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Isaimozhi
Bharathi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Mayil Pola Ponnu Onnu

From Bharathi · 2000

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singer
Bhavatharani
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Bharathi
Movie release year
2000
Lyrics added on
8 Feb 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{Mayil pola ponnu onnu
Kili pola pechu onnu} (3)
Kuyil pola pattu onnu kettu ninnu
Manasu pona idam theriyala
Andha mayakkam ennaku innum teliayala
Mayil pola ponnu onnu
Ponnu onnu………..
Vandiyila vanna mayil neeyum pona
Sakaramaa en manasu suthudhadi
Mandhaara malli marikozhundhu sembagamae
Muna muriyaa poove ena murichadhenadio
Thanga mugam parka
Dhenam sooriyanum varalaam
Sangu kazhuthukkae
Pirai chandhirana tharalaam
Kuyil pola pattu onnu kettu ninnu
Manasu pona idam theriyala
Andha mayakkam ennaku innum teliayala
Mayil pola ponnu onnu
Kili pola pechu onnu
Velli nila megathula vaaradhupol
Malliga poo pandhaloda vandhadhu yaaru
Siru olayila un nenappa ezhudhi vechen
Oru ezhuththariyaadha
Kathum vandhu ezhupadhum enna
Kuththu vilakkoliyae
Siru kutti nilaa oliyae
Muthu chudar oliyae
Oru mhtham nee tharuvaaya
Kuyil pola pattu onnu kettu ninnu
Manasu pona idam theriyala
Andha mayakkam ennaku innum teliayala
{Mayil pola ponnu onnu
Kili pola pechu onnu} (2)
Kuyil pola pattu onnu kettu ninnu
Manasu pona idam theriyala
Andha mayakkam ennaku innum teliayala
Mayil pola ponnu onnu
Ponnu onnu………..
{ A girl like a peacock,
With words as sweet as a parrot } (3)
Hearing a song like a cuckoo's, I stood transfixed,
And I don't know where my heart has gone.
I still haven't recovered from that spell.
A girl like a peacock,
A golden girl...
When you ride away in a cart like a colorful peacock,
My heart spins like a wheel, my girl.
Oh blossom of mandara, jasmine, marjoram, and champak,
Oh unbroken flower, why did you break me so?
Just to gaze upon your golden face,
The sun himself might come every day.
For your graceful conch-shaped neck,
One could offer the crescent moon as a jewel.
Hearing a song like a cuckoo's, I stood transfixed,
And I don't know where my heart has gone.
I still haven't recovered from that spell.
A girl like a peacock,
With words as sweet as a parrot.
Like the silver moon emerging from the clouds,
Who is this arriving beneath a canopy of jasmine?
I wrote my thoughts of you on a palm leaf,
Unable to read a single letter,
Why does the passing breeze come and stir them awake?
Oh flame of the traditional oil lamp,
Oh soft glow of the little moon,
Oh radiant gleam of a pearl,
Will you give me a kiss?
Hearing a song like a cuckoo's, I stood transfixed,
And I don't know where my heart has gone.
I still haven't recovered from that spell.
{ A girl like a peacock,
With words as sweet as a parrot } (2)
Hearing a song like a cuckoo's, I stood transfixed,
And I don't know where my heart has gone.
I still haven't recovered from that spell.
A girl like a peacock,
A golden girl...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song expresses a lover's intense intoxication and adoration upon seeing and hearing his beloved. He compares her beauty and grace to nature's finest creations—a peacock's dance, a parrot's speech, and a cuckoo's voice. Lost in her mesmerising presence, his heart spins endlessly and he remains spellbound in love. He offers poetic praises, equating her golden face to the sun and her neck to a conch worthy of holding the crescent moon.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Mayil pola ponnu onnu Kili pola pechu onnu

Compares the girl to a peacock ('Mayil pola'), her speech to a parrot ('Kili pola'), and her song to a cuckoo ('Kuyil pola').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Thanga mugam parka

Directly equates her face to gold ('Thanga mugam') and her neck to a conch ('Sangu kazhuthu').

Visual Imagery

Velli nila megathula vaaradhupol

Evokes vivid visual imagery of a silver moon appearing from behind clouds and a canopy woven of jasmine flowers.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Mayil Pola Ponnu Onnu' features in the critically acclaimed 2000 biographical film 'Bharathi', directed by Gnana Rajasekaran. Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, the track is sung by Bhavatharini and won immense praise for its nostalgic folk-infused melody and traditional Tamil lyricism.

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