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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Bongu Bongu

From Pon Manickavel · 2019

Lyricist
Kabilan
Singer
Thiagaraja Subramaniam
Music director
D. Imman
Details
Pon Manickavel2019

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Bongu bongu bongammaa ..aa..Frauds and tricks everywhere, oh mother..
Ellaam bongu bongu bongammaa..aa..Everything is a trick and a farce, oh mother..
Bangu bangu bangammaa..aaa…Bangu bangu bangammaa..aaa…
En songu songu songaamaaIs my song, song, song...
Male
……………………….
Male
Pommanatti aampanattiWomen and men alike,
Kadhai kelu oruvaattiListen to my story just once.
Puyal vanthu adichaalumEven if a storm comes and strikes,
Avuraathu en veettiMy waist-cloth won't unravel.
Chorus
Bongu bongu bongammaa ..aa..Frauds and tricks everywhere, oh mother..
Ellaam bongu bongu bongammaa..aa..Everything is a trick and a farce, oh mother..
Bangu bangu bangammaa..aaa…Bangu bangu bangammaa..aaa…
En songu songu songaamaaIs my song, song, song...
Male
…………………………..
Male
En aatchi manasaatchiMy conscience is my rule,
Naan thaanae mudhalsaatchiI myself am the prime witness.
Poluthellaam poranthaachiA new dawn has arrived,
Ini poovodu en pechiFrom now on, my conversation is with flowers.
Male
Uzhaippalae vandhaThat comes through hard labor,
VervaikkumunnaeBefore a drop of sweat,
Nayagara onnum illadaaNiagara Falls is nothing, my friend!
Sirippaalae varum osaikkumunnaeBefore the joyful sound born of laughter,
Koyil mani engae solladaaTell me, where stands a temple bell?
Male
Sariyaa sollapponaTo put it truthfully,
Nagara vaazhkai onnum venaaI don't need city life at all.
Olachaalumae oru olaveeduEven if I toil hard, a simple thatched hut,
Rendu kaalamaadu ingae podhumAnd two bullocks are more than enough here.
Male
Yei nagaram nagaram thaanHey, the city is just a city,
Thagaram thagaram thaanIt is mere cheap tin metal!
Edaikku nee thookki poduDiscard it on the weighing scale.
Yei gramam gramam thaanHey, the village is a true village,
Unakkum enakkum thaanIt belongs to both you and me,
Santhosa ellaakkoduThe ultimate boundary of pure happiness!
Male
Pommanatti aampanattiWomen and men alike,
Kadhai sonnaa oruvaattiOnce the story is told,
Male & Chorus :Male & Chorus :
Vivasaayi oruvan thaanOnly a humble farmer,
Vaithukkae vazhikaattiIs the true provider for our stomachs!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This upbeat folk track celebrates the beauty, authenticity, and simplicity of village life over the hollow, bustling nature of urban living. The song stresses living by one's conscience, finding joy in hard work, and living close to nature. It concludes with a high tribute to farmers, hailing them as the true sustainers of human life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Bongu bongu bongammaa ..aa..

Matching end sounds in rhyming lines such as 'bongammaa', 'bangammaa', and 'songaamaa'.

Edhugai (Second-letter Assonance)

Yei nagaram nagaram thaan / Thagaram thagaram thaan

Repetition of the second consonant sound 'ga' across lines ('nagaram' and 'thagaram').

Hyperbole (Exaggeration)

Nayagara onnum illadaa

Comparing a hardworking farmer's sweat to Niagara Falls to emphasize the value of honest labor.

Metaphor

Thagaram thagaram thaan

Comparing city life to cheap tin metal ('thagaram') to highlight its lack of real value.

Did you know?

Trivia

The track featured in the action movie 'Pon Manickavel' starring Prabhu Deva. The music for the film was composed by D. Imman, with lyrics penned by popular lyricist Kabilan.

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