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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Avan Porukku Ponaan

From Vazhkai Vazhvatharke · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Vazhkai Vazhvatharke1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Haa..aaa…aaa…Haa..aaa...aaa...
Avan porukku ponaanHe went to war,
Naan porkalam aanenI became the battlefield.
Avan porukku ponaanHe went to war,
Naan porkalam aanenI became the battlefield.
Avan vel kondu sendraanHe went carrying a spear,
Naan vizhigalai izhandhenI lost my vision.
Avan porukku ponaanHe went to war,
Naan porkalam aanenI became the battlefield.
Avan vel kondu sendraanHe went carrying a spear,
Naan vizhigalai izhandhenI lost my vision.
Avan porukku ponaanHe went to war,
Naan porkalam aanenI became the battlefield.
Female
Avan kaavalan endraanHe claimed to be my protector,
Naan kaavalai izhandhenI lost my protection.
Avan kaavalan endraanHe claimed to be my protector,
Naan kaavalai izhandhenI lost my protection.
Avan paavalan endraanHe said he was a poet,
Naan paadalai marandhenI forgot my song.
Female
Avan thaerum vaaradhooWill his chariot not arrive?
Oru saedhi solladhadhooWill it not bring some news?
Avan thaerum vaaradhooWill his chariot not arrive?
Oru saedhi solladhadhooWill it not bring some news?
Avan thozhum vaaradhooWill his arms/companion not come?
Oru thoodhu solladhadhooWill it not convey a message?
Female
Avan porukku ponaanHe went to war,
Naan porkalam aanenI became the battlefield.
Avan vel kondu sendraanHe went carrying a spear,
Naan vizhigalai izhandhenI lost my vision.
Avan porukku ponaanHe went to war,
Naan porkalam aanenI became the battlefield.
Female
Enai aadaiyil kandaanHe saw me in fine attire,
Paavadaiyil kandaanHe saw me in a skirt,
Manamaedaiyai marandhaanHe forgot the wedding dais,
Poovaadaiyai marandhaanHe forgot the fragrant flower breeze.
Female
En manam arivaanooWill he understand my heart?
Thirumalar koduppaanoWill he give me the auspicious wedding garland?
Avan kann thirappaanooWill he open his eyes?
Iru kai koduppaanooWill he hold out both his hands to me?
En manam arivaanooWill he understand my heart?
Thirumalar koduppaanoWill he give me the auspicious wedding garland?
Avan kann thirappaanooWill he open his eyes?
Iru kai koduppaanooWill he hold out both his hands to me?
Avan kann thirappaanooWill he open his eyes?
Iru kai koduppaanooWill he hold out both his hands to me?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from 'Vazhkai Vazhvatharke' (1964) expresses the profound angst and grief of a woman whose beloved has departed for the battlefield. Lyricist Kannadasan draws upon ancient Sangam literary traditions (Akam vs. Puram), contrasting the soldier's outward military expedition with the heroine's intense inner turmoil. While he wields weapons in battle, her own heart and body become a battleground of emotional distress and longing. Throughout the song, she anxiously questions whether his chariot will return with good news or if he will come back to fulfill his promises of love and marriage. Through P. Susheela's expressive vocals and Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy's classical composition, the song captures the agonizing suspense of waiting for a warrior lover to return safely.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Naan porkalam aanen

The speaker equates her internal distress directly to a battlefield ('Naan porkalam aanen'), emphasizing how war affects the emotionally vulnerable left behind.

Antithesis / Contrast

Avan kaavalan endraan / Naan kaavalai izhandhen

Juxtaposes his role as a protector ('kaavalan') against her complete loss of safety and guard ('kaavalai izhandhen').

Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Avan kaavalan endraan / Avan paavalan endraan

Rhyming of second letters across adjacent lines ('kaavalan' / 'paavalan', 'aadaiyil' / 'paavadaiyil').

Monai (Initial Consonance)

Avan porukku ponaan / Naan porkalam aanen

Matching initial consonant sounds in 'porukku' and 'porkalam'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song draws directly from Sangam poetry themes, specifically blending Akam (interior/love) and Puram (exterior/warfare). Kannadasan's use of classic imagery like 'porkalam' (battlefield), 'vel' (spear), and 'thirumalar' (sacred wedding flowers) evokes classical Tamil literature within a film song structure.

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