Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thiruttu Poonai Iruttu Velai

From Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga · 1990

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
R. D. Burman
Details
Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thiruttu poonai iruttu velaiA thief cat and nighttime duties
Muzhichchuthaanae paarkkuthuIt keeps watching wide awake
Idaththai maattri thadaththai maattriChanging the place, changing the path
Kunaththai maattri vaazhuthuChanging its nature, it lives on
Male
Harae hae….hae hae haeHare hae... hae hae hae
Meenellaam kokkukkuAll fish are meant for the crane
Vaazhvellaam kickkukkuAll of life is for the kick and thrill
Vaazhavaa hae hae vaazhnthu paarppomShall we live? Hae hae, let us live and see!
Female
Thiruttu poonai iruttu velaiA thief cat and nighttime duties
Muzhichchuthaanae paarkkuthuIt keeps watching wide awake
Idaththai maattri thadaththai maattriChanging the place, changing the path
Kunaththai maattri vaazhuthuChanging its nature, it lives on
Female
Haa….aa….aa….aa….Haa... aa... aa... aa...
Meenellaam kokkukkuAll fish are meant for the crane
Vaazhvellaam kickkukkuAll of life is for the kick and thrill
Oodivaa haa haa paadivaa….vaa vaa….Come running, haa haa, come singing... come, come...
Female
Nerukkam unnoduCloseness with you
Irukkam ennoduTightness and tension with me
Ninaiththu poraadu anaiththu neeraaduThink and strive, embrace and bathe in love
Male :Kodhippu nenjoduMale: Heat and passion in the heart
Kulirchchi kannoduCoolness in the eyes
Aduppu unnodu anaiththu kondaaduThe stove is with you, embrace and celebrate
Female
Ada manmathan santhanam maarpinil ottuthuAh, Cupid's sandalwood paste sticks to the chest
Nettriyin kungumam sattaiyil ottuthuThe vermilion from the forehead sticks to the shirt
Suttathu suttathu tholkalil suttathu maadhulai mottuIt scorched, it scorched, the pomegranate bud scorched on the shoulders
Male
Kothippu nenjoduHeat and passion in the heart
Kulirchchi kannoduCoolness in the eyes
Aduppu unnodu anaiththu kondaaduThe stove is with you, embrace and celebrate
Female :Nerukkam unnoduFemale: Closeness with you
Irukkam ennoduTightness and tension with me
Ninaiththu poraadu anaiththu neeraaduThink and strive, embrace and bathe in love
Male
Mogam vanthu thaalam thattumLust arrives and beats the rhythm
Mogam vanthu thaalam thattumLust arrives and beats the rhythm
Muththam vanthu dumdum kottattum parappapappaLet kisses sound like celebratory drums, parappapappa
Male
Thiruttu poonaiThief cat
Female :AahaaFemale: Aahaa
Male :Iruttu velaiMale: Nighttime work
Female :OohoFemale: Ooho
Male :Muzhichchuthaanae paarkkuthuMale: It keeps watching wide awake
Female
Idaththai maattri thadaththai maattiChanging the place, changing the path
Kunaththai maattri vaazhuthu…ahhChanging its nature, it lives... ahh
Male
Harae hae….hae hae haeHare hae... hae hae hae
Meenellaam kokkukkuAll fish are meant for the crane
Vaazhvellaam kickkukkuAll of life is for the kick and thrill
Vaazhavaa ha ha haaShall we live? Ha ha haa
Female :Paadivaa….vaa vaa….Female: Come singing... come, come...
Male
Kizhakku theernthaalum vazhakku theeraathuEven if the day ends in the east, the debate won't end
Mayakkam thaangaathu vilakkum thoongaathuIntoxication won't end, and the lamp won't sleep
Female :Padukkai thaalaathu thavippu koodaathuFemale: The bed cannot bear the weight, longing shouldn't increase
Koduththu maalaathu eduththu theeraathuGiving won't exhaust it, taking won't end it
Male
Adi manmathan sundhari enthiri enthiriHey beauty of Cupid, wake up, wake up
Mundhiri mundhiri nee kodi munthiriCashew, cashew, you are like a vine of cashews
Maalaiyum vanthathu manthiri manthiriEvening has arrived, minister, minister
MaarpanaiththuthaanBy embracing the chest
Female
Padukkai thaalaathu thavippu koodaathuThe bed cannot bear the weight, longing shouldn't increase
Koduththu maalaathu eduththu theeraathuGiving won't exhaust it, taking won't end it
Male :Kizhakku theernthaalum vazhakku theeraathuMale: Even if the day ends in the east, the debate won't end
Mayakkam thaangaathu vilakkum thoongaathuIntoxication won't end, and the lamp won't sleep
Female
Maalai thanthaal saelai sonthamIf the garland is given, the saree belongs to you
Maalai thanthaal saelai sonthamIf the garland is given, the saree belongs to you
Manjam vanthaal tham tham aananthamWhen the bed arrives, rhythmic happiness follows
ParappappapParappappap
Female
Thiruttu poonai iruttu velaiA thief cat and nighttime duties
Muzhichchuthaanae paarkkuthuIt keeps watching wide awake
Male :Idaththai maattriMale: Changing the place
Female :AahaaFemale: Aahaa
Male :Thadaththai maattriMale: Changing the path
Female :AahaaFemale: Aahaa
Male :Kunaththai maattriMale: Changing the nature
Female :AahaaFemale: Aahaa
Male :VaazhuthuMale: It lives
Male
Harae hae….hae hae haeHare hae... hae hae hae
Meenellaam kokkukkuAll fish are meant for the crane
Vaazhvellaam kickkukkuAll of life is for the kick and thrill
Vaazhavaa ha ha haahaaShall we live? Ha ha haahaa
Female :Paadivaa….vaa vaa….Female: Come singing... come, come...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This upbeat duet revolves around romantic intrigue, playfulness, and nocturnal passion. Using metaphors such as a sly cat lurking in the dark and a crane hunting for fish, the lyrics playfully depict romantic pursuit and nocturnal desire. The lovers tease each other with rhymes about passion, embrace, and the thrill of togetherness that outlasts the night.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Thiruttu poonai iruttu velai

Matching second consonants in consecutive words or lines across Tamil verse, such as 'Thiruttu' and 'Iruttu'.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Meenellaam kokkukku / Vaazhvellaam kickkukku

Rhyming word endings across lines, seen in 'kokkukku' and 'kickkukku'.

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagaththanam)

Thiruttu poonai iruttu velai

Comparing a nocturnal lover or sly desire to a thief cat ('Thiruttu poonai') and fish meant for a crane ('Meenellaam kokkukku').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga' (1990) is a Tamil action drama starring Sathyaraj in a double role alongside Gautami and Rupini, with music composed by R. D. Burman in one of his rare ventures into Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

More from Ulagam Pirandhadhu Enakkaga