Podhigai Malai Uchiyiley
From Thiruvilaiyadal · 1965
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- P. B. Sreenivas, S. Janaki
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Thiruvilaiyadal1965
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| {Podhigai malai uchiyilae | At the peak of Podhigai mountain, |
| Purappadum thendral | The southern breeze originates, |
| Aadai pootti veiththa meniyilum | Even over the body covered and draped in garments, |
| Thavazhnthidum thendral} (2) | The breeze crawls and creeps. |
| Podhigai malai uchiyilae | At the peak of Podhigai mountain, |
| Purappadum thendral | The southern breeze originates, |
| Female | |
| {Pathi madurai veethiyilae | In the streets of the royal city of Madurai, |
| Valam varum thendral} (2) | The breeze gently circulates, |
| Intha pandiyanaar paingiliyai | This green parrot of the Pandya ruler, |
| Theendidum thendral | The breeze tenderly touches. |
| Podhigai malai uchiyilae | At the peak of Podhigai mountain, |
| Purappadum thendral | The southern breeze originates, |
| Female | |
| {Kaar kuzhalai neeraatti | Bathing her dark clouds of hair, |
| Kannirandai thaalaatti} (2) | Lulling her pair of eyes to sleep, |
| Thenithazhil muththamittu | Kissing her sweet honey-like lips, |
| Siriththidum thendral | The breeze smiles softly, |
| Vanna dhegamengum neereduththu | Gathering water droplets across her colorful body, |
| Thelithidum thendral | The breeze sprinkles them, |
| Dhegamengum neereduthu | Gathering water across the body, |
| Thelithidum thendral | The breeze sprinkles it. |
| Podhigai malai uchiyilae | At the peak of Podhigai mountain, |
| Purappadum thendral | The southern breeze originates, |
| Female | |
| {Kattililae sernthirukkum | Among lovers united on the bed, |
| Kaadhalargal meniyilae} (2) | Over the bodies of those lovers, |
| Vattamittu paadhai thedi | Circling around searching for a path, |
| Mayangidum thendral | The breeze swoons in trance, |
| Poga vazhiyillaamal vandha vazhi | Finding no way out, along the path it came, |
| Suzhandridum thendral | The breeze swirls around, |
| Vazhiyillaamal vandha vazhi | Finding no path, along the path it came, |
| Suzhandridum thendral | The breeze swirls around. |
| Podhigai malai uchiyilae | At the peak of Podhigai mountain, |
| Purappadum thendral | The southern breeze originates, |
| Male | |
| {Vaan parakkum kodiyinilae | On the flag flying high in the sky, |
| Meen parakkum madurayilae} (2) | In Madurai where the fish emblem flies, |
| Thaan parandhu aatchi seiyum | It flies itself and holds sway, |
| Thalir mani thendral | The tender, precious breeze, |
| Female | |
| Adhu vaan pirandha podhu vandha | The breeze that arrived when the sky was born, |
| Vaaliba thendral | The eternally youthful breeze, |
| Vaan pirandha podhu vandha | That arrived when the sky was born, |
| Vaaliba thendral | The youthful breeze. |
| Male | |
| Podhigai malai uchiyilae | At the peak of Podhigai mountain, |
| Purappadum thendral | The southern breeze originates, |
| Female :Aadai pootti veiththa meniyilum | Female: Even over the body covered with clothing, |
| Thavazhnthidum thendral | The breeze crawls through, |
| Podhigai malai uchiyilae | At the peak of Podhigai mountain, |
| Purappadum thendral | The southern breeze originates, |
| Male | |
| {Kanniyargal meniyilae | Upon the bodies of young maidens, |
| Kalandhu varum velayilum} (2) | Even as it mingles and moves, |
| Thannudalai kaattaatha | Without revealing its own form, |
| Thandhira thendral | The clever, evasive breeze, |
| Female | |
| Aalum thennavarkkum anjaatha | Unafraid even of the ruling southern monarch, |
| Saagasa thendral | The daring, adventurous breeze, |
| Thennavarkkum anjaatha | Unafraid of the southern ruler, |
| Saagasa thendral | The adventurous breeze. |
{ பொதிகை மலை
உச்சியிலே புறப்படும்
தென்றல் ஆடை பூட்டி
வைத்த மேனியிலும்
தவழ்ந்திடும் தென்றல் } (2)
பொதிகை மலை உச்சியிலே
புறப்படும் தென்றல்
At the peak of Podhigai mountain,
The southern breeze originates,
Even over the body covered and draped in garments,
The breeze crawls and creeps.
