Poovukkenna Poottu
From Bombay · 1995
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Bombay1995
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Poovukenna pootu kaatrukenna rootu | Why put a lock on a flower, why set a fixed route for the wind? |
| Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaa | Gulla gulla halla gulla! |
| Vaanum mannum yaaruku neeyum naanum yaaruku | Whom do the sky and earth belong to, whom do you and I belong to? |
| Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaa | Gulla gulla halla gulla! |
| Female | |
| {Nee sirichaa deewanaa kaikodutha masthana | If you smile I become crazy, if you shake hands I become carefree! |
| Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaa | Gulla gulla halla gulla! |
| Neeyum naanum onnaanaa roopu theraa masthana | If you and I become one, your beauty becomes intoxicating! |
| Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaa} (2) | Gulla gulla halla gulla! |
| Female | |
| Solai kili enna oru kavalai | Oh parrot of the grove, why do you worry? |
| Eppodhum paravaigal azhuvadhillai | Birds never shed tears. |
| Sooriyanil endrum iravu illai | There is never night on the sun. |
| Eppodhum sorgathuku thadaiyillai | There is never any barrier to reaching heaven. |
| Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaa… | Gulla gulla halla gulla... |
| Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaa… | Gulla gulla halla gulla... |
| Female | |
| Kaanathaanae kangal kaneer sindha illai | Eyes are meant for seeing, not for shedding tears. |
| Meghangal manvizhundhu kaayangal aanadhillai | Clouds do not fall to the ground and get injured. |
| Male | |
| Kaanathaanae kangal kaneer sindha illai | Eyes are meant for seeing, not for shedding tears. |
| Female :Meghangal manvizhundhu kaayangal aanadhillai | Clouds do not fall to the ground and get injured. |
| Vaazhathanae vaazhkai veezhvadharku illai | Life is meant for living, not for falling down. |
| Pollaadha jaadhi madham iraivanum sollavillai | Even God never created cruel caste and religion. |
| Female | |
| {Paadathanae nenjam mounam enna enna | The heart is meant for singing, why this silence? |
| Aasaikku rekkaikatti kattavizhthu aadavidu } (2) | Tie wings to your desires, untie them and let them dance! |
| Male | |
| Vellathanae veeram kolvadharku illai | Valor is meant for winning, not for killing. |
| Kaiyodu kaiserthu vaanathaiyae thottuvidu | Join hands together and touch the sky itself! |
| Chorus | |
| ………………………………………. | ... |
| Chorus | |
| {Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaa… | Gulla gulla halla gulla... |
| Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaa} (2) | Gulla gulla halla gulla! |
| Chorus | |
| Kaanathaanae kangal kaneer sindha illai | Eyes are meant for seeing, not for shedding tears. |
| Vaazhathanae vaazhkai veezhvadharku illai | Life is meant for living, not for falling down. |
| Paadathanae nenjam mounam enna enna | The heart is meant for singing, why this silence? |
| Vellathanae veeram kolvadharku illai | Valor is meant for winning, not for killing. |
| Chorus | |
| {Nee sirichaa deewanaa kaikodutha masthana | If you smile I become crazy, if you shake hands I become carefree! |
| Neeyum naanum onnaanaa roopu theraa masthana} (2) | If you and I become one, your beauty becomes intoxicating! |
பூவுக்கென்ன பூட்டு
காற்றுக்கென்ன ரூட்டு
குல்லா குல்லா ஹல்லா
குல்லா வானும் மண்ணும்
யாருக்கு நீயும் நானும் யாருக்கு
குல்லா குல்லா ஹல்லா குல்லா
Why put a lock on a flower, why set a fixed route for the wind?
Gulla gulla halla gulla!
Whom do the sky and earth belong to, whom do you and I belong to?
Gulla gulla halla gulla!
{ நீ சிரிச்சா தீவானா
கை கொடுத்தா மஸ்தானா
குல்லா குல்லா ஹல்லா
குல்லா நீயும் நானும் ஒன்னானா
ரூப்பு தேரா மஸ்தானா
குல்லா குல்லா ஹல்லா
குல்லா } (2)
If you smile I become crazy, if you shake hands I become carefree!
Gulla gulla halla gulla!
If you and I become one, your beauty becomes intoxicating!
Gulla gulla halla gulla!
சோலைகிளி என்ன
ஒரு கவலை எப்போதும்
பறவைகள் அழுவதில்லை
சூரியனில் என்றும் இரவு
இல்லை எப்போதும்
சொர்க்கத்துக்குத் தடையில்லை
குல்லா குல்லா ஹல்லா குல்லா
குல்லா குல்லா ஹல்லா குல்லா
Oh parrot of the grove, why do you worry?
Birds never shed tears.
There is never night on the sun.
There is never any barrier to reaching heaven.
Gulla gulla halla gulla...
Gulla gulla halla gulla...
காணத் தானே
கண்கள் கண்ணீர் சிந்த
இல்லை மேகங்கள் மண்
விழுந்து காயங்கள் ஆனதில்லை
Eyes are meant for seeing, not for shedding tears.
Clouds do not fall to the ground and get injured.
காணத் தானே
கண்கள் கண்ணீர் சிந்த
இல்லை
மேகங்கள் மண்
விழுந்து காயங்கள்
ஆனதில்லை வாழத்தானே
வாழ்க்கை வீழ்வதற்கு இல்லை
பொல்லாத ஜாதி மதம்
இறைவனும் சொல்லவில்லை
Eyes are meant for seeing, not for shedding tears.
Clouds do not fall to the ground and get injured.
Life is meant for living, not for falling down.
Even God never created cruel caste and religion.
