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Lyrics & meaning

Poguthada Poguthada

From Madurai Sambavam · 2009

Lyricist
Yurekha
Singer
Manikka Vinayagam
Music director
Jhon Peter
Details
Madurai Sambavam2009

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Poguthadaa poguthadaaIt is going away, it is going away
Kula dheivam poguthadaaThe ancestral deity is going away, man
Kumbuttukka kumbuttukkadaaWorship it, worship it, man
Nee kumbuttukka kumbuttukkadaaYou worship it, worship it, man
Male
Poguthadaa poguthadaaIt is going away, it is going away
Kula dheivam poguthadaaThe ancestral deity is going away, man
Kumbuttukka kumbuttukkadaaWorship it, worship it, man
Nee kumbuttukka kumbuttukkadaaYou worship it, worship it, man
Male
Hae raththam paarkkum ooruHey, this is a town that witnesses blood
Adhil thappunathu yaaruWho has ever escaped from it?
Raththam paarkkum ooruThis is a town that witnesses blood
Adhil thappunathu yaaruWho has ever escaped from it?
Male
Saami ippa saanjuputtathadaaOur deity has fallen down now, man
Saachchavana yaaru vittathadaaWho left the person who brought him down unpunished, man?
Namma saami ippa saanjuputtathadaaOur deity has fallen down now, man
Adha saachchavana yaaru vittathadaaWho left the person who brought him down unpunished, man?
Male
Kannagi erinja neruppuThe fire lit by Kannagi
AnaiyavillaiyadaaHas not been extinguished yet, man
Sudalaiyin kalampu pugaiThe smoke from the cremation ground
KoraiyavillaiyadaaHas not diminished, man
Male
Kannagi erinja neruppuThe fire lit by Kannagi
AnaiyavillaiyadaaHas not been extinguished yet, man
Sudalaiyin kalampu pugaiThe smoke from the cremation ground
KoraiyavillaiyadaaHas not diminished, man
Male
Thappaannu sariyaannuWhether it is wrong or right
Oru ezhavum theriyaathuNot a single damn thing is clear
Thanthaiyaaga oorukellaamLike a father to the entire village
Nanmaigalum senjaaruHe did good deeds for everyone
Male
Yae thappaannu sariyaannuHey, whether it is wrong or right
Oru ezhavum theriyaathuNot a single damn thing is clear
Thanthaiyaaga oorukellaamLike a father to the entire village
Nanmaigalum senjaaruHe did good deeds for everyone
Male
Kumuruthadaa nenjamMy heart is seething in grief, man
Ooththikkadaa konjamPour a little drink, man
Kumuruthadaa nenjamMy heart is seething in grief, man
Ooththikkadaa konjamPour a little drink, man
Male
Aalamaraththin kadhai paadalCompose a ballad of the banyan tree's legacy
KattikkududaaCraft it and pass it on, man
Aduththa Aalamaraththaan kuttiyinnuSay that the successor is a sprout of the banyan tree
SollikududaaTeach this to everyone, man
Male
Aalamaraththin kadhai paadalCompose a ballad of the banyan tree's legacy
KattikkududaaCraft it and pass it on, man
Aduththa Aalamaraththaan kuttiyinnuSay that the successor is a sprout of the banyan tree
SollikududaaTeach this to everyone, man
Male
Eriyuthadaa eriyuthadaaIt is burning, it is burning, man
Kula dheivam eriyuthadaaThe ancestral deity is burning, man
Kumputtukka kumputtukkadaaWorship it, worship it, man
Nee kumbuttukka kumbuttukkadaaYou worship it, worship it, man
Male
Eriyuthadaa eriyuthadaaIt is burning, it is burning, man
Kula dheivam eriyuthadaaThe ancestral deity is burning, man
Kumputtukka kumputtukkadaaWorship it, worship it, man
Nee kumbuttukka kumbuttukkadaaYou worship it, worship it, man

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This mourning song from 'Madurai Sambavam' expresses deep grief and reverence upon the death of a beloved village leader, who is revered as a 'Kula Dheivam' (ancestral deity) and father figure. The lyrics evoke Madurai's history of bloody feuds and righteous anger, referencing the legendary rage of Kannagi burning Madurai. The grief-stricken villagers process their loss with alcohol while calling to immortalize the leader's legacy as a banyan tree whose sapling will carry forward his protection and righteousness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Kula dheivam poguthadaa

Comparing the village chieftain to a 'Kula Dheivam' (clan god/ancestral deity) and an 'Aalamaram' (banyan tree) that protects the community.

Allusion

Kannagi erinja neruppu

References Kannagi's legendary wrath from the epic Silappatikaram burning Madurai to symbolise unquenched anger and grief.

Repetition / Anaphora

Eriyuthadaa eriyuthadaa

Emphasis on emotional intensity through repeated vocal exclamations like 'Poguthadaa' and 'Eriyuthadaa'.

Emona / Rhyme (Monorhyme Pattern)

Thappaannu sariyaannu

Use of end rhymes like 'teriyaathu' and 'senjaaru', along with the recurring suffix '-adaa' across lines to emphasize folk mourner cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Madurai Sambavam (2009) features music composed by John Peter, with lyrics penned by Yurekha. The song utilizes traditional Tamil oppari (dirge) motifs combined with modern folk rhythms to underscore rural Madurai's honor code and clan loyalties.

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