Thol Mela Thol Mela
From Poomani · 1996
- Lyricist
- Pazhani Bharathi
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Poomani1996
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Tholmela tholmela | Shoulder on shoulder |
| Poomaala poomaala | Like a flower garland, flower garland |
| Kalanthadhingu yaaraala | Who united us here? |
| Kaaman avan peraala | It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love |
| Male | |
| Tholmela tholmela | Shoulder on shoulder |
| Pomaala poomaala | Like a flower garland, flower garland |
| Kalanthadhingu yaaraala | Who united us here? |
| Kaaman avan peraala | It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love |
| Female | |
| Oh mynaa mynaa | Oh myna, myna! |
| Ithu unmai dhaana | Is this really true? |
| Antha sorgam ellaam | Is all of that heaven... |
| Un kaiyil dhaana | ...held right in your hands? |
| Rekkai kattudhae nenjamae nenjamae | My heart is sprouting wings, oh heart! |
| Male | |
| Tholmela tholmela | Shoulder on shoulder |
| Pomaala poomaala | Like a flower garland, flower garland |
| Kalanthadhingu yaaraala | Who united us here? |
| Kaaman avan peraala | It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love |
| Female | |
| Tholmela tholmela | Shoulder on shoulder |
| Pomaala poomaala | Like a flower garland, flower garland |
| Kalanthadhingu yaaraala | Who united us here? |
| Kaaman avan peraala | It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love |
| Female | |
| Sendhaazham pookalae | Oh red screw-pine flowers |
| En koondhal soodavaa | Shall I adorn my tresses with you? |
| Sandhosha naatkalae | Oh joyful days |
| En vaasal thedivaa | Come seeking my doorstep |
| Male | |
| Sollaadha asaigal | Unspoken desires |
| Ennenna sollavaa | Shall I reveal what they are? |
| Nooraandu kaadhalai | A century's worth of love |
| Oraandil vaazhavaa | Shall I live it in a single year? |
| Female | |
| Aagaaya gangaiyae | Oh heavenly Ganges |
| En dhaagam theerkavaa | Will you quench my thirst? |
| Thaayaagi unnai naan | Becoming a mother to you |
| Thaalaatti paarkavaa | Shall I cradle you with a lullaby? |
| Male | |
| Nee anaikkum | In the way you embrace |
| Anbilae anbilae | With love, with love |
| Naan karaindhen | I dissolved completely |
| Unnilae unnilae | Within you, within you |
| Female | |
| Thulludhae thulludhae | It leaps and bounces |
| En manam vinnilae | My heart up in the sky |
| Male | |
| Tholmela tholmela | Shoulder on shoulder |
| Pomaala poomaala | Like a flower garland, flower garland |
| Kalanthadhingu yaaraala | Who united us here? |
| Kaaman avan peraala | It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love |
| Oh mynaa mynaa ithu unmai dhaana | Oh myna, myna, is this really true? |
| Antha sorgam ellaam un kaiyil dhaana | Is all of that heaven held right in your hands? |
| Rekkai kattudhae nenjamae nenjamae | My heart is sprouting wings, oh heart! |
| Female | |
| Tholmela tholmela | Shoulder on shoulder |
| Pomaala poomaala | Like a flower garland, flower garland |
| Kalanthadhingu yaaraala | Who united us here? |
| Kaaman avan peraala | It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love |
| Chorus | |
| …………………………… | |
| Male | |
| Poovukku vaasanai | Fragrance to a flower |
| Yaar ingu thanthadhu | Who bestowed it here? |
| Nesangal enbathu | That entity called affection |
| Nenjodu ulladhu | Resides deep within the heart |
| Female | |
| En penmai indru dhaan | My womanhood only today |
