Ithu Oru Pon Malai
From Nizhalgal · 1980
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Nizhalgal1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Hey oh mmm lala la | (Vocalizations) |
| Male | |
| Ponmaalai pozhudhu | Golden evening time |
| Idhu oru ponmaalai pozhudhu | This is a golden evening time |
| Vaanamagal naanugiraal | The sky-maiden blushes with modesty |
| Vaeru udai poonugiraal | She changes into another attire |
| Male | |
| Idhu oru ponmaalai pozhudhu | This is a golden evening time |
| Hmm hey haa oh hmm mm mm | (Vocalizations) |
| Male | |
| Aayiram nirangal jaalamidum | A thousand colors play magic tricks |
| Raathiri vaasalil kolamidum | Drawing rangoli at the doorstep of the night |
| Male | |
| Aayiram nirangal jaalamidum | A thousand colors play magic tricks |
| Raathiri vaasalil kolamidum | Drawing rangoli at the doorstep of the night |
| Vaanam iravukku paalamidum | The sky builds a bridge towards the night |
| Paadum paravaigal thaalamidum | The singing birds keep the rhythm |
| Poo marangal saamarangal veesaadho | Won't the flowering trees wave fan-like whisks for comfort? |
| Male | |
| Idhu oru ponmaalai pozhudhu | This is a golden evening time |
| Male | |
| Vaanam enakkoru bhodhi maram | To me, the sky is a Bodhi tree of enlightenment |
| Naalum enakkadhu saedhi tharum | Every day it imparts wisdom and news to me |
| Male | |
| Vaanam enakkoru bhodhi maram | To me, the sky is a Bodhi tree of enlightenment |
| Naalum enakkadhu saedhi tharum | Every day it imparts wisdom and news to me |
| Oru naal ulagam needhi perum | One day, this world will attain true justice |
| Thirunaal nigazhum thaedhi varum | The date for that grand sacred occasion shall arrive |
| Kelvigalaal vaelvigalai naan seivaen | I shall perform sacred sacrificial rites using my questioning thoughts |
| Male | |
| Idhu oru ponmaalai pozhudhu | This is a golden evening time |
| Aaa…hey oh hmm lalalaa | (Vocalizations) |
| Hmm hey haa oh hmm mm mm | (Vocalizations) |
ஹேய் ஹோ ஹூம்... ல ல லா...
(Vocalizations)
பொன்மாலை பொழுது
இது ஒரு பொன்மாலை பொழுது
வானமகள் நாணுகிறாள்
வேறு உடை பூணுகிறாள்
Golden evening time
This is a golden evening time
The sky-maiden blushes with modesty
She changes into another attire
இது ஒரு பொன் மாலை பொழுது
ஹ்ம்ம் ஹே ஏ ஓ ஹ்ம் ம்ம் ம்ம் ம்ம்
This is a golden evening time
(Vocalizations)
ஆயிரம் நிறங்கள் ஜாலமிடும்
ராத்திரி வாசலில் கோலமிடும்
A thousand colors play magic tricks
Drawing rangoli at the doorstep of the night
ஆயிரம் நிறங்கள் ஜாலமிடும்
ராத்திரி வாசலில் கோலமிடும்
வானம் இரவுக்கு பாலமிடும்
பாடும் பறவைகள் தாளமிடும்
பூமரங்கள் சாமரங்கள் வீசாதோ
A thousand colors play magic tricks
Drawing rangoli at the doorstep of the night
The sky builds a bridge towards the night
The singing birds keep the rhythm
Won't the flowering trees wave fan-like whisks for comfort?
இது ஒரு பொன்மாலை பொழுது
This is a golden evening time
வானம் எனக்கொரு போதி மரம்
நாளும் எனக்கது சேதி தரும்
To me, the sky is a Bodhi tree of enlightenment
Every day it imparts wisdom and news to me
வானம் எனக்கொரு போதி மரம்
நாளும் எனக்கது சேதி தரும்
ஒரு நாள் உலகம் நீதி பெறும்
திருநாள் நிகழும் தேதி வரும்
கேள்விகளால் வேள்விகளைநான் செய்தேன்
To me, the sky is a Bodhi tree of enlightenment
Every day it imparts wisdom and news to me
One day, this world will attain true justice
The date for that grand sacred occasion shall arrive
I shall perform sacred sacrificial rites using my questioning thoughts
இது ஒரு பொன்மாலை பொழுது
ஏ ஹேய் ஹோ ஹூம்... ல ல லா...