At the peak of Podhigai mountain,
The southern breeze originates,
{ பதி மதுரை
வீதியிலே வளம் வரும்
தென்றல் } (2)
இந்த பாண்டியனார்
பைங்கிளியை தீண்டிடும்
தென்றல் பொதிகை மலை
உச்சியிலே புறப்படும் தென்றல்
In the streets of the royal city of Madurai,
The breeze gently circulates,
This green parrot of the Pandya ruler,
The breeze tenderly touches.
At the peak of Podhigai mountain,
The southern breeze originates,
{ கார் குழலை
நீராட்டி கண் இரண்டை
தாலாட்டி } (2)
தேனிதழில் முத்தமிட்டு
சிரித்திடும் தென்றல் வண்ண
தேகமெங்கும் நீரெடுத்து
தெளித்திடும் தென்றல்
தேகமெங்கும் நீரெடுத்து
தெளித்திடும் தென்றல்
பொதிகை மலை உச்சியிலே
புறப்படும் தென்றல்
Bathing her dark clouds of hair,
Lulling her pair of eyes to sleep,
Kissing her sweet honey-like lips,
The breeze smiles softly,
Gathering water droplets across her colorful body,
The breeze sprinkles them,
Gathering water across the body,
The breeze sprinkles it.
At the peak of Podhigai mountain,
The southern breeze originates,
{ கட்டிலிலே
சேர்ந்திருக்கும் காதலர்கள்
மேனியிலே } (2)
வட்டமிட்டு பாதை தேடி
மயங்கிடும் தென்றல் போக
வழியில்லாமல் வந்த விழி
சுழன்றிடும் தென்றல்
வழியில்லாமல் வந்த விழி
சுழன்றிடும் தென்றல் பொதிகை
மலை உச்சியிலே
புறப்படும் தென்றல்
Among lovers united on the bed,
Over the bodies of those lovers,
Circling around searching for a path,
The breeze swoons in trance,
Finding no way out, along the path it came,
The breeze swirls around,
Finding no path, along the path it came,
The breeze swirls around.
At the peak of Podhigai mountain,
The southern breeze originates,
{ வான் பறக்கும்
கொடியினிலே மீன்
பறக்கும் மதுரையிலே } (2)
தான் பறந்து ஆட்சி செய்யும்
தளிர் மணி தென்றல்
On the flag flying high in the sky,
In Madurai where the fish emblem flies,
It flies itself and holds sway,
The tender, precious breeze,
அது வான் பிறந்த
போது வந்த வாலிப தென்றல்
வான் பிறந்த போது வந்த
வாலிப தென்றல்
The breeze that arrived when the sky was born,
The eternally youthful breeze,
That arrived when the sky was born,
The youthful breeze.
பொதிகை
மலை உச்சியிலே
புறப்படும் தென்றல்
ஆடை பூட்டி
வைத்த மேனியிலும்
தவழ்ந்திடும் தென்றல்
பொதிகை மலை உச்சியிலே
புறப்படும் தென்றல்
At the peak of Podhigai mountain,
The southern breeze originates,
Female: Even over the body covered with clothing,
The breeze crawls through,
At the peak of Podhigai mountain,
The southern breeze originates,
{ கன்னியர்கள்
மேனியிலே கலந்து
வரும் வேளையிலும் } (2)
தன்னுடலை காட்டாத
தந்திர தென்றல்
Upon the bodies of young maidens,
Even as it mingles and moves,
Without revealing its own form,
The clever, evasive breeze,
ஆளும் தென்னவர்க்கும்
அஞ்சாத சாகச தென்றல்
தென்னவர்க்கும் அஞ்சாத
சாகச தென்றல்
Unafraid even of the ruling southern monarch,
The daring, adventurous breeze,
Unafraid of the southern ruler,
The adventurous breeze.
ஆண் & பெண் :
பொதிகை
மலை உச்சியிலே
புறப்படும் தென்றல்
ஆடை பூட்டி
வைத்த மேனியிலும்
தவழ்ந்திடும் தென்றல்
பொதிகை மலை உச்சியிலே
புறப்படும் தென்றல்
{Podhigai malai uchiyilae
At the peak of Podhigai mountain,
Purappadum thendral
The southern breeze originates,
Aadai pootti veiththa meniyilum
Even over the body covered and draped in garments,
Thavazhnthidum thendral} (2)
The breeze crawls and creeps.
