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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Uppu Vikka

From Ponnu Pakka Poren · 1989

Lyricist
Aazar
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
K. Bhagyaraj
Movie name
Ponnu Pakka Poren
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
8 Jan 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naan uppu vikka pona mazhai
Kottokottunnu kottudhu
Naan pori vikka ponaa
Perum puyal kaathu veesudhu
Naan uppu vikka pona mazhai
Kottokottunnu kottudhu
Naan pori vikka ponaa
Perum puyal kaathu veesudhu
Thaenaana aarudhalai nee kooralaam
Ada thaenaaana aarudhalai nee kooralaam
En vaazhkkai ini veen than
Idhai naan kooralaam
Naan uppu vikka pona mazhai
Kottokottunnu kottudhu
Naan pori vikka ponaa
Perum puyal kaathu veesudhu
Aaruyir thangaiyin
Anbinil vaazhndhen
Aayiram amavadin
Avalai valarthean
Aaruyir thangaiyin
Anbinil vaazhndhen
Aayiram kanavudan
Avalai valarthean
Uyirai poyi saerndha pinn
Udalaai naan vaazhvadhaen
Uyirai poyi saerndha pinn
Udalaai naan vaazhvadhaen
Mudamaana manadhodu
Nadaipinam polae uzhavugiren
Naan uppu vikka pona mazhai
Kottokottunnu kottudhu
Naan pori vikka ponaa
Perum puyal kaathu veesudhu
Kaadhal aaligai karpanai nadhu
Kanal neerena kngalai nanaithathu
Aarudhal thedi naan saamiyai naadinen
Saniyan vandhadhaai saamiyum oodudhu
Idi mael idi idikkudhu
Idhayam thudi thudikkudhu
Idi mael idi idikkudhu
Idhayam thudi thudikkudhu
Vidiyaadhu en vaazhvu
Podhu podhum poga vidu
Naan uppu vikka pona mazhai
Kottokottunnu kottudhu
Naan pori vikka ponaa
Perum puyal kaathu veesudhu
Thaenaana aarudhalai nee kooralaam
Ada thaenaaana aarudhalai nee kooralaam
En vaazhkkai ini veen than
Idhai naan kooralaam
When I went out to sell salt, rain
started pouring and pouring down.
When I went out to sell puffed rice,
a fierce storm wind started blowing.
When I went out to sell salt, rain
started pouring and pouring down.
When I went out to sell puffed rice,
a fierce storm wind started blowing.
You may offer sweet words of comfort,
Oh, you may offer sweet words of comfort,
but my life is ruined now,
and this is all I can say.
When I went out to sell salt, rain
started pouring and pouring down.
When I went out to sell puffed rice,
a fierce storm wind started blowing.
In the love of my beloved sister,
I used to live.
With a thousand dreams,
I brought her up.
In the love of my beloved sister,
I used to live.
With a thousand dreams,
I brought her up.
Now that my life and soul are gone,
why should I live on as an empty body?
Now that my life and soul are gone,
why should I live on as an empty body?
With a broken, crippled heart,
I wander around like a living corpse.
When I went out to sell salt, rain
started pouring and pouring down.
When I went out to sell puffed rice,
a fierce storm wind started blowing.
The palace of love in my world of dreams
soaked my eyes like burning tears.
Seeking solace, I turned to God,
thinking bad luck had arrived, even God runs away!
Thunder strikes upon thunder again and again,
and my heart trembles in agony.
Thunder strikes upon thunder again and again,
and my heart trembles in agony.
Dawn will never rise in my life,
enough, it is enough, just let me go!
When I went out to sell salt, rain
started pouring and pouring down.
When I went out to sell puffed rice,
a fierce storm wind started blowing.
You may offer sweet words of comfort,
Oh, you may offer sweet words of comfort,
but my life is ruined now,
and this is all I can say.
Male
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Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song portrays the profound anguish and feelings of utter bad luck experienced by the protagonist. Using classic Tamil folk proverbs—such as rain ruining a salt seller's work and a storm ruining a puffed-rice seller's goods—the protagonist laments that every step he takes leads to failure and misfortune. Having lived solely for his beloved sister and nurtured grand dreams for her, he now feels emotionally destroyed, comparing himself to a walking corpse after tragic setbacks.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Folk Idiom / Proverb (Palamozhi)

“Naan uppu vikka pona mazhai... Naan pori vikka ponaa... Perum puyal kaathu veesudhu”

Uses the traditional Tamil proverb 'Uppu vikka ponaa mazhai, pori vikka ponaa kaatru' to metaphorically express chronic bad luck where every venture is ruined by unforeseen circumstances.

Simile (Uvamai)

“Nadaipinam polae uzhavugiren”

Compares his sorrowful state of existing without purpose to a 'walking corpse' (nadaipinam).

Alliteration & Monai

“Idi mael idi idikkudhu / Idhayam thudi thudikkudhu”

Repetition of initial sounds 'Idi' and 'Idhayam' creates rhythmic pulse emphasizing emotional turmoil.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

“Kanal neerena kngalai nanaithathu”

Refers to romantic expectations as a mirage ('Kanal neer') that wets the eyes instead of quenching thirst.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie 'Ponnu Pakka Poren' (1989) features music composed by multi-talented actor-director K. Bhagyaraj. Known primarily for his screenplays and direction, Bhagyaraj composed music for a few select films, blending humor, folk proverbs, and tragicomedy into the song lyrics.

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