Poda Poda Ellam Mayam
From Selvi · 1985
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. Janaki, Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Selvi1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Podaa podaa ellaam maayam | Go away, go away, everything is an illusion |
| Yendaa saami idhuvaa nyaayam | Hey Lord, is this justice? |
| Vaalibam kaanum varna jaalam | The colorful magic seen in youth |
| Vaanavil polae vandhu pogum | Will come and go like a rainbow |
| Enna jaalamo kolamo podhum po poo | Whatever magic or design it is, enough, go away, go |
| Male | |
| Podaa podaa ellaam maayam | Go away, go away, everything is an illusion |
| Yendaa saami idhuvaa nyaayam | Hey Lord, is this justice? |
| Female | |
| Pennai kandodum thuravi thaan | Even an ascetic runs away upon seeing a woman |
| Oru pennil undaana piravi thaan | Yet his birth itself originated from a woman |
| Pengal illaadha boomiyaa | Is there a world without women? |
| Oru dhevi illaadha saamiyaa | Is there a God without a Goddess? |
| Male | |
| Aasaiyaalae indru vaadinenae | Because of desire, I withered today |
| Amaidhi engae endru paadinenae | I sang asking where peace was |
| Female | |
| Thaedidum nimmadhi | The peace that is sought |
| Tharum dheviyin sannidhi | Is granted in the sanctum of the Goddess |
| Male | |
| Naayagan en manam | My hero, my heart |
| Ini naalellaam un vasam | From now on, all days belong to you |
| Paavai thaan thevai thaan | A maiden is indeed necessary |
| Kaana kaana kannil oorum thaenae | Oh honey that wells up in the eyes upon looking |
| Male | |
| Podaa podaa hae | Go away, go away, hey |
| Ellaam inbam haa | Everything is bliss, ha |
| Adadaa nee thaan haan | Aha, you alone are, ha |
| Azhagin bimbam | The reflection of beauty |
| Female | |
| Vaalibam kaanum varna jaalam | The colorful magic seen in youth |
| Vaazhndhidum ingae endha naalum | Will live here forever |
| Adhan jaalamum kolamum kaana vaa vaa | Come, come to see its magic and forms |
| Male | |
| Podaa podaa ellaam inbam | Go away, go away, everything is bliss |
| Adadaa nee thaan azhagin bimbam | Aha, you alone are the reflection of beauty |
| Male | |
| Kannan neeraadum nadhi idhu | This is the river where Krishna bathes |
| Iru kaigal pattaalae neliyudhu | It squirms as soon as two hands touch it |
| Female | |
| Mannan muthaadum kani idhu | This is the fruit kissed by the king |
| Viral mella thottaalum kaniyudhu | It ripens even if a finger gently touches it |
| Male | |
| Odi vaa vaa nenjil oonjal aada | Run and come to swing in the heart |
| Female | |
| Thaedi vaa vaa inba thaeril aada | Seek and come to ride on the chariot of bliss |
| Male | |
| Raathiri aanadhum | Once night falls |
| Indha raaniyin njaabagam | Think of this queen |
| Female | |
| Raagamum thaalamum | Raga and rhythm |
| Ondru servadhae keerthanam | Joining together is a divine musical composition |
| Male | |
| Paadalaam koodalaam | We can sing, we can unite |
| Kaalam thorum neeyum naanum thaanae | Through all times, it is only you and me |
| Male | |
| Podaa podaa ellaam maayam | Go away, go away, everything is an illusion |
| Yendaa saami idhuvaa nyaayam | Hey Lord, is this justice? |
| Female :Vaalibam kaanum varna jaalam | The colorful magic seen in youth |
| Vaazhndhidum ingae endha naalum | Will live here forever |
| Male | |
| Enna jaalamo kolamo podhum po poo | Whatever magic or design it is, enough, go away, go |
| Male | |
| Podaa podaa ellaam maayam | Go away, go away, everything is an illusion |
| Yendaa saami idhuvaa nyaayam | Hey Lord, is this justice? |
போடா போடா
எல்லாம் மாயம்
ஏண்டா சாமி இதுவா நியாயம்
Go away, go away, everything is an illusion
Hey Lord, is this justice?
