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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poovo Poovu

From Raja Veettu Pillai · 1967

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Movie name
Raja Veettu Pillai
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
30 Apr 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Poovo poovu..vanna poovu..vasana poovu
Pichipoovu mallipoovu allipoovu aralipoovu
Mullaipoovu magizhampoovu thazhampoovu thamaraipoovu
Sevvandhi poovu rojapoovu sambangipooovu
Arumbaai irundhadhu naethu
Arumbaai irundhadhu naethu
Idhu azhagaai sirikkudhu poothu
Vasanai veesudhu vaavena pesudhu
Amma ungalai paarthu
Arumbaai irundhadhu naethu
Idhu azhagaai sirikkudhu poothu
Vasanai veesudhu vaavena pesudhu
Amma ungalai paarthu
Pattu thavani kattiyava
Pambaramaai kannai vettiyava
Pattu thavani kattiyava
Pambaramaai kannai vettiyava
Kattu koondhalil poomudikka
Kaadhalan varuvaan kai pidikka
Kattu koondhalil poomudikka
Kaadhalan varuvaan kai pidikka
Arumbaai irundhadhu naethu
Chithira maasam nilaverikka
Jillunnu vandhu kaathadikka
Chithira maasam nilaverikka
Jillunnu vandhu kaathadikka
Pathini thalaiyil poo manakkum
Athaan manasu kilukilukkum
Ada athaan manasu kilukilukkum
Ohoo ammooi
Arumbaai irundhadhu naethu
Kanakaambaram pol silaperu
Kaakithapoo pola pala peru
Kanakaambaram pol silaperu
Kaakithapoo pola pala peru
Kannukku azhagaai theriyum amma
Gunamo manamo kedaiyadhu
Kannukku azhagaai theriyum amma
Gunamo manamo kedaiyadhu
Arumbaai irundhadhu naethu
Humming …………..
Sumangali ponnukku malligai poo
Saamikku yetha saamanthi poo
Sumangali ponnukku malligai poo
Saamikku yetha saamanthi poo
Poosaikku thaguntha thamarai poo
Pullaikku sootta rosapoo
Poosaikku thaguntha thamarai poo
Pullaikku sootta rosapoo
Ohoo ammooi
Arumbaai irundhadhu naethu
Idhu azhagaai sirikkudhu poothu
Vasanai veesudhu vaavena pesudhu
Amma ungalai paarthu
Pichipoovu mallipoovu allipoovu aralipoovu
Mullaipoovu magizhampoovu thazhampoovu thamaraipoovu
Sevvandhi poovu rojapoovu sambangipooovu
Flowers, oh flowers! Colorful flowers! Fragrant flowers!
Pichi flowers, jasmine, water lilies, oleander,
Mullai jasmine, magizham flowers, screw-pine, lotus,
Chrysanthemums, roses, and tuberoses!
It was just a bud yesterday,
It was just a bud yesterday,
Now it smiles beautifully in full bloom,
Spreading fragrance, calling out 'come here',
Looking right at you, my lady!
It was just a bud yesterday,
Now it smiles beautifully in full bloom,
Spreading fragrance, calling out 'come here',
Looking right at you, my lady!
O girl dressed in a silk half-saree,
Glancing around with eyes spinning like a top,
O girl dressed in a silk half-saree,
Glancing around with eyes spinning like a top,
To tuck flowers into your tied-up hair,
Your lover will come to hold your hand!
To tuck flowers into your tied-up hair,
Your lover will come to hold your hand!
It was just a bud yesterday,
When the Chithirai moon shines bright,
And a cool breeze comes blowing in,
When the Chithirai moon shines bright,
And a cool breeze comes blowing in,
The flowers in the loyal wife's hair smell sweet,
And her husband's heart flutters with joy!
Oh, her husband's heart flutters with joy!
Oho, oh my!
It was just a bud yesterday,
Some people are like crossandra flowers,
Many people are like paper flowers,
Some people are like crossandra flowers,
Many people are like paper flowers,
They look pretty to the eye, my friend,
Yet have neither good character nor sweet scent!
They look pretty to the eye, my friend,
Yet have neither good character nor sweet scent!
It was just a bud yesterday,
[Humming...]
Jasmine flowers for the married woman,
Chrysanthemums fit for the gods,
Jasmine flowers for the married woman,
Chrysanthemums fit for the gods,
Lotus flowers worthy of prayer offerings,
Roses to adorn the little child's hair,
Lotus flowers worthy of prayer offerings,
Roses to adorn the little child's hair,
Oho, oh my!
It was just a bud yesterday,
Now it smiles beautifully in full bloom,
Spreading fragrance, calling out 'come here',
Looking right at you, my lady!
Pichi flowers, jasmine, water lilies, oleander,
Mullai jasmine, magizham flowers, screw-pine, lotus,
Chrysanthemums, roses, and tuberoses!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Poovo Poovu' from the 1967 film 'Raja Veettu Pillai' uses the metaphor of blooming flowers and various types of blossoms to reflect human relationships, joy, and societal values. Through the vendor's vibrant call cataloging flowers like jasmine, lotus, and rose, lyricist Vaali draws clever parallels between floral qualities and human nature—contrasting showy but scentless flowers (paper flowers, crossandra) with genuinely virtuous individuals.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Kanakaambaram pol silaperu / Kaakithapoo pola pala peru

Comparing people with superficial beauty but no inner substance to scentless 'paper flowers' (Kaakithapoo) and 'crossandra' (Kanakaambaram).

Personification (Uruvagarn)

Idhu azhagaai sirikkudhu poothu / Vasanai veesudhu vaavena pesudhu

Attributing human traits like smiling, speaking, and gazing to the blooming flowers.

Simile (Uvamai)

Pambaramaai kannai vettiyava

Comparing the playful, quick movement of the young woman's eyes to a top ('pambaram').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by veteran music director S. M. Subbaiah Naidu and sung with characteristic energy by L. R. Eswari, 'Poovo Poovu' is one of Tamil cinema's most famous flower-vending songs. Vaali's clever lyricism embeds social commentary and moral philosophy within a lighthearted street-song framework.

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