Poovin Manam Poovil Illai
From Narthagi · 2011
- Lyricist
- Na. Muthu Kumar
- Music director
- G. V. Prakash Kumar
- Details
- Narthagi2011
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Hey eeyyy heyy…(4) | Hey eeyyy heyy… |
| Female | |
| Poovin manam poovil illai | The fragrance of the flower is not in the flower itself |
| Poonthendralo thodavae illai | The gentle breeze does not even touch |
| Theeyin gunam theeyil illai | The nature of fire is missing in the fire |
| Theendum viral sudavae illai | The touching finger does not feel the burn |
| Male | |
| Hey eeyyy heyy…(4) | Hey eeyyy heyy… |
| Female | |
| Poovin manam poovil illai | The fragrance of the flower is not in the flower itself |
| Poonthendralo thodavae illai | The gentle breeze does not even touch |
| Theeyin gunam theeyil illai | The nature of fire is missing in the fire |
| Theendum viral sudavae illai | The touching finger does not feel the burn |
| Male | |
| Hoo… udal ennum padagu | Oh... the boat called body |
| Thanneeril aada | Dances on the water |
| Iru karaigal naduvil | Between two river banks |
| Midhanthen alainthen | I floated and wandered |
| Orupuramum malaraai | While on one side as a flower |
| En dhaegam maara | My body changes |
| Marupuramum theeyaai | On the other side as fire |
| Thagithen erinthen anbae | I burned and scorched, my love |
| Female | |
| Udhirumbodhum | Even as I am falling apart |
| Saram korkkiren | I string together a garland |
| Alaigal modha manal serkkiren | As waves crash, I gather sand |
| Idiyin naduvae isai ketkkiren | Amidst thunder, I hear music |
| Enai naan thotru unai meetkiren…. | Losing myself, I redeem you... |
| Male | |
| Hey eeyyy heyy…(4) | Hey eeyyy heyy… |
| Female | |
| Paruvathil pei aattangal | Wild storms of youth |
| Paalina thadumaatrangal | Gender conflicts and stumbles |
| Male :Uruvaththai… urumaatravaa | Male: Shall I transform the physical form... |
| Ullaththai adhu maatrumaa | Will that ever change the inner soul? |
| Female | |
| Ho… enakkullae aanmai | Oh... masculinity within me |
| Nee theda vendum | You must search for |
| Unakkullae penmai | Femininity within you |
| Naan theda vendum | I must search for |
| Male | |
| Vaeppammarakkilaiyil | On the branch of a neem tree |
| Ver yedho chedithaan | Just like some other plant |
| Valarvadhai pola | Grows as a parasite |
| Valiyai unarndhen | I felt the deep pain |
| Male | |
| Hey eeyyy heyy…(4) | Hey eeyyy heyy… |
| Female | |
| Poovin manam poovil illai | The fragrance of the flower is not in the flower itself |
| Poonthendralo thodavae illai | The gentle breeze does not even touch |
| Theeyin gunam theeyil illai | The nature of fire is missing in the fire |
| Theendum viral sudavae illai | The touching finger does not feel the burn |
| Male | |
| ………………….. | ... |
| Female | |
| Kaanalin neerodaiyil | In the stream of a mirage |
| Meengalai nee ketkkiraai | You are asking for fish |
| Male :Kelvigal puriyaamalae | Male: Without understanding the questions |
| Badhilgalai nee serkkiraai | You are gathering answers |
| Female | |
| Sila neram vilakkin | At times, the light of the lamp |
| Velichangal eerkkum | Attracts everyone around |
| Vilakkukkum keezhae | Yet beneath that very lamp |
| Iruttondru irukkum | A darkness resides |
| Male | |
| Irulum oliyum | Darkness and light |
| Ondraaga theenda | Touch each other together |
| Kuzhappathilae naanum | In utter confusion, I too |
| Thaviththen thudithen | Suffered and squirmed |
| Male | |
| Hey eeyyy heyy…(4) | Hey eeyyy heyy… |
ஹே ஹே ஹேய்ய்
ஹே ஹே ஹேய்ய்...