Podhigai malai uchiyilae
At the peak of Podhigai mountain,
Purappadum thendral
The southern breeze originates,
{Pathi madurai veethiyilae
In the streets of the royal city of Madurai,
Valam varum thendral} (2)
The breeze gently circulates,
Intha pandiyanaar paingiliyai
This green parrot of the Pandya ruler,
Theendidum thendral
The breeze tenderly touches.
Podhigai malai uchiyilae
At the peak of Podhigai mountain,
Purappadum thendral
The southern breeze originates,
{Kaar kuzhalai neeraatti
Bathing her dark clouds of hair,
Kannirandai thaalaatti} (2)
Lulling her pair of eyes to sleep,
Thenithazhil muththamittu
Kissing her sweet honey-like lips,
Siriththidum thendral
The breeze smiles softly,
Vanna dhegamengum neereduththu
Gathering water droplets across her colorful body,
Thelithidum thendral
The breeze sprinkles them,
Dhegamengum neereduthu
Gathering water across the body,
Thelithidum thendral
The breeze sprinkles it.
Podhigai malai uchiyilae
At the peak of Podhigai mountain,
Purappadum thendral
The southern breeze originates,
{Kattililae sernthirukkum
Among lovers united on the bed,
Kaadhalargal meniyilae} (2)
Over the bodies of those lovers,
Vattamittu paadhai thedi
Circling around searching for a path,
Mayangidum thendral
The breeze swoons in trance,
Poga vazhiyillaamal vandha vazhi
Finding no way out, along the path it came,
Suzhandridum thendral
The breeze swirls around,
Vazhiyillaamal vandha vazhi
Finding no path, along the path it came,
Suzhandridum thendral
The breeze swirls around.
Podhigai malai uchiyilae
At the peak of Podhigai mountain,
Purappadum thendral
The southern breeze originates,
{Vaan parakkum kodiyinilae
On the flag flying high in the sky,
Meen parakkum madurayilae} (2)
In Madurai where the fish emblem flies,
Thaan parandhu aatchi seiyum
It flies itself and holds sway,
Thalir mani thendral
The tender, precious breeze,
Adhu vaan pirandha podhu vandha
The breeze that arrived when the sky was born,
Vaaliba thendral
The eternally youthful breeze,
Vaan pirandha podhu vandha
That arrived when the sky was born,
Vaaliba thendral
The youthful breeze.
Podhigai malai uchiyilae
At the peak of Podhigai mountain,
Purappadum thendral
The southern breeze originates,
Female :Aadai pootti veiththa meniyilum
Female: Even over the body covered with clothing,
Thavazhnthidum thendral
The breeze crawls through,
Podhigai malai uchiyilae
At the peak of Podhigai mountain,
Purappadum thendral
The southern breeze originates,
{Kanniyargal meniyilae
Upon the bodies of young maidens,
Kalandhu varum velayilum} (2)
Even as it mingles and moves,
Thannudalai kaattaatha
Without revealing its own form,
Thandhira thendral
The clever, evasive breeze,
Aalum thennavarkkum anjaatha
Unafraid even of the ruling southern monarch,
Saagasa thendral
The daring, adventurous breeze,
Thennavarkkum anjaatha
Unafraid of the southern ruler,
Saagasa thendral
The adventurous breeze.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song poetically personifies 'Thendral' (the gentle southern breeze) originating from the sacred Podhigai mountains—the legendary birthplace of the Tamil language associated with Sage Agastya. The lyricist Kannadasan paints the breeze as an omnipresent, playful, and romantic companion traversing the ancient city of Madurai. It touches lovers, cools moist skin, plays with hair, and sways the royal fish flag of the Pandya dynasty, serving as an enduring symbol of Tamil culture and natural beauty.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification
“Thenithazhil muththamittu Siriththidum thendral”
The breeze ('Thendral') is personified throughout the song as a living, emotional entity that kisses, smiles, swoons, and acts boldly without showing its physical form.
Metaphor (Uruvam)
“Intha pandiyanaar paingiliyai”
The maiden/princess is metaphorically referred to as 'Paingili' (green parrot) of the Pandya king.
Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Vaan parakkum kodiyinilae / Meen parakkum madurayilae”
Rhyming of the second letter 'n' across lines ('Vaan' and 'Meen').
Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Podhigai malai uchiyilae / Purappadum thendral”
Repetition of initial consonant sound 'P' in 'Podhigai' and 'Purappadum'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although listed in the prompt context with unknown music and singers, this masterpiece from the landmark film Thiruvilaiyadal (1965) was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, written by Kannadasan, and sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and Savitri.
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