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Pattanam Pogalam Vaa album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kaliamman Koyilile Ponga

From Pattanam Pogalam Vaa · 1981

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
S. Janaki, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Pattanam Pogalam Vaa
Movie release year
1981
Lyrics added on
15 Dec 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaaliyamman koyililae
Ponga veikka naanga vandhom
Kaaliyamman koyililae
Ponga veikka naanga vandhom
Azhagaana kannigalaam
Siru vaazhai thandugalaam
Azhagaana kannigalaam
Siru vaazhai thandugalaam
Kaaliyamman koyililae
Ponga veikka naanga vandhom
Vaanam boomi ava thaan padaichaa
Valarum thadaiyai avathaan azhichaa
Chorus :Vaanam boomi ava thaan padaichaa
Valarum thadaiyai avathaan azhichaa
Vaeli varappu unakku koduthu kaali kaathiruppaa
Chorus :Ava podum kottellaam nee thandi ponaakkaa
Vazhi sollum maakaaali thaayae
Kaaliyamman koyililae
Ponga veikka naanga vandhom
……………………………………..
Saadhi sanathai sugamaa irukkum
Needhi nilaikka ninaichaa nadakkum
Saadhi sanathai sugamaa irukkum
Needhi nilaikka ninaichaa nadakkum
Kanni manasu konjam azhudhaa
Thaali thandha aathaa
Chorus :Needhaanae ellamum neraaga thaaraayae
Namooru mahakaali thaayae
Kaaliyaamman koyililae
Ponga veikka naanga vandhom
Azhagaana kannigalaam
Siru vaazhai thandugalaam
Thaanaanaanae thaanaanaanae thaanaanaanae thaanaanaanae…(3)
At the Kali Amman temple,
We have come to cook and offer Pongal.
At the Kali Amman temple,
We have come to cook and offer Pongal.
We are pretty young girls,
Slender and tender like banana stems.
We are pretty young girls,
Slender and tender like banana stems.
At the Kali Amman temple,
We have come to cook and offer Pongal.
She is the one who created the sky and the earth,
She is the one who cleared every hurdle in our path.
Chorus: She is the one who created the sky and the earth,
She is the one who cleared every hurdle in our path.
Kali will protect you, giving you fences and field borders.
Chorus: Do not cross the boundaries she draws,
O Mother Mahakali who guides our way!
At the Kali Amman temple,
We have come to cook and offer Pongal.
...
She keeps all our kin and community happy,
If she decides justice must prevail, it will happen.
She keeps all our kin and community happy,
If she decides justice must prevail, it will happen.
If a young girl's heart weeps even a little,
She is the Mother who blesses her with a thali (sacred wedding knot).
Chorus: You are our everything, grant us your grace directly,
O Mother Mahakali of our village!
At the Kali Amman temple,
We have come to cook and offer Pongal.
We are pretty young girls,
Slender and tender like banana stems.
Thanaanane thanaanane thanaanane thanaanane… (3)
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Chorus
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a vibrant Tamil village folk devotional track sung during a temple festival dedicated to Goddess Kaliyamman. Village women gather at the deity's shrine to prepare the ritual Pongal offering while celebrating the community's bond, rural lifestyle, and faith in Goddess Kali as their supreme protector.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uwamai)

“Siru vaazhai thandugalaam”

Comparing young village maidens to tender banana stems ('Siru vaazhai thandugalaam') to highlight their grace, beauty, and youth.

Second-letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

“Vaanam boomi ava thaan padaichaa / Valarum thadaiyai avathaan azhichaa”

Matching second consonants across lines ('Vaanam' and 'Valarum', 'padaichaa' and 'azhichaa') enhancing the rhythmic folk flow.

Refrain / Repetition (Anaphora)

“Kaaliyamman koyililae / Ponga veikka naanga vandhom”

Repetition of chorus lines to capture the communal call-and-response dynamic of traditional Tamil Gramiya Paattu (village folk songs).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilayaraja for the 1981 film 'Pattanam Pogalam Vaa', this song captures authentic Tamil rural folk rhythm and temple festival atmosphere, rendered powerfully by S. Janaki alongside a chorus.

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