Hey eeyyy heyy…
பூவின் மனம் பூவில் இல்லை
பூந்தென்றலோ தொடவே இல்லை
தீயின் குணம் தீயில் இல்லை
தீண்டும் விரல் சுடவே இல்லை
The fragrance of the flower is not in the flower itself
The gentle breeze does not even touch
The nature of fire is missing in the fire
The touching finger does not feel the burn
ஹே ஹே ஹேய்ய்
ஹே ஹே ஹேய்ய்
Hey eeyyy heyy…
பூவின் மனம் பூவில் இல்லை
பூந்தென்றலோ தொடவே இல்லை
தீயின் குணம் தீயில் இல்லை....
தீண்டும் விரல் சுடவே இல்லை
The fragrance of the flower is not in the flower itself
The gentle breeze does not even touch
The nature of fire is missing in the fire
The touching finger does not feel the burn
ஹே.. உடல்
என்னும் படகு தண்ணீரில் ஆட
இரு கரைகள் நடுவே
மிதந்தேன் அழைந்தேன்
ஒருபுறமும் மலராய்
என் தேகம் மாற
மறுபுறமும் தீயாய்
தவித்தேன் எரிந்தேன் அன்பே
Oh... the boat called body
Dances on the water
Between two river banks
I floated and wandered
While on one side as a flower
My body changes
On the other side as fire
I burned and scorched, my love
உதிரும்போதும்
சரம் கோர்க்கிறேன்
அலைகள் மோத
மணல் சேர்க்கிறேன்
இடியின் நடுவே
இசைக்கேட்கிறேன்
எனை நான் தொற்று
உனை மீட்கிறேன்...
Even as I am falling apart
I string together a garland
As waves crash, I gather sand
Amidst thunder, I hear music
Losing myself, I redeem you...
ஹே ஹே ஹேய்ய்
ஹே ஹே ஹேய்ய்
Hey eeyyy heyy…
பருவத்தில் பேயாட்டங்கள்
பாலின தடுமாற்றங்கள்
Wild storms of youth
Gender conflicts and stumbles
Male: Shall I transform the physical form...
Will that ever change the inner soul?
உருவத்தை.... உருமாற்றலாம்
உள்ளத்தை அது மாற்றுமா
Oh... masculinity within me
You must search for
Femininity within you
I must search for
ஹோ.... எனக்குள்ளே ஆண்மை
நீ தேட வேண்டும்
உனககுள்ளே பெண்மை
நான் தேட வேண்டும்
On the branch of a neem tree
Just like some other plant
Grows as a parasite
I felt the deep pain
வேப்பம் மரக்கிளையில்
வேறேதோ செடிதான்
வளர்வதைப்போல வலியை உணர்ந்தேன்
Hey eeyyy heyy…
ஹே ஹே ஹேய்ய்
ஹே ஹே ஹேய்ய்
The fragrance of the flower is not in the flower itself
The gentle breeze does not even touch
The nature of fire is missing in the fire
The touching finger does not feel the burn
பூவின் மனம் பூவில் இல்லை
பூந்தென்றலோ தொடவே இல்லை
தீயின் குணம் தீயில் இல்லை
தீண்டும் விரல் சுடவே இல்லை
...
..................................
