Poove Ilaiya Poove
From Kozhi Koovuthu (1982 Film) · 1982
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, Chorus
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Kozhi Koovuthu (1982 Film)1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Poovae ilaya poovae | Oh flower, young flower, |
| Varam tharum vasanthamae | Oh spring season that bestows boons, |
| Malar meedhu thaengum thaenae | Oh honey resting atop the blossom, |
| Enakkuththaanae enakkuthaanae | Are you mine alone, mine alone? |
| Male | |
| Poovae ilaya poovae | Oh flower, young flower, |
| Varam tharum vasanthamae | Oh spring season that bestows boons, |
| Malar meedhu thaengum thaenae | Oh honey resting atop the blossom, |
| Enakkuththaanae enakkuthaanae | Are you mine alone, mine alone? |
| Chorus | |
| ……………… | ............ |
| Male | |
| Kuzhal valarnthu alaiyaanathae | Her hair grew and turned into gentle waves, |
| Iravugalil izhaiyaanathae | In the quiet nights, it became delicate thread, |
| Kuzhal valarnthu alaiyaanathae | Her hair grew and turned into gentle waves, |
| Iravugalil izhaiyaanathae | In the quiet nights, it became delicate thread, |
| Vizhi irandum kadalaanathae | Both her eyes turned into an ocean, |
| Enathu manam padakaanathae | And my heart became a floating boat, |
| Ilam palingu nagam saerththathae | Gathering young marble-like nails, |
| Nilavu athil mugam paarththathae | The moon gazed at its own reflection in them, |
| Inikkum thaenae enakkuththaanae | Oh sweet honey, you belong only to me! |
| Male | |
| Poovae ilaya poovae | Oh flower, young flower, |
| Varam tharum vasanthamae | Oh spring season that bestows boons, |
| Malar meedhu thaengum thaenae | Oh honey resting atop the blossom, |
| Enakkuththaanae enakkuthaanae | Are you mine alone, mine alone? |
| Chorus | |
| ……………… | ............ |
| Male | |
| Ilanjirippu rusiyaanathu | Her tender smile became delicious, |
| Athu kaninthu isaiyaanathu | Ripening gracefully, it transformed into music, |
| Kuyil magalin kuralaanathu | It turned into the song of the cuckoo's daughter, |
| Iruthayaththil mazhai thoovuthu | Showering sweet rain inside my heart, |
| Iru puruvam iravaanathu | Her twin eyebrows became dark as night, |
| Irunthum enna veyil kaayuthu | Yet, how is it that warm sunshine still shines? |
| Inikkum thaenae enakkuththaanae | Oh sweet honey, you belong only to me! |
| Male | |
| Poovae ilaya poovae | Oh flower, young flower, |
| Varam tharum vasanthamae | Oh spring season that bestows boons, |
| Malar meedhu thaengum thaenae | Oh honey resting atop the blossom, |
| Enakkuththaanae enakkuthaanae | Are you mine alone, mine alone? |
பூவே இளைய பூவே
வரம் தரும் வசந்தமே
மலர் மீது தேங்கும் தேனே
எனக்குத் தானே எனக்குத் தானே
Oh flower, young flower,
Oh spring season that bestows boons,
Oh honey resting atop the blossom,
Are you mine alone, mine alone?
பூவே இளைய பூவே
வரம் தரும் வசந்தமே
மலர் மீது தேங்கும் தேனே
எனக்குத் தானே எனக்குத் தானே
Oh flower, young flower,
Oh spring season that bestows boons,
Oh honey resting atop the blossom,
Are you mine alone, mine alone?
..............................
............
குழல் வளர்ந்து அலையானதே
இரவுகளின் இழையானதே
குழல் வளர்ந்து அலையானதே
இரவுகளின் இழையானதே
விழி இரண்டு கடலானதே
எனது மனம் படகானதே
இளம் பளிங்கு நகம் சேர்த்ததே
நிலவு அதில் முகம் பார்த்ததே
இனிக்கும் தேனே எனக்கு தானே
Her hair grew and turned into gentle waves,
In the quiet nights, it became delicate thread,
Her hair grew and turned into gentle waves,
In the quiet nights, it became delicate thread,
Both her eyes turned into an ocean,
And my heart became a floating boat,
Gathering young marble-like nails,
The moon gazed at its own reflection in them,
Oh sweet honey, you belong only to me!
பூவே இளைய பூவே
வரம் தரும் வசந்தமே
மலர் மீது தேங்கும் தேனே
எனக்குத் தானே எனக்குத் தானே
Oh flower, young flower,
Oh spring season that bestows boons,
Oh honey resting atop the blossom,
Are you mine alone, mine alone?
...........................
............
