Usure Pogudhey
From Raavanan · 2010
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Karthik
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Raavanan2010
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Intha bhoomiyila | On this earth, |
| Eppa vanthu nee porantha | when were you born? |
| En buthikula theeporiya | A spark of fire in my mind, |
| Nee vethacha | you have sown! |
| Male | |
| {Adi thaeku mara kaadu | Hey, the teakwood forest |
| Perusuthaan | is huge, |
| Chinna theekuchi | the little matchstick |
| Osaram sirusuthaan} (2) | is small in height. |
| Male | |
| Oru theekuchi | Hey, the teakwood forest |
| Vizhunthu pudikuthadi | is huge, |
| Karun thaekumara kaadu | the little matchstick |
| Vedikuthadi | is small in height. |
| Male | |
| Usurae poguthae | A single matchstick |
| Usurae poguthae | falls and catches fire, |
| Odhata nee konjam suzhikayila | and the dark teakwood forest |
| Oooo maaman thavikiren | explodes in flames! |
| Madipicha ketkuren | My life is slipping away, |
| Manasa thaadi en manikuyilae | my life is slipping away, |
| Male | |
| Akkarai cheemaiyil | when you pucker your lips just a little. |
| Nee irunthum | Oh, I am writhing in agony, |
| Aiviral theenditha nenaikuthadi | begging for love as alms, |
| Agini pazhamunu therinjirunthum | give me your heart, my precious songbird! |
| Adikadi naaku thudikuthadi | In a distant shore, |
| Male | |
| Odambum manasum | even though you are, |
| Thooram thooram | my five fingers yearn to touch you. |
| Otta ninaika aagala | Even knowing you are a fruit of fire, |
| Manasu sollum nalla solla | my tongue twitches repeatedly to taste you. |
| Maaya odambu kekala | My body and my mind |
| Male | |
| Thaviya.. thavichu.. | are far apart, |
| Usur thadam kettu thiriyudhadi | I am unable to hold them together. |
| Thayilanguruvi enna | The good advice spoken by the mind, |
| Thalli ninnu sirukudhadi.. | this illusory body refuses to obey. |
| Male | |
| Indha mammutha | Struggling... in deep agony... |
| Kiruku theeruma | my soul strays off its path. |
| Adi manthirichu vitta | The tiny tailorbird, |
| Kozhi maaruma | stands far away and laughs at me. |
| Male | |
| En mayakatha theethuvechu | Will this intense madness |
| Manichudumaa.. | ever fade away? |
| Santhiranum sooriyanum | Can a chicken under a spell |
| Suthi orae kottil varuguthae | ever change back? |
| Sathiyamum pathiyamum | Relieving my infatuation, |
| Ippa thalaisuthi kedakuthae | will you forgive me? |
| Male | |
| Usurae poguthae | The moon and the sun |
| Usurae poguthae | revolve and align on the exact same line. |
| Odhata nee konjam suzhikayila | Truth and sacred vows |
| Oooo maaman thavikiren | now lie spinning in dizziness. |
| Madipicha ketkuren | My life is slipping away, |
| Manasa thaadi en manikuyilae | my life is slipping away, |
| Male | |
| Akkarai cheemaiyil | when you pucker your lips just a little. |
| Nee irunthum | Oh, I am writhing in agony, |
| Aiviral theenditha nenaikuthadi | begging for love as alms, |
| Agini pazhamunu therinjirunthum | give me your heart, my precious songbird! |
| Adikadi naaku thudikuthadi | In a distant shore, |
| Male | |
| Intha olagathil | even though you are, |