| Poochoodi kondadhu | Adorned itself with blossom |
| En koyil indru dhaan | My temple only today |
| Dheebangal kandadhu | Witnessed sacred lamps lit |
| Male | |
| Un nenjil vaazhavae | Just to live inside your heart |
| Oru jenmam vaanginen | I took a human birth |
| Un moochil dhaan adi | Within your very breath, my dear |
| Naan innum vaazhgiren | I continue to live on |
| Female | |
| Naan irundhen | I used to exist |
| Vaanilae megamaai | As a cloud up in the sky |
| Yen vizhundhen | Why did I descend |
| Bhoomiyil vegamaai | Swiftly down onto the earth? |
| Male | |
| Vizhndhadhum nalladhae | It is good that I fell |
| Dhaagamaai ulladhae | For there is a deep thirst |
| Female | |
| Tholmela tholmela | Shoulder on shoulder |
| Pomaala poomaala | Like a flower garland, flower garland |
| Male :Kalanthadhingu yaaraala | Male: Who united us here? |
| Kaaman avan peraala | It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love |
| Tholmela tholmela poomaala poomaala | Shoulder on shoulder, like a flower garland |
| Female :Oh mynaa mynaa | Female: Oh myna, myna! |
| Ithu unmai dhaana | Is this really true? |
| Male :Antha sorgam ellaam | Male: Is all of that heaven... |
| Un kaiyil dhaana | ...held right in your hands? |
| Female :Rekkai kattudhae | Female: Wings are sprouting! |
| Nenjamae nenjamae | Oh heart, my heart! |
| Male | |
| Tholmela tholmela | Shoulder on shoulder |
| Pomaala poomaala | Like a flower garland, flower garland |
| Female :Kalanthadhingu yaaraala | Female: Who united us here? |
| Kaaman avan peraala | It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love |
............................
Shoulder on shoulder
Like a flower garland, flower garland
Who united us here?
It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love
தோள்மேல தோள்மேல
பூமாலை பூமாலை
கலந்ததிங்கு யாரால
காமன் அவன் பேரால
Shoulder on shoulder
Like a flower garland, flower garland
Who united us here?
It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love
தோள்மேல தோள்மேல
பூமாலை பூமாலை
கலந்ததிங்கு யாரால
காமன் அவன் பேரால
Oh myna, myna!
Is this really true?
Is all of that heaven...
...held right in your hands?
My heart is sprouting wings, oh heart!
ஓ மைனா மைனா
இது உண்மை தானா
அந்த சொர்க்கம் எல்லாம்
உன் கையில் தானா
ரெக்கை கட்டுதே நெஞ்சமே நெஞ்சமே
Shoulder on shoulder
Like a flower garland, flower garland
Who united us here?
It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love
தோள்மேல தோள்மேல
பூமாலை பூமாலை
கலந்ததிங்கு யாரால
காமன் அவன் பேரால
Shoulder on shoulder
Like a flower garland, flower garland
Who united us here?
It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love
தோள்மேல தோள்மேல
பூமாலை பூமாலை
கலந்ததிங்கு யாரால
காமன் அவன் பேரால
Oh red screw-pine flowers
Shall I adorn my tresses with you?
Oh joyful days
Come seeking my doorstep
செந்தாழம் பூக்களே
என் கூந்தல் சூடவா
சந்தோஷ நாட்களே
என் வாசல் தேடிவா
Unspoken desires
Shall I reveal what they are?
A century's worth of love
Shall I live it in a single year?
சொல்லாத ஆசைகள்
என்னென்ன சொல்லவா
நூறாண்டுக் காதலை
ஓராண்டில் வாழவா
Oh heavenly Ganges
Will you quench my thirst?
Becoming a mother to you
Shall I cradle you with a lullaby?
ஆகாய கங்கையே
என் தாகம் தீர்க்கவா
தாயாகி உன்னை நான்
தாலாட்டிப் பார்க்கவா
In the way you embrace
With love, with love
I dissolved completely
Within you, within you
நீ அணைக்கும்
அன்பிலே அன்பிலே
நான் கரைந்தேன்
உன்னிலே உன்னிலே
It leaps and bounces
My heart up in the sky
துள்ளுதே துள்ளுதே
என் மனம் விண்ணிலே
Shoulder on shoulder
Like a flower garland, flower garland
Who united us here?
