Poosu Manjal
From Kanave Kalaiyadhe · 1999
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Hariharan
- Music director
- Deva
- Details
- Kanave Kalaiyadhe1999
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| ……………………………………. | |
| Male | |
| Poosu manjal poosu manjal | Apply turmeric, apply turmeric, |
| Poosiya poovondru | A flower smeared with turmeric, |
| Boomiyodu pona pinnum | Even after going into the earth, |
| Poothadhu yen ingu | Why did it bloom here again? |
| Male | |
| En kangal poi sollumaa | Would my eyes tell a lie? |
| Ver illaamal poo pookumaa | Will a flower bloom without roots? |
| Kannodu aananthamaa | Is this joy before my eyes? |
| En nenjodu boogambamaa | Or an earthquake in my heart? |
| Male | |
| Bimbamaa un polae bimbamaa | Is it an image, an image like you? |
| Oh oh nambumaa en ullam nambumaa | Oh, will my heart believe it? |
| Male | |
| Poosu manjal poosu manjal | Apply turmeric, apply turmeric, |
| Poosiya poovondru | A flower smeared with turmeric, |
| Boomiyodu pona pinnum | Even after going into the earth, |
| Poothadhu yen ingu | Why did it bloom here again? |
| Female | |
| ……………………………. | |
| Male | |
| Uyir neengi ponavalae | Oh girl who departed, losing your life, |
| En uyir vaangi ponavalae | Oh girl who took away my life as you left, |
| En uyir pona thegam matum nadamaadudhae | Only my lifeless body walks around, |
| Paaramma en vaazhvai paaramma | Look at my life, dear, look at my life. |
| Male | |
| Nee thandha kaayangal | The wounds you gave me, |
| Nenjodu aarumunnae | Before they could heal in my heart, |
| Azhakaana vaalondru adhai keerudhae | A beautiful sword scratches them open again. |
| Thaangumaa en ullam thaangumaa | Will my heart endure this? |
| Male | |
| Un pondra punnagaiyaal | With a smile like yours, |
| En vaazhvai kudipaval yaar | Who is this girl ruining my life? |
| Un pondra paarvaiyinaal | With a gaze like yours, |
| En kannai eripaval yaar | Who is this girl scorching my eyes? |
| Male | |
| Oru thodarkadhaiyae ingu vidukadhaiyaa | Is a continuous story turning into a riddle here? |
| Andha vidaiyin ezhuthu | The letters of that answer, |
| Endhan vithi vandhu maraithadhaa | Did my fate come and hide them? |
| Male | |
| Pongudhae kanneerum pongudhae | Tears well up, tears well up, |
| Oh oh kangalil un bimbam thangudhae | Oh, your image lingers in my eyes! |
| Male | |
| Poosu manjal poosu manjal | Apply turmeric, apply turmeric, |
| Poosiya poovondru | A flower smeared with turmeric, |
| Boomiyodu pona pinnum | Even after going into the earth, |
| Poothadhu yen ingu | Why did it bloom here again? |
| Female | |
| ……………………….. | |
| Male | |
| Vadakae oru asthamanam | A sunset in the north, |
| Therkae oru santhrothayam | A moonrise in the south, |
| Aagaayam ennodu thisai maarudhae | The sky is changing directions with me. |
| Unmaiyaa naan enna bommaiyaa | Is this reality, or am I just a doll? |
| Male | |
| Oru jenmam vaangi vandhu | Having been born with one life, |
| Iru jenmam vaazhukiren | I am living two lifetimes. |
| Idhu enna kathai endru vithi ketkudhae | 'What story is this?' fate itself asks! |
| Maayamaa en kanneer maarumaa | Is it an illusion? Will my tears ever turn? |
| Male | |
| Engeyo tholaintha vithai | A seed lost somewhere, |
| Ingae vandhu poothathena | Why did it come and bloom here? |
| Mullai poo endrirunthen | I thought it was a jasmine flower, |
| Mullodu paainthadhena | Why did it pounce upon me with thorns? |
| Male | |
| Naan oda ninaika | As I try to run away, |
| Nizhal ennai thuratha | My shadow chases me. |
| Uyir thikaikum payanam | This life-choking journey, |
| Endha thirupathil mudivadhu | At which turn will it end? |
| Male | |
| Ointhadhae en kaalkal ointhadhae | My legs are tired, exhausted. |
| Oh oh theernthadhae kanneerum theernthadhae | Oh, even my tears have dried up! |
| Male | |
| Poosu manjal poosu manjal | Apply turmeric, apply turmeric, |
| Poosiya poovondru | A flower smeared with turmeric, |
| Boomiyodu pona pinnum | Even after going into the earth, |
| Poothadhu yen ingu | Why did it bloom here again? |
| Male | |
| En kangal poi sollumaa | Would my eyes tell a lie? |
| Ver illaamal poo pookumaa | Will a flower bloom without roots? |
| Kannodu aananthamaa | Is this joy before my eyes? |
| En nenjodu boogambamaa | Or an earthquake in my heart? |
| Male | |
| Bimbamaa un polae bimbamaa | Is it an image, an image like you? |
| Oh oh nambumaa en ullam nambumaa | Oh, will my heart believe it? |
| Female | |
| …………………………….. | |
............................