| Idhu onnum puthusulla | my five fingers yearn to touch you. |
| Onnu rendu thappi pogum | Even knowing you are a fruit of fire, |
| Ozhukathula | my tongue twitches repeatedly to taste you. |
| Male | |
| Vithi solli vazhi potaan | In this world, |
| Manasupulla | this is nothing new. |
| Vithi villakillatha | One or two slips occur |
| Vithiyumilla | in moral conduct. |
| Male | |
| Etta irukkum sooriyan paathu | Fate made a rule and charted the way, |
| Mottu virikkuthu thaamara | child of my heart, |
| Thottu vidatha thooram irunthum | there is no rule |
| Sontha banthamum pogala | without an exception. |
| Male | |
| Paamba vizhutha | Looking at the distant sun, |
| Oru paagubadu theriyalayae | the lotus blossom unfolds. |
| Paamba irunthum | Despite the untouchable distance, |
| Nenju bayapada nenaikalayae | our inner bond has not broken. |
| Male | |
| En kattayum | Mistaking a snake for an aerial root, |
| Oru naal saayalam | I saw no difference. |
| En kannula | Even knowing it was a snake, |
| Un mugam poguma | my heart felt no fear. |
| Male | |
| Naa mannukulla | My mortal frame |
| Un nenanapu manasukulla | may collapse one day, |
| Santhiranum sooriyanum | but in my eyes, |
| Suthi orae kottil varuguthae | will your face ever vanish? |
| Sathiyamum pathiyamum | When I am buried beneath the soil, |
| Ippa thalaisuthi kedakuthae | your memory will remain safe within my heart. |
| Male | |
| Usurae poguthae | The moon and the sun |
| Usurae poguthae | revolve and align on the exact same line. |
| Odhata nee konjam suzhikayila | Truth and sacred vows |
| Oooo maaman thavikiren | now lie spinning in dizziness. |
| Madipicha ketkuren | My life is slipping away, |
| Manasa thaadi en manikuyilae | my life is slipping away, |
| Male | |
| Akkarai cheemaiyil | when you pucker your lips just a little. |
| Nee irunthum | Oh, I am writhing in agony, |
| Aiviral theenditha nenaikuthadi | begging for love as alms, |
| Agini pazhamunu therinjirunthum | give me your heart, my precious songbird! |
| Adikadi naaku thudikuthadi | Even across distant shores, my fingers yearn to touch you, |
இந்த பூமியில
எப்ப வந்து நீ பொறந்த
என் புத்திக்குள்ள
தீப்பொறிய நீ வெதச்ச
On this earth,
when were you born?
A spark of fire in my mind,
you have sown!
{ அடி தேக்கு
மர காடு பெருசுதான்
சின்ன தீக்குச்சி உசரம்
சிறுசுதான் } (2)
Hey, the teakwood forest
is huge,
the little matchstick
is small in height.
ஒரு தீக்குச்சி
விழுந்து புடிக்குதடி
கருந்தேக்கு மரக்காடு
வெடிக்குதடி
Hey, the teakwood forest
is huge,
the little matchstick
is small in height.
உசுரே போகுதே
உசுரே போகுதே உதட்ட
நீ கொஞ்சம் சுழிக்கயிலே
ஓ… மாமன் தவிக்கிறேன்
மடி பிச்ச கேக்குறேன்
மனச தாடி என் மணி குயிலே
A single matchstick
falls and catches fire,
and the dark teakwood forest
explodes in flames!
My life is slipping away,
my life is slipping away,
அக்கரைச் சீமையில்
நீ இருந்தும் ஐவிரல் தீண்டிட
நினைக்குதடி அக்கினி பழமுன்னு
தெரிஞ்சிருந்தும் அடிக்கடி நாக்கு
துடிக்குதடி
when you pucker your lips just a little.
Oh, I am writhing in agony,
begging for love as alms,
give me your heart, my precious songbird!
In a distant shore,
ஒடம்பும் மனசும்
தூரம் தூரம் ஒட்ட நினைக்கேன்
ஆகல மனசு சொல்லும் நல்ல
சொல்ல மாய ஒடம்பு கேக்கல
even though you are,
my five fingers yearn to touch you.
