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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poovanathil Maramundu

From Thambi · 2005

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singers
P. Jayachandran, Swarnalatha
Music director
Vidyasagar
Details
Thambi2005

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Poovanathil maramunduThere is a tree in the flower garden,
Maram niraiya poovunduThe tree is full of flowers,
Poo niraiya thaenunduThe flowers are full of honey,
Poo parikka povomaShall we go to pick the flowers?
Poo maganae kannae vaaCome, my dear son, precious like a flower!
Female
Poovanathil maramunduThere is a tree in the flower garden,
Maram niraiya poovunduThe tree is full of flowers,
Poo niraiya thaenunduThe flowers are full of honey,
Poo parikka povomaShall we go to pick the flowers?
Poo magalae pennae vaaCome, my dear daughter, precious like a flower!
Male
Annai madi thaalaatilaeIn mother's lap while listening to a lullaby,
Thinnai kadhai naam kettathumWhen we heard stories sitting on the porch,
Thandhai melae yerikonduClimbing onto father's shoulders,
Ambaarigal naam ponathumWhen we rode like royalty on an elephant howdah,
Male
Vendakkayin kaambai killiPlucking the stem of an okra,
Thanga kammal endru solliCalling it a golden earring,
Thangai kaadhil maati vittu rasithathuvumHooking it on sister's ear and admiring it,
Mottai maadi vennilavilUnder the silver moonlight on the open rooftop,
Vattamaaga naam amarnthuSitting together in a circle,
Kootaanchoru kaiyil vaangi rusithathuvumSavoring the shared pot-meal fed directly to our hands,
Engal veedu polaIs there any heaven on this earth,
Indha mannil sorgam yethammaThat compares to our home, dear mother?
Male
Kaatril maram aada kanduSeeing the tree sway in the wind,
Veetil sendru olindhom andruWe ran and hid inside the house back then,
Peigal ellaam poigal endruThat ghosts are all just silly myths,
Thandhai solla bayam yedhu indruNow that father explained, where is fear today?
Male
Palli vittu pasi udanReturning home from school hungry,
Thulli thulli veedu vandhuHopping and skipping all the way back,
Ondrum illai endra udan sandai pottathumAnd picking a fight if told there was nothing to eat,
Kaichchal vandhu padukkaiyilLying in bed down with a fever,
Sondham ellaam thudikkaiyilWhen all the relatives trembled with deep concern,
Adikkadi kaichchal vara vendikondathumPraying to fall sick often just to receive that love,
Engal veedu polaIs there any heaven on this earth,
Indha mannil sorgam yethammaThat compares to our home, dear mother?
Male
Poovanathil maramunduThere is a tree in the flower garden,
Maram niraiya poovunduThe tree is full of flowers,
Poo niraiya thaenunduThe flowers are full of honey,
Poo parikka povomaShall we go to pick the flowers?
Poo magalae kannae vaaCome, my dear daughter, precious like a flower!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This nostalgic song from the movie 'Thambi' (2005) celebrates the warmth, innocence, and sacred joy of a loving family home. Starting as a nursery rhyme and lullaby, the lyrics walk through heartwarming childhood memories—listening to porch stories in mother's lap, riding on father's shoulders like royalty, making toy earrings out of lady's finger stems for a sister, and sharing moonlight meals on the rooftop terrace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Andhaadhi (Chain-linking structure)

Poovanathil maramundu / Maram niraiya poovundu / Poo niraiya thaenundu

The last word or concept of one line forms the beginning of the next line (Poovanthil maramundu -> Maram niraiya poovundu -> Poo niraiya thaenundu).

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Vendakkayin kaambai killi / Thanga kammal endru solli

The second consonant sound matches across lines (e.g., 'Vendakkayin' and 'Thanga', 'Mottai' and 'Vattamaaga').

Visual Imagery

Vendakkayin kaambai killi / Thanga kammal endru solli / Thangai kaadhil maati vittu rasithathuvum

Paints a vivid, relatable picture of rural childhood innocence through simple objects like vegetable stems turned into golden earrings.

Irony / Emotional Paradox

Adikkadi kaichchal vara vendikondathum

Expresses childhood innocence by showing how a child prays to fall sick repeatedly just to experience the overflowing care and attention of family members.

Did you know?

Trivia

The music for 'Thambi' (2005) was composed by Vidyasagar, with soulful lyrics written by Na. Muthukumar. The film stars R. Madhavan and Pooja Umashankar, and this song serves as an emotional cornerstone depicting familial warmth.

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