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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poovana

From Ponmana Selvan · 1989

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Mano, Vani Jairam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ponmana Selvan1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Poovaana yaetta thottuTouching the flower-like paper sheet
Ponaana ezhuthaalaeWith golden writings
Female :Aahaa pramathamFemale: Aha, splendid!
Male
Kannaana kannukkoruFor the beloved eyes like my own eyes
Kadudhaasi pottenaeI sent a letter
Female :Sabaash sabaashFemale: Bravo, bravo!
Male
Yaetta pirichu em paatta paduchiOpen the sheet and read my song
Yendhi kollaamma enna thaangi kollaamaaWon't you embrace me and support me, dear?
Male
Poovaana yaetta thottuTouching the flower-like paper sheet
Ponaana ezhuthaalaeWith golden writings
Kannaana kannukkoruFor the beloved eyes like my own eyes
Kadudhaasi pottenaeI sent a letter
Yaetta pirichu em paatta paduchiOpen the sheet and read my song
Yendhi kollaamma enna thaangi kollaamaaWon't you embrace me and support me, dear?
Female
Yedaaga enna thottuTouching me mischievously
Ezhuthunga paatu onnuWrite a song
Naan athukaaga kaathirukkenI am waiting for that
Male
Ennathil nee irunthaalIf you are in my thoughts
Ezhuthukku panjamillaeThere is no shortage of words
Aayiram paattu ezhuthi vaippenI will write a thousand songs
Female
Nee oru paatu paadida kettuHearing you sing a song
Poovena nenju poothathaiyaaMy heart blossomed like a flower, my dear
Male
Poothathu enna paathathu ennaWhat blossomed and what was seen?
Kettadhu thaana kedachathammaWhat was asked for was received, my dear
Female
Anbaaga enna konjamWith love, a little bit towards me
Aadharikka venumYou must support and cherish me
Male :Allithaan serthukollaMale: To gather and hold you close
Paarthirukken naanumI too have been waiting
Female :Aasaiya naan thaan marakka vechenFemale: I made myself suppress my desire
Male
Poovaana yaetta thottuTouching the flower-like paper sheet
Ponaana ezhuthaalaeWith golden writings
Kannaana kannukkoruFor the beloved eyes like my own eyes
Kadudhaasi pottenaeI sent a letter
Yaetta pirichu em paatta paduchiOpen the sheet and read my song
Yendhi kollaamma enna thaangi kollaamaaWon't you embrace me and support me, dear?
Male
Poovana nenja konjamA heart like a flower, a little
Puriyaadha makku pullaNaive girl who does not understand
Puriyira neram poranthathammaThe time to understand has arrived, my dear
Female
Ponnaana om manasaYour golden heart
Eppodho purinjikittenI understood long ago
Pudhu vazhi thaedi serndhukittenI found a new path and joined you
Male
Vedhachathu thaana veliyura kaalamThe time when what was sown sprouts forth
Nenachadhu ellaam kooda kandenI saw everything I wished for come true
Female
Thaaliya nee thaan podura varaikkumUntil you tie the sacred thread (thali)
Vaeliya naanthaan pottu vechenI have built a fence around myself
Male
Poovukku vaeliyittaIf a fence is put around a flower
Vaasam engu pogumWhere will its fragrance go?
Female
Poo alli nee koduthaaIf you pluck and give the flower
Ponnu onnu serumThe girl will unite with you
Male
Ketkaadha ellaam naan tharavaShall I give you all that you have not even asked for?
Female
Poovaana yaetta thottuTouching the flower-like paper sheet
Ponaana ezhuthaalaeWith golden writings
Kannaana kannanodaFrom my beloved darling
Kadudhaasi kandenaeI saw the letter
Yaetta pirichu om paatta paduchiOpen the sheet and read your song
Yendhi kollaaiyaa enna thaangi kollaiyaaWill you embrace me and support me, sir?
Male
Poovaana yaetta thottuTouching the flower-like paper sheet
Ponaana ezhuthaalaeWith golden writings
Kannaana kannukkoruFor the beloved eyes like my own eyes
Kadudhaasi pottenaeI sent a letter
Yaetta pirichu em paatta paduchiOpen the sheet and read my song
Yendhi kollaamma enna thaangi kollaamaaWon't you embrace me and support me, dear?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Poovaana Yaetta Thottu is a romantic duet expressing affection, playfulness, and tender emotion between two lovers through the imagery of love letters and poetic songs. The lead expresses how effortless it is to write poetry when his beloved is in his thoughts, comparing her eyes and heart to cherished treasures. In turn, the heroine speaks of her heart blossoming upon hearing his words, highlighting her deep affection and eagerness for their eventual union.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Poovaana yaetta thottu

Compares the paper or palm leaf sheet to a soft flower ('Poovaana yaedu').

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Yaetta pirichu em paatta paduchi

The second letter 't' (ட்) rhymes between 'Yaetta' and 'Paatta'.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Ponnaana om manasa

Compares the lover's heart to precious gold ('Ponnaana om manasa').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song from Ponmana Selvan (1989) features lyrics by Gangai Amaran set to music composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The track incorporates spoken conversational exclamations like 'Aahaa pramatham' and 'Sabaash sabaash', which were signature stylistic touches in late 1980s folk-pop Tamil duets.

Keep listening

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