இளஞ்சிரிப்பு ருசியானது
அது கனிந்து இசையானது
குயில் மகளின் குரலானது
இருதயத்தில் மழை தூவுது
இரு புருவம் இரவானது
இருந்தும் என்ன வெயில் காயுது
இனிக்கும் தேனே எனக்கு தானே
Her tender smile became delicious,
Ripening gracefully, it transformed into music,
It turned into the song of the cuckoo's daughter,
Showering sweet rain inside my heart,
Her twin eyebrows became dark as night,
Yet, how is it that warm sunshine still shines?
Oh sweet honey, you belong only to me!
பூவே இளைய பூவே
வரம் தரும் வசந்தமே
மலர் மீது தேங்கும் தேனே
எனக்குத் தானே எனக்குத் தானே
Oh flower, young flower,
Oh spring season that bestows boons,
Oh honey resting atop the blossom,
Are you mine alone, mine alone?
Poovae ilaya poovae
Oh flower, young flower,
Varam tharum vasanthamae
Oh spring season that bestows boons,
Malar meedhu thaengum thaenae
Oh honey resting atop the blossom,
Enakkuththaanae enakkuthaanae
Are you mine alone, mine alone?
Poovae ilaya poovae
Oh flower, young flower,
Varam tharum vasanthamae
Oh spring season that bestows boons,
Malar meedhu thaengum thaenae
Oh honey resting atop the blossom,
Enakkuththaanae enakkuthaanae
Are you mine alone, mine alone?
………………
............
Kuzhal valarnthu alaiyaanathae
Her hair grew and turned into gentle waves,
Iravugalil izhaiyaanathae
In the quiet nights, it became delicate thread,
Kuzhal valarnthu alaiyaanathae
Her hair grew and turned into gentle waves,
Iravugalil izhaiyaanathae
In the quiet nights, it became delicate thread,
Vizhi irandum kadalaanathae
Both her eyes turned into an ocean,
Enathu manam padakaanathae
And my heart became a floating boat,
Ilam palingu nagam saerththathae
Gathering young marble-like nails,
Nilavu athil mugam paarththathae
The moon gazed at its own reflection in them,
Inikkum thaenae enakkuththaanae
Oh sweet honey, you belong only to me!
Poovae ilaya poovae
Oh flower, young flower,
Varam tharum vasanthamae
Oh spring season that bestows boons,
Malar meedhu thaengum thaenae
Oh honey resting atop the blossom,
Enakkuththaanae enakkuthaanae
Are you mine alone, mine alone?
………………
............
Ilanjirippu rusiyaanathu
Her tender smile became delicious,
Athu kaninthu isaiyaanathu
Ripening gracefully, it transformed into music,
Kuyil magalin kuralaanathu
It turned into the song of the cuckoo's daughter,
Iruthayaththil mazhai thoovuthu
Showering sweet rain inside my heart,
Iru puruvam iravaanathu
Her twin eyebrows became dark as night,
Irunthum enna veyil kaayuthu
Yet, how is it that warm sunshine still shines?
Inikkum thaenae enakkuththaanae
Oh sweet honey, you belong only to me!
Poovae ilaya poovae
Oh flower, young flower,
Varam tharum vasanthamae
Oh spring season that bestows boons,
Malar meedhu thaengum thaenae
Oh honey resting atop the blossom,
Enakkuththaanae enakkuthaanae
Are you mine alone, mine alone?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Poovae Ilaya Poovae is a classic romantic song from the film Kozhi Koovuthu (1982). The track celebrates the delicate, enchanting beauty of a beloved through lush natural imagery and vivid poetic comparisons. The protagonist compares her to a blossoming spring, sweet nectar, and marble, expressing deep affection and possessive devotion. In the stanzas, the poet paints intricate visual and sensory imagery—her hair is like dark ocean waves, her eyes an ocean upon which his heart sails like a boat, her voice a cuckoo's sweet rain, and her dark eyebrows a night sky that somehow radiates warm sunshine. It captures the intoxicating feeling of romantic wonder.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Vizhi irandum kadalaanathae / Enathu manam padakaanathae”
Compares eyes to a vast ocean and the heart to a small boat navigating across it.
Personification / Hyperbole
“Nilavu athil mugam paarththathae”
Describes the moon looking into her polished nails as if looking at a mirror.
Paradox / Imagery
“Iru puruvam iravaanathu / Irunthum enna veyil kaayuthu”
Juxtaposes night-dark eyebrows with glowing sunshine radiating simultaneously.
Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Malar meedhu thaengum thaenae / Varam tharum vasanthamae”
The second letters 'la' and 'ra' match rhythmically in Tamil poetic tradition across lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kozhi Koovuthu (1982) was directed by Gangai Amaran and featured music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. The song 'Poovae Ilaya Poovae' became an enduring hit, celebrated for Vairamuthu's evocative lyrics and S.P. Balasubrahmanyam's melodious vocal rendition.
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