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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poruthhiru Selva

From Raghu Thatha · 2024

Lyricist
Manoj Kumar Kalaivanan
Singer
S. P. Charan
Music director
Sean Roldan
Details
Raghu Thatha2024

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kai ettum dhooram vandhumEven though it came within arm's reach
Thanneer paambaai nazhuviSlipping away like a water snake
Ponaalum vidamaattenEven if it goes away, I won't give up
Kuri paarppen ambai uruviI will aim precise and draw the arrow
Male
Kaattaaru vellam polLike a wild river flood
Thirandodiya kaadhal aruviThe stream of love that flowed freely
Kuttai pol thengiyadhaeHas become stagnant like a pond
Adhil moozhgi maraindhen maruviI drowned and disappeared in it, clinging on
Male
Poruthiru selvaBe patient, Selva
Poruthiru selvaBe patient, Selva
Thirunaal vidiyumThe auspicious day will dawn
Poruthiru selvaBe patient, Selva
Male
Poruthiru selvaBe patient, Selva
Poruthiru selvaBe patient, Selva
Mananaal varaikkumUntil the wedding day
Poruthiru selvaBe patient, Selva
Male
Koondum oru veedenbadhuWithout understanding that a cage is also a home
Puriyamalae kuttram kandaalShe found fault with it
Kaasu panam kekkamalaeWithout asking for money or wealth
Vaazhkai thandhen vilagi sendraalI gave my life, yet she walked away
Male
Penniyam pesum padharaeOh worthless chaff who preaches feminism
Un kadhal mozhi poithaanoWere your words of love false?
Manapenn kolam poondaalIf you adorn the attire of a bride
Un samathuva koochalum veenoIs your outcry for equality useless?
Male
Pazhamae nazhuvi paalil vilunthaalIf the fruit slips and falls into milk
Parugaamal viduvenoWill I leave it without drinking?
Male
Kai ettum dhooram vandhumEven though it came within arm's reach
Thanneer paambaai nazhuviSlipping away like a water snake
Ponaalum vidamaattenEven if it goes away, I won't give up
Kuri paarppen ambai uruviI will aim precise and draw the arrow
Male
Kaattaaru vellam polLike a wild river flood
Thirandodiya kaadhal aruviThe stream of love that flowed freely
Kuttai pol thengiyadhaeHas become stagnant like a pond
Adhil moozhgi maraindhen maruviI drowned and disappeared in it, clinging on
Male
Poruthiru selvaBe patient, Selva
Poruthiru selvaBe patient, Selva
Thirunaal vidiyumThe auspicious day will dawn
Poruthiru selvaBe patient, Selva
Male
Poruthiru selvaBe patient, Selva
Poruthiru selvaBe patient, Selva
Mananaal varaikkumUntil the wedding day
Poruthiru selvaBe patient, Selva
Male
Poruthiru selvaBe patient, Selva
Poruthiru selvaBe patient, Selva
Thirunaal vidiyumThe auspicious day will dawn
Poruthiru selvaBe patient, Selva

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Poruthiru Selva' from the film Raghu Thatha (2024) is a dramatically stylized track expressing a man's inner turmoil, patience, and longing towards his lover. The song juxtaposes themes of traditional marriage against modern feminist views, where the speaker pleads for patience while grappling with his beloved's ideological resistance and slipping affection. Through vivid Tamil imagery—comparing love to wild river floods turned into stagnant ponds, and comparing luck to a fruit falling into milk—the song captures the protagonist's desperate hope that patience will bring about their wedding day. Composed by Sean Roldan with a retro musical vibe, S. P. Charan delivers a performance reminiscent of 1970s and 80s Tamil cinema drama.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Thanneer paambaai nazhuvi

Compares love's elusive nature to a slipping water snake ('Thanneer paambaai nazhuvi') and its sudden surge to a wild river flood ('Kaattaaru vellam pol').

Proverbial Allusion (Pazhamozhi)

Pazhamae nazhuvi paalil vilunthaal

References the famous Tamil proverb 'Pazham nazhuvi paalil vizhundhadhu' (The fruit slipped and fell into the milk), denoting unexpected good fortune.

Alliteration (Moonaid/Edugai)

Penniyam pesum padharae

The repetition of 'P' consonant sounds in 'Penniyam pesum padharae' creates a dramatic rhythmic emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

Raghu Thatha (2024) stars Keerthy Suresh in a period comedy drama set in the 1970s-80s. Composer Sean Roldan deliberately crafted 'Poruthiru Selva' using vintage orchestration reminiscent of MSV and Ilaiyaraaja compositions, with S. P. Charan providing vocals that evoke the nostalgic singing style of his legendary father, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.

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