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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poovukkul Olinthirukkum

From Jeans · 1998

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
P. Unnikrishnan, Sujatha Mohan
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Jeans
Movie release year
1998
Lyrics added on
1 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
…………………………….
Poovukul olinthirukum
Kanikootam athisayam
…………………
Vannathu poochi udambil
Oviyangal athisayam
…………………
Thulaisellum kaatru
Melisaiyaadhal athisayam
…………………
Gurunadhar illatha
Kuyil paatu athisayam
…………………
Athisayamae asanthupogum
Nee endhan athisayam
Kalthondri manthondri
Kadalthondrum munnalae
Undana kaadhal athisayam oh hoo
Padhinaaru vayathaana
Paruvathil ellorkum padargindra
Kaadhal athisayam oh hoo
Poovukul olinthirukum
Kanikootam athisayam
…………………
Vannathu poochi udambil
Oviyangal athisayam
…………………
Thulaisellum kaatru
Melisaiyaadhal athisayam
…………………
Gurunadhar illatha
Kuyil paatu athisayam
…………………
Athisayamae asanthupogum
Nee endhan athisayam
……………………………..
…………………………..
Oru vaasamillaa
Kilaiyin mel naruvaasamulla
Poovaipaar poovaasam athisayamae
Alaikadal thantha
Megathil siru thulikooda uppillai
Mazhai neerum athisayamae
Minsaaram illamal
Mithakindra deepam pol
Meni konda minminigal athisayamae
Udalukul engae
Uyirulladhenbadhum
Uyirukul kaadhal
Enkulladhenbadhum
Ninaithaal ninaithaal athisayamae
Kalthondri manthondri
Kadalthondrum munnalae
Undana kaadhal athisayam oh hoo
Padhinaaru vayathaana
Paruvathil ellorkum padargindra
Kaadhal athisayam oh hoo
Poovukul olinthirukum
Kanikootam athisayam
…………………
Vannathu poochi udambil
Oviyangal athisayam
…………………
Thulaisellum kaatru
Melisaiyaadhal athisayam
…………………
Gurunadhar illatha
Kuyil paatu athisayam
…………………
Athisayamae asanthupogum
Nee endhan athisayam
……………………………….
Penpaal konda
Sirutheevu iru kaalkondu
Nadamaadum neethaan
En athisayamae
Uzhagil ezhalla
Athisayangal vaaipesum
Poovae nee
Ettavadhuathisayamae
Vaan mithakum
Un kangal thaen
Therikum kannangal
Paal kudikum matharangal athisayamae
Nangaikonda viralgal
Athisayamae nagam endra
Kireedam athisayamae
Asaiyum
Valaivugal athisayamae
Kalthondri manthondri
Kadalthondrum munnalae
Undana kaadhal athisayam
Oh hoo
Padhinaaru vayathaana
Paruvathil ellorkum padargindra
Kaadhal athisayam
Poovukul olinthirukum
Kanikootam
Athisayam
…………………
Vannathu poochi udambil
Oviyangal
Athisayam
…………………
Thulaisellum kaatru
Melisaiyaadhal
Athisayam
…………………
Gurunadhar illatha
Kuyil paatu
Athisayam
…………………
Athisayamae asanthupogum
Nee endhan athisayam
…………………………..
…………………………………..
...
Hidden within a flower,
a cluster of fruits is a wonder.
...
On the body of a butterfly,
the paintings are a wonder.
...
Wind passing through a hollow reed
turning into soft music is a wonder.
...
Without any master teacher,
the cuckoo's song is a wonder.
...
Even wonder itself would be awestruck;
you are my wonder.
Before stone was born, before soil was born,
even before the sea was formed,
the love that bloomed is a wonder, oh hoo!
At sixteen years of age,
spreading over everyone in their youth,
love is a wonder, oh hoo!
Hidden within a flower,
a cluster of fruits is a wonder.
...
On the body of a butterfly,
the paintings are a wonder.
...
Wind passing through a hollow reed
turning into soft music is a wonder.
...
Without any master teacher,
the cuckoo's song is a wonder.
...
Even wonder itself would be awestruck;
you are my wonder.
...
...
On a scentless
branch, look at the fragrant
flower, its floral scent is a wonder!
Given by the wavy sea,
in the clouds not a single drop is salty;
the rainwater is a wonder too!
Without electricity,
like floating lamps,
fireflies with glowing bodies are a wonder!
Where inside the body
the soul resides,
and where inside the soul love
resides—
thinking of it, thinking of it is a wonder!
Before stone was born, before soil was born,
even before the sea was formed,
the love that bloomed is a wonder, oh hoo!
At sixteen years of age,
spreading over everyone in their youth,
love is a wonder, oh hoo!
Hidden within a flower,
a cluster of fruits is a wonder.
...
On the body of a butterfly,
the paintings are a wonder.
...
Wind passing through a hollow reed
turning into soft music is a wonder.
...
Without any master teacher,
the cuckoo's song is a wonder.
...
Even wonder itself would be awestruck;
you are my wonder.
...
Possessing a feminine nature,
a small island on two legs
walking around, you alone
are my wonder!
Not just the seven
wonders in the world; O speaking
flower, you are
the eighth wonder!
Sky-floating
eyes of yours, honey-
splashing cheeks,
nursing maidens are a wonder!
The fingers the maiden possesses
are a wonder; called nails,
their crowns are a wonder!
Swaying
curves are a wonder!
Before stone was born, before soil was born,
even before the sea was formed,
the love that bloomed is a wonder,
Oh hoo!
At sixteen years of age,
spreading over everyone in their youth,
love is a wonder!
Hidden within a flower,
a cluster of fruits
is a wonder.
...
On the body of a butterfly,
the paintings
are a wonder.
...
Wind passing through a hollow reed
turning into soft music
is a wonder.
...
Without any master teacher,
the cuckoo's song
is a wonder.
...
Even wonder itself would be awestruck;
you are my wonder.
...
...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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