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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pooppol Malara

From Annavin Aasai · 1966

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Annavin Aasai1966

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Poopol malara mottu vaiththaanHe placed a bud to bloom like a flower.
Punnagaiyil thaen sottu vaiththaanHe placed a drop of honey in her smile.
Paarvaiyil ilam chittu vaiththaanHe placed a young little bird in her gaze.
Idhai padaiththavan thaniyae vittu vaiththaanBut the creator left it all alone.
Female
Oo….ooo…ooh…oohh….oohho….Oo….ooo…ooh…oohh….oohho….
Female
Poopol malara mottu vaiththaanHe placed a bud to bloom like a flower.
Punnagaiyil thaen sottu vaiththaanHe placed a drop of honey in her smile.
Paarvaiyil ilam chittu vaiththaanHe placed a young little bird in her gaze.
Idhai padaiththavan thaniyae vittu vaiththaanBut the creator left it all alone.
Female
Oo….ooo…ooh…oohh….oohho….Oo….ooo…ooh…oohh….oohho….
Female
Puruvam ennum villeduththuTaking the eyebrow as a bow,
Poovizhi ennum kanai thoduththuAiming an arrow called flower-like eyes,
Puruvam ennum villeduththuTaking the eyebrow as a bow,
Poovizhi ennum kanai thoduththuAiming an arrow called flower-like eyes,
Female
Poopol malara mottu vaiththaanHe placed a bud to bloom like a flower.
Punnagaiyil thaen sottu vaiththaanHe placed a drop of honey in her smile.
Paarvaiyil ilam chittu vaiththaanHe placed a young little bird in her gaze.
Idhai padaiththavan thaniyae vittu vaiththaanBut the creator left it all alone.
Female
Oo….ooo…ooh…oohh….oohho….Oo….ooo…ooh…oohh….oohho….
Female
Alaigal vanthu mella thazhuvaAs waves come to gently embrace,
Anbu kadhaigal solli nazhuvaTelling stories of love and slipping away,
Alaigal vanthu mella thazhuvaAs waves come to gently embrace,
Anbu kadhaigal solli nazhuvaTelling stories of love and slipping away,
Female
Aadaigal ellaam tharaiyinil vaadaWhile all garments lay discarded on the ground,
Azhagu maeni neeraadaAs the beautiful form bathes in the water,
Aadaigal ellaam tharaiyinil vaadaWhile all garments lay discarded on the ground,
Azhagu maeni neeraadaAs the beautiful form bathes in the water,
Female
Poopol malara mottu vaiththaanHe placed a bud to bloom like a flower.
Punnagaiyil thaen sottu vaiththaanHe placed a drop of honey in her smile.
Paarvaiyil ilam chittu vaiththaanHe placed a young little bird in her gaze.
Idhai padaiththavan thaniyae vittu vaiththaanBut the creator left it all alone.
Female
Oo….ooo…ooh…oohh….oohho….Oo….ooo…ooh…oohh….oohho….

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Poopol malara mottu vaiththaan' is a classic Tamil song celebrating feminine beauty, longing, and romantic solitude. Through vivid imagery, lyricist Vaali describes how the Creator intricately crafted a woman's features—putting sweetness in her smile, a fluttering sparrow in her look, and making her eyebrows like bows and eyes like arrows—yet left her in isolation yearning for love. The composition blends delicate sensuality with poetic elegance as it paints a scene of nature embracing her beauty. Set to K. V. Mahadevan's gentle melody and sung with emotive richness by P. Susheela, the song captures both painterly romanticism and subtle melancholy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Poopol malara mottu vaiththaan

Compares the opening/blossoming beauty directly to a flower bud using 'pol'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Puruvam ennum villeduththu / Poovizhi ennum kanai thoduththu

Metaphorically equates eyebrows to a bow ('vil') and eyes to an arrow ('kanai').

Alliteration (Monaai)

Poopol malara mottu vaiththaan

Repetition of initial consonant 'P' across consecutive lines (Poopol, Punnagaiyil, Paarvaiyil).

Personification

Alaigal vanthu mella thazhuva / Anbu kadhaigal solli nazhuva

Waves are personified as loving storytellers that gently touch and whisper tales of love.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Annavin Aasai' (1966) features music by the legendary composer K. V. Mahadevan and lyrics by Vaali. The song is famed for P. Susheela's delicate vocal expression and vocalizations (the melismatic 'Oo... ooo...' hooks), which elevated the song into a memorable classic of 1960s Tamil cinema.

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