The colorful magic seen in youth
Will come and go like a rainbow
Whatever magic or design it is, enough, go away, go
வாலிபம் காணும்
வர்ண ஜாலம்
வானவில் போலே வந்து போகும்
என்ன ஜாலமோ கோலமோ
போதும் போ போ
Go away, go away, everything is an illusion
Hey Lord, is this justice?
போடா போடா
எல்லாம் மாயம்
ஏண்டா சாமி இதுவா நியாயம்
Even an ascetic runs away upon seeing a woman
Yet his birth itself originated from a woman
Is there a world without women?
Is there a God without a Goddess?
பெண்ணைக்
கண்டோடும் துறவிதான்
ஒரு பெண்ணில்
உண்டான பிறவிதான்
பெண்கள் இல்லாத பூமியா
ஒரு தேவி இல்லாத சாமியா
Because of desire, I withered today
I sang asking where peace was
ஆசையாலே இன்று வாடினேனே
அமைதி எங்கே என்று பாடினேனே
தேடிடும் நிம்மதி தரும்
தேவியின் சன்னிதி
The peace that is sought
Is granted in the sanctum of the Goddess
நாயகன் என் மனம் இனி
நாளெல்லாம் உன் வசம்
பாவைதான் சேவைதான்
காணக் காண கண்ணில்
ஊறும் தேனே
My hero, my heart
From now on, all days belong to you
A maiden is indeed necessary
Oh honey that wells up in the eyes upon looking
போடா போடா
ஹே எல்லாம் இன்பம்
அடடா நீ தான்
ஹா அழகின் பிம்பம்
Go away, go away, hey
Everything is bliss, ha
Aha, you alone are, ha
The reflection of beauty
வாலிபம் காணும்
வர்ண ஜாலம்
வாழ்ந்திடும் இங்கே எந்த நாளும்
அதன் ஜாலமும் கோலமும்
காண வா வா.....
The colorful magic seen in youth
Will live here forever
Come, come to see its magic and forms
போடா போடா
ஹே எல்லாம் இன்பம்
அடடா நீ தான்
ஹா அழகின் பிம்பம்
Go away, go away, everything is bliss
Aha, you alone are the reflection of beauty
கண்ணன் நீராடும் நதி இது
இரு கைகள் பட்டாலே நெளியுது
மன்னன் முத்தாடும் கனி இது
விரல் மெல்லத் தொட்டாலும் கனியுது
This is the river where Krishna bathes
It squirms as soon as two hands touch it
ஓடி வா வா
நெஞ்சில் ஊஞ்சல் ஆட
தேடி வா வா
இன்பத் தேரில் ஆட
This is the fruit kissed by the king
It ripens even if a finger gently touches it
ராத்திரி ஆனதும்
இந்த ராணியின் ஞாபகம்
ராகமும் தாளமும்
ஒன்று சேர்வதே கீர்த்தனம்
பாடலாம் கூடலாம்
காலம் தோறும் நீயும் நானும்தானே
Run and come to swing in the heart
போடா போடா
எல்லாம் மாயம்
ஏண்டா சாமி இதுவா நியாயம்
Seek and come to ride on the chariot of bliss
வாலிபம் காணும்
வர்ண ஜாலம்
வாழ்ந்திடும் இங்கே எந்த நாளும்
என்ன ஜாலமோ கோலமோ
போதும் போ போ
Once night falls
Think of this queen
போடா போடா
எல்லாம் மாயம்
ஏண்டா சாமி இதுவா நியாயம்
Raga and rhythm
Joining together is a divine musical composition
We can sing, we can unite
Through all times, it is only you and me
Go away, go away, everything is an illusion
Hey Lord, is this justice?
The colorful magic seen in youth
Will live here forever
Whatever magic or design it is, enough, go away, go
Go away, go away, everything is an illusion
Hey Lord, is this justice?
Podaa podaa ellaam maayam
Go away, go away, everything is an illusion
Yendaa saami idhuvaa nyaayam
Hey Lord, is this justice?
Vaalibam kaanum varna jaalam
The colorful magic seen in youth
Vaanavil polae vandhu pogum
Will come and go like a rainbow
Enna jaalamo kolamo podhum po poo
Whatever magic or design it is, enough, go away, go
Podaa podaa ellaam maayam
Go away, go away, everything is an illusion
Yendaa saami idhuvaa nyaayam
Hey Lord, is this justice?
