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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

College Pogum Penne

From Manathile Oru Paattu · 1995

Lyricist
Manimudi
Singers
Mano, Sudharsan
Music director
Ilaya Gangai
Details
Manathile Oru Paattu1995

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
College pogum pennaeOh girl going to college
Naanum varattaaMay I come along too?
Chorus :Naanum varattaaChorus: May I come along too?
Male
Hoi kaadhoram sangathi onnuHey, a secret whisper in your ear
Naanum sollattaaMay I tell it to you?
Chorus :Naanum sollattaaChorus: May I tell it to you?
Male
Aaththaa nee pogum padhaiOh girl, the path you walk upon
Adhuve en kadhal paadhaiThat itself is my path of love
Kannaalae paaththaa pothumJust a glance from your eyes is enough
Mayakkaththil yaeruthu bothaIntoxication rises in my dizziness
Magaraasi engala konjam thirumbi paarammmaBlessed lady, turn back and look at us a little, dear lady
Male
College pogum pennaeOh girl going to college
Naanum varattaaMay I come along too?
Chorus :Naanum varattaaChorus: May I come along too?
Male
Kaadhoram sangathi onnuA secret whisper in your ear
Naanum sollattaaMay I tell it to you?
Chorus :Naanum sollattaaChorus: May I tell it to you?
Male
Hoi hoi pookkalaalaeHey hey, with flowers
Paadhaiyondru poduvomWe will lay out a path
Paakkalaalae kavithai nooru paaduvomWith verses, we will sing a hundred poems
Male
Pookkalaalae paadhaiyondru poduvomWith flowers, we will lay out a path
Chorus :PoduvomChorus: We will lay it
Male :Paakkalaalae kavithai nooru paaduvomMale: With verses, we will sing a hundred poems
Chorus :PaaduvomChorus: We will sing
Male
Kamalahasanai polLike Kamal Haasan
Aattam aadi suththuvomWe will dance and spin around
Rainikanth polaLike Rajinikanth
Style-a panni asaththuvomWe will amaze you with style
Male
Engengae ponaa koodaWherever you go
Angellaam naanga varuvomWe will come right there
Engengae ponaa koodaWherever you go
Angellaam naanga varuvomWe will come right there
Chorus :Magaraasi engala konjam thirumbi paarammmaChorus: Blessed lady, turn back and look at us a little, dear lady
Male
College pogum pennaeOh girl going to college
Naanum varattaaMay I come along too?
Chorus :Naanum varattaaChorus: May I come along too?
Male
Haa kaadhoram sangathi onnuAh, a secret whisper in your ear
Naanum sollattaaMay I tell it to you?
Chorus :Naanum sollattaaChorus: May I tell it to you?
Male :HaMale: Ha
Male
Hoi neenga nenaichchaaHey, if you accept us
Naangalellaam romiyoWe are all Romeos
Neenga morachchaaIf you glare at us in anger
Nangalellaam saamiyoWe all turn into ascetics
Male
Neenga nenaichchaa naangalellaam RomeoIf you accept us, we are all Romeos
Chorus :RomeoChorus: Romeos
Male :Neenga morachchaa nangalellaam saamiyoMale: If you glare at us in anger, we all turn into ascetics
Chorus :SaamiyoChorus: Ascetics
Male
Maruththaalum veruththaalumEven if you reject or hate us
Kadhal pannuvomWe will still keep loving you
Neenga sirichchaalum morachchaalumWhether you smile or scowl at us
Thaajaa pannuvomWe will cajole and win you over
Male
Aahhhaa engengo ponaa koodaAh, wherever you go
Angellaam naanga varuvomWe will come right there
Engengo paarththaa koodaWherever you look
Angellaam naanga TherivomWe will appear right there
Chorus :Magaraasi engala konjam thirumbi paarammmaChorus: Blessed lady, turn back and look at us a little, dear lady
Male
College pogum pennaeOh girl going to college
Naanum varattaaMay I come along too?
Chorus :Naanum varattaaChorus: May I come along too?
Male
Haa kaadhoram sangathi onnuAh, a secret whisper in your ear
Naanum sollattaaMay I tell it to you?
Chorus :Naanum sollattaaChorus: May I tell it to you?
Male
Aaththaa nee pogum paathaiOh girl, the path you walk upon
Adhuvae en kadhal paathaiThat itself is my path of love
Kannaalae paaththaa pothumJust a glance from your eyes is enough
Mayakkaththil yaeruthu bothaIntoxication rises in my dizziness
Magaraasi engala konjam thirumbi paarammma hoiBlessed lady, turn back and look at us a little, dear lady, hey
Magaraasi engala konjam thirumbi paarammma maammmaaBlessed lady, turn back and look at us a little, dear lady
Chorus
Magaraasi engala konjam thirumbi paarammmaBlessed lady, turn back and look at us a little, dear lady

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'College Pogum Pennae' is a lively youth-oriented Tamil film song expressing playful eve-teasing and courtship. A group of young men playfully address a college-going woman, asking to walk with her and confessing their attraction. They express their devotion in humorous and exaggerated terms, declaring that her path is their love's direction and comparing their charming antics to cinema icons Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. Throughout the track, the singers promise to lay a bed of flowers for her path and compose poetry in her honor. They playfully state that if she responds favorably, they will act as devoted Romeos, but if she glares at them, they will turn into pious monks. The song captures a nostalgic 90s college-romance vibe, full of upbeat rhythm, call-and-response choruses, and colloquial charm.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Alliteration)

Pookkalaalae paadhaiyondru poduvom

Repetition of the initial consonant 'P' sound across adjacent words in the line ('Pookkalaalae', 'Paadhaiyondru', 'Poduvom').

Edhukai (Rhyming Second Syllables)

Engengae ponaa kooda / Angellaam naanga varuvom

The second syllable '-ngae' rhymes in consecutive lines ('Engengae' and 'Angellaam').

Pop Culture Allusion

Kamalahasanai pol / Aattam aadi suththuvom / Rainikanth pola / Style-a panni asaththuvom

Direct references to Tamil cinema legends Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth to highlight youthful exuberance, dance, and style.

Hyperbole

Kannaalae paaththaa pothum / Mayakkaththil yaeruthu botha

Exaggerated romantic devotion where the protagonist claims that a mere glance causes intoxicating dizziness and that they appear wherever she looks.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Manathile Oru Paattu' (1995) features lyrics written by Manimudi. The song reflects the classic mid-90s Tamil cinema trope of group college songs featuring energetic dance beats and playful banter between college students.

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