Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Uppu Vikka

From Ponnu Pakka Poren · 1989

Lyricist
Aazar
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
K. Bhagyaraj
Details
Ponnu Pakka Poren1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Naan uppu vikka pona mazhaiWhen I went to sell salt, rain
Kottokottunnu kottudhuPoured down relentlessly
Naan pori vikka ponaaWhen I went to sell puffed rice,
Perum puyal kaathu veesudhuA major storm wind blew
Male
Naan uppu vikka pona mazhaiWhen I went to sell salt, rain
Kottokottunnu kottudhuPoured down relentlessly
Naan pori vikka ponaaWhen I went to sell puffed rice,
Perum puyal kaathu veesudhuA major storm wind blew
Male
Thaenaana aarudhalai nee kooralaamYou may offer sweet words of solace
Ada thaenaaana aarudhalai nee kooralaamAh, you may offer sweet words of solace
En vaazhkkai ini veen thanMy life is entirely wasted from now on
Idhai naan kooralaamThis much I can say
Male
Naan uppu vikka pona mazhaiWhen I went to sell salt, rain
Kottokottunnu kottudhuPoured down relentlessly
Naan pori vikka ponaaWhen I went to sell puffed rice,
Perum puyal kaathu veesudhuA major storm wind blew
Male
Aaruyir thangaiyinIn my precious sister's
Anbinil vaazhndhenLove I lived
Aayiram amavadinWith a thousand dreams
Avalai valartheanI raised her
Male
Aaruyir thangaiyinIn my precious sister's
Anbinil vaazhndhenLove I lived
Aayiram kanavudanWith a thousand dreams
Avalai valartheanI raised her
Male
Uyirai poyi saerndha pinnAfter the soul itself has departed
Udalaai naan vaazhvadhaenWhy should I continue living as a mere body?
Uyirai poyi saerndha pinnAfter the soul itself has departed
Udalaai naan vaazhvadhaenWhy should I continue living as a mere body?
Mudamaana manadhoduWith a crippled mind
Nadaipinam polae uzhavugirenI wander around like a walking corpse
Male
Naan uppu vikka pona mazhaiWhen I went to sell salt, rain
Kottokottunnu kottudhuPoured down relentlessly
Naan pori vikka ponaaWhen I went to sell puffed rice,
Perum puyal kaathu veesudhuA major storm wind blew
Male
Kaadhal aaligai karpanai nadhuThe grand palace of love was a fantasy
Kanal neerena kngalai nanaithathuIt turned into a mirage and filled my eyes with tears
Aarudhal thedi naan saamiyai naadinenSeeking solace, I turned to God
Saniyan vandhadhaai saamiyum oodudhuThinking bad luck had arrived, even God runs away
Male
Idi mael idi idikkudhuThunder strikes upon thunder
Idhayam thudi thudikkudhuMy heart throbs in extreme agony
Idi mael idi idikkudhuThunder strikes upon thunder
Idhayam thudi thudikkudhuMy heart throbs in extreme agony
Vidiyaadhu en vaazhvuMy life will never see a new dawn
Podhu podhum poga viduEnough, it is enough, let me go
Male
Naan uppu vikka pona mazhaiWhen I went to sell salt, rain
Kottokottunnu kottudhuPoured down relentlessly
Naan pori vikka ponaaWhen I went to sell puffed rice,
Perum puyal kaathu veesudhuA major storm wind blew
Male
Thaenaana aarudhalai nee kooralaamYou may offer sweet words of solace
Ada thaenaaana aarudhalai nee kooralaamAh, you may offer sweet words of solace
En vaazhkkai ini veen thanMy life is entirely wasted from now on
Idhai naan kooralaamThis much I can say

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

Keep listening

More from Ponnu Pakka Poren