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Odangal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Poove Enna Porattam

From Odangal · 1986

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
K. J. Jesudass, K. S. Chitra
Music director
Sampath Selvam
Movie name
Odangal
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
27 Dec 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Poovae….
……………..
Poovae enna poraattam
Kannil enna neerottam
Kadhal pongum mullaiyae
Kannil jeevan illaiyae
Vaanamudainthu poga koodum
Ullamudainthu pogaathae
Vaanamudainthu poga koodum
Ullamudainthu pogaathae
Nenjil poraattam
Kannil oru neerottam
Kaval kollum ennaiyae
Unnil vaazhum mullaiyae
Kannai vittu jeevan pogum
Ennai vittu pogaathae
Kannai vittu jeevan pogum
Ennai vittu pogaathae
Poovae….
………………
Intha kadhal oviyaththai kaanaamal
Enthan kangal thuru pidikka kandaenae
Female :Ooo unthan geetha vaarththaikalai kelaamal
Sila kaalam seviyizhanthu ponaenae
Panbaadu singaari
Chorus :Lalalaa
Male :Idhu paattu kacheri
Chorus :Lalaalaa….lalaalaa….lalaalaa
Male :Panbaadu singaari idhu paattu kacheri
Un kattuppaattai thookkiyeri
Gangaikkenna kattuthari….poovae
Nenjil poraattam
Male :Kannil enna neerottam
………………
Rendu veettu sandai thantha pollaappu
Thanga mugaththai kaattavillai mullaippoo
Male :Oooo unnai paarththu pesa nenjil veeraappu
Ungal veettu jannal engum maaraappu
En kadhal kanaalaa
Chorus :Lalalaa
Female :En vaazhvil ponnaalaa
Chorus :Lalaalaa….lalaalaa….lalaalaa
Female :En kadhal kannaalaa en vaazhvil ponnaalaa
Nee sollivittaal vaanam vittu
Vanthuvidum intha nilaa
Poovae….
Female :Nenjil poraattam
Male :Kannil
Female :Oru neerottam
Kadhal pongum mullaiyae
Kannil jeevan illaiyae
Female :Kannai vittu jeevan pogum
Ennai vittu pogaathe
Male :Vaanamudainthu pogakoodum
Ullamudainthu pogaathae….
Poovae…
My flower...
...
My flower, what is this struggle?
Why this stream of tears in your eyes?
Jasmine overflowing with love,
there is no life in your eyes.
Even if the sky shatters,
do not let your heart break.
Even if the sky shatters,
do not let your heart break.
A struggle in my heart,
a stream of tears in my eyes.
Filled with worry,
I am the jasmine living inside you.
Life may leave these eyes,
but please do not leave me.
Life may leave these eyes,
but please do not leave me.
My flower...
...
Without seeing this portrait of love,
I felt my eyes gathering rust.
Female: Oh, without hearing your musical words,
for a while, I lost my hearing.
Sing a melody, my lovely girl,
Chorus: La la la
Male: this is a music concert!
Chorus: La la la... la la la... la la la
Male: Sing a melody, my lovely girl, this is a music concert!
Throw away all your restrictions!
Can the river Ganga ever be tied to a post? My flower...
A struggle in my heart,
Male: Why this stream of tears in your eyes?
...
From the trouble caused by the feud between our families,
the jasmine flower did not show her golden face.
Male: Oh, my heart was bold enough to look at you and talk,
but sari veils covered every window of your house.
My beloved sweetheart,
Chorus: La la la
Female: the golden day of my life!
Chorus: La la la... la la la... la la la
Female: My beloved sweetheart, the golden day of my life!
If you just say the word,
this moon will leave the sky and come down.
My flower...
Female: A struggle in my heart,
Male: In your eyes...
Female: ...a stream of tears.
Jasmine overflowing with love,
there is no life in your eyes.
Female: Life may leave these eyes,
but please do not leave me.
Male: Even if the sky shatters,
do not let your heart break...
My flower...
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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