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Isaimozhi
Pagal Nilavu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Poovilae Medai

From Pagal Nilavu · 1985

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
P. Jayachandran, P. Susheela
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Pagal Nilavu
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
5 Nov 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Poovilae medai naan podavaa
Poovizhi mooda naan paadavaa
Tholirandil ..iru poongkodi
En sondham ellaam idhu thaanadi
Poovilae medai naan podavaa
Poovizhi mooda naan paadavaa
Poovidhazh pola
Mullai en pillai
Punnagai seithaal kanpadum
Kanmani pillai
Konjamum vaada
Kanda en nenjam punpadum
Annai thandhai yaavum
Annan thaanadi
Anbu kondu vaazhum
Sondham thaanadi
Nooru nooru jenmam
Koodi nindru vaazhum
Varavum vendi dhinamum
Thavamirukkum
Poovilae medai naan podavaa
Poovizhi mooda naan paadavaa
Tholirandil iru poongkodi
En sontham ellaam idhu thaanadi
Poovilae medai naan podavaa
Poovizhi mooda naan paadavaa
Shall I make a stage of flowers for you?
Shall I sing for your flower-like eyes to close?
On both my shoulders rest two flowering vines,
You are all the family I have, my dears!
Shall I make a stage of flowers for you?
Shall I sing for your flower-like eyes to close?
Soft as flower petals,
my child is delicate like jasmine;
if she smiles, the evil eye might fall on her.
If my precious child
withers even a little,
seeing it makes my heart ache.
As both mother and father,
your elder brother is everything to you.
Living with boundless love,
this bond is our true family.
Across a hundred lifetimes,
to always live together like this,
praying every day for that blessing,
my heart remains in deep prayer.
Shall I make a stage of flowers for you?
Shall I sing for your flower-like eyes to close?
On both my shoulders rest two flowering vines,
You are all the family I have, my dears!
Shall I make a stage of flowers for you?
Shall I sing for your flower-like eyes to close?
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic lullaby-style song highlights the deep and selfless bond between siblings. An elder brother tenderly sings to his younger sister, holding her close like a flowering vine and describing her as delicate as a jasmine petal. He expresses how protective he feels, fearing that even her sweet smile might attract the evil eye, and how seeing her distressed breaks his heart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Poovizhi mooda naan paadavaa”

'Poovizhi' compares the eyes directly to flowers, and 'Poongkodi' compares the loved one to a blossoming creeper vine clinging to his shoulders.

Simile (Uvamai)

“Poovidhazh pola”

'Poovidhazh pola' explicitly uses 'pola' (like) to compare the child's soft nature to delicate flower petals.

Alliteration (Monai)

“Poovilae medai naan podavaa”

Repetition of the initial sound 'Poo' ('Poovilae' and 'Poovizhi') creates a rhythmic and melodic opening.

Keep listening

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