Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pulveli Pulveli

From Aasai · 1995

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
K. S. Chithra, Unnikrishnan
Music director
Deva
Details
Aasai1995

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ahh…na na nana nana naa naa..thana naa naa naana naana naa naaAhh... vocal humming rhythms...
na na nana nana naa naa..thana naa naa naana naana naa naaVocal humming rhythms continuing...
Female
Pulveli pulveli thannil panithuli panithuli ondruOn the grassy meadow, a single dewdrop
Thoongudhu thoongudhu paarammaaLook, dear mother, it is sleeping!
Adhai sooriyan sooriyan vandhu sellamaai sellamaai killiWhy does the sun come and affectionately pinch it
Ezhupudhu ezhupudhu aenammaa..To wake it up, oh mother?
Idhayam paravai poalaagumaa..Will my heart become like a bird?
Parandhaal vaanamae poadhumaa..If it flies, will the sky even be enough?
Naan pullil iranghavaa..Shall I descend upon the grass?
Ilai poovil uranghavaaa…Shall I sleep inside a flower leaf?
Female
Pulveli pulveli thannil panithuli panithuli ondruOn the grassy meadow, a single dewdrop
Thoongudhu thoongudhu paarammaa….aaaLook, dear mother, it is sleeping...
Chorus
Rurururuuu..ruruuu ru…ru..ru…Melodic vocal humming...
Rurururuuu..ruruuu ru…Melodic vocal humming...
Female
Chitchitchit chitchitchitchit chittukkuruviChirp chirp chirp, little sparrow!
chittaaga chellum siragai thandhadhu yaaruWho gave you wings that fly away so swiftly?
Patpatpat patpatpatpat pattaamboochchiFlutter flutter, colorful butterfly!
Palanooru vannam unnil thandhadhu yaaruWho gave you hundreds of vibrant colors?
Female
Ilaigalil oligindra poo koottamThe cluster of flowers hiding among the leaves,
Enaikkandu enaikkandu thalaiyaattumSeeing me, seeing me, they nod their heads!
Kilaigalil oligindra kuyil koottamThe flock of cuckoos hiding in the branches,
Enaikkandu enaikkandu isai meettumSeeing me, seeing me, they strike a musical chord!
Poovanamae endhan manam.. punnagaiyae endhan madhamMy heart is a flower garden, my religion is a smile!
Female
Ammammaa…aaa…Oh my goodness...
Vaanam thirandhirukku paarungalLook, the sky is wide open!
Enai vaanil aetrivida vaarungalCome, hoist me up into the sky!
Female
Pulveli pulveli thannil panithuli panithuli ondruOn the grassy meadow, a single dewdrop
Thoongudhu thoongudhu paarammaa….aaaLook, dear mother, it is sleeping...
Male
Haaaaahhaaaaaa haaaahaaaa haaaa haaa haaaaa aaah…Vocalizing musical notes...
Female
Thulthulthul thulthulthulthullum anilaeBound, bound, leaping little squirrel!
Minnalpol poghum vegam thandhadhu yaaruWho gave you the speed to dart like lightning?
Jaljaljal jaljaljallena oodum nadhiyaeGurgling river running with a tinkling sound,
Sangeedha nyaanam petru thandhadhu yaaruWho blessed you with divine musical knowledge?
Female
Malaiyannai tharugindra thaaipaal polLike mother's milk given by Mother Mountain,
Vazhiyudhu vazhiyudhu vellai aruviThe white waterfall overflows and cascades down!
Aruviyai muzhuvadhum parugividaTo drink up the entire waterfall,
Aasaiyil parakkudhu chinnakuruviThe little bird flies with eager desire!
Poovanamae endhan manam ..punnagaiyae endhan madhamMy heart is a flower garden, my religion is a smile!
Female
Ammammaa..aaa….Oh my goodness...
Vaanam thirandhirukku paarungalLook, the sky is wide open!
Enai vaanil aetrivida vaarungalCome, hoist me up into the sky!
Chorus
{Pa papa pa papa ma ghaSwaras: Pa papa pa papa ma gha
Ma mama ma mama gha riSwaras: Ma mama ma mama gha ri
Ga gagha ga gagha ri gha ri} (2)Swaras: Ga gagha ga gagha ri gha ri (repeated)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song 'Pulveli Pulveli' from the movie Aasai (1995) captures a pure, childlike wonder and jubilation in the lap of mother nature. The protagonist marvels at the delicate dewdrop sleeping on a blade of grass, woken gently by the morning sunshine, and compares her own free spirit to birds, squirrels, butterflies, and running rivers. Through child-like questioning, she celebrates the beautiful creations of nature and feels an overwhelming urge to merge with the sky, declaring her heart a flower garden and joy her sole religion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Pulveli pulveli thannil panithuli panithuli ondru

The doubling of words like 'Pulveli pulveli', 'panithuli panithuli', and 'sellamaai sellamaai' creates rhythm and emphasizes child-like wonder.

Personification (Uruvagarnam / Tharkurippetru Ani)

Adhai sooriyan sooriyan vandhu sellamaai sellamaai killi / Ezhupudhu ezhupudhu aenammaa

Attributing human traits to natural elements, such as the dewdrop sleeping and the sun playfully pinching it to wake it up.

Simile (Uwamai Ani)

Malaiyannai tharugindra thaaipaal pol / Vazhiyudhu vazhiyudhu vellai aruvi

Comparing the cascading white waterfall to mother's milk provided by the mountain.

Onomatopoeia (Oli-kurippu)

Jaljaljal jaljaljallena oodum nadhiyae

Use of sound words like 'Chitchitchit', 'Patpatpat', 'Thulthulthul', and 'Jaljaljal' to evoke nature's kinetic energy.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Deva with lyrics by Vairamuthu, this track is celebrated for its lush orchestration and infectious positivity. Sung by K. S. Chithra and Unni Menon, the visual presentation featured actress Kausalya (in her debut appearance) and Ajith Kumar, perfectly matching the cheerful, youthful innocence portrayed in Vairamuthu's poetic lyrics.

Keep listening

More from Aasai