Poovukku Poovu Vachu
From Irandil Ondru · 1988
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- Kousalya
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Irandil Ondru1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Poovukku poovu vechchu | Placing flowers upon flowers, |
| Enga chella ponnukku ponnu vechchu | Adorning our precious girl with gold, |
| Kannukku mayi vechchu | Applying kohl eyeliner to her eyes, |
| Kayil nalla semmaruthaani vechchu | Applying fine red henna to her hands, |
| Chorus | |
| Kachchithamaa saenthirukka | To be perfectly united together, |
| Kaalam ippo vanthiruchchu | The right time has now arrived! |
| Kalyaanam pannikkum ponnukkuththaan | For the bride who is getting married, |
| Kadhal kala vanthuruchchu | The art of love has arrived. |
| Poottunga valaiyalaththaan | Put the bangles on her hands, |
| Pondugalae podunga maalaiyaththaan | Oh women, place the garland on her! |
| Maattina maamankitta | From the groom who got caught, |
| Female :Kitta poyi kettukka maththathathaan | Go close and ask him for everything else! |
பூவுக்குப் பூவு வெச்சு
எங்கச் செல்லப் பொண்ணுக்கு பொன்னு வெச்சு
கண்ணுக்கு மையி வெச்சு
கையில் நல்ல செம்மருதாணி வெச்சு
Placing flowers upon flowers,
Adorning our precious girl with gold,
Applying kohl eyeliner to her eyes,
Applying fine red henna to her hands,
கச்சிதமா சேந்திருக்க காலம் இப்போ வந்திருச்சு
கல்யாணம் பண்ணிக்கும் பொண்ணுக்குத்தான்
காதல் கள வந்திருச்சு
பூட்டுங்க வளையலத் தான்
பொண்டுகளே போடுங்க மாலையத்தான்
மாட்டின மாமன் கிட்ட
கிட்ட போயி கேட்டுக்க மத்ததத் தான்
To be perfectly united together,
The right time has now arrived!
For the bride who is getting married,
The art of love has arrived.
Put the bangles on her hands,
Oh women, place the garland on her!
From the groom who got caught,
Go close and ask him for everything else!
Poovukku poovu vechchu
Placing flowers upon flowers,
Enga chella ponnukku ponnu vechchu
Adorning our precious girl with gold,
Kannukku mayi vechchu
Applying kohl eyeliner to her eyes,
Kayil nalla semmaruthaani vechchu
Applying fine red henna to her hands,
Kachchithamaa saenthirukka
To be perfectly united together,
Kaalam ippo vanthiruchchu
The right time has now arrived!
Kalyaanam pannikkum ponnukkuththaan
For the bride who is getting married,
Kadhal kala vanthuruchchu
The art of love has arrived.
Poottunga valaiyalaththaan
Put the bangles on her hands,
Pondugalae podunga maalaiyaththaan
Oh women, place the garland on her!
Maattina maamankitta
From the groom who got caught,
Female :Kitta poyi kettukka maththathathaan
Go close and ask him for everything else!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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