Pennai kandodum thuravi thaan
Even an ascetic runs away upon seeing a woman
Oru pennil undaana piravi thaan
Yet his birth itself originated from a woman
Pengal illaadha boomiyaa
Is there a world without women?
Oru dhevi illaadha saamiyaa
Is there a God without a Goddess?
Aasaiyaalae indru vaadinenae
Because of desire, I withered today
Amaidhi engae endru paadinenae
I sang asking where peace was
Thaedidum nimmadhi
The peace that is sought
Tharum dheviyin sannidhi
Is granted in the sanctum of the Goddess
Naayagan en manam
My hero, my heart
Ini naalellaam un vasam
From now on, all days belong to you
Paavai thaan thevai thaan
A maiden is indeed necessary
Kaana kaana kannil oorum thaenae
Oh honey that wells up in the eyes upon looking
Podaa podaa hae
Go away, go away, hey
Ellaam inbam haa
Everything is bliss, ha
Adadaa nee thaan haan
Aha, you alone are, ha
Azhagin bimbam
The reflection of beauty
Vaalibam kaanum varna jaalam
The colorful magic seen in youth
Vaazhndhidum ingae endha naalum
Will live here forever
Adhan jaalamum kolamum kaana vaa vaa
Come, come to see its magic and forms
Podaa podaa ellaam inbam
Go away, go away, everything is bliss
Adadaa nee thaan azhagin bimbam
Aha, you alone are the reflection of beauty
Kannan neeraadum nadhi idhu
This is the river where Krishna bathes
Iru kaigal pattaalae neliyudhu
It squirms as soon as two hands touch it
Mannan muthaadum kani idhu
This is the fruit kissed by the king
Viral mella thottaalum kaniyudhu
It ripens even if a finger gently touches it
Odi vaa vaa nenjil oonjal aada
Run and come to swing in the heart
Thaedi vaa vaa inba thaeril aada
Seek and come to ride on the chariot of bliss
Raathiri aanadhum
Once night falls
Indha raaniyin njaabagam
Think of this queen
Raagamum thaalamum
Raga and rhythm
Ondru servadhae keerthanam
Joining together is a divine musical composition
Paadalaam koodalaam
We can sing, we can unite
Kaalam thorum neeyum naanum thaanae
Through all times, it is only you and me
Podaa podaa ellaam maayam
Go away, go away, everything is an illusion
Yendaa saami idhuvaa nyaayam
Hey Lord, is this justice?
Female :Vaalibam kaanum varna jaalam
The colorful magic seen in youth
Vaazhndhidum ingae endha naalum
Will live here forever
Enna jaalamo kolamo podhum po poo
Whatever magic or design it is, enough, go away, go
Podaa podaa ellaam maayam
Go away, go away, everything is an illusion
Yendaa saami idhuvaa nyaayam
Hey Lord, is this justice?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Podaa podaa ellaam maayam' from the 1985 Tamil film Selvi presents a fascinating transition between philosophical cynicism and romantic realization. Initially, the lyrics express disillusionment with the fleeting nature of worldly desires and youth, comparing them to a temporary rainbow. It questions the illusionary nature of life and asks whether such transience is fair. However, as the song progresses, it defends the divine and essential role of women in existence, asserting that love, beauty, and female companionship are not mere illusions but the ultimate source of bliss and peace. The lyrics evolve from viewing youth as an ephemeral trick to celebrating it as an enduring celebration of love, music, and emotional togetherness.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamanam)
“Vaanavil polae vandhu pogum”
Compares the transience of youth and its colorful magic to a rainbow that appears and disappears quickly.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kannan neeraadum nadhi idhu”
Directly compares the lover to a river where Lord Krishna bathes and a fruit kissed by a king.
Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Aasaiyaalae indru vaadinenae / Amaidhi engae endru paadinenae”
Rhyming of the second consonant sound in adjacent lines ('Aasaiyaalae' and 'Amaidhi').
Monai (First-letter alliteration)
“Raagamum thaalamum / Ondru servadhae keerthanam”
Matching initial letters across lines ('Raathiri' and 'Raaniyin', 'Raagamum' and 'Ondru').
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the legendary lyricist Vaali, the song masterfully plays with philosophical concepts like 'Maayam' (maya/illusion), a recurring theme in classical Tamil spiritual poetry, while seamlessly adapting it into a romantic contemporary film duet.
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