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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Putham Pudhu Desam

From Karnaa · 1995

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. Janaki, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Vidyasagar
Details
Karnaa1995

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
…………………………...
Female
Putham pudhu desamA brand new land,
Male :Pooovum konjam pesumMale: Even the flowers will speak a little.
Female :Putham pudhu desamFemale: A brand new land,
Male :Pooovum konjam pesumMale: Even the flowers will speak a little.
Female
Namm kangal thottuTouching our eyes,
Kaadhal kaattru veesumae hoiThe breeze of love will blow, hoi!
Male :Ingu iravil kadhirumMale: Here, the sun shines in the night,
Pagalil nilavum kaayumae hoiAnd the moon shines in the day, hoi!
Female
Putham pudhu desamA brand new land,
Male :Pooovum konjam pesumMale: Even the flowers will speak a little.
Male
Kalaivaan nilavaiThe sky-dwelling moon,
En kaiyyil paarkkindrenI see in my hands.
Kanavaa nanavaaIs this a dream or reality?
Naan killi paarkkindrenI pinch myself to see.
Female
Kaanaa ulagam adhaiAn unseen world,
Ingae paarkkindrenI see it right here.
Naan aanaa pennaaAm I a man or a woman?
Ada unnai ketkkindrenAh, I ask you!
Male
Aanandha aasai vandhaal aanaagindraaiWhen joyful desire arrives, you become a man,
Kannaalan kaigal thottu pennaagindraaiWhen the lover touches with his hands, you become a woman.
Female :En nenjil eppodhum paalaagindraaiFemale: In my heart, you are always milk,
En medhil ippodhu thaenaagindraaiUpon my body, you are now honey.
Female
Putham pudhu desamA brand new land,
Male :Pooovum konjam pesumMale: Even the flowers will speak a little.
Female
Kaaman vandhu en kaadhil sonnabadiAs Kamadeva came and whispered in my ear,
Kaadhal kondaal unn kannukkilaiyakodiIf you feel love, your eyes are like tender creepers.
Male :Mogam vandhu thee mooti paarthathadiMale: Desire came and lit a fire,
Mooongil kaadaai manam pattrikkondadhadiAnd my heart caught fire like a bamboo forest.
Female
Nee ennai kandabodhu vaaillaiyaeWhen you saw me, I had no speech,
Vaai vaarththai vandhabodhu neeyillaiyaeWhen words came to my mouth, you were not there.
Male :Saththaana muththangal thaa mullaiyaeMale: Give me nourishing kisses, my Jasmine flower,
Achchaaram nee podu aaalillaiyaeGive an advance token, no one is around!
Female
Putham pudhu desamA brand new land,
Male :Pooovum konjam pesumMale: Even the flowers will speak a little.
Female
Namm kangal thottuTouching our eyes,
Kaadhal kaattru veesumae hoiThe breeze of love will blow, hoi!
Male :Ingu iravil kadhirumMale: Here, the sun shines in the night,
Pagalil nilavum kaayumaeAnd the moon shines in the day.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Putham Pudhu Desam' is a romantic duet from the movie Karnaa (1995), composed by Vidyasagar with lyrics by Vairamuthu. The song captures the euphoric feelings of falling in love, describing it metaphorically as entering an enchanted new world where nature defies its usual rules—the sun shines at night and the moon shines during the day.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme)

Putham pudhu desam

Repetition of the initial 'Pu' sound in 'Putham' and 'pudhu' creating a rhythmic beat.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

En nenjil eppodhum paalaagindraai / En medhil ippodhu thaenaagindraai

Use of matching verbal endings ('paalaagindraai' and 'thaenaagindraai') to establish musical flow.

Hyperbole (Exaggeration)

Ingu iravil kadhirum / Pagalil nilavum kaayumae

Poetic exaggeration describing impossible cosmic events to show how romantic passion alters perception.

Uvamaani / Metaphor

Mooongil kaadaai manam pattrikkondadhadi

Comparing the sudden ignition of love in the heart to a bamboo forest rapidly catching fire.

Did you know?

Trivia

Though listed as unknown in the prompt, the soundtrack of Karnaa was composed by Vidyasagar, and this track was sung by Mano and S. Janaki. The film features Arjun Sarja in a popular double role.

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