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Thottathellam Ponnagum album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Panimalai Megangal

From Thottathellam Ponnagum · 1975

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
K. Vijaya Baskar
Movie name
Thottathellam Ponnagum
Movie release year
1975
Lyrics added on
23 Apr 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pani malai megangal
Pozhigindra kulirinil
Thirukkural padikkattuma
Kannae pudhu kural kodukkattuma
Pani malai megangal
Pozhigindra kulirinil
Thirukkural padikkattuma
Kanna pudhu kural kodukkattuma
Maragadha poonjittu
Mani mandra kaatru
Malai mugil koondhalai izhai pinnikkattu
Male :Haa..kuzhallukkul yaazhukkul Oodidum kaatru
Konjattumae ingu un mozhi kettu
Poovaiyin kannathil poomethai pottu
Male :Boomiyin maeniyil ooviyam theettu
Pani malai megangal
Pozhigindra kulirinil
Male :Thirukkural padikkattuma
Kannae pudhu kural kodukkattuma
Ani aniyaai varum
Nagai muthu maalai
Adikkadi thendralil silirkkindra solai
Female :Mani maniyaai minnum
Velavan velai
Vadithitta kannukku ver enna velai
Thottadhu pennaaga
Thodarattum maalai
Female :Kodhaiyin mayakkathil
Vidiyattum kaalai
Pani malai megangal
Pozhigindra kulirinil
Female :Thirukkural padikkattuma
Kanna pudhu kural kodukkattuma
Pidipadum kaadhal
Kodippadum naanam
Pirivukku idam illai uravugal melam
Male :Managla vaazhaiyin
Thorana vasal
Mandhiram sonnaal ver enna thonum
Oodalil padattum
Or siru ragam
Male :Koodalil kaanattum
Aanandha thaalam
Pani malai megangal
Pozhigindra kulirinil
Thirukkural padikkattuma
Kanna pudhu kural kodukkattuma
Pani malai megangal
Pozhigindra kulirinil
Thirukkural padikkattuma
Kannae pudhu kural kodukkattuma
In the misty mountain clouds,
In the chill pouring down,
Shall I read the Thirukkural (ancient verses of love)?
My darling, shall I give you a new voice?
In the misty mountain clouds,
In the chill pouring down,
Shall I read the Thirukkural (ancient verses of love)?
My dearest, shall I give you a new voice?
An emerald little bird,
The breeze from the open courtyard,
Braiding strands of hair made of mountain clouds...
Male: Ah, the wind that flows through the flute and the harp,
Let it caress softly, listening to your sweet words.
Spreading a bed of flowers on a girl's cheek,
Male: Paint a portrait on the body of the earth.
In the misty mountain clouds,
In the chill pouring down,
Male: Shall I read the Thirukkural (ancient verses of love)?
My darling, shall I give you a new voice?
Arriving in beautiful rows,
Like a smiling necklace of pearls,
Is the grove that often shivers in the gentle breeze.
Female: Sparkling like precious gems,
Sharp like the spear of Lord Murugan,
What other task is there for such finely shaped eyes?
Now that you have held your woman,
Let this romantic evening continue.
Female: Lost in the sweet charm of this girl,
Let the morning dawn.
In the misty mountain clouds,
In the chill pouring down,
Female: Shall I read the Thirukkural (ancient verses of love)?
My dearest, shall I give you a new voice?
When love takes hold,
And shyness gently flutters,
There is no room for parting, with wedding drums celebrating our bond.
Male: At the festive doorway,
Adorned with auspicious banana stalks,
Once the sacred vows are spoken, what else will we think of?
In our playful lover's tiff,
Let a sweet melody be heard,
Male: And in our joyful union,
Let there be a rhythm of pure bliss.
In the misty mountain clouds,
In the chill pouring down,
Shall I read the Thirukkural (ancient verses of love)?
My dearest, shall I give you a new voice?
In the misty mountain clouds,
In the chill pouring down,
Shall I read the Thirukkural (ancient verses of love)?
My darling, shall I give you a new voice?
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Thottathellam Ponnagum' is a romantic duet set against a chilly, scenic backdrop. The lovers express their affection using poetic metaphors drawn from classical Tamil literature, particularly referencing the 'Thirukkural' (the ancient Tamil ethical text on love and virtue). They playfully compare their romantic dialogue and intimate moments to reciting couplets ('kural') and weaving sweet melodies. Through evocative imagery of snowy mountains, gentle breezes, and traditional wedding symbols, the song captures the warmth and bliss of marital togetherness amidst cold surroundings. Lyricist Kannadasan skillfully blends literary Tamil references with delicate romance, set to a melodious score by K. Vijaya Baskar.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Pun / Wordplay (Sledai)

“Thirukkural padikkattuma / Kannae pudhu kural kodukkattuma”

Plays on the word 'Kural', referencing both the Thirukkural (ancient Tamil couplets on love) and 'kural' meaning voice or tone.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Malai mugil koondhalai izhai pinnikkattu”

Compares the heroine's long dark hair to dark rain clouds hovering over mountains ('Malai mugil koondhal').

Simile / Imagery (Uvamai)

“Velavan velai / Vadithitta kannukku ver enna velai”

Compares the sharp, sculpted eyes of the woman to 'Vel', the sacred spear of Lord Murugan.

Rhyme & Alliteration (Edhugai / Moonaai)

“Oodalil padattum / Or siru ragam / Koodalil kaanattum / Aanandha thaalam”

Use of internal rhyming and repetition of soft consonant sounds ('Oodalil' / 'Koodalil').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1975 Tamil movie 'Thottathellam Ponnagum', starring Sivakumar and Jayachitra. The music was composed by K. Vijaya Baskar, a renowned Kannada composer who created several memorable Tamil soundtracks in the 1970s. Kannadasan's lyrics famously intertwine the classical literary work Thirukkural's 'Kaamathupaal' (Book of Love) theme into a modern film melody.

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