பூசு மஞ்சள் பூசு
மஞ்சள் பூசிய பூவொன்று
பூமியோடு போன பின்னும்
பூத்தது ஏன் இங்கு
Apply turmeric, apply turmeric,
A flower smeared with turmeric,
Even after going into the earth,
Why did it bloom here again?
என் கண்கள் பொய்
சொல்லுமா வேர் இல்லாமல்
பூ பூக்குமா கண்ணோடு ஆனந்தமா
என் நெஞ்சோடு பூகம்பமா
Would my eyes tell a lie?
Will a flower bloom without roots?
Is this joy before my eyes?
Or an earthquake in my heart?
பிம்பமா உன்
போலே பிம்பமா ஓ ஓ
நம்புமா என் உள்ளம்
நம்புமா
Is it an image, an image like you?
Oh, will my heart believe it?
பூசு மஞ்சள் பூசு
மஞ்சள் பூசிய பூவொன்று
பூமியோடு போன பின்னும்
பூத்தது ஏன் இங்கு
Apply turmeric, apply turmeric,
A flower smeared with turmeric,
Even after going into the earth,
Why did it bloom here again?
............................
உயிர் நீங்கி
போனவளே என் உயிர்
வாங்கி போனவளே
என் உயிர் போன தேகம்
மட்டும் நடமாடுதே பாரம்மா
என் வாழ்வை பாரம்மா
Oh girl who departed, losing your life,
Oh girl who took away my life as you left,
Only my lifeless body walks around,
Look at my life, dear, look at my life.
நீ தந்த காயங்கள்
நெஞ்சோடு ஆறுமுன்னே
அழகான வாளொன்று அதை
கீறுதே தாங்குமா என் உள்ளம்
தாங்குமா
The wounds you gave me,
Before they could heal in my heart,
A beautiful sword scratches them open again.
Will my heart endure this?
உன் போன்ற புன்னகையால்
என் வாழ்வை குடிப்பவள் யார்
உன் போன்ற பார்வையினால்
என் கண்ணை எரிப்பவள் யார்
With a smile like yours,
Who is this girl ruining my life?
With a gaze like yours,
Who is this girl scorching my eyes?
ஒரு தொடர்கதையே
இங்கு விடுகதையா அந்த
விடையின் எழுத்து எந்தன்
விதி வந்து மறைத்ததா
Is a continuous story turning into a riddle here?
The letters of that answer,
Did my fate come and hide them?
பொங்குதே கண்ணீரும்
பொங்குதே ஓ ஓ கண்களில்
உன் பிம்பம் தங்குதே
Tears well up, tears well up,
Oh, your image lingers in my eyes!
பூசு மஞ்சள் பூசு
மஞ்சள் பூசிய பூவொன்று
பூமியோடு போன பின்னும்
பூத்தது ஏன் இங்கு
Apply turmeric, apply turmeric,
A flower smeared with turmeric,
Even after going into the earth,
Why did it bloom here again?
............................