ஹ்ம்ம் ஹே ஏ ஓ ஹ்ம் ம்ம் ம்ம் ம்ம்
This is a golden evening time
(Vocalizations)
(Vocalizations)
Hey oh mmm lala la
(Vocalizations)
Ponmaalai pozhudhu
Golden evening time
Idhu oru ponmaalai pozhudhu
This is a golden evening time
Vaanamagal naanugiraal
The sky-maiden blushes with modesty
Vaeru udai poonugiraal
She changes into another attire
Idhu oru ponmaalai pozhudhu
This is a golden evening time
Hmm hey haa oh hmm mm mm
(Vocalizations)
Aayiram nirangal jaalamidum
A thousand colors play magic tricks
Raathiri vaasalil kolamidum
Drawing rangoli at the doorstep of the night
Aayiram nirangal jaalamidum
A thousand colors play magic tricks
Raathiri vaasalil kolamidum
Drawing rangoli at the doorstep of the night
Vaanam iravukku paalamidum
The sky builds a bridge towards the night
Paadum paravaigal thaalamidum
The singing birds keep the rhythm
Poo marangal saamarangal veesaadho
Won't the flowering trees wave fan-like whisks for comfort?
Idhu oru ponmaalai pozhudhu
This is a golden evening time
Vaanam enakkoru bhodhi maram
To me, the sky is a Bodhi tree of enlightenment
Naalum enakkadhu saedhi tharum
Every day it imparts wisdom and news to me
Vaanam enakkoru bhodhi maram
To me, the sky is a Bodhi tree of enlightenment
Naalum enakkadhu saedhi tharum
Every day it imparts wisdom and news to me
Oru naal ulagam needhi perum
One day, this world will attain true justice
Thirunaal nigazhum thaedhi varum
The date for that grand sacred occasion shall arrive
Kelvigalaal vaelvigalai naan seivaen
I shall perform sacred sacrificial rites using my questioning thoughts
Idhu oru ponmaalai pozhudhu
This is a golden evening time
Aaa…hey oh hmm lalalaa
(Vocalizations)
Hmm hey haa oh hmm mm mm
(Vocalizations)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This iconic song captures the magical beauty of a golden sunset while weaving deep philosophical reflections of a hopeful youth. The lyrics personify the evening sky as a shy bride changing her outfit as twilight turns into night, while the surrounding nature—birds, trees, and colors—celebrates this serene transition. Beyond nature's beauty, the sky becomes a metaphor for the 'Bodhi tree', imparting wisdom to the protagonist. He looks to the future with idealism, contemplating social justice and believing that questioning the status quo will lead to enlightenment and positive societal transformation.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification (மாந்தருருவகப்படுத்துதல்)
“Vaanamagal naanugiraal / Vaeru udai poonugiraal”
The sky is personified as a blushing bride ('Vaanamagal') who changes her attire as day turns to night.
Metaphor (உருவகம்)
“Vaanam enakkoru bhodhi maram”
The sky is metaphorically called a Bodhi tree ('Bhodhi maram'), symbolizing a divine source of knowledge and spiritual enlightenment.
Alliteration & Internal Rhyme (மோனை / எதுகை)
“Kelvigalaal vaelvigalai naan seivaen”
The line uses playful phonetics with matching sounds ('Kelvigalaal' / 'Vaelvigalai') to emphasize the act of questioning as a sacred ritual.
Rhetorical Question (வினா நவிற்சி)
“Poo marangal saamarangal veesaadho”
A poetic query asking if the flowering trees aren't waving royal whisk fans to honor the evening.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song marked the debut of Vairamuthu as a lyricist in Tamil cinema. Director Bharathiraja and composer Ilaiyaraaja gave him the opportunity after reading his poetry collection 'Thiruthai Vizhiyil'. Vairamuthu famously wrote the line 'Vaanam enakkoru bhodhi maram' while travelling on a bus, and it immediately captivated Ilaiyaraaja, sparking a legendary collaboration.
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