Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sevvanthi Pookkalil

From Mella Pesungal · 1983

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Uma Ramanan, Deepan Chakravarthy
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Mella Pesungal1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Koovina poonguyilThe cuckoo birds in the flower garden sang
Koovina kozhiThe roosters crowed
Kurugugal iyambinaThe birds chirped
Iyambina sangamThe conch shells sounded
Yavarum arivariyaarHe whom no one can easily comprehend
Emakkeliyaai emberumaan palliOur Lord, who made Himself accessible to us, in His sacred sleep
EzhundharulaaiyaePlease arise and bestow Your grace
Female
Sevvanthi pookkalil seidha veeduA house built with yellow chrysanthemum flowers
Venpanju megam nee kolam poduYou, white cotton cloud, draw decorative floor patterns
Venpanju megam nee kolam poduYou, white cotton cloud, draw decorative floor patterns
Nenjil nenjam ondraagi konjum konjumAs heart unites with heart, cuddling fondly
Nitham nitham thithippu mutham muthamEvery single day, sweet and blissful kisses
Female
Sevvandhi pookkalil seidha veeduA house built with yellow chrysanthemum flowers
Venpanju megam nee kolam poduYou, white cotton cloud, draw decorative floor patterns
Venpanju megam nee kolam poduYou, white cotton cloud, draw decorative floor patterns
Male
Vaanavillil amaippom thoranamWe shall tie festoons made of the rainbow
Vandu vandhu isaikkum naayanamThe bees will arrive to play the wedding pipe
Vaanavillil amaippom thoranamWe shall tie festoons made of the rainbow
Vandu vandhu isaikkum naayanamThe bees will arrive to play the wedding pipe
Female
Thaazhampoovil kalyaanaWith a wedding invitation written
Olai thanthuOn a fragrant screwpine flower leaf
Thanga theril oorkolam naalai vanthuArriving tomorrow in a procession on a golden chariot
Thaazhampoovil kalyaanaWith a wedding invitation written
Olai thanthuOn a fragrant screwpine flower leaf
Thanga theril oorkolam naalai vanthuArriving tomorrow in a procession on a golden chariot
Male
Kaadhal manam kaanbomWe shall experience the fragrance of love
Ennampol inbathin vannangal…aaa…Colors of bliss as per our desires... ah...
Male
Sevvandhi pookkalil seidha veeduA house built with yellow chrysanthemum flowers
Venpanju megam nee kolam poduYou, white cotton cloud, draw decorative floor patterns
Venpanju megam nee kolam poduYou, white cotton cloud, draw decorative floor patterns
Nenjil nenjam ondraagi konjum konjumAs heart unites with heart, cuddling fondly
Nitham nitham thithippu mutham muthamEvery single day, sweet and blissful kisses
Female
Andhi vandhu malarum thaamaraiA lotus that blooms at the arrival of dusk
Angam engum pozhiyum thaenmazhaiA shower of honey raining across the body
Andhi vandhu malarum thaamaraiA lotus that blooms at the arrival of dusk
Angam engum pozhiyum thaenmazhaiA shower of honey raining across the body
Male
Kaigal rendil tholodu oonjal kattiTying a swing around the shoulders with both hands
Ada choollum kasthuri manin kuttiOh, the expressive fawn of a musk deer
Kaigal rendil tholodu oonjal kattiTying a swing around the shoulders with both hands
Ada choollum kasthuri manin kuttiOh, the expressive fawn of a musk deer
Female
Nalai varum kaalamThe future time that arrives tomorrow
Endrendrum engalin kaigalilWill forever remain in our hands
Male
Sevvandhi pookkalil seidha veeduA house built with yellow chrysanthemum flowers
Venpanju megam nee kolam poduYou, white cotton cloud, draw decorative floor patterns
Venpanju megam nee kolam poduYou, white cotton cloud, draw decorative floor patterns
Female
Aariraaro aaraariraariraaroLullaby refrain (Aariraaro aaraariraariraaro)
Aariraaro aaraariraariraaroLullaby refrain (Aariraaro aaraariraariraaro)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song opens with an invocation borrowing classical Thiruppalliezhuchi devotional verses that describe the break of dawn—cuckoos singing, roosters crowing, and conches sounding to gently awaken the Lord. This spiritual opening sets a pure and tranquil tone before transitioning into a dreamy, romantic lullaby.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Devotional Allusion / Literary Borrowing

Koovina poonguyil / Koovina kozhi

The opening lines directly evoke Saint Manikkavacakar's classical Thiruppalliezhuchi hymns used to awaken the deity at dawn.

Metaphor

Sevvanthi pookkalil seidha veedu / Venpanju megam nee kolam podu

Compares clouds to soft white cotton ('Venpanju megam') and visualizes building a home out of flowers ('Sevvandhi pookkalil seidha veedu').

Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

Nitham nitham thithippu mutham mutham

Repeated words used to heighten sweetness, intimacy, and rhythmic cadence.

Personification

Vandu vandhu isaikkum naayanam

Attributes human actions to elements of nature, such as clouds drawing decorative kolam patterns and bees playing wedding pipes.

Did you know?

Trivia

The prelude of this song features lines from Saint Manikkavacakar's 'Thiruppalliezhuchi', a 9th-century Shaivite devotional text. The film 'Mella Pesungal' (1983) featured music composed by B. A. Chidambaranath with lyrics written by Gangai Amaran.

Keep listening

More from Mella Pesungal