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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poovukkul Olinthirukkum

From Jeans · 1998

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
P. Unnikrishnan, Sujatha Mohan
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Jeans1998

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
…………………………….
Male
Poovukul olinthirukumHidden inside the flower
Kanikootam athisayamThe cluster of fruits is a wonder
Female
…………………
Male
Vannathu poochi udambilOn the body of a butterfly
Oviyangal athisayamThe paintings are a wonder
Female
…………………
Male
Thulaisellum kaatruThe wind passing through holes
Melisaiyaadhal athisayamBecoming soft music is a wonder
Female
…………………
Male
Gurunadhar illathaWithout a guru or teacher
Kuyil paatu athisayamThe song of the cuckoo is a wonder
Female
…………………
Male
Athisayamae asanthupogumEven wonders will be astonished
Nee endhan athisayamYou are my ultimate wonder
Male
Kalthondri manthondriBefore stones appeared, before soil appeared
Kadalthondrum munnalaeBefore even the ocean appeared
Undana kaadhal athisayam oh hooThe love that was born is a wonder, oh hoo
Male
Padhinaaru vayathaanaReaching sixteen years of age
Paruvathil ellorkum padargindraSpreading across everyone in their youth
Kaadhal athisayam oh hooLove is a wonder, oh hoo
Female
Poovukul olinthirukumHidden inside the flower
Kanikootam athisayamThe cluster of fruits is a wonder
Female
…………………
Female
Vannathu poochi udambilOn the body of a butterfly
Oviyangal athisayamThe paintings are a wonder
Female
…………………
Female
Thulaisellum kaatruThe wind passing through holes
Melisaiyaadhal athisayamBecoming soft music is a wonder
Female
…………………
Female
Gurunadhar illathaWithout a guru or teacher
Kuyil paatu athisayamThe song of the cuckoo is a wonder
Female
…………………
Male
Athisayamae asanthupogumEven wonders will be astonished
Nee endhan athisayamYou are my ultimate wonder
Male
……………………………..
Female
…………………………..
Female
Oru vaasamillaaOn an odorless
Kilaiyin mel naruvaasamullaBranch, a sweet-scented
Poovaipaar poovaasam athisayamaeFlower blooms; look, that floral fragrance is a wonder!
Female
Alaikadal thanthaGiven by the wavy ocean
Megathil siru thulikooda uppillaiIn the clouds, not even a drop has salt
Mazhai neerum athisayamaeThat rainwater is a wonder!
Male
Minsaaram illamalWithout any electricity
Mithakindra deepam polLike floating lamps
Meni konda minminigal athisayamaeFireflies with glowing bodies are a wonder!
Male
Udalukul engaeWhere inside the body
UyirulladhenbadhumLife resides
Uyirukul kaadhalAnd how love inside life
EnkulladhenbadhumResides within me
Ninaithaal ninaithaal athisayamaeWhen I think of it, it is a wonder!
Female
Kalthondri manthondriBefore stones appeared, before soil appeared
Kadalthondrum munnalaeBefore even the ocean appeared
Undana kaadhal athisayam oh hooThe love that was born is a wonder, oh hoo
Female
Padhinaaru vayathaanaReaching sixteen years of age
Paruvathil ellorkum padargindraSpreading across everyone in their youth
Kaadhal athisayam oh hooLove is a wonder, oh hoo
Male
Poovukul olinthirukumHidden inside the flower
Kanikootam athisayamThe cluster of fruits is a wonder
Female
…………………
Female
Vannathu poochi udambilOn the body of a butterfly
Oviyangal athisayamThe paintings are a wonder
Female
…………………
Male
Thulaisellum kaatruThe wind passing through holes
Melisaiyaadhal athisayamBecoming soft music is a wonder
Female
…………………
Female
Gurunadhar illathaWithout a guru or teacher
Kuyil paatu athisayamThe song of the cuckoo is a wonder
Female
…………………
Male
Athisayamae asanthupogumEven wonders will be astonished
Nee endhan athisayamYou are my ultimate wonder
Female
……………………………….
Male
Penpaal kondaEmbodying womanhood
Sirutheevu iru kaalkonduA small island walking on two legs
Nadamaadum neethaanIs who you are,
En athisayamaeMy great wonder
Male
Uzhagil ezhallaNot just seven in the world
Athisayangal vaaipesumWonders, but a speaking
Poovae neeFlower like you is
EttavadhuathisayamaeThe eighth wonder!
Male
Vaan mithakumFloating in the sky
Un kangal thaenYour eyes are honey,
Therikum kannangalSplashing cheeks,
Paal kudikum matharangal athisayamaeBreasts that feed milk are a wonder!
Male
Nangaikonda viralgalThe fingers of the maiden
Athisayamae nagam endraAre a wonder, and the crown called
Kireedam athisayamaeFingernails is a wonder!
Male
AsaiyumMoving
Valaivugal athisayamaeCurves are a wonder!
Male
Kalthondri manthondriBefore stones appeared, before soil appeared
Kadalthondrum munnalaeBefore even the ocean appeared
Undana kaadhal athisayamThe love that was born is a wonder
Female
Oh hooOh hoo
Female
Padhinaaru vayathaanaReaching sixteen years of age
Paruvathil ellorkum padargindraSpreading across everyone in their youth
Kaadhal athisayamLove is a wonder
Male
Poovukul olinthirukumHidden inside the flower
KanikootamThe cluster of fruits
Female
AthisayamIs a wonder
Female
…………………
Male
Vannathu poochi udambilOn the body of a butterfly
OviyangalThe paintings
Female
AthisayamAre a wonder
Female
…………………
Male
Thulaisellum kaatruThe wind passing through holes
MelisaiyaadhalBecoming soft music
Female
AthisayamIs a wonder
Female
…………………
Male
Gurunadhar illathaWithout a guru or teacher
Kuyil paatuThe song of the cuckoo
Female
AthisayamIs a wonder
Female
…………………
Male
Athisayamae asanthupogumEven wonders will be astonished
Nee endhan athisayamYou are my ultimate wonder
Male
…………………………..
Female
…………………………………..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

In 'Poovukul Olinthirukum' from the film Jeans (1998), lyricist Vairamuthu crafts a breathtaking poetic ode comparing nature's most astounding phenomena with the beauty of the beloved and the emotion of love itself. The protagonist marvels at natural miracles—such as unsalted rain originating from the salty ocean, fireflies lighting up without electricity, patterns on butterfly wings, and cuckoos singing beautifully without formal training. He asserts that while nature is filled with incredible marvels, love and his beloved transcend all of them, rendering her the living 'Eighth Wonder of the World'.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Epiphora (Repetition)

Poovukul olinthirukum Kanikootam athisayam

The word 'Athisayam' (Wonder) is repetitively used at the end of thoughts to emphasize marvel and awe.

Hyperbole & Allusion

Kalthondri manthondri Kadalthondrum munnalae

References the ancient Tamil classical Sangam phrase 'Kalthondri Manthondri' to poetically exaggerate love as an eternal element existing prior to land and sea.

Metaphor

Ettavadhuathisayamae

Compares the beloved to a walking island ('Sirutheevu iru kaalkondu nadamaadum') and crowns her as the 8th Wonder of the World ('Ettavadhu athisayamae').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman for director Shankar's blockbuster 'Jeans' (1998), this song features Prashanth and Aishwarya Rai. The music video was famously shot across real locations of the Seven Wonders of the World, including the Great Wall of China, the Colosseum, the Taj Mahal, the Pyramids of Giza, the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the Empire State Building.

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