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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Porkalam Ange

From Thenali · 2000

Lyricist
Piraisoodan
Singers
Srinivas, Gopika Poornima
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Thenali2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Porkkalam angaeThe battlefield is over there
Poovil kaayam ingaeThe wound on the flower is here
Punnagai theevaeOh island of smiles
Uyirin uyilum engaeWhere is the testament of life?
Female
Kaadhalin porilaeIn the war of love
Kalandha kaigal engaeWhere are the hands that intertwined?
Kalvanae kalvanaeOh thief, oh thief
Kalavu ponadhengaeWhere has what was stolen gone?
Uyir karaindhu pogudhu ingaeLife is melting away here
Female
Porkkalam angaeThe battlefield is over there
Poovil kaayam ingaeThe wound on the flower is here
Punnagai theevaeOh island of smiles
Uyirin uyilum engaeWhere is the testament of life?
Male
Hmm…unnai engu pirigirenHmm... where do I separate from you?
Unnakkul thaanae vazhgirenI live only within you
Anbil unnai alakkirenI measure you with love
Anichchai seiyalaal ninaikirenI think of you involuntarily as a reflex
Female
Neeyum sonna sollai nanbiTrusting the word you gave me
Innum ulagil irukkirenI still exist in this world
Male :Unadhu mugamum asaiyum dhisaiyilMale: In the direction where your face moves
Ennadhu udhayam paarkirenI see my own sunrise
Female
Unnilae ennai naanWithin you, I am
Thedi thedi varugirenSearching and searching for myself
Female
Porkkalam angaeThe battlefield is over there
Poovil kaayam ingaeThe wound on the flower is here
Punnagai theevaeOh island of smiles
Uyirin uyilum engaeWhere is the testament of life?
Female
Kaadhalin porilaeIn the war of love
Kalandha kaigal engaeWhere are the hands that intertwined?
Kalvanae kalvanaeOh thief, oh thief
Kalavu ponadhengaeWhere has what was stolen gone?
Uyir karaindhu pogudhu ingaeLife is melting away here
Female
Porkkalam angaeThe battlefield is over there
Poovil kaayam ingaeThe wound on the flower is here
Punnagai theevaeOh island of smiles
Uyirin uyilum engaeWhere is the testament of life?
Female
Pesa marandhu sirikkirenForgetting to speak, I smile
Pirindhum uyiraai irukkirenThough separated, I remain alive
Paarvai indri paarkirenI see even without vision
Pagalil iruttaai irukkirenI remain like darkness in the daytime
Male
Unakku pidhitha ullagam vaangiBuying a world that you love
Unnai angu veikirenI place you inside it
Nimidam nimidam kanavil ninaivilEvery minute, in dreams and memories
Kudiththanam naan seigirenI build a life together with you
Female
Irappilo pirappiloIn death or in birth
Unnil naanae vazhgirenI live only inside you
Male
Porkkalam illaiThere is no battlefield anymore
Poovil kaayam illaiThere is no wound on the flower
Punnagai theevilOn this island of smiles
Uyirum thevai illaiEven life itself is not needed
Female
Aahaaa…aaaa..aaa..Aahaaa...aaaa..aaa..
Male :Porkkalam illaiMale: There is no battlefield anymore
Poovil kaayam illaiThere is no wound on the flower
Punnagai theevilOn this island of smiles
Uyirum thevai illaiEven life itself is not needed
Female :Aaa…aaa…aaa…aaaFemale: Aaa...aaa...aaa...aaa
Aaa…aaa…aaaa…aaa…aaa…Aaa...aaa...aaaa...aaa...aaa...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

Keep listening

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