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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poovaitha Poovaikku

From Maattukara Velan · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Maattukara Velan1970

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Poo vaiththa poovaikkuTo the maiden adorned with flowers,
Pookkal sonthamaado the flowers belong to her?
Female :Poovukkum thaenukkumFemale: For the flowers and the honey,
Poo sinthum bodhaikkumand for the intoxication scattered by the blossom,
Eekkal sonthamaado the flies hold ownership?
Male
I love youI love you
Female :I love youFemale: I love you
Male :I love love youMale: I love love you
Female
Poo vaiththa poovaikkuTo the maiden adorned with flowers,
Pookkal sonthamaado the flowers belong to her?
Male :Poovukkum thaenukkumMale: For the flowers and the honey,
Poo sinthum bodhaikkumand for the intoxication scattered by the blossom,
Eekkal sonthamaado the flies hold ownership?
Female
I love youI love you
Male: I love youMale: I love you
Female :I love love youFemale: I love love you
Male
{Muththu simizhaaIs it a casket of pearls?
Vanna thaththai kuralaaIs it the voice of a colorful parrot?
Un velli thandai osai ennaWhat is the sound of your silver anklet?
Pillaai thamizhaa} (2)Is it sweet infant Tamil literature? (2)
Female
Kan pattuCaught by an evil eye,
Male :AaahaaMale: Aaahaa
Female :Ungal kai pattuFemale: Touched by your hands,
Male :OhooMale: Ohoo
Female :Ingu kattu vittu sirippadhuFemale: What breaks free and laughs here,
Thamizh paattuis a Tamil song!
Female
Kan pattuCaught by an evil eye,
Ungal kai pattuTouched by your hands,
Ingu kattu vittu sirippadhuWhat breaks free and laughs here,
Thamizh paattuis a Tamil song!
Male
Pachchai vaazhai marathukkuIs this a pandal made for green banana trees,
Selai katti pottu vaitha panthalodraped in a saree and adorned with a bindi?
Pasum paalo pazhathudanIs it fresh cow's milk mixed with fruits,
Thaen kalanthu kanniblended with honey by a young maiden,
Vaitha pongalooa sweet pongal dish?
Female
Sonnaal therivadhillaiNothing can be fully understood,
Edhuvumjust by telling.
Male :AahaaMale: Aahaa
Female :Adhai unnaal therinthuFemale: It helps to experience and learn,
Kolla udhavumit through you.
Male :HooMale: Hoo
Female
Sonnaal therivadhillaiNothing can be fully understood,
Edhuvumjust by telling.
Adhai unnaal therinthuIt helps to experience and learn,
Kolla udhavumit through you.
Kanda pinnaal eduthuOnly after seeing and feeling it,
Solla mudiyumcan one explain it.
Male
{Palli kanakku konjamTeach me a little bit,
Solli pazhakkuof romantic arithmetic.
Nee illaiyendraal naan thoduppenIf you do not, I will file,
Kaadhal vazhakku} (2)a lawsuit of love! (2)
Female
PodungalFile it!
Male :AahaaMale: Aahaa
Female :Koondil yerungalFemale: Stand in the witness box!
Male :YaeMale: Yae!
Female
PodungalFile it!
Koondil yerungalStand in the witness box!
Ungal pon manathaiKeeping your golden heart,
Saatchi vaithu vettri kollungalas a witness, emerge victorious!
Male
Poonthottam mella vanthuIs it magic when the flower garden slowly approaches,
Kannadithu kai kodukkum jaalamowinks, and shakes hands?
Adhu kaattum jaadai ennaWhat is the sign it is making?
Thaali kattum podhadikkum melamoIs it the celebratory drum beating during marriage?
Female
Nandra irukkudhintha uvamaiThis simile is wonderful!
Male :OhooMale: Ohoo
Female :Intha pennae unadhuFemale: This woman is now,
Sontha udamaiyour personal property.
Male :HohohohoMale: Hohohoho
Female
Nandra irukkudhintha uvamaiThis simile is wonderful!
Intha pennae unadhuThis woman is now,
Sontha udamaiyour personal property.
Ini ellaam pazhaguvadhu urimaiFrom now on, getting accustomed to everything is our right!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful duet features romantic banter between two lovers expressing their mutual affection through poetic comparisons and lighthearted teasing. The song weaves classical Tamil imagery of nature—comparing the heroine to sweet milk, honey, flowers, and parrots—with humorous courtly metaphors like filing a 'lawsuit of love' and taking the witness stand.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile / Metaphor)

Vanna thaththai kuralaa / Un velli thandai osai enna / Pillaai thamizhaa

Compares the heroine's voice to a parrot and her anklet sounds to sweet child Tamil literature.

Legal Metaphor / Metonymy

Nee illaiyendraal naan thoduppen Kaadhal vazhakku / Koondil yerungal

Uses court trial terminology playfully to express romantic impatience.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Poo vaiththa poovaikku / Pookkal sonthamaa

Rhythmic repetition of initial consonant sounds enhancing the song's musical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Maattukara Velan (1970) stars M. G. Ramachandran in a dual role alongside Jayalalithaa and Lakshmi. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics penned by Kannadasan, sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela.

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