It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love
Oh myna, myna, is this really true?
Is all of that heaven held right in your hands?
My heart is sprouting wings, oh heart!
தோள்மேல தோள்மேல
பூமாலை பூமாலை
கலந்ததிங்கு யாரால
காமன் அவன் பேரால
ஓ மைனா மைனா இது உண்மை தானா
அந்த சொர்க்கம் எல்லாம் உன் கையில் தானா
ரெக்கை கட்டுதே நெஞ்சமே நெஞ்சமே
Shoulder on shoulder
Like a flower garland, flower garland
Who united us here?
It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love
தோள்மேல தோள்மேல
பூமாலை பூமாலை
கலந்ததிங்கு யாரால
காமன் அவன் பேரால
...................................
Fragrance to a flower
Who bestowed it here?
That entity called affection
Resides deep within the heart
பூவுக்கு வாசனை
யார் இங்கு தந்தது
நேசங்கள் என்பது
நெஞ்சோடு உள்ளது
My womanhood only today
Adorned itself with blossom
My temple only today
Witnessed sacred lamps lit
என் பெண்மை இன்று தான்
பூச்சூடிக் கொண்டது
என் கோவில் இன்று தான்
தீபங்கள் கண்டது
Just to live inside your heart
I took a human birth
Within your very breath, my dear
I continue to live on
உன் நெஞ்சில் வாழவே
ஒரு ஜென்மம் வாங்கினேன்
உன் மூச்சில் தான் அடி
நான் இன்னும் வாழ்கிறேன்
I used to exist
As a cloud up in the sky
Why did I descend
Swiftly down onto the earth?
நான் இருந்தேன்
வானிலே மேகமாய்
ஏன் விழுந்தேன்
பூமியில் வேகமாய்
It is good that I fell
For there is a deep thirst
வீழ்ந்ததும் நல்லதே
தாகமாய் உள்ளதே
Shoulder on shoulder
Like a flower garland, flower garland
Male: Who united us here?
It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love
Shoulder on shoulder, like a flower garland
Female: Oh myna, myna!
Is this really true?
Male: Is all of that heaven...
...held right in your hands?
Female: Wings are sprouting!
Oh heart, my heart!
தோள்மேல தோள்மேல
பூமாலை பூமாலை
கலந்ததிங்கு யாரால
காமன் அவன் பேரால
தோள்மேல தோள்மேல பூமாலை பூமாலை
ஓ மைனா மைனா
இது உண்மை தானா
அந்த சொர்க்கம் எல்லாம்
உன் கையில் தானா
ரெக்கை கட்டுதே
நெஞ்சமே நெஞ்சமே
Shoulder on shoulder
Like a flower garland, flower garland
Female: Who united us here?
It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love
தோள்மேல தோள்மேல
பூமாலை பூமாலை
கலந்ததிங்கு யாரால
காமன் அவன் பேரால
Tholmela tholmela
Shoulder on shoulder
Poomaala poomaala
Like a flower garland, flower garland
Kalanthadhingu yaaraala
Who united us here?
Kaaman avan peraala
It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love
Tholmela tholmela
Shoulder on shoulder
Pomaala poomaala
Like a flower garland, flower garland
Kalanthadhingu yaaraala
Who united us here?
Kaaman avan peraala
It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love
Oh mynaa mynaa
Oh myna, myna!
Ithu unmai dhaana
Is this really true?
Antha sorgam ellaam
Is all of that heaven...
Un kaiyil dhaana
...held right in your hands?
Rekkai kattudhae nenjamae nenjamae
My heart is sprouting wings, oh heart!
Tholmela tholmela
Shoulder on shoulder
Pomaala poomaala
Like a flower garland, flower garland
Kalanthadhingu yaaraala
Who united us here?
