Poove Ne Aadava
From Kalki · 1996
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Aaaaa….aaaaaa……aaaaaaa | Aaaaa....aaaaaa......aaaaaaa |
| Female | |
| {Poovae nee aadavaa | O flower, will you dance? |
| Pudhu pallavi naan paadavaa} (2) | Shall I sing a new refrain? (2) |
| Female | |
| Gangaikethu kattu paadu | Does the river Ganges have any restrictions? |
| Mangai naanum | I am a young woman, |
| Gangai endru paatu paadu | Sing a song declaring myself as the Ganges! |
| Kaatrukethu kadivaalam | Does the wind have a bridle? |
| Kanni pennum | This young woman too |
| Kaatrae endru aatam podu | Dances freely like the wind! |
| Female | |
| Poovae nee aadavaa | O flower, will you dance? |
| Pudhu pallavi naan paadavaa | Shall I sing a new refrain? |
| Poovae nee aadavaa…. | O flower, will you dance?... |
| Female | |
| Iraivanukkindru vidumuraiyoo | Is it a holiday for God today? |
| Chorus :Poovae nee aadavaa…. | Chorus: O flower, will you dance?... |
| Female | |
| Iyarkaiku indru suyam varamao | Is nature choosing its own destiny today? |
| Chorus :Poovae nee aadavaa…. | Chorus: O flower, will you dance?... |
| Female | |
| Kaalai pani pullin maniyoo | Is the morning dew a jewel on the grass? |
| Kaatukuyil kamban maghanoo | Is the wild cuckoo the son of poet Kamban? |
| Kaalaipani pullin mani | The morning dew is a jewel on the grass, |
| Kaatukuyil kamban maghan | The wild cuckoo is Kamban's son, |
| Female | |
| Sontham thaan | They are indeed my own! |
| Ada endrum thaan | Ah, forever indeed! |
| En angam thaan | They are part of my body! |
| Kadal vangam thaan | The sea is like the Bay of Bengal, |
| Oru vaazhkai nidham | A life every single day |
| Ennai azhaikirathae | Is calling out to me! |
| Female | |
| Poovae nee aadavaa | O flower, will you dance? |
| Pudhu pallavi naan paadavaa | Shall I sing a new refrain? |
| Poovae nee aadavaa…. | O flower, will you dance?... |
| Chorus | |
| ………………………………… | ... |
| Female | |
| Thalaikoru kreedam enakketharku | Why do I need a crown upon my head? |
| Chorus :Poovae nee aadavaa…. | Chorus: O flower, will you dance?... |
| Female | |
| Thalayae kreedam thaan enakku | My head itself is my crown! |
| Chorus :Poovae nee aadavaa…. | Chorus: O flower, will you dance?... |
| Female | |
| Vaanam endhan neela kudaiyoo | Is the sky my blue umbrella? |
| Bhoomi endhan annai madiyoo | Is the earth my mother's lap? |
| Vaanam endhan neela kudai | The sky is my blue umbrella, |
| Bhoomi endhan annai madi | The earth is my mother's lap, |
| Female | |
| Endrum naan | I am always |
| Thiripandham thaan | A shining flame, |
| Oru singham naan | I am a lioness, |
| Kural engum thaan | My voice resounds everywhere, |
| Paar ettu thikkilum | In all eight directions of the world, |
| Vetri olikkirathae | Victory echoes loud! |
| Female | |
| {Poovae nee aadavaa | O flower, will you dance? |
| Pudhu pallavi naan paadavaa} (2) | Shall I sing a new refrain? (2) |
| Female | |
| Gangaikethu kattu paadu | Does the Ganges have any restrictions? |
| Mangai naanum | I am a young woman, |
| Gangai endru paatu paadu | Sing a song declaring myself as the Ganges! |
| Kaatrukethu kadivaalam | Does the wind have a bridle? |
| Kanni pennum | This young woman too |
| Kaatrae endru aatam podu | Dances freely like the wind! |
| Female | |
| {Poovae nee aadavaa | O flower, will you dance? |
| Pudhu pallavi naan paadavaa} (2) | Shall I sing a new refrain? (2) |
ஆஆஆ
ஆஆஆ ஆஆஆ
Aaaaa....aaaaaa......aaaaaaa
{ பூவே நீ ஆடவா
புது பல்லவி நான்
பாடவா } (2)
O flower, will you dance?