வடக்கே ஒரு அஸ்தமனம்
தெற்கே ஒரு சந்ரோதயம்
ஆகாயம் என்னோடு திசை
மாறுதே உண்மையா நான்
என்ன பொம்மையா
A sunset in the north,
A moonrise in the south,
The sky is changing directions with me.
Is this reality, or am I just a doll?
ஒரு ஜென்மம் வாங்கி
வந்து இரு ஜென்மம் வாழ்கிறேன்
இது என்ன கதை என்று விதி
கேட்குதே மாயமா என் கண்ணீர்
மாறுமா
Having been born with one life,
I am living two lifetimes.
'What story is this?' fate itself asks!
Is it an illusion? Will my tears ever turn?
எங்கேயோ தொலைந்த
விதை இங்கே வந்து பூத்ததென்ன
முல்லை பூ என்றிருந்தேன்
முள்ளோடு பாய்ந்ததென்ன
A seed lost somewhere,
Why did it come and bloom here?
I thought it was a jasmine flower,
Why did it pounce upon me with thorns?
நான் ஓட நினைக்க
நிழல் என்னை துரத்த
உயிர் திகைக்கும் பயணம்
எந்த திருப்பத்தில் முடிவது
As I try to run away,
My shadow chases me.
This life-choking journey,
At which turn will it end?
ஓய்ந்ததே என்
கால்கள் ஓய்ந்ததே ஓ ஓ
தீர்ந்ததே கண்ணீரும்
தீர்ந்ததே
My legs are tired, exhausted.
Oh, even my tears have dried up!
பூசு மஞ்சள் பூசு
மஞ்சள் பூசிய பூவொன்று
பூமியோடு போன பின்னும்
பூத்தது ஏன் இங்கு
Apply turmeric, apply turmeric,
A flower smeared with turmeric,
Even after going into the earth,
Why did it bloom here again?
என் கண்கள் பொய்
சொல்லுமா வேர் இல்லாமல்
பூ பூக்குமா கண்ணோடு ஆனந்தமா
என் நெஞ்சோடு பூகம்பமா
Would my eyes tell a lie?
Will a flower bloom without roots?
Is this joy before my eyes?
Or an earthquake in my heart?
பிம்பமா உன்
போலே பிம்பமா ஓ ஓ
நம்புமா என் உள்ளம்
நம்புமா
Is it an image, an image like you?
Oh, will my heart believe it?
............................
…………………………………….
Poosu manjal poosu manjal
Apply turmeric, apply turmeric,
Poosiya poovondru
A flower smeared with turmeric,
Boomiyodu pona pinnum
Even after going into the earth,
Poothadhu yen ingu
Why did it bloom here again?
En kangal poi sollumaa
Would my eyes tell a lie?
Ver illaamal poo pookumaa
Will a flower bloom without roots?
Kannodu aananthamaa
Is this joy before my eyes?
En nenjodu boogambamaa
Or an earthquake in my heart?
Bimbamaa un polae bimbamaa
Is it an image, an image like you?
Oh oh nambumaa en ullam nambumaa
Oh, will my heart believe it?
Poosu manjal poosu manjal
Apply turmeric, apply turmeric,
Poosiya poovondru
A flower smeared with turmeric,
Boomiyodu pona pinnum
Even after going into the earth,
Poothadhu yen ingu
Why did it bloom here again?
…………………………….
Uyir neengi ponavalae
Oh girl who departed, losing your life,
En uyir vaangi ponavalae
Oh girl who took away my life as you left,
En uyir pona thegam matum nadamaadudhae
Only my lifeless body walks around,
Paaramma en vaazhvai paaramma
Look at my life, dear, look at my life.
Nee thandha kaayangal
The wounds you gave me,
Nenjodu aarumunnae
Before they could heal in my heart,
Azhakaana vaalondru adhai keerudhae
A beautiful sword scratches them open again.
Thaangumaa en ullam thaangumaa
Will my heart endure this?
Un pondra punnagaiyaal
With a smile like yours,
En vaazhvai kudipaval yaar
Who is this girl ruining my life?
Un pondra paarvaiyinaal
With a gaze like yours,
En kannai eripaval yaar
Who is this girl scorching my eyes?