Kaaman avan peraala
It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love
Tholmela tholmela
Shoulder on shoulder
Pomaala poomaala
Like a flower garland, flower garland
Kalanthadhingu yaaraala
Who united us here?
Kaaman avan peraala
It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love
Sendhaazham pookalae
Oh red screw-pine flowers
En koondhal soodavaa
Shall I adorn my tresses with you?
Sandhosha naatkalae
Oh joyful days
En vaasal thedivaa
Come seeking my doorstep
Sollaadha asaigal
Unspoken desires
Ennenna sollavaa
Shall I reveal what they are?
Nooraandu kaadhalai
A century's worth of love
Oraandil vaazhavaa
Shall I live it in a single year?
Aagaaya gangaiyae
Oh heavenly Ganges
En dhaagam theerkavaa
Will you quench my thirst?
Thaayaagi unnai naan
Becoming a mother to you
Thaalaatti paarkavaa
Shall I cradle you with a lullaby?
Nee anaikkum
In the way you embrace
Anbilae anbilae
With love, with love
Naan karaindhen
I dissolved completely
Unnilae unnilae
Within you, within you
Thulludhae thulludhae
It leaps and bounces
En manam vinnilae
My heart up in the sky
Tholmela tholmela
Shoulder on shoulder
Pomaala poomaala
Like a flower garland, flower garland
Kalanthadhingu yaaraala
Who united us here?
Kaaman avan peraala
It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love
Oh mynaa mynaa ithu unmai dhaana
Oh myna, myna, is this really true?
Antha sorgam ellaam un kaiyil dhaana
Is all of that heaven held right in your hands?
Rekkai kattudhae nenjamae nenjamae
My heart is sprouting wings, oh heart!
Tholmela tholmela
Shoulder on shoulder
Pomaala poomaala
Like a flower garland, flower garland
Kalanthadhingu yaaraala
Who united us here?
Kaaman avan peraala
It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love
……………………………
Poovukku vaasanai
Fragrance to a flower
Yaar ingu thanthadhu
Who bestowed it here?
Nesangal enbathu
That entity called affection
Nenjodu ulladhu
Resides deep within the heart
En penmai indru dhaan
My womanhood only today
Poochoodi kondadhu
Adorned itself with blossom
En koyil indru dhaan
My temple only today
Dheebangal kandadhu
Witnessed sacred lamps lit
Un nenjil vaazhavae
Just to live inside your heart
Oru jenmam vaanginen
I took a human birth
Un moochil dhaan adi
Within your very breath, my dear
Naan innum vaazhgiren
I continue to live on
Naan irundhen
I used to exist
Vaanilae megamaai
As a cloud up in the sky
Yen vizhundhen
Why did I descend
Bhoomiyil vegamaai
Swiftly down onto the earth?
Vizhndhadhum nalladhae
It is good that I fell
Dhaagamaai ulladhae
For there is a deep thirst
Tholmela tholmela
Shoulder on shoulder
Pomaala poomaala
Like a flower garland, flower garland
Male :Kalanthadhingu yaaraala
Male: Who united us here?
Kaaman avan peraala
It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love
Tholmela tholmela poomaala poomaala
Shoulder on shoulder, like a flower garland
Female :Oh mynaa mynaa
Female: Oh myna, myna!
Ithu unmai dhaana
Is this really true?
Male :Antha sorgam ellaam
Male: Is all of that heaven...
Un kaiyil dhaana
...held right in your hands?
Female :Rekkai kattudhae
Female: Wings are sprouting!
Nenjamae nenjamae
Oh heart, my heart!
Tholmela tholmela
Shoulder on shoulder
Pomaala poomaala
Like a flower garland, flower garland
Female :Kalanthadhingu yaaraala
Female: Who united us here?
Kaaman avan peraala
It is in the name of Kaaman, the God of Love
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
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