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Lyrics & meaning

Chithada Muthu Kannu

From Ponnagaram · 1980

Lyricist
Kamakodiyan
Singers
S. Janaki, Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Details
Ponnagaram1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Sithaada muthu kannuPearl-like eyes wearing a silk skirt,
Sevatha pulla chinna ponnuA fair-complexioned young girl,
Sithaada muthu kannuPearl-like eyes wearing a silk skirt,
Sevatha pulla chinna ponnuA fair-complexioned young girl,
Vithaaram pesikittaalaamShe conversed with charm and detail,
Ava maaman kittaWith her maternal uncle,
Vevaram ellaam therinjikittalamShe learned all the news and matters.
Female
Sithaada muthu kannu…uu…Pearl-like eyes wearing a silk skirt...
Sithaada muthu kannuPearl-like eyes wearing a silk skirt,
Sevatha pulla chinna ponnuA fair-complexioned young girl,
Vithaaram pesikittaalaamShe conversed with charm and detail,
Ava maaman kittaWith her maternal uncle,
Vevaram ellaam therinjikittalamShe learned all the news and matters.
Male
Ava maaman kittaWith her maternal uncle,
Vevaram ellaam therinjikittalamShe learned all the news and matters.
Male
Ponnazhagu kannathukkuFor those golden cheeks,
Poo manakkum koonthalukkuFor her flower-fragrant hair,
Nooru vagai seethanangal kondaalaeShe brought a hundred kinds of dowry gifts,
Ponnazhagu kannathukkuFor those golden cheeks,
Poo manakkum koonthalukkuFor her flower-fragrant hair,
Nooru vagai seethanangal kondaalaeShe brought a hundred kinds of dowry gifts,
Female
Maamanukku mayakkam ennaWhy is the uncle spellbound?
Naa manakkum paadal ennaWhat is this song that smells of sweet tongue?
Maamanukku mayakkam ennaWhy is the uncle spellbound?
Naa manakkum paadal ennaWhat is this song that smells of sweet tongue?
Male
Unnodu thenmaangu paada vandhenaeI came to sing a folk song with you,
Female :Aathaadi unkittae paadam kettenaeOh my, I asked for a lesson from you,
Male
Unnodu thenmaangu paada vandhenaeI came to sing a folk song with you,
Female :Aathaadi unkittae paadam kettenaeOh my, I asked for a lesson from you,
Male
Sithaada muthu kannuPearl-like eyes wearing a silk skirt,
Sevatha pulla chinna ponnuA fair-complexioned young girl,
Vithaaram pesikittaalaamShe conversed with charm and detail,
Ava maaman kittaWith her maternal uncle,
Vevaram ellaam therinjikittalamShe learned all the news and matters.
Female
Ava maaman kittaWith her maternal uncle,
Vevaram ellaam therinjikittalamShe learned all the news and matters.
Male
Oodugindra thanniyilaeIn the flowing water,
Aadugindra pon maiyilaeOh golden peacock that dances,
Aaduthadi en manasu pandhaagaMy heart bounces around like a ball,
Oodugindra thanniyilaeIn the flowing water,
Aadugindra pon maiyilaeOh golden peacock that dances,
Aaduthadi en manasu pandhaagaMy heart bounces around like a ball,
Female
Aadalaam manasirukkuThere is a desire to dance,
Aanaalum bayam irukkuYet, there is fear,
Male :YenWhy?
Female :Aadalaam manasirukkuThere is a desire to dance,
Aanaalum bayam irukkuYet, there is fear,
Male
Munnaadi ennadi moga bambaramIn front of me, what is this spinning top of desire?
Female :Ammadi unn paarvai kaadhal mandharamOh dear, your gaze is a chant of love,
Male
Munnaadi ennadi moga bambaramIn front of me, what is this spinning top of desire?
Female :Ammadi unn paarvai kaadhal mandharamOh dear, your gaze is a chant of love,
Male
Sithaada muthu kannu…uu….Pearl-like eyes wearing a silk skirt...
Female
Sithaada muthu kannu…Pearl-like eyes wearing a silk skirt...
Sevatha pulla chinna ponnuA fair-complexioned young girl,
Male :Vithaaram pesikittaalaamShe conversed with charm and detail,
Ava maaman kittaWith her maternal uncle,
Vevaram ellaam therinjikittalamShe learned all the news and matters.
Female
Ava maaman kittaWith her maternal uncle,
Vevaram ellaam therinjikittalamShe learned all the news and matters.
Male :Ava maaman kittaWith her maternal uncle,
Vevaram ellaam therinjikittalamShe learned all the news and matters.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Sithaada muthu kannu' from the movie Ponnagaram (1980), written by Kamakodiyan, is a playful duet between two lovers expressing their affection and romantic banter. The lyrics praise the heroine's grace, golden cheeks, fragrant hair, and fair appearance, painting a vivid picture of rural romance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhyme / Ethukai (Second-letter rhyming)

Sithaada muthu kannu ... Vithaaram pesikittaalaam

The second consonant 'th' matches between 'Sithaada' and 'Vithaaram'.

Metaphor (Uruvagamy)

Aaduthadi en manasu pandhaaga

Comparing the heart's restive, joyful jumping to a bouncing ball ('pandhaaga').

Metaphor / Imagery

Munnaadi ennadi moga bambaram / Ammadi unn paarvai kaadhal mandharam

Comparing love-struck eyes or gaze to an enchanting spell ('kaadhal mandharam') and playful desires to a spinning top ('moga bambaram').

Did you know?

Trivia

Ponnagaram (1980) features lyrics penned by Kamakodiyan, a prominent lyricist known for his rural folk flavor and traditional romantic Tamil idioms in 1980s South Indian cinema.

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