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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Punnagai Puriyatha

From Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu (1989 Film) · 1989

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
K. J. Jesudass, S. P. Shailaja
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu (1989 Film)
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
13 Apr 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Punnagai puriyaathaa….
Punnagai puriyaathaa….
Kadhalai solla vaarththaiyillai
Female :Punnagai puriyaathaa….
Kadhalai solla vaarththaigal illai
Both :Punnagai puriyaathaa….
Ullam koyilaai kanal dheepamaai
Mannila vaazhven unakkaaga
Female :Mulli thoonguven theeyil neenthuven
Uyir konda penmai unakkaaga
Puyal varumpothum mazhai varumpothm
Mayil madi saainthu magizhnthiruppen
Aahaa haa Punnagai puriyaathaa….
Kadhalai solla vaarththaiyillai
Male :Punnagai puriyaathaa….
Kadhalai solla vaarththaigal illai
Both :Punnagai puriyaathaa….
Paadhi thookkaththil vaazhum yaekkaththil
Paarkkum nokkaththil thudiththaenae
Male :Valaiyal oosaikkum kolusin paasaikkum
Thanimaiyil yaengi thaviththaenae
Female :Nilavukku ennai nee azhaiththaalum
Pudavaiyil yaeni amaiththirupaen
Aahaa haa Punnagai puriyaathaa….
Kadhalai solla vaarththaiyillai
Male :Punnagai puriyaathaa….
Kadhalai solla vaarththaigal illai
Both :Punnagai puriyaathaa….
Can't you understand my smile?
Can't you understand my smile?
There are no words to express my love...
Female: Can't you understand my smile?
There are no words to express my love...
Both: Can't you understand my smile?
With my heart as a temple and my burning love as a lamp,
I will live on this earth just for you.
Female: I would sleep on thorns and swim through fire,
All my living womanhood is only for you.
Even when storms rise and rains pour down,
I will rest blissfully in the lap of my peacock-like love.
Aha ha, can't you understand my smile?
There are no words to express my love...
Male: Can't you understand my smile?
There are no words to express my love...
Both: Can't you understand my smile?
Caught in half-sleep and aching with longing,
My heart fluttered with the desire to see you.
Male: For the chime of your bangles and the whisper of your anklets,
I yearned and suffered all alone.
Female: Even if you called me up to the moon,
I would weave a ladder with my saree.
Aha ha, can't you understand my smile?
There are no words to express my love...
Male: Can't you understand my smile?
There are no words to express my love...
Both: Can't you understand my smile?
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This romantic duet centers around the idea that words are insufficient to articulate the depth of true love, making a gentle smile the ultimate language of emotion. Both lovers express their unconditional surrender to each other through vivid imagery—promising to endure extreme hardships, overcome storms, and cross impossible distances just to be together.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Ullam koyilaai kanal dheepamaai

Compares the heart to a temple ('Ullam koyilaai') and inner passion/life to a sacred lamp ('kanal dheepamaai').

Uyarvu Navirtchi (Hyperbole)

Pudavaiyil yaeni amaiththirupaen

Uses poetic exaggeration of making a ladder out of a saree to reach the moon to illustrate absolute devotion.

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Mulli thoonguven theeyil neenthuven

Rhyming of the second consonants 'll' in 'Mulli' and 'Uyir' (l/r liquid consonant harmony) and rhythm in stanza structure.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by acclaimed lyricist Vairamuthu, this song features classical Sangam-style imagery adapted for modern Tamil film music, using extreme romantic devotion tropes such as sleeping on thorns and building ladders to the moon.

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