Even knowing you are a fruit of fire,
my tongue twitches repeatedly to taste you.
My body and my mind
தவியா
தவிச்சு உசுர் தடம்
கெட்டு திரியுதடி
தையிலாங் குருவி
என்ன தள்ளி நின்னு
சிரிக்குதடி
are far apart,
I am unable to hold them together.
The good advice spoken by the mind,
this illusory body refuses to obey.
இந்த மம்முத
கிறுக்கு தீருமா அடி
மந்திரிச்சு விட்ட கோழி
மாறுமா
Struggling... in deep agony...
my soul strays off its path.
The tiny tailorbird,
stands far away and laughs at me.
என் மயக்கத்த
தீத்து வெச்சு மன்னிச்சிடுமா
சந்திரனும் சூரியனும்
சுத்தி ஒரே கோட்டில்
வருகுதே சத்தியமும்
பத்தியமும் இப்ப தலை
சுத்தி கெடக்குதே
Will this intense madness
ever fade away?
Can a chicken under a spell
ever change back?
Relieving my infatuation,
will you forgive me?
உசுரே போகுதே
உசுரே போகுதே உதட்ட
நீ கொஞ்சம் சுழிக்கயிலே
ஓ… மாமன் தவிக்கிறேன்
மடி பிச்ச கேக்குறேன்
மனச தாடி என் மணி குயிலே
The moon and the sun
revolve and align on the exact same line.
Truth and sacred vows
now lie spinning in dizziness.
My life is slipping away,
my life is slipping away,
அக்கரைச் சீமையில்
நீ இருந்தும் ஐவிரல் தீண்டிட
நினைக்குதடி அக்கினி பழமுன்னு
தெரிஞ்சிருந்தும் அடிக்கடி நாக்கு
துடிக்குதடி
when you pucker your lips just a little.
Oh, I am writhing in agony,
begging for love as alms,
give me your heart, my precious songbird!
In a distant shore,
இந்த உலகத்தில்
இது ஒன்னும் புதுசுல்ல
ஒண்ணு ரெண்டு தப்பி
போகும் ஒழுக்கத்துல
even though you are,
my five fingers yearn to touch you.
Even knowing you are a fruit of fire,
my tongue twitches repeatedly to taste you.
விதி சொல்லி
வழி போட்டான்
மனசபுள்ள விதி
விலக்கில்லாத
விதியுமில்ல
In this world,
this is nothing new.
One or two slips occur
in moral conduct.
எட்ட இருக்கும்
சூரியன் பாத்து மொட்டு
விரிக்குது தாமரை தொட்டு
விடாத தூரம் இருந்தும்
சொந்த பந்தமும் போகல
Fate made a rule and charted the way,
child of my heart,
there is no rule
without an exception.
பாம்பா விழுதா
ஒரு பாகுபாடு தெரியலையே
பாம்பா இருந்தும் நெஞ்சு
பயப்பட நினைக்கலையே
Looking at the distant sun,
the lotus blossom unfolds.
Despite the untouchable distance,
our inner bond has not broken.
என் கட்டையும்
ஒரு நாள் சாயலாம்
என் கண்ணுல உன்
முகம் போகுமா
Mistaking a snake for an aerial root,
I saw no difference.
Even knowing it was a snake,
my heart felt no fear.
நா மண்ணுக்குள்ள
உன் நெனப்பு மனசுக்குள்ள
சந்திரனும் சூரியனும்
சுத்தி ஒரு கோட்டில் வருகுதே
சத்தியமும் பத்தியமும்
இப்ப தலை சுத்தி கெடக்குதே
My mortal frame
may collapse one day,
but in my eyes,
will your face ever vanish?
When I am buried beneath the soil,
your memory will remain safe within my heart.
உசுரே போகுதே
உசுரே போகுதே உதட்ட
நீ கொஞ்சம் சுழிக்கயிலே
ஓ… மாமன் தவிக்கிறேன்
மடி பிச்ச கேக்குறேன்
மனச தாடி என் மணி குயிலே
The moon and the sun
revolve and align on the exact same line.
