaaloodu salangai pootti karaiyellaam veenai meetti
Nadhipaadum paadal kelaai pattuppennae
Bhoomi oru veenai adhai kaatrin kaigal meettudhae
Ketkum oliyellam
Ada sa ri ga ma pa dha ni sa ri…
Hilkorae ….woooo aahhhh wwuuu yeahhh …
The sound of a flower blooming—I long to hear it
The sound of grass unfurling—I long to hear it
The sound of a flower blooming—I long to hear it
The sound of grass unfurling—I long to hear it
The coo-coo-coo of birds, the ring-ring-ring of insects
They will teach you music, my golden girl!
Wearing anklet bells, strumming a veena (lute) along its banks,
Listen to the song the river sings, my sweet girl!
The earth is a veena, and the hands of the wind strum it
Every sound you hear
Is Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa Re...
The sound of a flower blooming—I long to hear it
The sound of grass unfurling—I long to hear it
When your eyes are asleep, in the deep silence of the night,
The ticking of a clock is music!
Far off in the distance, keeping to a rhythm and tune,
The rumble of a passing train is music!
When you are hungry, the sizzle of tempering spices
Is joyful music!
For every mother singing a lullaby, her baby nuzzling her breast
And nursing is music!
Hilkore hilkore hilkore hilkore
Mangalare mangalare dhoori dhoori paiya
Hilkore hilkore hilkore hilkore
Jangalare jangalare dhoomeeraadhe thaiyya
The sound of a flower blooming—I long to hear it
The sound of grass unfurling—I long to hear it
Little sparrows taking a cool dip
And fluttering their wings dry is music!
When ocean waves crash against the rocks on the shore,
The sound of their clapping hands is music!
Coconut palms swaying in the wind
Make romantic music!
Hopping and bouncing
Across the lapping waters,
The sound of a skipping stone is music!
Hilkore hilkore hilkore hilkore
Mangalare mangalare dhoori dhoori paiya
Hilkore hilkore hilkore hilkore
Jangalare jangalare dhoomeeraadhe thaiyya
The sound of a flower blooming—I long to hear it
The sound of grass unfurling—I long to hear it
The coo-coo-coo of birds, the ring-ring-ring of insects
They will teach you music, my golden girl!
Wearing anklet bells, strumming the veena along its banks,
Listen to the song the river sings, my sweet girl!
The earth is a veena, and the hands of the wind strum it
Every sound you hear
Is Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa Re...
Hilkore... woo ooh aahhh wwooo yeah...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Poo Pookkum Oosai is a joyful celebration of nature and the subtle everyday sounds that compose the soundtrack of human life. Poet Vairamuthu presents the idea that music isn't merely confined to formal classical notes, but exists everywhere—from the silent blooming of a flower to the ticking clock in the dead of night, the sizzling of cooked food, and the tender sound of an infant nursing.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Bhoomi oru veenai adhai kaatrin kaigal meettudhae

Compares the planet Earth to a veena instrument, and the gentle wind to the hands plucking its strings.

Personification

Karaikonda paaraimel kadal konda alaivandhu Kaithattum oosai sangeedham

Attribute human traits to nature: ocean waves clapping against rocks, and rivers wearing anklets to sing songs.

Onomatopoeia

Patchigalin kuukukoo poochigalin ring ring ring

Use of natural sounds transformed into musical rhythm, such as bird cooing and insect buzzing.

Anaphora / Emonai (Tamil Rhyme)

Poopookkum oosai adhai ketkathaan aasai / Pulviriyum oosai adhai ketkathaan aasai

Repetition of sound structure and initial theme across opening couplets to create a rhythmic hook.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman for Rajiv Menon's Minsara Kanavu (1997), this track features vocal performances by Sujatha Mohan and Unni Menon along with a unique choral arrangement. A.R. Rahman won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for this film's soundtrack.

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