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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poovai Poovai Uthiruthadi

From Naalum Therinthavan · 1968

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Naalum Therinthavan1968

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kovarththana giriyai kudaiyaai pidiththaIs he the Gopalakrishnan who lifted Govardhana hill like an umbrella... oh...
Antha gopaala kirshnan ivarthaanaa….ooo…..Is he that Gopalakrishnan... oh...
Gobiyar pudai soozha pullaankuzhal eduththuSurrounded by Gopis, holding the flute...
Koduppaaro…..oo….isai padippaaro…oo….Will he give music... oh... will he sing tunes... oh...
Female
Poovaai poovaai uthiruthadiFalling like flowers, falling like flowers, my dear
Pongum perumazhai peiyuthadiA surging heavy rain falls, my dear
Poovaai poovaai uthiruthadiFalling like flowers, falling like flowers, my dear
Pongum perumazhai peiyuthadiA surging heavy rain falls, my dear
Vaalipa udambu nanaiyuthadiYouthful body gets drenched, my dear
Chorus
Hei hei heiHei hei hei
Female :Vaalipa udambu nanaiyuthadiFemale: Youthful body gets drenched, my dear
Vaaththiyaar manam kuliruthadiThe teacher's heart cools down, my dear
Chorus
………………..[Instrumental Interlude]
Female
Kaamano illai avan maamanoIs he Kamadeva or his uncle?
Kanniyarai kadhal sirayedukkumA god who imprisons young maidens in love... oh...
Devno….oo….God... oh...
Kanni ilam madiyinilae thulli vilaiyaadaTo leap and play on a young maiden's lap
Antha kannaana kannanThat precious Lord Krishna
Ilam balano….oo….Is he a young boy... oh...
Female
Kanniyin kangal azhaiththatharkagaJust because a maiden's eyes called out
Car-rinil yaeriya paranthaamaaParanthaman who boarded the car
Chorus :ParanthaamaaChorus: Paranthamaa
Female
Kanniyin kangal azhaiththatharkagaJust because a maiden's eyes called out
Car-rinil yaeriya paranthaamaaParanthaman who boarded the car
Kaninthu thiranda maeniyai paarththuLooking at the ripe, well-rounded figure
Chorus :Aehaei aehaei aahaeiChorus: Aehaei aehaei aahaei
Female
Kaninthu thiranda maeniyai paarththuLooking at the ripe, well-rounded figure
Kannukku aasai varalaamaCan desire arise in the eyes?
Chorus :Kannukku aasai varalaamaChorus: Can desire arise in the eyes?
Female
Poovaai poovaai uthiruthadiFalling like flowers, falling like flowers, my dear
Pongum perumazhai peiyuthadiA surging heavy rain falls, my dear
Vaalipa udambu nanaiyuthadiYouthful body gets drenched, my dear
Vaaththiyaar manam kuliruthadiThe teacher's heart cools down, my dear
Chorus
……………………..[Instrumental Interlude]
Male
Pullaanguzhaladiyo…Play the flute, my dear...
Boopaalan naanadiyo….I am the morning melody (Bhupalam), my dear...
Kaaman maganadiyo….Son of Kamadeva, my dear...
Kai pidiththu paaradiyo…Hold my hand and see, my dear...
Kai pidiththu paaradiyo…Hold my hand and see, my dear...
Male
Poovaai poovaai uthiruthadiFalling like flowers, falling like flowers, my dear
Punnagai azhagu jolikkuthadi ha ha haaA beautiful smile glimmers, my dear ha ha ha
Poovaai poovaai uthiruthadiFalling like flowers, falling like flowers, my dear
Punnagai azhagu jolikkuthadiA beautiful smile glimmers, my dear
Saavi en kaiyil irukkuthadiThe key is in my hand, my dear
Naan thanthaalthaan adhu thirakkumadiOnly if I give it, will it open, my dear
Thanthaalthaan adhu thirakkumadiOnly if given, will it open, my dear
Male
Haa poovaai poovaai uthiruthadiHaa falling like flowers, falling like flowers, my dear
Punnagai azhagu jolikkuthadiA beautiful smile glimmers, my dear
Jiljil raani jil raaniCool, cool queen, cool queen
Jilujilu raani jil raaniChilly cool queen, cool queen
Male
Aayiram padippu padiththaalumEven with a thousand educations,
Aanukkullae pen adakkamadiA woman is contained within a man, my dear
Ae rukku ae sakku ae makku….Hey Rukku, hey Sakku, hey foolish one...
Male
Aayiram padippu padiththaalumEven with a thousand educations,
Aanukkullae pen adakkamadiA woman is contained within a man, my dear
Aadavan oruvan irunthaalaeOnly if a man is present,
Kaariyam nandraai nadakkumadiThings will proceed smoothly, my dear
Un car-rum paathaiyil parakkumadi durrr….Your car will fly along the road, my dear durrr...
Male
Poovaai poovaai uthiruthadiFalling like flowers, falling like flowers, my dear
Punnagai azhagu jolikkuthadiA beautiful smile glimmers, my dear
Male
Koondhalai paaipol virikkattumaaShall I spread my tresses like a mat?
Gopuram pol athil saaikkattumaaShall I rest upon them like a tower?
Koondhalai paaipol virikkattumaaShall I spread my tresses like a mat?
Saisaa gopuram pol athil saaikkattumaaSlanted like a tower, shall I lean upon it?
Aanantha nadhiyil neendhattumaaShall I swim in the river of bliss?
Aanantha nadhiyil neendhattumaaShall I swim in the river of bliss?
Angu ammamaa endru pesattumaa haa….There, shall I speak with wonder 'Ammamaa', haa...
Male
Poovaai poovaai uthiruthadiFalling like flowers, falling like flowers, my dear
Punnagai azhagu jolikkuthadiA beautiful smile glimmers, my dear
Male
……………[Music Outro]

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from 'Naalum Therinthavan' (1968) is a flirtatious romantic duet featuring lighthearted teasing and playful banter between lovers. The lyrics draw clever parallels between classical Hindu mythology—referencing Lord Krishna (Gopalakrishnan/Paranthaman) lifting Mount Govardhana, charming the Gopis, and playing his flute—and modern romantic scenarios involving cars, keys, and romantic pursuit in the rain.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Koondhalai paaipol virikkattumaa / Gopuram pol athil saaikkattumaa / Saisaa gopuram pol athil saaikkattumaa(Lines 61-64) - Compares long hair being spread out to a mat, and leaning on it like a tower or the Leaning Tower of Pisa (Saisaa gopuram).

Alliteration & Rhyme (Monaai and Edhugai)

Poovaai poovaai uthiruthadi / Pongum perumazhai peiyuthadi (Lines 5-6) - Tamil poetic meter featuring initial consonant and second-letter rhyming across consecutive lines.

Mythological Allusion

Kovarththana giriyai kudaiyaai pidiththa / Antha gopaala kirshnan ivarthaanaa (Lines 1-2) - References Lord Krishna lifting the Govardhana hill to protect his followers from rain.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Kannadasan, this song playfully integrates mid-20th-century modernisms (such as cars and references to the Leaning Tower of Pisa as 'Saisaa gopuram') into traditional Tamil romantic song structures that rely on Krishna-Gopi mythology.

Keep listening

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