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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Panju Pola Nenju Idhu

From Punniyavathi · 1997

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
S. Janaki, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Punniyavathi1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ss… haa…Ss… haa…
Female
Haa panju pola nenju idhuAh, this heart is like cotton
Pathikkichu pathikkichuIt caught fire, it caught fire
Maamaa ada maamaaUncle, oh uncle
Konjam pola konji konjiCoaxing and fondling a little bit
Kooda chaendhuJoining together with me
Thee anaikkalaamaaCan we extinguish this fire?
Aahaahaa maamaaAahaahaa uncle
Female
Onga nenappu vandhuThoughts of you keep coming
Maamaa maamaaUncle, uncle
Enna thurathuradhuAnd chasing me down
Yeno maamaaWhy is it so, uncle?
Sorgam thaan pakkathulaHeaven is right nearby
Joraa povomaaShall we go together grandly?
Female
Ada dhiguthagu dhiguthaguOh dhiguthagu dhiguthagu
Dhiguthagu thaaDhiguthagu thaa
Ada dhiguthagu dhiguthaguOh dhiguthagu dhiguthagu
Dhiguthagu thaaDhiguthagu thaa
Dhiguthagu dhiguthaguDhiguthagu dhiguthagu
Dhiguthagu thaaDhiguthagu thaa
Ada dhiguthagu dhiguthaguOh dhiguthagu dhiguthagu
Dhiguthagu thaaDhiguthagu thaa
Female
Panju pola nenju idhuThis heart is like cotton
Pathikkichu pathikkichuIt caught fire, it caught fire
Maamaa ada maamaaUncle, oh uncle
Female
Hae kattilum thevai illaHey, there is no need for a bed
Kaathirukku mulla pooJasmine flowers are waiting
Kandu meraluradhu yennappuuWhy are you startled seeing this, my dear?
Haa haa haahhaaHaa haa haahhaa
Female
Thottu aravanaikkaTo touch and embrace
Thoppirukku settuppuThe groove setup is ready
Kaiyoda kaiyaHand in hand
Chaendhu thattappuLet us join and clap together
Soliya pottu sosiyam kettenI cast cowrie shells and asked for astrology
Soliya pottu sosiyam kettenI cast cowrie shells and asked for astrology
Sodi nee thaanaeYou are my match, aren't you?
Naan nenachadhu thaan nadakkanumOnly what I wished for must happen
Kaathirukkum aasa nenjuMy longing heart that is waiting
Adikkudhu thudikkudhu adhisayamaaIs beating and throbbing wonderfully
Female
Panju pola nenju idhuThis heart is like cotton
Pathikkichu pathikkichuIt caught fire, it caught fire
Maamaa ada maamaaUncle, oh uncle
Konjam pola konji konjiCoaxing and fondling a little bit
Kooda chaendhuJoining together with me
Thee anaikkalaamaaCan we extinguish this fire?
Aehaehae maamaaAehaehae uncle
Female
Thottaalae thunda pottuJust by a touch, laying down a towel
Thuniya pottu oduraAnd dropping your clothes, you run away
Chittenna seendi seendi paakkuraWhy do you tease me like a little bird?
Hae hae haehaeHae hae haehae
Female
Kacheri vachirukkenI have arranged a musical gathering
Machaan engae oduraWhere are you running, my cousin?
Pacha kozhandhai pola paakkuraYou look like an innocent young child
Yeichadhu podhumEnough of fooling around
Yerikkudhu mogamDesire is burning high
Female
Yeichadhu podhumEnough of fooling around
Yerikkudhu mogamDesire is burning high
Serthanaikka vaaCome to hold and embrace me
Raani mangammaaLike Queen Mangammal
Enakkaetha singamaaAre you a lion suitable for me?
Kaatthirukkum aasa nenjuMy longing heart that is waiting
Adikkudhu thudikkudhu adhisayamaaIs beating and throbbing wonderfully
Female
Panju pola nenju idhuThis heart is like cotton
Pathikkichu pathikkichuIt caught fire, it caught fire
Maamaa ada maamaaUncle, oh uncle
Konjam pola konji konjiCoaxing and fondling a little bit
Kooda chaendhuJoining together with me
Thee anaikkalaamaaCan we extinguish this fire?
Aahaahaa maamaaAahaahaa uncle
Female
Onga nenappu vandhuThoughts of you keep coming
Maamaa maamaaUncle, uncle
Enna thurathuradhuAnd chasing me down
Yeno maamaaWhy is it so, uncle?
Sorgam thaan pakkathulaHeaven is right nearby
Joraa povomaaShall we go together grandly?
Female
Ada dhiguthagu dhiguthaguOh dhiguthagu dhiguthagu
Dhiguthagu thaaDhiguthagu thaa
Ada dhiguthagu dhiguthaguOh dhiguthagu dhiguthagu
Dhiguthagu thaaDhiguthagu thaa
Dhiguthagu dhiguthaguDhiguthagu dhiguthagu
Dhiguthagu thaaDhiguthagu thaa
Ada dhiguthagu dhiguthaguOh dhiguthagu dhiguthagu
Dhiguthagu thaaDhiguthagu thaa
Female
Panju pola nenju idhuThis heart is like cotton
Pathikkichu pathikkichuIt caught fire, it caught fire
Maamaa ada maamaaUncle, oh uncle
Konjam pola konji konjiCoaxing and fondling a little bit
Kooda chaendhuJoining together with me
Thee anaikkalaamaaCan we extinguish this fire?
Aehaehae maamaaAehaehae uncle

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a playful and sensual Tamil folk-style duet/soliloquy in which the female protagonist passionately expresses her deep romantic urge towards her beloved ('Maamaa'). She compares her heart to dry cotton that has caught fire with desire and playfully asks him to embrace her and put out the flame. Through playful teasing and folk astrology references, she urges him to stop running away like an innocent child and embrace their love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamaani)

Panju pola nenju idhu

Comparing the soft, highly inflammable heart to cotton ('Panju pola nenju').

Metaphor (Uvagam)

Thee anaikkalaamaa

Comparing overwhelming romantic passion to a fire ('Thee') that needs to be extinguished.

Onomatopoeia / Rhythm syllables (Sollalangaaram)

Ada dhiguthagu dhiguthagu

Rhythmic folk beats used as filler words to elevate energy ('dhiguthagu dhiguthagu').

Second-Letter Rhyme (Etuhais)

Thottaalae thunda pottu

Matching second consonants across lines ('Thottaalae' / 'Chittenna').

Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

Pathikkichu pathikkichu

Repetition of words for emotional intensity and rhythm ('pathikkichu pathikkichu', 'konji konji').

Did you know?

Trivia

This track belongs to the 1997 Tamil film 'Punniyavathi', featuring lyrics written by veteran lyricist-director Gangai Amaran, who is well known for crafting earthy, catchy, and rhythmic Tamil folk songs.

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