Shall I sing a new refrain? (2)
கங்கைக்கேது
கட்டு பாடு மங்கை நானும்
கங்கை என்று பாட்டு பாடு
காற்றுக்கேது கடிவாளம்
கன்னி பெண்ணும் காற்றே
என்று ஆட்டம் போடு
Does the river Ganges have any restrictions?
I am a young woman,
Sing a song declaring myself as the Ganges!
Does the wind have a bridle?
This young woman too
Dances freely like the wind!
பூவே நீ ஆடவா
புது பல்லவி நான் பாடவா
பூவே நீ ஆடவா
O flower, will you dance?
Shall I sing a new refrain?
O flower, will you dance?...
இறைவனுக்கின்று
விடுமுறையோ
குழு :
பூவே நீ ஆடவா
Is it a holiday for God today?
Chorus: O flower, will you dance?...
இயற்கைக்கு
இன்று சுயம் வரமோ
குழு :
பூவே நீ ஆடவா
Is nature choosing its own destiny today?
Chorus: O flower, will you dance?...
காலை பனி புல்லின்
மணியோ காட்டுக்குயில்
கம்பன் மகனோ காலை
பனி புல்லின் மணி
காட்டுக்குயில் கம்பன்
மகன்
Is the morning dew a jewel on the grass?
Is the wild cuckoo the son of poet Kamban?
The morning dew is a jewel on the grass,
The wild cuckoo is Kamban's son,
சொந்தம் தான்
அட என்றும் தான் என்
அங்கம் தான் கடல் வங்கம்
தான் ஒரு வாழ்க்கை நித்தம்
என்னை அழைக்கிறதே
They are indeed my own!
Ah, forever indeed!
They are part of my body!
The sea is like the Bay of Bengal,
A life every single day
Is calling out to me!
பூவே நீ ஆடவா
புது பல்லவி நான் பாடவா
பூவே நீ ஆடவா
O flower, will you dance?
Shall I sing a new refrain?
O flower, will you dance?...
..............................
...
தலைக்கொரு
கிரீடம் எனக்கெதற்கு
குழு :
பூவே நீ ஆடவா
Why do I need a crown upon my head?
Chorus: O flower, will you dance?...
தலையே
கிரீடம் தான் எனக்கு
குழு :
பூவே நீ ஆடவா
My head itself is my crown!
Chorus: O flower, will you dance?...
வானம் எந்தன்
நீல குடையோ பூமி எந்தன்
அன்னை மடியோ வானம்
எந்தன் நீல குடை பூமி
எந்தன் அன்னை மடி
Is the sky my blue umbrella?
Is the earth my mother's lap?
The sky is my blue umbrella,
The earth is my mother's lap,
என்றும் நான்
திரிபந்தம் தான் ஒரு
சிங்கம் நான் குரல்
எங்கும் தான் பார்
எட்டு திக்கிலும்
வெற்றி ஒலிக்கிறதே
I am always
A shining flame,
I am a lioness,
My voice resounds everywhere,
In all eight directions of the world,
Victory echoes loud!
{ பூவே நீ ஆடவா
புது பல்லவி நான்
பாடவா } (2)
O flower, will you dance?
Shall I sing a new refrain? (2)
கங்கைக்கேது
கட்டு பாடு மங்கை நானும்
கங்கை என்று பாட்டு பாடு
காற்றுக்கேது கடிவாளம்
கன்னி பெண்ணும் காற்றே
என்று ஆட்டம் போடு
Does the Ganges have any restrictions?
I am a young woman,
Sing a song declaring myself as the Ganges!
Does the wind have a bridle?
This young woman too
Dances freely like the wind!
{ பூவே நீ ஆடவா
புது பல்லவி நான்
பாடவா } (2)
O flower, will you dance?
Shall I sing a new refrain? (2)
Aaaaa….aaaaaa……aaaaaaa
Aaaaa....aaaaaa......aaaaaaa
{Poovae nee aadavaa
O flower, will you dance?
Pudhu pallavi naan paadavaa} (2)
Shall I sing a new refrain? (2)
Gangaikethu kattu paadu
Does the river Ganges have any restrictions?
Mangai naanum
I am a young woman,
Gangai endru paatu paadu
Sing a song declaring myself as the Ganges!
Kaatrukethu kadivaalam
Does the wind have a bridle?
Kanni pennum
This young woman too
Kaatrae endru aatam podu
Dances freely like the wind!
