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Lyrics & meaning

Kudagu Naadu Ponni

From Kuzhanthai Ullam · 1969

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, P. Susheela
Music director
S. P. Kothandapani
Movie name
Kuzhanthai Ullam
Movie release year
1969
Lyrics added on
23 Aug 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kudagumalai magale…
Konattu marumagalae..aee
Kaveri poopattinathilae …
Kadalaadum thirumagalae
Kudagunaadu ponni pirandha naadu
Chola naadu ponni puguntha veedu
Chorus :Kudagunaadu ponni pirandha naadu
Chola naadu ponni puguntha veedu
Aadi maadham ponni aadum maadham
Chorus :Aadi maadham ponni aadum maadham
Male :Anna nadai aavesam aagum maadham
Chorus :Anna nadai aavesam aagum maadham
Kudagunaadu ponni pirandha naadu
Chola naadu ponni puguntha veedu
Ayirameenum kendai meenum iraippal
Ponni akkaraikkum ikkaraikkum vaazhvu koduppaal
Chorus :Ayirameenum kendai meenum iraippal
Ponni akkaraikkum ikkaraikkum vaazhvu koduppaal
Payir mugathil irundhu pachai kaatuvaal
Ponni paadupadum ezhai veetil aduppu moottuvaal
Podu ….
Kudagunaadu ponni pirandha naadu
Chola naadu ponni puguntha veedu
Kaveriyaal kandathu thaan ethanai vamsam
Aval karaiyinilae kaanbathu thaan ethanai amsam
Kaveriyaal kandathu thaan ethanai vamsam
Aval karaiyinilae kaanbathu thaan ethanai amsam
Poo virithu pottirukkum punnagai manjam
Adhil poi vilunthu aaduthamma kaadhalar nenjam
Podu
Kudagunaadu ponni pirandha naadu
Chola naadu ponni puguntha veedu
Kannagiyum maadhaviyum aadiya ponni
Engal kaaviyathil yerivitta oviya kanni
Chorus :Kannagiyum maadhaviyum aadiya ponni
Engal kaaviyathil yerivitta oviya kanni
Male :Punniyathai vaari varum kaaveri theertham
Adhai pottrukkindra pengalukku serum muhurtham
Adhai pottrukkindra pengalukku serum muhurtham
Male :Podu
Kudagunaadu ponni pirandha naadu
Chola naadu ponni puguntha veedu
Aadi maadham ponni aadu maadham
Anna nadai aavesam aagum maadham
Podu
Kudagunaadu ponni pirandha naadu
Chola naadu ponni puguntha veedu
Kudagunaadu ponni pirandha naadu
Chola naadu ponni puguntha veedu
O daughter of the Kodagu hills...
O daughter-in-law of Konadu...
In Kaveripoompattinam...
O blessed goddess who flows into the sea!
The land of Kodagu is where Ponni (River Cauvery) was born,
The Chola country is her wedded home!
Chorus: The land of Kodagu is where Ponni was born,
The Chola country is her wedded home!
The month of Aadi (monsoon season) is when Ponni rushes and dances,
Chorus: The month of Aadi is when Ponni rushes and dances,
Male: The month when her gentle swan-like walk turns into a roaring surge!
Chorus: The month when her gentle swan-like walk turns into a roaring surge!
The land of Kodagu is where Ponni was born,
The Chola country is her wedded home!
She scatters Ayirai fish and Kendai fish across her waters,
Ponni gives life to both of her banks!
Chorus: She scatters Ayirai fish and Kendai fish across her waters,
Ponni gives life to both of her banks!
She shows vibrant green through the smiling face of the crops,
Ponni lights the cooking fire in the homes of the hardworking poor!
Strike the beat!
The land of Kodagu is where Ponni was born,
The Chola country is her wedded home!
How many royal dynasties has Cauvery seen!
How many beautiful wonders can be seen along her banks!
How many royal dynasties has Cauvery seen!
How many beautiful wonders can be seen along her banks!
A smiling bed of flowers is spread out wide,
And into it, the hearts of lovers fall and dance!
Strike the beat!
The land of Kodagu is where Ponni was born,
The Chola country is her wedded home!
Ponni, where Kannagi and Madhavi once bathed and played,
A picture-perfect beauty who found her place in our epic!
Chorus: Ponni, where Kannagi and Madhavi once bathed and played,
A picture-perfect beauty who found her place in our epic!
Male: The sacred waters of Cauvery bring a shower of blessings,
Bringing auspicious wedding times to the women who revere her!
Bringing auspicious wedding times to the women who revere her!
Male: Strike the beat!
The land of Kodagu is where Ponni was born,
The Chola country is her wedded home!
The month of Aadi is when Ponni rushes and dances,
The month when her gentle swan-like walk turns into a roaring surge!
Strike the beat!
The land of Kodagu is where Ponni was born,
The Chola country is her wedded home!
The land of Kodagu is where Ponni was born,
The Chola country is her wedded home!
Male
Female
Male
Chorus
Female
Female
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song celebrates the holy River Kaveri (also known as Ponni), personifying her as a revered daughter born in the Coorg mountains and given in marriage to the fertile Chola kingdom. The lyrics highlight the cultural, agricultural, and spiritual significance of the river, particularly during the Tamil month of Aadi (Aadi Perukku festival), when Kaveri overflows with life-giving waters that bring prosperity, sustenance, and happiness to farmers and lovers alike. Furthermore, Kannadasan connects the river to Tamil literature and history, referencing iconic literary figures like Kannagi and Madhavi from the epic Silappatikaram, who bathed in these sacred waters. The song pays tribute to Kaveri as both a divine mother feeding the poor and a historic witness to powerful Chola dynasties.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Uruvagam / Maandharumai)

“Kudagunaadu ponni pirandha naadu / Chola naadu ponni puguntha veedu”

River Kaveri is personified as a young bride born in Coorg (Kudagu) and married into the Chola country, attributing human traits like 'Anna nadai' (swan walk) and 'Punnagai manjam' (bed of smiles).

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Kudagumalai magale… Konattu marumagalae”

Repetition of initial consonant sounds 'K' across words in consecutive lines (Kudagumalai, Konattu, Kaveri, Kadalaadum).

Ezhugai / Rhyming Endings

“Kaveriyaal kandathu thaan ethanai vamsam / Aval karaiyinilae kaanbathu thaan ethanai amsam”

Matching end sounds in lines such as 'vamsam' and 'amsam', providing melodic symmetry.

Allusion (Ilakkia Kurippu)

“Kannagiyum maadhaviyum aadiya ponni / Engal kaaviyathil yerivitta oviya kanni”

Direct reference to epic figures Kannagi and Madhavi from Ilango Adigal's Tamil epic 'Silappatikaram', grounding the river in ancient Tamil literary history.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by S. P. Kothandapani with lyrics by Kannadasan, this song remains one of the most famous cultural anthems celebrating the river Kaveri and the festival of Aadi Perukku in Tamil Nadu.

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