In the stream of a mirage
You are asking for fish
Male: Without understanding the questions
You are gathering answers
காணலின் நீரோடையில்
மீன்களை நீ கேட்கிறாய்
At times, the light of the lamp
Attracts everyone around
Yet beneath that very lamp
A darkness resides
கேள்விகள் புரியாமலே
பதில்களை நீ சேர்க்கிறாய்
Darkness and light
Touch each other together
In utter confusion, I too
Suffered and squirmed
ஆ...சில நேரம் விளக்கின்
வெளிச்சங்கள் ஈர்க்கும்
விளக்குக்கும் கீழே
இருட்டொன்று இருக்கும்
Hey eeyyy heyy…
இருளும் ஒளியும்
ஒன்றாகத் தீண்ட
குழப்பத்திலே நானும்
தவித்தேன் துடித்தேன்
ஹே ஹே ஹேய்ய்
ஹே ஹே ஹேய்ய்
Hey eeyyy heyy…(4)
Hey eeyyy heyy…
Poovin manam poovil illai
The fragrance of the flower is not in the flower itself
Poonthendralo thodavae illai
The gentle breeze does not even touch
Theeyin gunam theeyil illai
The nature of fire is missing in the fire
Theendum viral sudavae illai
The touching finger does not feel the burn
Hey eeyyy heyy…(4)
Hey eeyyy heyy…
Poovin manam poovil illai
The fragrance of the flower is not in the flower itself
Poonthendralo thodavae illai
The gentle breeze does not even touch
Theeyin gunam theeyil illai
The nature of fire is missing in the fire
Theendum viral sudavae illai
The touching finger does not feel the burn
Hoo… udal ennum padagu
Oh... the boat called body
Thanneeril aada
Dances on the water
Iru karaigal naduvil
Between two river banks
Midhanthen alainthen
I floated and wandered
Orupuramum malaraai
While on one side as a flower
En dhaegam maara
My body changes
Marupuramum theeyaai
On the other side as fire
Thagithen erinthen anbae
I burned and scorched, my love
Udhirumbodhum
Even as I am falling apart
Saram korkkiren
I string together a garland
Alaigal modha manal serkkiren
As waves crash, I gather sand
Idiyin naduvae isai ketkkiren
Amidst thunder, I hear music
Enai naan thotru unai meetkiren….
Losing myself, I redeem you...
Hey eeyyy heyy…(4)
Hey eeyyy heyy…
Paruvathil pei aattangal
Wild storms of youth
Paalina thadumaatrangal
Gender conflicts and stumbles
Male :Uruvaththai… urumaatravaa
Male: Shall I transform the physical form...
Ullaththai adhu maatrumaa
Will that ever change the inner soul?
Ho… enakkullae aanmai
Oh... masculinity within me
Nee theda vendum
You must search for
Unakkullae penmai
Femininity within you
Naan theda vendum
I must search for
Vaeppammarakkilaiyil
On the branch of a neem tree
Ver yedho chedithaan
Just like some other plant
Valarvadhai pola
Grows as a parasite
Valiyai unarndhen
I felt the deep pain
Hey eeyyy heyy…(4)
Hey eeyyy heyy…
Poovin manam poovil illai
The fragrance of the flower is not in the flower itself
Poonthendralo thodavae illai
The gentle breeze does not even touch
Theeyin gunam theeyil illai
The nature of fire is missing in the fire
Theendum viral sudavae illai
The touching finger does not feel the burn
…………………..
...
Kaanalin neerodaiyil
In the stream of a mirage
Meengalai nee ketkkiraai
You are asking for fish
Male :Kelvigal puriyaamalae
Male: Without understanding the questions
Badhilgalai nee serkkiraai
You are gathering answers
Sila neram vilakkin
At times, the light of the lamp
Velichangal eerkkum
Attracts everyone around
Vilakkukkum keezhae
Yet beneath that very lamp
Iruttondru irukkum
A darkness resides
Irulum oliyum
Darkness and light
Ondraaga theenda
Touch each other together
Kuzhappathilae naanum
In utter confusion, I too
Thaviththen thudithen
Suffered and squirmed
Hey eeyyy heyy…(4)
Hey eeyyy heyy…
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This evocative song from the film 'Narthagi' deeply explores the psychological, emotional, and identity struggles faced by transgender individuals. Through profound lyrical metaphors—such as a flower lacking fragrance, fire lacking heat, and a parasite growing on a neem tree—lyricist Na. Muthukumar captures the internal dissonance between physical form and inner self-identity. The protagonist navigates social judgment, gender dysphoria, and the quest for true selfhood amidst confusion and societal blindness.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamanai)
“udal ennum padagu”
Comparing the physical human body to a boat floating helplessly between two banks (masculinity and femininity).
Oxymoron / Paradox (Muran)
“Vilakkukkum keezhae iruttondru irukkum”
Juxtaposing fire and softness, or light and darkness existing simultaneously beneath a lamp.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Poovin manam poovil illai / Poonthendralo thodavae illai”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'Poovin' and 'Poonthendralo'.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Narthagi' (2011) directed by G. Vijayapadma is one of the rare mainstream Tamil films focused entirely on the lives, struggles, and identity of the transgender community. The soundtrack was composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar, featuring poignant lyrics written by late national-award winning lyricist Na. Muthukumar.
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