Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Poomani album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thol Mela Thol Mela

From Poomani · 1996

Lyricist
Pazhani Bharathi
Singers
Ilayaraja, Sujatha
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Poomani
Movie release year
1996
Lyrics added on
8 Oct 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Tholmela tholmela
Poomaala poomaala
Kalanthadhingu yaaraala
Kaaman avan peraala
Tholmela tholmela
Pomaala poomaala
Kalanthadhingu yaaraala
Kaaman avan peraala
Oh mynaa mynaa
Ithu unmai dhaana
Antha sorgam ellaam
Un kaiyil dhaana
Rekkai kattudhae nenjamae nenjamae
Tholmela tholmela
Pomaala poomaala
Kalanthadhingu yaaraala
Kaaman avan peraala
Tholmela tholmela
Pomaala poomaala
Kalanthadhingu yaaraala
Kaaman avan peraala
Sendhaazham pookalae
En koondhal soodavaa
Sandhosha naatkalae
En vaasal thedivaa
Sollaadha asaigal
Ennenna sollavaa
Nooraandu kaadhalai
Oraandil vaazhavaa
Aagaaya gangaiyae
En dhaagam theerkavaa
Thaayaagi unnai naan
Thaalaatti paarkavaa
Nee anaikkum
Anbilae anbilae
Naan karaindhen
Unnilae unnilae
Thulludhae thulludhae
En manam vinnilae
Tholmela tholmela
Pomaala poomaala
Kalanthadhingu yaaraala
Kaaman avan peraala
Oh mynaa mynaa ithu unmai dhaana
Antha sorgam ellaam un kaiyil dhaana
Rekkai kattudhae nenjamae nenjamae
Tholmela tholmela
Pomaala poomaala
Kalanthadhingu yaaraala
Kaaman avan peraala
……………………………
Poovukku vaasanai
Yaar ingu thanthadhu
Nesangal enbathu
Nenjodu ulladhu
En penmai indru dhaan
Poochoodi kondadhu
En koyil indru dhaan
Dheebangal kandadhu
Un nenjil vaazhavae
Oru jenmam vaanginen
Un moochil dhaan adi
Naan innum vaazhgiren
Naan irundhen
Vaanilae megamaai
Yen vizhundhen
Bhoomiyil vegamaai
Vizhndhadhum nalladhae
Dhaagamaai ulladhae
Tholmela tholmela
Pomaala poomaala
Male :Kalanthadhingu yaaraala
Kaaman avan peraala
Tholmela tholmela poomaala poomaala
Female :Oh mynaa mynaa
Ithu unmai dhaana
Male :Antha sorgam ellaam
Un kaiyil dhaana
Female :Rekkai kattudhae
Nenjamae nenjamae
Tholmela tholmela
Pomaala poomaala
Female :Kalanthadhingu yaaraala
Kaaman avan peraala
Shoulder upon shoulder,
Garland upon garland of flowers,
Through whose grace did we blend together here?
In the divine name of Kamadeva, the God of Love!
Shoulder upon shoulder,
Garland upon garland of flowers,
Through whose grace did we blend together here?
In the divine name of Kamadeva, the God of Love!
Oh myna, myna,
Is this really true?
Is all of that heaven
Resting right in your hands?
My heart is taking wing, taking wing!
Shoulder upon shoulder,
Garland upon garland of flowers,
Through whose grace did we blend together here?
In the divine name of Kamadeva, the God of Love!
Shoulder upon shoulder,
Garland upon garland of flowers,
Through whose grace did we blend together here?
In the divine name of Kamadeva, the God of Love!
Oh fragrant red pandanus flowers,
Shall I adorn my hair with you?
Oh joyful, happy days,
Come seeking my doorstep!
Unspoken desires,
Shall I tell you what they all are?
A century's worth of love,
Shall I live it all in a single year?
Oh heavenly Ganges river,
Will you quench my thirst?
Becoming a mother to you,
Shall I sing a lullaby and cradle you?
In the warm embrace
Of your love, of your tender love,
I dissolved completely
Within you, within you!
Leaping and dancing with joy,
My heart soars high in the sky!
Shoulder upon shoulder,
Garland upon garland of flowers,
Through whose grace did we blend together here?
In the divine name of Kamadeva, the God of Love!
Oh myna, myna, is this really true?
Is all of that heaven resting right in your hands?
My heart is taking wing, taking wing!
Shoulder upon shoulder,
Garland upon garland of flowers,
Through whose grace did we blend together here?
In the divine name of Kamadeva, the God of Love!
...
Fragrance for a flower,
Who bestowed it here?
What is known as true affection
Resides deep within the heart.
Only today has my womanhood
Adorned itself with sweet blossoms.
Only today has my inner temple
Beheld holy lit lamps.
Just to live within your heart,
I took this birth on earth.
In your very breath, my dear,
I continue to live on.
I used to float
Like a cloud high up in the sky,
Why did I drop down
So swiftly to the earth?
It was wonderful to fall,
For love now remains an aching thirst!
Shoulder upon shoulder,
Garland upon garland of flowers,
Male: Through whose grace did we blend together here?
In the divine name of Kamadeva, the God of Love!
Shoulder upon shoulder, garland upon garland of flowers,
Female: Oh myna, myna,
Is this really true?
Male: Is all of that heaven
Resting right in your hands?
Female: Taking wing,
My heart, my heart!
Shoulder upon shoulder,
Garland upon garland of flowers,
Female: Through whose grace did we blend together here?
In the divine name of Kamadeva, the God of Love!
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Tholmela Tholmela' from the movie Poomani (1996) is a joyful romantic duet expressing profound intimacy, ecstatic happiness, and emotional union between two lovers. Attributing their blissful togetherness to Kaaman (the Hindu God of Love), the couple compares their embrace to flower garlands and their happiness to floating high in the sky. The lyrics convey how love transforms their lives, compressing a hundred years' worth of affection into a single moment. Throughout the stanzas, rich Tamil poetic imagery compares love to natural phenomena—such as rain clouds falling to earth to quench a deep thirst, or the intrinsic fragrance of a flower. The female protagonist expresses how her lover's affection makes her feel complete, like a temple lit with sacred lamps, while the male protagonist finds his ultimate purpose in residing in her heart and breath.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Anaphora / Repetition for emphasis)

Tholmela tholmela / Poomaala poomaala

Words are repeated consecutively to intensify emotional delight and rhythm.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Kalanthadhingu yaaraala / Kaaman avan peraala

Consonant and vowel endings match across lines to create a melodic rhythm.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Rekkai kattudhae nenjamae nenjamae

The heart taking flight like a bird with wings is used as a metaphor for immense joy.

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Sendhaazham pookalae / Sandhosha naatkalae

The second letter in adjacent lines rhymes ('n' in Sendhaazham and Sandhosha).

Did you know?

Trivia

'Tholmela Tholmela' is a celebrated track composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for the 1996 Tamil film Poomani, directed by Mu. Kalanjiyam and starring Murali and Devayani. Sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra, the song became popular for its catchy folk-pop rhythm and evocative lyrics penned by Pazhani Bharathi.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Poomani

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.