Poovae nee aadavaa
O flower, will you dance?
Pudhu pallavi naan paadavaa
Shall I sing a new refrain?
Poovae nee aadavaa….
O flower, will you dance?...
Iraivanukkindru vidumuraiyoo
Is it a holiday for God today?
Chorus :Poovae nee aadavaa….
Chorus: O flower, will you dance?...
Iyarkaiku indru suyam varamao
Is nature choosing its own destiny today?
Chorus :Poovae nee aadavaa….
Chorus: O flower, will you dance?...
Kaalai pani pullin maniyoo
Is the morning dew a jewel on the grass?
Kaatukuyil kamban maghanoo
Is the wild cuckoo the son of poet Kamban?
Kaalaipani pullin mani
The morning dew is a jewel on the grass,
Kaatukuyil kamban maghan
The wild cuckoo is Kamban's son,
Sontham thaan
They are indeed my own!
Ada endrum thaan
Ah, forever indeed!
En angam thaan
They are part of my body!
Kadal vangam thaan
The sea is like the Bay of Bengal,
Oru vaazhkai nidham
A life every single day
Ennai azhaikirathae
Is calling out to me!
Poovae nee aadavaa
O flower, will you dance?
Pudhu pallavi naan paadavaa
Shall I sing a new refrain?
Poovae nee aadavaa….
O flower, will you dance?...
…………………………………
...
Thalaikoru kreedam enakketharku
Why do I need a crown upon my head?
Chorus :Poovae nee aadavaa….
Chorus: O flower, will you dance?...
Thalayae kreedam thaan enakku
My head itself is my crown!
Chorus :Poovae nee aadavaa….
Chorus: O flower, will you dance?...
Vaanam endhan neela kudaiyoo
Is the sky my blue umbrella?
Bhoomi endhan annai madiyoo
Is the earth my mother's lap?
Vaanam endhan neela kudai
The sky is my blue umbrella,
Bhoomi endhan annai madi
The earth is my mother's lap,
Endrum naan
I am always
Thiripandham thaan
A shining flame,
Oru singham naan
I am a lioness,
Kural engum thaan
My voice resounds everywhere,
Paar ettu thikkilum
In all eight directions of the world,
Vetri olikkirathae
Victory echoes loud!
{Poovae nee aadavaa
O flower, will you dance?
Pudhu pallavi naan paadavaa} (2)
Shall I sing a new refrain? (2)
Gangaikethu kattu paadu
Does the Ganges have any restrictions?
Mangai naanum
I am a young woman,
Gangai endru paatu paadu
Sing a song declaring myself as the Ganges!
Kaatrukethu kadivaalam
Does the wind have a bridle?
Kanni pennum
This young woman too
Kaatrae endru aatam podu
Dances freely like the wind!
{Poovae nee aadavaa
O flower, will you dance?
Pudhu pallavi naan paadavaa} (2)
Shall I sing a new refrain? (2)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Poovae Nee Aadavaa is an empowering, energetic track from the 1996 Tamil film Kalki, directed by K. Balachander. The song expresses the unbridled spirit, independence, and self-worth of a woman who refuses to be constrained by societal norms. Comparing herself to unrestrained elements of nature like the flowing Ganges and the free wind, the protagonist celebrates her autonomy and inherent dignity. With rich metaphors involving nature—such as the sky being her umbrella and the earth her mother's lap—the lyrics emphasize self-actualization and female empowerment. The protagonist boldly asserts that she needs no external crown because her head itself is her crown, proclaiming her strength like a lioness whose voice of victory echoes across all directions.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Thalayae kreedam thaan enakku”
The speaker asserts that her head itself serves as her crown, symbolizing self-respect, pride, and sovereignty without needing external validation or formal royalty.
Rhetorical Question
“Gangaikethu kattu paadu”
The rhetorical questioning of whether the river Ganges or the wind can be restrained underscores the central theme that a free woman cannot be bound by societal rules.
Parallelism and Imagery
“Vaanam endhan neela kudai / Bhoomi endhan annai madi”
The dynamic pairing of sky as an umbrella and earth as a mother's lap uses rhythmic structures and vivid visual imagery to show harmony with the universe.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kalki (1996) was directed by legendary filmmaker K. Balachander and featured Shruti and Prakash Raj. The music was composed by Deva, and this song serves as a central feminist anthem within the movie, highlighting themes of female autonomy and non-conformity.
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