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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pudhu Vellai Mazhai

From Roja · 1992

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Unni Menon, Sujatha Mohan
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Roja1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Pudhu vellai mazhai ingu pozhigindradhuA new white rain (snow) is pouring here
Indha kollai nila udal nanaigindradhuThe body of this captivating moon is getting drenched
Ingu sollaadha idam kooda kulirgindradhuHere, even unmentionable places are feeling cold
Manam soodana idam thedi alaigindradhuThe heart wanders searching for a warm place
Male
Pudhu vellai mazhai ingu pozhigindradhuA new white rain (snow) is pouring here
Indha kollai nila udal nanaigindradhuThe body of this captivating moon is getting drenched
Ingu sollaadha idam kooda kulirgindradhuHere, even unmentionable places are feeling cold
Manam soodaana idam thedi alaigindradhuThe heart wanders searching for a warm place
Female
Nadhiyae nee aanaal karai naanaeIf you are the river, then I am the bank
Siru paravai nee aanaal un vaanam naanaeIf you are a small bird, then I am your sky
Male
Pudhu vellai mazhai ingu pozhigindradhuA new white rain (snow) is pouring here
Female
Indha kollai nila udal nanaigindradhuThe body of this captivating moon is getting drenched
Male
Pen illaadha oorilae adi aan poo ketpadhillaiIn a town without women, a male flower asks for nothing
Female
Pen illaadha oorilae kodi thaan poo poopadhillaiIn a town without women, even a vine does not bloom flowers
Male
Un pudavai mundhaanai saaindhadhil indha boomi poo poothadhuBecause your sari pallu leaned, this earth bloomed flowers
Female
Idhu kamban paadatha sindhanai undhan kaadhodu yaar sonnadhuThis is a thought that poet Kamban never sang; who whispered it in your ear?
Male
Pudhu vellai mazhai ingu pozhigindradhuA new white rain (snow) is pouring here
Female
Indha kollai nila udal nanaigindradhuThe body of this captivating moon is getting drenched
Male
Ingu sollaadha idam kooda kulirgindradhuHere, even unmentionable places are feeling cold
Female
Manam soodana idam thedi alaigindradhuThe heart wanders searching for a warm place
Male
Pudhu vellai mazhai ingu pozhigindradhuA new white rain (snow) is pouring here
Female
Indha kollai nila udal nanaigindradhuThe body of this captivating moon is getting drenched
Female
Nee anaikindra velaiyil uyir poo thidukendru malarumAt the moment you embrace me, the flower of life suddenly blooms
Male
Nee vedukendru odinaal uyir poo sarugaaga ularumIf you run away abruptly, the flower of life dries up like a withered leaf
Female
Iru kaigal theendadha penmaiyai un kangal pandhaadudhoAre your eyes playing with womanhood untouched by hands?
Male
Malar manjam seradha pen nila endhan maarbodu vandhaadudhoIs the female moon, who hasn't reached the bed of flowers, swaying against my chest?
Female
Pudhu vellai mazhai ingu pozhigindradhuA new white rain (snow) is pouring here
Male
Indha kollai nila udal nanaigindradhuThe body of this captivating moon is getting drenched
Female
Ingu sollaadha idam kooda kulirgindradhuHere, even unmentionable places are feeling cold
Male
Manam soodana idam thedi alaigindradhuThe heart wanders searching for a warm place
Female
Nadhiyae nee aanaal karai naanaeIf you are the river, then I am the bank
Siru paravai nee aanaal un vaanam naanaeIf you are a small bird, then I am your sky
Male
Pudhu vellai mazhaiA new white rain
Female
Ingu pozhigindradhuIs pouring here
Male
Indha kollai nilaThis captivating moon
Female
Udal nanaigindradhuThe body is getting drenched
Male
Pudhu vellai mazhaiA new white rain
Female
Ingu pozhigindradhuIs pouring here
Male
Indha kollai nilaThis captivating moon
Female
Udal nanaigindradhuThe body is getting drenched

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Pudhu Vellai Mazhai from the 1992 film Roja captures the romantic intimacy between a newly married couple set against the backdrop of snow-clad Kashmir. The lyricist metaphorically describes snowfall as 'new white rain,' using the extreme cold weather to contrast and highlight the warmth of love and emerging physical intimacy between the lovers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Nadhiyae nee aanaal karai naanae

Snowfall is metaphorically described as 'pudhu vellai mazhai' (new white rain). Additionally, the lover is compared to a river while the partner is the bank, and to a bird while the partner is the sky.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

Un pudavai mundhaanai saaindhadhil indha boomi poo poothadhu

Extravagant poetic exaggeration stating that flowers bloomed across the Earth simply because the edge of her sari touched the ground.

Personification

Indha kollai nila udal nanaigindradhu

The woman is personified as the 'kollai nila' (captivating moon) whose body gets drenched in the snow.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Pudhu vellai mazhai ingu pozhigindradhu

Rhythmic repetition of matching end suffixes like 'pozhigindradhu', 'nanaigindradhu', 'kulirgindradhu', and 'alaigindradhu'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Pudhu Vellai Mazhai is one of the standout romantic tracks from A.R. Rahman's legendary debut soundtrack for Roja (1992), directed by Mani Ratnam. Sung by Unni Menon and Sujatha Mohan with lyrics by Vairamuthu, the song gained immense popularity across India and was picturized in the snow-capped mountains of Manali (standing in for Kashmir) featuring Arvind Swamy and Madhoo.

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