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Chinna Thambi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Poovoma Oorgolam

From Chinna Thambi · 1991

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Chinna Thambi
Movie release year
1991
Lyrics added on
24 Jan 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Povomaa oorgolam boologam engengum
Odum ponni aarum paadum gaanam noorum
Kaalam yaavum per inbam
Kaanum neram aanandham
Povomaa oorgolam boologam engengum
Aranmana annakili tharaiyila nadapadhu nadakumaa adukumaa
Paniyilum vettaveli veyililum ulla sugam aranmana kodukuma
Kulukulu araiyila konji konji thavazhndhadhu kudisaiya Virumbumaa
Silusilu siluvena ingirukum kaathu anga adikumaa Kedaikumaa
Palingu polae un veedu vazhiyila pallam medu
Varapu medu vayalodum parandhu poven paaru
Adhisayamana pendhaanae
Pudhusugam thedi vandhenae
Povomaa oorgolam boologam engengum
Odum ponni aarum paadum gaanam noorum
Kaalam yaavum per inbam
Kaanum neram aanandham
Povomaa oorgolam boologam engengum
Kottugira aruviyum mettukattum kuruviyum adadadaa Adhisayam
Karpanaiyil medhakudhu kandadhaiyum rasikudhu idhilena oru Sugam
Rathinangal therikudhu muthumani jolikudhu nadandhidum Nadhiyilae
Uchandala sozhaludhu ullukulla mayangudhu enakonum puriyala
Kavidhai paadum kaaveri jadhiya serthu aadum
Anaigal nooru pottaalum adangidamal odum
Podhum podhum om paatu
Porapada poren nippatu
Povomaa oorgolam boologam engengum
Odum ponni aarum paadum gaanam noorum
Kaalam yaavum per inbam
Kaanum neram aanandham
Povomaa oorgolam
Boologam engengum
Shall we go wandering all across the world?
The river Ponni flows, singing a hundred songs,
All of time is filled with great joy,
Every moment we see brings pure delight!
Shall we go wandering all across the world?
Can a pampered palace girl walk on the bare ground? Is that even right?
Can a palace ever give the joy found in the chilly mist and the open sun?
Will someone who grew up in cozy, luxurious rooms ever like a humble hut?
Can the cool, gentle breeze we feel here ever blow over there?
Your home is smooth like marble, but this path is full of bumps and dips.
Watch me fly across the field ridges and open plains!
You truly are a wonderful girl!
I came searching for a new kind of joy!
Shall we go wandering all across the world?
The river Ponni flows, singing a hundred songs,
All of time is filled with great joy,
Every moment we see brings pure delight!
Shall we go wandering all across the world?
The cascading waterfall and the bird making up tunes—oh, what a wonder!
Floating in daydreams and enjoying everything in sight—what a sweet joy this is!
Gems seem to splash and pearls sparkle in the flowing river!
My head is spinning and I feel faint inside; I don't understand a thing!
River Kaveri sings poetry and dances to the rhythmic beat,
Even if you build a hundred dams, it will flow untamed!
Enough, enough of your song!
I am about to leave, so stop it!
Shall we go wandering all across the world?
The river Ponni flows, singing a hundred songs,
All of time is filled with great joy,
Every moment we see brings pure delight!
Shall we go wandering,
All across the wide world?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Povomaa Oorgolam is a playful, romantic duet from the 1991 Tamil movie Chinna Thambi. The song depicts a dialogue between an innocent, nature-loving rural man and a sheltered, wealthy young woman. He invites her to step out of her restrictive palace and experience the boundless freedom and joy of the natural world, comparing nature's simple comfort with urban luxuries.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Aranmana annakili tharaiyila nadapadhu nadakumaa adukumaa

Compares the rich heroine to an 'Aranmana annakili' (palace swan/bird) unused to the rugged ground.

Onomatopoeia (Oli Kurippu)

Silusilu siluvena ingirukum kaathu anga adikumaa Kedaikumaa

The word 'Silusilu siluvena' phonetically mimics the cool, refreshing sensation of a soft breeze.

Simile (Uvamai)

Palingu polae un veedu vazhiyila pallam medu

Uses 'Palingu polae' (like crystal/marble) to describe the heroine's luxurious home.

Personification

Kavidhai paadum kaaveri jadhiya serthu aadum

Personifies the river Cauvery as a poet composing verse and a dancer performing to rhythmic beats.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Swarnalatha, Chinna Thambi (1991) was a massive blockbuster that ran for over 350 days in theaters. The soundtrack won widespread acclaim and became one of the highest-selling audio cassettes in Tamil cinema history.

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