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Poovum Pottum album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Un Azhagai Kandu

From Poovum Pottum · 1968

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
R. Govarthanam
Movie name
Poovum Pottum
Movie release year
1968
Lyrics added on
19 Jul 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Unnazhagai kandu kandaal
Pengalukkae aasai varum
Pengalukkae aasai vandhaal
En nilamai enna sollven
Unnazhagai kandu kandaal
Pengalukkae aasai varum
Pengalukkae aasai vandhaal
En nilamai enna sollven
Nindraal koyil silai azhagu
Nimirndhaal aayiram kalai azhagu
Nadanthaal annathin nadai azhagu
Naadagamaadum idai azhagu
Nindraal koyil silai azhagu
Nimirndhaal aayiram kalai azhagu
Nadanthaal annathin nadai azhagu
Naadagamaadum idai azhagu
Azhagil idhu pudhuvidhamae
Iraivanukkae raghasiyamae
Iraivanukkae raghasiyamae
Unnazhagai kandu kandaal
Pengalukkae aasai varum
Pengalukkae aasai vandhaal
En nilamai enna sollven
Vasantham vandhaal kodigalilae
Malarum malargal aayiramae
Malarum malargal aayiramae
Mangaiyin malar pol aavadhillai
Vasantham vandhaal kodigalilae
Malarum malargal aayiramae
Malarum malargal aayiramae
Mangaiyin malar pol aavadhillai
Malar parikkum naeram idhu
Poludhu sendraal vaadividum
Poludhu sendraal vaadividum
Unnazhagai kandu kandaal
Pengalukkae aasai varum
Pengalukkae aasai vandhaal
En nilamai enna sollven
If they catch sight of your beauty,
even women would desire you.
And if even women desire you,
how can I describe my state?
If they catch sight of your beauty,
even women would desire you.
And if even women desire you,
how can I describe my state?
When you stand, you have the beauty of a temple statue;
when you hold your head high, the beauty of a thousand arts;
when you walk, you have the graceful stride of a swan;
and your waist sways like a dance.
When you stand, you have the beauty of a temple statue;
when you hold your head high, the beauty of a thousand arts;
when you walk, you have the graceful stride of a swan;
and your waist sways like a dance.
This is a brand new kind of beauty,
a secret even to God Himself,
a secret even to God Himself!
If they catch sight of your beauty,
even women would desire you.
And if even women desire you,
how can I describe my state?
When spring arrives upon the climbing vines,
thousands of flowers blossom.
Yet all those thousand blossoming flowers
can never match the flower of a woman.
When spring arrives upon the climbing vines,
thousands of flowers blossom.
Yet all those thousand blossoming flowers
can never match the flower of a woman.
This is the moment to pluck this flower;
once time passes, it will wither away.
Once time passes, it will wither away.
If they catch sight of your beauty,
even women would desire you.
And if even women desire you,
how can I describe my state?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic romantic track from Poovum Pottum expresses a lover's captivating fascination with his beloved's divine beauty. The protagonist muses that her charm is so overwhelming that even other women would fall in love with her, leaving his own heart utterly helplessly enamored. Kannadasan poetically compares her grace to temple sculptures, a swan's walk, and spring blossoms, emphasizing the fleeting nature of youth and encouraging the timely fulfillment of love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaal / Initial Alliteration (Monai)

Nindraal koyil silai azhagu / Nimirndhaal aayiram kalai azhagu / Nadanthaal annathin nadai azhagu / Naadagamaadum idai azhagu

Repetition of the initial consonant 'N' across successive lines to create rhythmic harmony.

Upamai (Simile)

Nindraal koyil silai azhagu ... Nadanthaal annathin nadai azhagu

Comparing the heroine's posture to a temple idol and her walking style to that of a swan (Annam).

Anaphora (Repetitive Emphasis)

Pengalukkae aasai varum / Pengalukkae aasai vandhaal

Using repeated line structures to highlight the overwhelming nature of her beauty.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Mangaiyin malar pol aavadhillai

Equating the maiden's youthful charm directly to a blooming flower ('Mangaiyin malar').

Did you know?

Trivia

Poovum Pottum (1968), directed by Dada Mirasi, is known for its memorable music composed by R. Govarthanam. Lyricist Kannadasan wrote this timeless romantic song, which was rendered with signature sweetness by P. B. Sreenivas.

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