Oru thodarkadhaiyae ingu vidukadhaiyaa
Is a continuous story turning into a riddle here?
Andha vidaiyin ezhuthu
The letters of that answer,
Endhan vithi vandhu maraithadhaa
Did my fate come and hide them?
Pongudhae kanneerum pongudhae
Tears well up, tears well up,
Oh oh kangalil un bimbam thangudhae
Oh, your image lingers in my eyes!
Poosu manjal poosu manjal
Apply turmeric, apply turmeric,
Poosiya poovondru
A flower smeared with turmeric,
Boomiyodu pona pinnum
Even after going into the earth,
Poothadhu yen ingu
Why did it bloom here again?
………………………..
Vadakae oru asthamanam
A sunset in the north,
Therkae oru santhrothayam
A moonrise in the south,
Aagaayam ennodu thisai maarudhae
The sky is changing directions with me.
Unmaiyaa naan enna bommaiyaa
Is this reality, or am I just a doll?
Oru jenmam vaangi vandhu
Having been born with one life,
Iru jenmam vaazhukiren
I am living two lifetimes.
Idhu enna kathai endru vithi ketkudhae
'What story is this?' fate itself asks!
Maayamaa en kanneer maarumaa
Is it an illusion? Will my tears ever turn?
Engeyo tholaintha vithai
A seed lost somewhere,
Ingae vandhu poothathena
Why did it come and bloom here?
Mullai poo endrirunthen
I thought it was a jasmine flower,
Mullodu paainthadhena
Why did it pounce upon me with thorns?
Naan oda ninaika
As I try to run away,
Nizhal ennai thuratha
My shadow chases me.
Uyir thikaikum payanam
This life-choking journey,
Endha thirupathil mudivadhu
At which turn will it end?
Ointhadhae en kaalkal ointhadhae
My legs are tired, exhausted.
Oh oh theernthadhae kanneerum theernthadhae
Oh, even my tears have dried up!
Poosu manjal poosu manjal
Apply turmeric, apply turmeric,
Poosiya poovondru
A flower smeared with turmeric,
Boomiyodu pona pinnum
Even after going into the earth,
Poothadhu yen ingu
Why did it bloom here again?
En kangal poi sollumaa
Would my eyes tell a lie?
Ver illaamal poo pookumaa
Will a flower bloom without roots?
Kannodu aananthamaa
Is this joy before my eyes?
En nenjodu boogambamaa
Or an earthquake in my heart?
Bimbamaa un polae bimbamaa
Is it an image, an image like you?
Oh oh nambumaa en ullam nambumaa
Oh, will my heart believe it?
……………………………..
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Poosu Manjal from Kanave Kalaiyadhe (1999) captures the agonizing shock and poetic grief of a man who suddenly sees a woman who looks exactly like his deceased beloved. Smeared with the traditional yellow turmeric associated with auspiciousness and beauty, the flower metaphorically represents the loved one who had returned to the earth. The protagonist grapples with internal turmoil, asking whether his eyes are playing tricks on him or if fate is playing a cruel joke by creating a rootless flower.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Ver illaamal poo pookumaa”
Compares the deceased lover to a turmeric-smeared flower buried in the earth, and the lookalike appearing without explanation to a rootless flower blooming.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)
“Vadakae oru asthamanam Therkae oru santhrothayam”
Exaggerates cosmic impossibilities like a sunset in the north and moonrise in the south to describe the protagonist's disorientation upon seeing the lookalike.
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Ani)
“En kangal poi sollumaa”
Uses persistent rhetorical questioning throughout the stanza to express disbelief, grief, and emotional paralysis.
Alliteration (Monai)
“Poosu manjal poosu manjal”
Repetition of the initial 'P' sound ('Poosu', 'Poosiya', 'Poovondru', 'Boomiyodu', 'Poothadhu') creating a gentle, poetic rhythm.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kanave Kalaiyadhe (1999) stars Prashanth and Simran. The music was composed by Deva with lyrics written by Vairamuthu. The song highlights a key narrative point in the film where the protagonist encounters his dead lover's doppelgänger.
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