Truth and sacred vows
now lie spinning in dizziness.
My life is slipping away,
my life is slipping away,
அக்கரைச் சீமையில்
நீ இருந்தும் ஐவிரல் தீண்டிட
நினைக்குதடி அக்கினி பழமுன்னு
தெரிஞ்சிருந்தும் அடிக்கடி நாக்கு
துடிக்குதடி
when you pucker your lips just a little.
Oh, I am writhing in agony,
begging for love as alms,
give me your heart, my precious songbird!
Even across distant shores, my fingers yearn to touch you,
Intha bhoomiyila
On this earth,
Eppa vanthu nee porantha
when were you born?
En buthikula theeporiya
A spark of fire in my mind,
Nee vethacha
you have sown!
{Adi thaeku mara kaadu
Hey, the teakwood forest
Perusuthaan
is huge,
Chinna theekuchi
the little matchstick
Osaram sirusuthaan} (2)
is small in height.
Oru theekuchi
Hey, the teakwood forest
Vizhunthu pudikuthadi
is huge,
Karun thaekumara kaadu
the little matchstick
Vedikuthadi
is small in height.
Usurae poguthae
A single matchstick
Usurae poguthae
falls and catches fire,
Odhata nee konjam suzhikayila
and the dark teakwood forest
Oooo maaman thavikiren
explodes in flames!
Madipicha ketkuren
My life is slipping away,
Manasa thaadi en manikuyilae
my life is slipping away,
Akkarai cheemaiyil
when you pucker your lips just a little.
Nee irunthum
Oh, I am writhing in agony,
Aiviral theenditha nenaikuthadi
begging for love as alms,
Agini pazhamunu therinjirunthum
give me your heart, my precious songbird!
Adikadi naaku thudikuthadi
In a distant shore,
Odambum manasum
even though you are,
Thooram thooram
my five fingers yearn to touch you.
Otta ninaika aagala
Even knowing you are a fruit of fire,
Manasu sollum nalla solla
my tongue twitches repeatedly to taste you.
Maaya odambu kekala
My body and my mind
Thaviya.. thavichu..
are far apart,
Usur thadam kettu thiriyudhadi
I am unable to hold them together.
Thayilanguruvi enna
The good advice spoken by the mind,
Thalli ninnu sirukudhadi..
this illusory body refuses to obey.
Indha mammutha
Struggling... in deep agony...
Kiruku theeruma
my soul strays off its path.
Adi manthirichu vitta
The tiny tailorbird,
Kozhi maaruma
stands far away and laughs at me.
En mayakatha theethuvechu
Will this intense madness
Manichudumaa..
ever fade away?
Santhiranum sooriyanum
Can a chicken under a spell
Suthi orae kottil varuguthae
ever change back?
Sathiyamum pathiyamum
Relieving my infatuation,
Ippa thalaisuthi kedakuthae
will you forgive me?
Usurae poguthae
The moon and the sun
Usurae poguthae
revolve and align on the exact same line.
Odhata nee konjam suzhikayila
Truth and sacred vows
Oooo maaman thavikiren
now lie spinning in dizziness.
Madipicha ketkuren
My life is slipping away,
Manasa thaadi en manikuyilae
my life is slipping away,
Akkarai cheemaiyil
when you pucker your lips just a little.
Nee irunthum
Oh, I am writhing in agony,
Aiviral theenditha nenaikuthadi
begging for love as alms,
Agini pazhamunu therinjirunthum
give me your heart, my precious songbird!
Adikadi naaku thudikuthadi
In a distant shore,
Intha olagathil
even though you are,
Idhu onnum puthusulla
my five fingers yearn to touch you.
Onnu rendu thappi pogum
Even knowing you are a fruit of fire,
Ozhukathula
my tongue twitches repeatedly to taste you.
