T.M. Soundarajan and P. Susheela perform ‘Brinthavanathil Pooveduthu’ from the Cid Sankar album. Lyricist Kannadasan and composer S. Vedhachalam create a playful duet comparing love to Tamil Nadu’s rivers and flowers. Their vocal exchange mirrors lovers whispering by the Kaveri.
Brinthavanathil Pooveduthu
P. Susheela | T. M. Soundarajan • From “Cid Sankar”
Brinthavanathil Pooveduthu Lyrics Translation P. Susheela | T. M. Soundarajan | Cid Sankar
Kannadasan describes embracing until bangles break, symbolizing physical closeness. Soundarajan notes a stone statue preserves Kaveri’s youth beyond human time. These contrasts balance temporary beauty with lasting art.
Male : Brindhavanathil pooveduthuMale: After picking a flower in ‘Brindhavan’, the sacred garden,
Ilampennae unakku soodattumayoung girl, should I place it in your hair?
Sala sala neerai alli eduthuAfter scooping up the ‘sala sala’ bubbling water,
Sandhanam kuzhaithu poosattumashould I mix the sandalwood paste and apply it to you?
Female : Kannampaadiyil padagu vittuFemale: After letting the boat drift in ‘Kannampaadi’,
En kaigalukkul unnai veikkattumashould I hold you within my arms?
Kattiya azhagai vittu vidaamalWithout letting go of your captivating beauty,
Kaivalai norunga anaikkattumashould I embrace you until your bangles crush?
Female : Thulli kudhikkum neeroottruFemale: It’s a spring that jumps and leaps,
Adhai thottu thazhuvum poongaattruand it’s a flower-scented breeze that touches and embraces it.
Thulli kudhikkum neeroottruThe water’s spring jumps and leaps,
Adhai thottu thazhuvum poongaattruand the floral breeze touches and embraces it.
Mella nanaindhadhu melaadaiMy upper garment’s slowly getting soaked,
Adhu verenna seiyum noolaadaiwhat else can a simple cotton cloth do?
Mella nanaindhadhu melaadaiMy light wrap’s slowly getting drenched,
Adhu verenna seiyum noolaadaiwhat else can a thread-spun cloth do?
Female : Kannampaadiyil padagu vittuFemale: After letting the boat drift in ‘Kannampaadi’,
En kaigalukkul unnai veikkattumashould I hold you within my arms?
Kattiya azhagai vittu vidaamalWithout letting go of your captivating beauty,
Kaivalai norunga anaikkattumashould I embrace you until your bangles crush?
Male : Brindhavanathil pooveduthuMale: After picking a flower in ‘Brindhavan’, the sacred garden,
Ilampennae unakku soodattumayoung girl, should I place it in your hair?
Sala sala neerai alli eduthuAfter scooping up the ‘sala sala’ bubbling water,
Sandhanam kuzhaithu poosattumashould I mix the sandalwood paste and apply it to you?
Male : Kaaveri pennukku silai veithaanMale: He built a statue for the ‘Kaveri’ river maiden,
Aval kaadhalukkenna vilai veithaanbut what price did he set for her love?
Kaaveri pennukku silai veithaanHe sculpted a statue of the ‘Kaveri’ maiden,
Aval kaadhalukkenna vilai veithaanbut how could he ever value her love?
Kaalangal dhoorum ilamai irukkaTo keep her youth alive through the ages,
Kallai irukkum nilai veithaanhe ensured she’d remain as a stone statue.
Kaalangal dhoorum ilamai irukkaSo her beauty stays youthful for all time,
Kallai irukkum nilai veithaanhe gave her the form of eternal stone.
Male : Brindhavanathil pooveduthuMale: After picking a flower in ‘Brindhavan’, the sacred garden,
Ilampennae unakku soodattumayoung girl, should I place it in your hair?
Sala sala neerai alli eduthuAfter scooping up the ‘sala sala’ bubbling water,
Sandhanam kuzhaithu poosattumashould I mix the sandalwood paste and apply it to you?
Female : Kannampaadiyil padagu vittuFemale: After letting the boat drift in ‘Kannampaadi’,
En kaigalukkul unnai veikkattumashould I hold you within my arms?
Kattiya azhagai vittu vidaamalWithout letting go of your captivating beauty,
Kaivalai norunga anaikkattumashould I embrace you until your bangles crush?
Brinthavanathil Pooveduthu Music Video
The duet’s lyrics translation explains how love outlasts human creations, mirroring eternal rivers in Kannadasan’s verses. Water imagery flows through each exchange between the singers.