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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poove Enna Porattam

From Odangal · 1986

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
K. J. Jesudass, K. S. Chitra
Music director
Sampath Selvam
Details
Odangal1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Poovae….O Flower...
Chorus
……………..
Male
Poovae enna poraattamO Flower, what is this struggle?
Kannil enna neerottamWhat is this flow of tears in your eyes?
Kadhal pongum mullaiyaeO Jasmine overflowing with love,
Kannil jeevan illaiyaeThere is no life in your eyes.
Male
Vaanamudainthu poga koodumThe sky may break and fall,
Ullamudainthu pogaathaeMay your heart never break.
Vaanamudainthu poga koodumThe sky may break and fall,
Ullamudainthu pogaathaeMay your heart never break.
Female
Nenjil poraattamA struggle in the heart,
Kannil oru neerottamA stream of tears in the eyes.
Kaval kollum ennaiyaeMe, who guards you,
Unnil vaazhum mullaiyaeO Jasmine, living within you.
Female
Kannai vittu jeevan pogumLife may leave the eyes,
Ennai vittu pogaathaeDo not leave me.
Kannai vittu jeevan pogumLife may leave the eyes,
Ennai vittu pogaathaeDo not leave me.
Male
Poovae….O Flower...
Chorus
………………
Male
Intha kadhal oviyaththai kaanaamalWithout seeing this painting of love,
Enthan kangal thuru pidikka kandaenaeI saw my eyes getting rusted.
Female :Ooo unthan geetha vaarththaikalai kelaamalFemale: Oh, without hearing your sacred words,
Sila kaalam seviyizhanthu ponaenaeI lost my hearing for a while.
Male
Panbaadu singaariO stylish beauty of culture,
Chorus :LalalaaChorus: La la la
Male :Idhu paattu kacheriMale: This is a song concert,
Chorus :Lalaalaa….lalaalaa….lalaalaaChorus: La la la... la la la... la la la
Male :Panbaadu singaari idhu paattu kacheriMale: O stylish beauty of culture, this is a song concert,
Un kattuppaattai thookkiyeriThrow away your restrictions,
Gangaikkenna kattuthari….poovaeCan the River Ganges be tied to a hitching post? O flower...
Female
Nenjil poraattamA struggle in the heart,
Male :Kannil enna neerottamMale: What is this flow of tears in your eyes?
Chorus
………………
Female
Rendu veettu sandai thantha pollaappuThe trouble brought by the feud between two families,
Thanga mugaththai kaattavillai mullaippooThe golden-faced jasmine flower did not show her face.
Male :Oooo unnai paarththu pesa nenjil veeraappuMale: Oh, there is stubborn pride in my heart to speak to you,
Ungal veettu jannal engum maaraappuYet your house windows are covered everywhere.
Female
En kadhal kanaalaaO spark of my love,
Chorus :LalalaaChorus: La la la
Female :En vaazhvil ponnaalaaFemale: O golden day of my life,
Chorus :Lalaalaa….lalaalaa….lalaalaaChorus: La la la... la la la... la la la
Female :En kadhal kannaalaa en vaazhvil ponnaalaaFemale: O apple of my eye in love, o golden day in my life,
Nee sollivittaal vaanam vittuIf you just say the word,
Vanthuvidum intha nilaaThis moon will leave the sky and come down.
Male
Poovae….O Flower...
Female :Nenjil poraattamFemale: A struggle in the heart,
Male :KannilMale: In the eyes,
Female :Oru neerottamFemale: A stream of tears,
Male
Kadhal pongum mullaiyaeO Jasmine overflowing with love,
Kannil jeevan illaiyaeThere is no life in your eyes.
Female :Kannai vittu jeevan pogumFemale: Life may leave the eyes,
Ennai vittu pogaatheDo not leave me.
Male :Vaanamudainthu pogakoodumMale: The sky may break and fall,
Ullamudainthu pogaathae….May the heart never break...
Male
Poovae…O Flower...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the film Odangal (1986) is an emotional dialogue between two lovers torn apart by family rivalries and societal constraints. The male protagonist comforts his beloved, metaphorically calling her a flower (Poove) and jasmine (Mullai), encouraging her to remain strong even if the sky falls apart. They reflect on how painful separation is, describing how their senses feel dulled and useless when separated from one another. Despite the family feuds keeping them physically distant, their devotion remains unshakeable. The female protagonist declares her willingness to break all barriers for him—comparing herself to the moon descending to earth at his request—while he compares her uninhibited spirit to the uncontrollable flow of the River Ganges.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Intha kadhal oviyaththai kaanaamal

Compares love to a painting ('kadhal oviyam') and the beloved to a blooming jasmine flower ('mullai').

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

Nee sollivittaal vaanam vittu Vanthuvidum intha nilaa

An exaggeration where the female lover promises that the moon itself will leave the sky and come down if he asks.

Rhetorical Question & Analogy

Gangaikkenna kattuthari….poovae

Compares freedom of love to the River Ganges, asking rhetorically if the mighty Ganges can ever be bound to a wooden post.

Second-Letter Rhyme (Ethirai)

Panbaadu singaari idhu paattu kacheri

Matching second consonants across lines ('Panbaadu' / 'paattu').

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Odangal' (1986) starred Sanjeev and Rekha in lead roles. The film's soundtrack features lyrics written by Vairamuthu and music composed by Sampath Selvaraj.

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