{ பாடத் தானே
நெஞ்சம் மௌனம் என்ன
என்ன ஆசைக்கு ரெக்கை
கட்டி கட்டவிழ்த்து ஆட
விடு } (2)
The heart is meant for singing, why this silence?
Tie wings to your desires, untie them and let them dance!
வெல்லத்தானே வீரம்
கொல்வதற்கு இல்லை
கையோடு கைசேர்த்து
வானத்தையே தொட்டுவிடு
Valor is meant for winning, not for killing.
Join hands together and touch the sky itself!
............................
...
{ குல்லா குல்லா
ஹல்லா குல்லா குல்லா
குல்லா ஹல்லா குல்லா } (2)
Gulla gulla halla gulla...
Gulla gulla halla gulla!
காணத் தானே கண்கள்
கண்ணீர் சிந்த இல்லை
வாழத்தானே வாழ்க்கை
வீழ்வதற்கு இல்லை
பாடத்தானே நெஞ்சம்
மௌனம் என்ன என்ன
வெல்லத்தானே வீரம்
கொல்வதற்கு இல்லை
Eyes are meant for seeing, not for shedding tears.
Life is meant for living, not for falling down.
The heart is meant for singing, why this silence?
Valor is meant for winning, not for killing.
{ நீ சிரிச்சா தீவானா
கைகொடுத்தா மஸ்தானா
நீயும் நானும் ஒன்னானா
ரூப்பு தேரா மஸ்தானா } (2)
If you smile I become crazy, if you shake hands I become carefree!
If you and I become one, your beauty becomes intoxicating!
Poovukenna pootu kaatrukenna rootu
Why put a lock on a flower, why set a fixed route for the wind?
Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaa
Gulla gulla halla gulla!
Vaanum mannum yaaruku neeyum naanum yaaruku
Whom do the sky and earth belong to, whom do you and I belong to?
Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaa
Gulla gulla halla gulla!
{Nee sirichaa deewanaa kaikodutha masthana
If you smile I become crazy, if you shake hands I become carefree!
Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaa
Gulla gulla halla gulla!
Neeyum naanum onnaanaa roopu theraa masthana
If you and I become one, your beauty becomes intoxicating!
Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaa} (2)
Gulla gulla halla gulla!
Solai kili enna oru kavalai
Oh parrot of the grove, why do you worry?
Eppodhum paravaigal azhuvadhillai
Birds never shed tears.
Sooriyanil endrum iravu illai
There is never night on the sun.
Eppodhum sorgathuku thadaiyillai
There is never any barrier to reaching heaven.
Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaa…
Gulla gulla halla gulla...
Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaa…
Gulla gulla halla gulla...
Kaanathaanae kangal kaneer sindha illai
Eyes are meant for seeing, not for shedding tears.
Meghangal manvizhundhu kaayangal aanadhillai
Clouds do not fall to the ground and get injured.
Kaanathaanae kangal kaneer sindha illai
Eyes are meant for seeing, not for shedding tears.
Female :Meghangal manvizhundhu kaayangal aanadhillai
Clouds do not fall to the ground and get injured.
Vaazhathanae vaazhkai veezhvadharku illai
Life is meant for living, not for falling down.
Pollaadha jaadhi madham iraivanum sollavillai
Even God never created cruel caste and religion.
{Paadathanae nenjam mounam enna enna
The heart is meant for singing, why this silence?
Aasaikku rekkaikatti kattavizhthu aadavidu } (2)
Tie wings to your desires, untie them and let them dance!
Vellathanae veeram kolvadharku illai
Valor is meant for winning, not for killing.
Kaiyodu kaiserthu vaanathaiyae thottuvidu
Join hands together and touch the sky itself!
……………………………………….
...
{Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaa…
Gulla gulla halla gulla...
Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaa} (2)
Gulla gulla halla gulla!
Kaanathaanae kangal kaneer sindha illai
Eyes are meant for seeing, not for shedding tears.
Vaazhathanae vaazhkai veezhvadharku illai
Life is meant for living, not for falling down.
Paadathanae nenjam mounam enna enna
The heart is meant for singing, why this silence?
Vellathanae veeram kolvadharku illai
Valor is meant for winning, not for killing.
{Nee sirichaa deewanaa kaikodutha masthana
If you smile I become crazy, if you shake hands I become carefree!
Neeyum naanum onnaanaa roopu theraa masthana} (2)
If you and I become one, your beauty becomes intoxicating!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Poovukenna Pootu (Halla Gulla) is an energetic and uplifting anthem from the 1995 film Bombay, directed by Mani Ratnam with music composed by A. R. Rahman and lyrics by Vaali. The song celebrates human brotherhood, freedom, and joy, drawing rich parallels from nature where wind flows without boundaries and clouds suffer no wounds. It delivers a powerful socio-political message reminding listeners that division based on caste and religion is man-made, not divine. Emphasizing that true valor lies in conquering through love rather than taking lives, the track serves as a hopeful call for unity and togetherness amid conflict.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Poovukenna pootu kaatrukenna rootu”
Comparing human freedom to natural elements like wind having no fixed route and the sun having no night.
Morphological Parallelism / Ethugai
“Kaanathaanae kangal kaneer sindha illai”
Repetition of the root infinitive pattern ending with '-adhaanae' across consecutive lines (Kaanathaanae, Vaazhathanae, Paadathanae, Vellathanae).
Linguistic Code-Mixing
“Nee sirichaa deewanaa kaikodutha masthana”
Blending Hindi/Urdu slang words like 'deewana', 'masthana', and 'roopu theraa' into Tamil syntax to reflect the cosmopolitan Bombay setting.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by A. R. Rahman for Mani Ratnam's acclaimed drama Bombay (1995), the song incorporates Hindi/Urdu celebratory phrases into Tamil lyrics to capture the multicultural atmosphere of Mumbai.
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