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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poosani Kaai

From Pattathu Yaanai · 2013

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singer
Gaana Bala
Music director
S. Thaman
Details
Pattathu Yaanai2013

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ohhoo..ahhh..ohoo…Ohhoo..ahhh..ohoo…
Ohhoo..ahhh..ohoo…Ohhoo..ahhh..ohoo…
Male
Poosani kaai onnuA whole pumpkin
Sothula maraiyuthadaIs being hidden inside a plate of rice!
Unnoda idhaytha neeOpen up your heart
Open panni pesuAnd speak out clearly.
Pootuna veetukulaInside a locked house,
Poochedi muzhaikunumaWill a flower plant ever grow?
Kannala valaiya pinniWeave a net with your eyes
Kachithama veesuAnd cast it perfectly!
Male
Ohhoo..ahhh..ohoo…Ohhoo..ahhh..ohoo…
Ohhoo..ahhh..ohoo…Ohhoo..ahhh..ohoo…
Male
Kaadhal vanthuputtaWhen love comes knocking,
Vaarthai onnum kidaikaathuNo words come to mind.
Edhirae kadal irunthumEven with an ocean right ahead,
Kaal nanaikka mudiyathuYou cannot even wet your feet.
Male
Kaadhal vanthuputtaWhen love comes knocking,
Vaarthai onnum kidaikaathuNo words come to mind.
Edhirae kadal irunthumEven with an ocean right ahead,
Kaal nanaikka mudiyathuYou cannot even wet your feet.
Male
Central jailukullaInside the Central Jail,
Asanthu thoongaiyilaeWhen sleeping deeply,
Ennoda kanavil avaShe keeps coming and going
Vanthu vanthu povaIn my dreams.
Pala naal paarthirukomWe have seen each other for many days,
Irunthum pesavilaYet we haven't spoken.
Solladha kaadhala polThere is no sorrow greater
Sogamilla maamaThan unexpressed love, my friend!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song expresses the pain, hesitation, and inner turbulence of unexpressed love. Using colloquial Tamil proverbs and vivid metaphors, the lyrics urge the protagonist to speak his heart out rather than suffering in silence. The narrator notes how love leaves a person tongue-tied, comparing the feeling to standing before a vast ocean yet being unable to step in and wet one's feet. Even in restrictive settings like a jail cell, thoughts of the beloved invade the mind, highlighting how silent love brings the ultimate grief.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Proverb / Metaphor (பழமொழி / உருவகம்)

Poosani kaai onnu / Sothula maraiyuthada

Refers to the famous Tamil proverb 'Poosani kaai sothula maraikiraadh' (trying to hide a whole pumpkin in a small portion of rice), symbolizing futile attempts to hide an obvious truth like love.

Rhetorical Question (வினா நவிற்சி)

Pootuna veetukula / Poochedi muzhaikunuma

Asking if a flower can grow inside a locked house to emphasize that feelings cannot blossom if kept shut inside oneself.

Hyperbole & Paradox (உயர்வு நவிற்சி / முரண்)

Edhirae kadal irunthum / Kaal nanaikka mudiyathu

Illustrates the paralysis of love: despite being surrounded by a sea of emotion, one feels unable to make the smallest move.

Repetition / Anaphora (அடுக்குத் தொடர்)

Vanthu vanthu pova

Repetition of 'vanthu' for emphasis on the recurring nature of dreams.

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Trivia

Pattathu Yaanai (2013) is an action-comedy film starring Vishal and Aishwarya Arjun, directed by Boopathy Pandian with music composed by S. Thaman. The lyrics were penned by the acclaimed late lyricist Na. Muthukumar, who was renowned for capturing everyday colloquial idioms and emotional nuances effortlessly.

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