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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Porkalam Ange

From Thenali · 2000

Lyricist
Piraisoodan
Singers
Srinivas, Gopika Poornima
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Thenali
Movie release year
2000
Lyrics added on
24 Oct 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Porkkalam angae
Poovil kaayam ingae
Punnagai theevae
Uyirin uyilum engae
Kaadhalin porilae
Kalandha kaigal engae
Kalvanae kalvanae
Kalavu ponadhengae
Uyir karaindhu pogudhu ingae
Porkkalam angae
Poovil kaayam ingae
Punnagai theevae
Uyirin uyilum engae
Hmm…unnai engu pirigiren
Unnakkul thaanae vazhgiren
Anbil unnai alakkiren
Anichchai seiyalaal ninaikiren
Neeyum sonna sollai nanbi
Innum ulagil irukkiren
Male :Unadhu mugamum asaiyum dhisaiyil
Ennadhu udhayam paarkiren
Unnilae ennai naan
Thedi thedi varugiren
Porkkalam angae
Poovil kaayam ingae
Punnagai theevae
Uyirin uyilum engae
Kaadhalin porilae
Kalandha kaigal engae
Kalvanae kalvanae
Kalavu ponadhengae
Uyir karaindhu pogudhu ingae
Porkkalam angae
Poovil kaayam ingae
Punnagai theevae
Uyirin uyilum engae
Pesa marandhu sirikkiren
Pirindhum uyiraai irukkiren
Paarvai indri paarkiren
Pagalil iruttaai irukkiren
Unakku pidhitha ullagam vaangi
Unnai angu veikiren
Nimidam nimidam kanavil ninaivil
Kudiththanam naan seigiren
Irappilo pirappilo
Unnil naanae vazhgiren
Porkkalam illai
Poovil kaayam illai
Punnagai theevil
Uyirum thevai illai
Aahaaa…aaaa..aaa..
Male :Porkkalam illai
Poovil kaayam illai
Punnagai theevil
Uyirum thevai illai
Female :Aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa
Aaa…aaa…aaaa…aaa…aaa…
The battlefield is over there,
The wound is on the flower here.
O island of smiles,
Where is the will of my life?
In the battle of love,
Where are the hands that held each other?
O thief, my thief,
Where has what you stole gone?
My life is dissolving away right here.
The battlefield is over there,
The wound is on the flower here.
O island of smiles,
Where is the will of my life?
Mmm... How am I ever parted from you?
I am living only inside you.
I measure you with love,
I think of you as naturally as breathing.
Trusting the promise you gave,
I am still living in this world.
Male: In whichever direction your face turns,
I see my own sunrise.
Searching for myself inside you,
I keep coming back.
The battlefield is over there,
The wound is on the flower here.
O island of smiles,
Where is the will of my life?
In the battle of love,
Where are the hands that held each other?
O thief, my thief,
Where has what you stole gone?
My life is dissolving away right here.
The battlefield is over there,
The wound is on the flower here.
O island of smiles,
Where is the will of my life?
Forgetting to speak, I just smile,
Though separated, I remain alive.
I see without looking,
I exist like darkness in daylight.
I will buy the world you love,
And place you in it.
Every single minute, in dreams and memories,
I make a home with you.
Whether in death or in birth,
I live only within you.
There is no battlefield now,
There is no wound on the flower.
On this island of smiles,
Even life is not needed anymore.
Aaha... aa... aa...
Male: There is no battlefield now,
There is no wound on the flower.
On this island of smiles,
Even life is not needed anymore.
Female: Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Aa... aa... aaa... aa... aa...
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Porkkalam Angae' portrays intense emotional agony, love, and spiritual oneness between lovers who are physically separated or facing severe inner turmoil. The lyricist metaphorically contrasts a physical battlefield with the tender, wounded heart of a lover ('wound on a flower'). Despite suffering and grief, the lovers express that their souls are intertwined beyond physical existence, dreams, or even life and death.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvameyam)

“Poovil kaayam ingae / Punnagai theevae”

Comparing a fragile heart in pain to a wound on a flower ('Poovil kaayam') and a person's demeanor to an island of smiles ('Punnagai theevu').

Alliteration (Monai)

“Porkkalam angae / Poovil kaayam ingae / Punnagai theevae”

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'P' in consecutive lines ('Porkkalam', 'Poovil', 'Punnagai').

Anaphora / Repetition (Erattai Kilavi / Anaphora)

“Kalvanae kalvanae”

Repetition of words like 'Kalvanae kalvanae' and 'Thedi thedi' for dramatic emphasis.

Paradox

“Paarvai indri paarkiren / Pagalil iruttaai irukkiren”

Expressing contradictory states such as seeing without vision and existing as darkness during daylight to highlight deep mental anguish.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman for the 2000 hit film 'Thenali' directed by K.S. Ravikumar, starring Kamal Haasan and Jyothika. Sung by Srinivas and Gopika Poornima, this haunting composition features rich symphonic arrangements that underscore the psychological trauma and emotional longing of the lead character.

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