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Kumbakarai Thangaiah album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Poothu Poothu Kulungudhadi

From Kumbakarai Thangaiah · 1991

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Uma Ramanan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Kumbakarai Thangaiah
Movie release year
1991
Lyrics added on
17 Oct 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Poothu poothu kulungudhadi poovu
Adha paathu paathu manasukkulla novu
Mathaalam dhaan kottum pudhu kuthaalam dhaan
Mathaalam dhaan kottum pudhu kuthaalam dhaan
Oru achaaram dhaan vaikaamalae hooooi
Pudhu machaan vandhaan.. machaan vandhaan hoooi
Poothu poothu kulungudhadi poovu
Adha paathu paathu manasukkulla novu
Vekkaadha sendhooran dhaan
Vachi vandhen unnodu naan
Ippodhu nee thandhaal enna muthaaram dhaan
Vandaadum kannoram dhaan
Vanji ilam pennodu naan
Vandhenammaa kondaadathaan inneram dhaan
Mottaanadhae ilam maeni maeni
Thottaadavae varum maaaaman nee
Male :Melam oru idi idikkidhu
Vaanam pudhu koda pudikkidhu
Vaa vaa vaa maanae……
Poothu poothu kulungudhadi poovu
Adha paathu paathu manasukkulla novu
Mathaalam dhaan kottum pudhu kuthaalam dhaan
Mathaalam dhaan kottum pudhu kuthaalam dhaan
Oru achaaram dhaan vaikaamalae hooooi
Pudhu machaan vandhaan.. machaan vandhaan hoooi
Poothu poothu kulungudhadi poovu
Adha paathu paathu manasukkulla novu
…………………………
Pattoda ponnaada thaan
Paartha manam onnodu dhaan
Kattaamalae yettaamalae thallaadudhae
Tholodu tholaaga thaan
Meloda melaagathaan
Thullamalae nillaamalae vandhaan machaan
Semmaeniyaa sendhaazham poovaa…
Adhu unmaeniyaa ah.. ponmaeniyaa..
Female :Paarthaa udal silusilukkudhu
Paarvai pada kilukilukkudhu
Vaa vaa vaa.. maama……
Poothu poothu kulungudhadi poovu
Adha paathu paathu manasukkulla novu
Mathaalam dhaan kottum pudhu kuthaalam dhaan
Mathaalam dhaan kottum pudhu kuthaalam dhaan
Oru achaaram dhaan vaikaamalae hooooi
Pudhu machaan vandhaan.. machaan vandhaan hoooi
Poothu poothu kulungudhadi poovu
Adha paathu paathu manasukkulla novu
Poothu poothu kulungudhadi poovu
Adha paathu paathu manasukkulla novu
The flower blooms and sways in full glory,
and watching it, an ache rises in my heart.
Like the fresh waterfalls of Courtallam beating like drums,
Like the fresh waterfalls of Courtallam beating like drums,
without any restraint or hesitation, oh!
My handsome sweetheart has arrived.. he has come, hey!
The flower blooms and sways in full glory,
and watching it, an ache rises in my heart.
The red dot I had never worn before,
I wore it today and came to you.
Why don't you give me a garland of kisses now?
Near those enchanting eyes where bees hover,
together with this tender young girl,
I have come to celebrate right at this moment!
This youthful body is like a blossoming bud,
and you are the sweetheart who has come to caress it.
The drums thunder like a storm,
and the sky holds up a fresh umbrella.
Come, come, come, my gentle deer...
The flower blooms and sways in full glory,
and watching it, an ache rises in my heart.
Like the fresh waterfalls of Courtallam beating like drums,
Like the fresh waterfalls of Courtallam beating like drums,
without any restraint or hesitation, oh!
My handsome sweetheart has arrived.. he has come, hey!
The flower blooms and sways in full glory,
and watching it, an ache rises in my heart.
...
Dressed in fine silk and golden cloth,
my heart saw you and became yours alone.
Unbound and out of reach, it sways with longing.
Shoulder to shoulder,
pressing close against each other,
my sweetheart came without stopping or hesitating.
Is that glowing skin, or a fragrant screwpine flower?
Is that your body... ah, your golden form?
Just looking at you sends chills of excitement through me,
and when your gaze falls on me, I tingle with delight.
Come, come, come, my love...
The flower blooms and sways in full glory,
and watching it, an ache rises in my heart.
Like the fresh waterfalls of Courtallam beating like drums,
Like the fresh waterfalls of Courtallam beating like drums,
without any restraint or hesitation, oh!
My handsome sweetheart has arrived.. he has come, hey!
The flower blooms and sways in full glory,
and watching it, an ache rises in my heart.
The flower blooms and sways in full glory,
and watching it, an ache rises in my heart.
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful, romantic duet from the film 'Kumbakarai Thangaiah' captures the joyful longing and flirtatious banter between two young lovers. The heroine compares her budding youth and longing to a fully bloomed flower that sways in the wind, expressing a sweet ache in her heart as she awaits her beloved's arrival. The hero responds warmly, celebrating her beauty, comparing her to fragrant flowers and precious gold, and inviting her to embrace the romantic moment. Packed with traditional rural folk imagery, the song evokes the festive atmosphere of village courtship, where nature, rain clouds, drums, and flowers mirror the passion and excitement felt by the lovers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukku Thodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

“Poothu poothu kulungudhadi poovu”

Words like 'Poothu poothu' (blooming blooming) and 'paathu paathu' (looking looking) are repeated consecutively to accentuate the ongoing, intensifying actions.

Emonai (Second-letter Rhyming)

“Mathaalam dhaan kottum pudhu kuthaalam dhaan”

In 'Mathaalam' and 'Kuthaalam', the second letters rhyme ('tha' / 'thaa'), giving a rhythmic cadence characteristic of Tamil folk poetry.

Uvamaani / Metaphor & Simile

“Semmaeniyaa sendhaazham poovaa…”

The lover's body is metaphorically compared to a fragrant screw-pine flower ('sendhaazham poovaa') and gold ('ponmaeniyaa').

Irattai Kilavi (Onomatopoeia)

“Paarthaa udal silusilukkudhu”

Words like 'silusilukkudhu' and 'kilukilukkudhu' represent sensations and jingling sounds that cannot be split into independent meaningful words.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kumbakarai Thangaiah' (1991) was directed by Gangai Amaran, who also penned the lyrics for this track. The music for the film was composed by his brother, Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, featuring vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki, showcasing their iconic folk duet chemistry.

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