Vithi solli vazhi potaan
In this world,
Manasupulla
this is nothing new.
Vithi villakillatha
One or two slips occur
Vithiyumilla
in moral conduct.
Etta irukkum sooriyan paathu
Fate made a rule and charted the way,
Mottu virikkuthu thaamara
child of my heart,
Thottu vidatha thooram irunthum
there is no rule
Sontha banthamum pogala
without an exception.
Paamba vizhutha
Looking at the distant sun,
Oru paagubadu theriyalayae
the lotus blossom unfolds.
Paamba irunthum
Despite the untouchable distance,
Nenju bayapada nenaikalayae
our inner bond has not broken.
En kattayum
Mistaking a snake for an aerial root,
Oru naal saayalam
I saw no difference.
En kannula
Even knowing it was a snake,
Un mugam poguma
my heart felt no fear.
Naa mannukulla
My mortal frame
Un nenanapu manasukulla
may collapse one day,
Santhiranum sooriyanum
but in my eyes,
Suthi orae kottil varuguthae
will your face ever vanish?
Sathiyamum pathiyamum
When I am buried beneath the soil,
Ippa thalaisuthi kedakuthae
your memory will remain safe within my heart.
Usurae poguthae
The moon and the sun
Usurae poguthae
revolve and align on the exact same line.
Odhata nee konjam suzhikayila
Truth and sacred vows
Oooo maaman thavikiren
now lie spinning in dizziness.
Madipicha ketkuren
My life is slipping away,
Manasa thaadi en manikuyilae
my life is slipping away,
Akkarai cheemaiyil
when you pucker your lips just a little.
Nee irunthum
Oh, I am writhing in agony,
Aiviral theenditha nenaikuthadi
begging for love as alms,
Agini pazhamunu therinjirunthum
give me your heart, my precious songbird!
Adikadi naaku thudikuthadi
Even across distant shores, my fingers yearn to touch you,
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Usure Poguthey is a haunting composition sung by Karthik in Mani Ratnam's 2010 film Raavanan (composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu). The song expresses the raw, irresistible, and conflicting emotions of Veera (modeled on Ravana), who falls helplessly in love with Ragini (Sita), his captive. He acknowledges the danger and moral transgression of his desire, comparing her presence to a tiny matchstick capable of reducing a massive teak forest to ashes, and a fire fruit (agini pazham) that burns yet entices. Throughout the track, Veera grapples with the duality of mind versus body and morality versus primal emotion. Even as traditional rules, sacred vows, and cosmic order seem to shatter around him, he remains captivated by her essence. Ultimately, the song portrays a tragic surrender to love—an emotion so profound that even death and burial beneath the earth cannot erase her image from his heart.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“En buthikula theeporiya nee vethacha / Chinna theekuchi osaram sirusuthaan”
Comparing the heroine to a tiny matchstick ('chinna theekuchi') that ignites a vast forest ('thaeku mara kaadu') of the protagonist's mind.
Oxymoron / Sensorial Imagery
“Agini pazhamunu therinjirunthum adikadi naaku thudikuthadi”
The phrase 'Agini pazham' (Fruit of Fire) pairs fire with edible fruit to represent temptation that brings destruction.
Monoreyme / Edhugai (Tamil Rhyme)
“Santhiranum sooriyanum... / Sathiyamum pathiyamum...”
Second-letter rhyming across lines, such as 'Santhiranum' and 'Sathiyamum'.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)
“Santhiranum sooriyanum suthi orae kottil varuguthae”
Describing the sun and moon aligning on a single line to illustrate the cosmic upheaval caused by his passion.
Did you know?
Trivia
A. R. Rahman composed this song in the classical raga Latangi. Lyricist Vairamuthu's metaphor 'Agini Pazham' received widespread critical acclaim for capturing the essence of forbidden attraction in the context of the Ramayana adaptation.
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