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Irandil Ondru album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Poovukku Poovu Vachu

From Irandil Ondru · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Kousalya
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Irandil Ondru
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
4 Feb 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Poovukku poovu vechchu
Enga chella ponnukku ponnu vechchu
Kannukku mayi vechchu
Kayil nalla semmaruthaani vechchu
Kachchithamaa saenthirukka
Kaalam ippo vanthiruchchu
Kalyaanam pannikkum ponnukkuththaan
Kadhal kala vanthuruchchu
Poottunga valaiyalaththaan
Pondugalae podunga maalaiyaththaan
Maattina maamankitta
Female :Kitta poyi kettukka maththathathaan
Adorning our flower-like girl with flowers,
Draping our precious girl in gold,
Lining her eyes with kohl,
Applying rich red henna to her hands,
The time has now come for the perfect pair to unite,
For the bride who is getting married,
The radiant glow of love has arrived!
Slip the bangles onto her wrists,
Women, place the garland around her neck!
From the groom you have caught,
Female:
Go close and ask him for the rest!
Chorus
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This upbeat traditional celebration song describes the ritualistic grooming and preparation of a bride before her wedding. The friends and women of the household lovingly adorn the bride with flowers, gold jewelry, eye kohl, and red henna, celebrating her readiness to enter married life and learn the art of love. In the latter part of the stanza, the singer enthusiastically encourages the women to put bangles and garlands on the bride, teasingly prompting her to go close to her groom to ask for the rest of her romantic desires.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Poovukku poovu vechchu ... Kayil nalla semmaruthaani vechchu

The repetitive use of 'vechchu' at the end of the first four lines creates an energetic rhythm that reflects the sequence of bridal adornments.

Monnai (Initial Alliteration)

Kachchithamaa saenthirukka ... Kadhal kala vanthuruchchu

The repetition of the initial consonant sound 'K' across consecutive lines (Kachchithamaa, Kaalam, Kalyaanam, Kadhal) establishes strong phonetic harmony.

Metaphor

Poovukku poovu vechchu

Describing putting flowers on the girl as 'placing flowers upon a flower' metaphorically compares the bride herself to a delicate flower.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Irandil Ondru' (1988) is a Tamil film featuring music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by his brother Gangai Amaran. Sung by Kousalya, this festive track beautifully captures rural Tamil wedding rituals such as applying henna (maruthani) and kohl (mayi).

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