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Ponnoonjal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nalla Kaariyam

From Ponnoonjal · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Ponnoonjal
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
17 Jan 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
O..ooo ooo oooo oo ooo
Nalla kaariyam seekiram nadakkanum
Konjam sollungalaen
Thulli varum muthu killaigalae
Nalla kaariyam seekiram nadakkanum
Konjam sollungalaen
Thulli varum muthu killaigalae
Pachai vanna vettrilai pol
Parandhodum podhu
Paakku vechu vethilaiyil
Sonnaal enna thodhu
Sonnaal enna thoodhu
Nalla kaariyam seekiram nadakkanum
Konjam sollungalaen
Thulli varum muthu killaigalae
Muthu killaigalae muthu killaigalae
Muthu killaigalae muthu killaigalae
O..ooo ooo oooo oo
Vellam odattum
Pennidam koorattum
Ullam vaelikattai thaandi vandhu poovagattum
Andha megangal paadum raagangal
Vanna pen paarkka poyi varum thoodhuaagattum
Vellam odattum
Pennidam koorattum
Ullam vaelikattai thaandi vandhu poovagattum
Andha megangal paadum raagangal
Vanna pen paarkka poyi varum thoodhuaagattum
Manjalukku naathu vecha
Manakaadho ingae
Maunathilae sedhi sonnaal
Puriyadho angae
Nalla kaariyam seekiram nadakkanum
Konjam sollungalaen
Thulli varum muthu killaigalae
Muthu killaigalae muthu killaigalae
Muthu killaigalae muthu killaigalae
Haaa…aaaa…haaa..aaa
Thanga meengalae thaamarai poovilae
Pongum thaen undu en kadhai neer ariveergaloo
Andha pon vandu indha pookandu
Inba thaen unnum naal paarkka viduveergaloo
Pandhiyilae kaathirukku pasiyodu sondham
Pakkathilae nee irundhu parimaaru konjam
Oh... ohooo ohooo ohoooo oo ohooo
A happy wedding should happen soon,
Won't you please put in a word,
O lively little pearl parrots?
A happy wedding should happen soon,
Won't you please put in a word,
O lively little pearl parrots?
Looking like green betel leaves
As you fly swiftly away,
Offering betel leaf and nut,
Wouldn't it be so fitting
To deliver our wedding message?
A happy wedding should happen soon,
Won't you please put in a word,
O lively little pearl parrots?
O pearl parrots, O pearl parrots!
O pearl parrots, O pearl parrots!
Oh... ohooo ohooo ohoooo oo
Let the rushing stream flow
And carry the word to that girl;
Let the heart leap over the fence and blossom into a flower!
May the melodies sung by those clouds
Become messengers to seek that lovely girl's hand!
Let the rushing stream flow
And carry the word to that girl;
Let the heart leap over the fence and blossom into a flower!
May the melodies sung by those clouds
Become messengers to seek that lovely girl's hand!
If turmeric seedlings are planted,
Won't their fragrance spread here?
If a message is spoken in silence,
Won't it be understood there?
A happy wedding should happen soon,
Won't you please put in a word,
O lively little pearl parrots?
O pearl parrots, O pearl parrots!
O pearl parrots, O pearl parrots!
Haa... aaaa... haa.. aa
O golden fish around the lotus flower,
Drinking overflowing nectar, do you know my story?
When that golden bee finds this blossom,
Will you let me see the day it sips the sweet nectar?
Our relatives are waiting hungrily at the feast;
Come stand beside me and serve them a little!
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This romantic song from the 1973 film 'Ponnoonjal' expresses the passionate anticipation of an upcoming wedding and auspicious union ('nalla kaariyam'). The protagonist addresses elements of nature—parrots, flowing streams, clouds, and golden fish—asking them to act as messengers ('thoodhu') to convey his deep love and intentions to his beloved. Through rich imagery of traditional invitations with betel leaves, turmeric, and wedding feasts, the song captures the cultural essence of South Indian courtship and matrimony, beautifully penned by Kannadasan and set to melody by M. S. Vishwanathan.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Thoodhu Ilakkiyam (Messenger motif)

“Thulli varum muthu killaigalae”

A classic Sangam poetic convention where elements of nature like parrots (killaigalae) and clouds (megangal) are implored to carry love messages to the beloved.

Uvamai (Simile)

“Pachai vanna vettrilai pol”

Comparing the birds' movement or nature to a fresh green betel leaf (pachai vanna vettrilai pol).

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Vellam odattum / Pennidam koorattum”

Repetition of the verbal suffix '-attum' across consecutive lines establishing rhythmic harmony.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Andha pon vandu indha pookandu”

Describing the protagonist and heroine as the golden beetle (pon vandu) and flower (poo) yearning for honey (matrimonial bliss).

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ponnoonjal' (1973) starred Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan and Usha Nandini. The track 'Nalla Kaariyam' remains an enduring classic duets of T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, celebrated for Kannadasan's integration of traditional Tamil wedding customs into song lyrics.

Keep listening

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