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Ponnoonjal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Muthu Charam

From Ponnoonjal · 1973

Lyricist
Nellai Arulmani
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, B. Vasantha
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Ponnoonjal
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
6 Feb 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Muthucharam soodi varum
Valli ponnukku
Naan moganama patteduppen
Chella kannukku
Sithirathil pottu
Vaitha kolam edharkku
En aththai mava mutham thara
Kaalam edharkku
Humming ………………..
Muthucharam soodi varum
Valli ponnukku
Naan moganama patteduppen
Chella kannukku
Sithirathil pottu
Vaitha kolam edharkku
En aththai mava mutham thara
Kaalam edharkku
Humming ………………..
Vanna mayil anna nadai
Pinni kidakku
Aasai onnodu onnu
Vandhu otti kidakku
Humming ………………..
Vanna mayil anna nadai
Pinni kidakku
Aasai onnodu onnu
Vandhu otti kidakku
Sengarumbhu manja kothu
Konjam vayalil
Nalla singaaram poothirukku
Vanji kodiyil
Nalla singaaram poothirukku
Vanji kodiyil
Female :O o o o ho ho
Aa aa aahaa
Muthucharam soodi varum
Valli ponnukku
Naan moganama patteduppen
Chella kannukku
Sithirathil pottu
Vaitha kolam edharkku
En aththai mava mutham thara
Kaalam edharkku
Aa aa aahaa….
Paal surakkum nel manikku
Mangai paruvam endhan
Kanmanikku thaen surakkum
Kanni paruvam
Aa aa aahaa….
Paal surakkum nel manikku
Mangai paruvam endhan
Kanmanikku thaen surakkum
Kanni paruvam
Manmadhanum thottu vecha
Macham irukku
Andha machathilae machanukkum
Utcham irukku
Andha machathilae machanukkum
Utcham iruku
Female :O o o o ho ho
Aa aa aahaa
Muthucharam soodi varum
Valli ponnukku
Naan moganama patteduppen
Chella kannukku
Sithirathil pottu
Vaitha kolam edharkku
En aththai mava mutham thara
Kaalam edharkku
Aa aa aahaa….
For the one who wears a string of pearls,
for my golden girl Valli,
I will buy charming silk
for my precious darling.
Why draw a decorative pattern
inside a painting?
Why wait for the right time
to kiss my beloved cousin?
(Humming...)
For the one who wears a string of pearls,
for my golden girl Valli,
I will buy charming silk
for my precious darling.
Why draw a decorative pattern
inside a painting?
Why wait for the right time
to kiss my beloved cousin?
(Humming...)
The vibrant peacock and the swan's graceful walk
are woven together,
and desires, one with another,
are clinging close together.
(Humming...)
The vibrant peacock and the swan's graceful walk
are woven together,
and desires, one with another,
are clinging close together.
Sweet red sugarcane and bunches of turmeric
flourish in the fields,
and fine beauty has blossomed
on this slender vine.
Fine beauty has blossomed
on this slender vine.
Female: Oh oh oh oh ho ho
Ah ah aaha
For the one who wears a string of pearls,
for my golden girl Valli,
I will buy charming silk
for my precious darling.
Why draw a decorative pattern
inside a painting?
Why wait for the right time
to kiss my beloved cousin?
Ah ah aaha...
Just as tender paddy grains fill with milk,
my sweetheart has entered
the blossoming days of youth,
flowing with sweet honey.
Ah ah aaha...
Just as tender paddy grains fill with milk,
my sweetheart has entered
the blossoming days of youth,
flowing with sweet honey.
There is a beauty mark touched by the god of love,
a mole upon her skin,
and in that mole, for her sweetheart,
lies the peak of joy!
And in that mole, for her sweetheart,
lies the peak of joy!
Female: Oh oh oh oh ho ho
Ah ah aaha
For the one who wears a string of pearls,
for my golden girl Valli,
I will buy charming silk
for my precious darling.
Why draw a decorative pattern
inside a painting?
Why wait for the right time
to kiss my beloved cousin?
Ah ah aaha...
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This romantic song from 'Ponnoonjal' (1973) is a joyful rural duet expressing mutual love, intimacy, and affection between cross-cousins (aththai magan / aththai magal). The hero admires his beloved Valli, praising her delicate beauty and comparing her graceful presence to nature—blooming vines, fertile crops, and peacocks. In response, the couple playful dismisses formal auspicious timing or ritualistic barriers, celebrating the natural closeness and passion they share.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Metaphor / Simile)

“Vanna mayil anna nadai”

Compares the heroine's graceful walk and beauty to a colorful peacock and a swan ('Vanna mayil anna nadai').

Agricultural Imagery

“Paal surakkum nel manikku”

Uses metaphors of ripening paddy crops ('Paal surakkum nel manikku') and sugarcane ('Sengarumbhu') to symbolize youthful maturity and flowering romance.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Vaitha kolam edharkku / Kaalam edharkku”

Matching end sounds in lines like 'edharkku' and 'edharkku' create a rhythmic, catchy folk refrain.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Muthucharam soodi varum' is a classic rural romantic track composed by legendary music director M. S. Vishwanathan for the film 'Ponnoonjal' (1973), starring Sivaji Ganesan and Uphasri. Lyricist Nellai Arulmani infused rich traditional South Indian agrarian metaphors and cross-cousin courtship motifs popular in Tamil cinema of the 1970s.

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