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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ammadi Ponnukku

From Raman Ethanai Ramanadi · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Raman Ethanai Ramanadi1970

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ammaadi… ee… ee…Oh dear girl...
Ponnukku thanga manasuThe girl has a heart of gold,
Pogudhu chinna manasuHer innocent young mind wanders.
Kannukku nooru vayasuHer eyes hold the wisdom of a hundred years,
Ava sollukku naalu vayasuYet her words are like those of a four-year-old child.
Sollukku naalu vayasuHer words are like those of a four-year-old child.
Male
Ammaadi… ee… ee…Oh dear girl...
Ponnukku thanga manasuThe girl has a heart of gold,
Pogudhu chinna manasuHer innocent young mind wanders.
Kannukku nooru vayasuHer eyes hold the wisdom of a hundred years,
Ava sollukku naalu vayasuYet her words are like those of a four-year-old child.
Sollukku naalu vayasuHer words are like those of a four-year-old child.
Oho ho… ooo… ooo… oo…Oho ho… ooo… ooo… oo…
Male
Ennaiyil eriyum vilakkuLike a lamp burning bright in oil,
Aval ennaiyae azhaikkum sirippuHer smile calls out directly to me.
Chorus :Bur thagum thakidaChorus: Bur thagum thakida
Bur thaghum thakidaBur thaghum thakida
Bur thaghum thakida burthatthaaBur thaghum thakida burthatthaa
Male
Ennaiyil eriyum vilakkuLike a lamp burning bright in oil,
Aval ennaiyae azhaikkum sirippuHer smile calls out directly to me.
Ennavo nadakuthu nadappuSomething peculiar is happening here,
Idhil yedho sugamum irukkuYet there is a hidden joy in this state.
Male
Yaarukku indha kadhai theriyumWho knows this story?
Saamikku mattum idhu puriyumOnly God truly understands this.
Paalukkul morum kooda irukkumEven buttermilk remains hidden within milk,
Naalukkum kaalam vandhaal nadakkumWhen the appointed time arrives, events will unfold.
Male
Ammaadi… ee… ee…Oh dear girl...
Ponnukku thanga manasuThe girl has a heart of gold,
Pogudhu chinna manasuHer innocent young mind wanders.
Kannukku nooru vayasuHer eyes hold the wisdom of a hundred years,
Ava sollukku naalu vayasuYet her words are like those of a four-year-old child.
Sollukku naalu vayasuHer words are like those of a four-year-old child.
Male
Adithaal azhuven oru naalIf beaten, I will weep for a day,
Yaarum anaithal sirippen maru naalIf embraced lovingly, I will smile the next day.
Bur thaghum thakidaBur thaghum thakida
Bur thaghum thakidaBur thaghum thakida
Bur thaghum thakida burthatthaaBur thaghum thakida burthatthaa
Male
Adithaal azhuven oru naalIf beaten, I will weep for a day,
Yaarum anaithal sirippen maru naalIf embraced lovingly, I will smile the next day.
Eduppaar kaigalil pillaiLike a child picked up in anyone's arms,
Oru pagaiyo uravo illaiThere is no enmity nor any deep relationship.
Male
Thoppukku thennai maram sondhamThe coconut trees belong to the grove,
Kaathukku endha maram sondhamBut to which tree does the wind belong?
Boomikku kaattu vellam sondhamWild floods belong to the Earth,
Ponnukku indha ullam sondhamAnd this heart belongs to that girl.
Male
Ammaadi… ee… ee…Oh dear girl...
Ponnukku thanga manasuThe girl has a heart of gold,
Pogudhu chinna manasuHer innocent young mind wanders.
Kannukku nooru vayasuHer eyes hold the wisdom of a hundred years,
Ava sollukku naalu vayasuYet her words are like those of a four-year-old child.
Sollukku naalu vayasuHer words are like those of a four-year-old child.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song features a deep philosophical reflection framed through a playful yet poignant observation of a woman with a child-like innocence and pure heart. The narrator describes her as someone with a golden heart whose expressions carry deep wisdom ('eyes of a hundred years') despite her innocent speech ('words of a four-year-old'). The lyrics explore themes of destiny, resilience, and unconditioned love. Through metaphors of nature—such as milk containing buttermilk, the wind belonging to no single tree, and floods belonging to the earth—Kannadasan illustrates how nature and life operate on inherent, divine timing beyond human comprehension. The protagonist reflects on his own simple, forgiving disposition, noting that he holds no grudges and that his heart naturally belongs to her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Ponnukku thanga manasu / Kannukku nooru vayasu

Matching second consonants in consecutive lines (Ponnukku / Kannukku).

Monaif (First-letter Alliteration)

Adithaal azhuven oru naal / Yaarum anaithal sirippen maru naal

Matching initial consonant sounds within lines or across paired lines (Adithaal / Anaithal).

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagamaai)

Ponnukku thanga manasu

Comparing a pure, loving heart directly to gold ('thanga manasu').

Philosophical Metaphor

Paalukkul morum kooda irukkum / Naalukkum kaalam vandhaal nadakkum

Comparing potential and timing to buttermilk hidden within milk waiting to be churned at the right moment.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Raman Ethanai Ramanadi' (1970) stars Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya, with music composed by M. S. Viswanathan and lyrics by Kannadasan. The track 'Ponnukku Thanga Manasu' was sung by T. M. Soundararajan and remains one of the iconic philosophical songs of 1970s Tamil cinema, celebrated for Kannadasan's signature blend of folk rhythm and existential wisdom.

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