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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poovukku

From Nimir · 2018

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Shweta Mohan
Music director
Darbuka Siva
Details
Nimir2018

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Poovukku thaappa edhukkuWhy does a flower need a latch?
Oorukku kadhava irukkuDoes a village have a door?
Poovukku thaappa edhukkuWhy does a flower need a latch?
Oorukku kadhava irukkuDoes a village have a door?
Female
Veliyellaam thorandhae kedakkuThe entire open field lies wide open,
Kili aaga aasai enakkuAnd I desire to become a parrot.
Veliyellaam thorandhae kedakkuThe entire open field lies wide open,
Kili aaga aasai enakkuAnd I desire to become a parrot.
Female
Ilavasa veyil vandhu vizhumaeFree sunlight comes falling down,
Ennai idhamaai thodumaeIt touches me tenderly.
PoongathaiyaeOh gentle flower-breeze,
Vanam vadikatti anupidumaeThe sky filters and sends it down.
Female
Mazhai mazhai mazhai thuli vizhumaeRain, rain, raindrops fall,
En marmam thodumaeTouching my innermost soul.
Thalai eerathaiThe wetness on my head,
Oru thundu megam thuvattidumaeA piece of cloud wipes it dry.
Female
Odai engal thaai paalThe stream is our mother's milk,
Indha oorum mannum thaaimadiThis town and soil are a mother's lap.
Ingae illai noi nodiThere are no diseases or ailments here.
Indha idam nalla idamThis place is a wonderful place,
Idhu endhan thalai nagaramThis is my personal capital city.
Female
Poovukku thaappa edhukkuWhy does a flower need a latch?
Oorukku kadhava irukkuDoes a village have a door?
Poovukku thaappa edhukkuWhy does a flower need a latch?
Oorukku kadhava irukkuDoes a village have a door?
Female
Veliyellaam thorandhae kedakku..uu..The entire open field lies wide open...
Kili aaga aasai enakkuAnd I desire to become a parrot.
Veliyellaam thorandhae kedakku..uu…The entire open field lies wide open...
Kili aaga aasai enakkuAnd I desire to become a parrot.
Female
Soththu sogam thedugira manushaO human seeking wealth and comfort,
Indha sogamae varumaCan true happiness ever be bought like this?
Panam kaasellaamAre all the money and coins,
Indha pani thuli velai perumaWorth even a single drop of dew?
Female
Vettaiveli pozhapukku thaanaeFor a life in the open outdoors,
Manam engi kedakkuThe heart yearns deeply.
AagayamaeEven the vast sky,
Ingae akkam pakkam vandhu kedakkuLies right here around us in our neighborhood.
Female
Pattam poochi pudikkaTo catch a butterfly,
Naam padhungi mella pogalaamWe can softly sneak up,
Adhu parakkumbodhu thorkalaamAnd happily lose when it flies away.
Manidharai marandhoruForgetting human cares,
Paraivayin varam peralaamWe can receive the blessed boon of a bird.
Female
Poovukku thaappa edhukkuWhy does a flower need a latch?
Oorukku kadhava irukkuDoes a village have a door?
Poovukku thaappa edhukkuWhy does a flower need a latch?
Oorukku kadhava irukkuDoes a village have a door?
Female
Veliyellaam thorandhae kedakku..uu…The entire open field lies wide open...
Kili aaga aasai enakkuAnd I desire to become a parrot.
Veliyellaam thorandhae kedakku…uu….The entire open field lies wide open...
Kili aaga aasai enakkuAnd I desire to become a parrot.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Poovukku Thaappa Edhukku from the movie Nimir is a joyous celebration of nature, freedom, and rural simplicity. Lyricist Vairamuthu questions the artificial barriers and material wealth that humans cling to, emphasizing that nature provides everything in abundance for free—from sunlight and rain to streams that flow like mother's milk. The song expresses a deep longing to shed human worries and live freely like a bird in harmony with the environment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question (Vinah)

Poovukku thaappa edhukku / Oorukku kadhava irukku

The opening line asks why a flower needs a lock or a village needs a door, emphasizing the inherent openness and freedom of nature.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Odai engal thaai paal / Indha oorum mannum thaaimadi

The stream is poetically compared to a mother's nourishing milk, and the land to a mother's lap.

Personification

Oru thundu megam thuvattidumae

A patch of cloud is given the human trait of wiping wet hair dry like a towel.

Etukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Veliyellaam thorandhae kedakku / Kili aaga aasai enakku

The second consonant 'li' matches across lines (Veliyellaam / Kili).

Did you know?

Trivia

Nimir (2018) is a Tamil comedy-drama directed by Priyadarshan starring Udhayanidhi Stalin. It is an official remake of the acclaimed Malayalam film Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016). This song was composed by Darbuka Siva with lyrics written by Vairamuthu.

Keep listening

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