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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pokkukatti Poravale Ponnamma

From Maya Manithan · 1958

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
A. L. Ragavan, A. G. Rathnamala
Music director
G. Govindarajulu Naidu
Details
Maya Manithan1958

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pookkukatti poravalae ponnammaaO golden girl who goes stringing flowers
Konjam pudikoduthu pesina dhaan ennamaWhat is wrong if you yield a little and talk to me?
Male
Pookkukatti poravalae ponnammaaO golden girl who goes stringing flowers
Konjam pudikoduthu pesina dhaan ennamaWhat is wrong if you yield a little and talk to me?
Female
Kaakkaaya…Kaakkaaya kathikittuCawing like a crow, cawing...
Kazhugaaga suthikittuCircling around like an eagle
Shokku panna odivandha thangamaeO precious one who came running to show off style
Kaakkaaya kathikittu kazhugaaga suthikittuCawing like a crow, circling around like an eagle
Shokku panna odivandha thangamaeO precious one who came running to show off style
Nee paakkaadha porulaai enna paathuttae singamaeDid you look at me like a unseen treasure, my brave lion?
Female
Pookkukatti pora indha ponnammaaThis golden girl who goes stringing flowers
Kannam pulikka rendu koduthidava thinnammaShall I give two slaps to sour your cheeks? Take that!
Female
Pookkukatti pora indha ponnammaaThis golden girl who goes stringing flowers
Kannam pulikka rendu koduthidava thinnammaShall I give two slaps to sour your cheeks? Take that!
Male
Kannathilae nee koduthaa kattaayam adhu enakkuIf you give them on my cheek, surely for me
Karumbaaga inikkum adi kannammaIt will taste as sweet as sugarcane, my dear girl
Kannathilae nee koduthaa kattaayam adhu enakkuIf you give them on my cheek, surely for me
Karumbaaga inikkum adi kannammaIt will taste as sweet as sugarcane, my dear girl
En kaadhal noiyum thannalae parakkumadi ponnamaaMy sickness of love will fly away on its own, golden girl
Male
Pookkukatti poravalae ponnammaaO golden girl who goes stringing flowers
Konjam pudikoduthu pesina dhaan ennamaWhat is wrong if you yield a little and talk to me?
Female
Azhukkellam pogaamal avasarama thunimaniiyaiWithout getting all the dirt out, hurriedly washing clothes
Veluppadhu pol urgent kaadhalaIs your love an 'urgent' kind of love like that?
Male :Ho ho ho ooMale: Ho ho ho oo
Female :Ha ha ha haaFemale: Ha ha ha haa
Male :Ho ho ho ooMale: Ho ho ho oo
Female :Ha ha ha haaFemale: Ha ha ha haa
Azhukkellam pogaamal avasarama thunimaniiyaiWithout getting all the dirt out, hurriedly washing clothes
Veluppadhu pol urgent kaadhalaIs your love an 'urgent' kind of love like that?
Illae veyittu panni yenga vaikkum ordinary kaadhalaOr is it an 'ordinary' love that makes me wait and yearn?
Female
Pookkukatti pora indha ponnammaaThis golden girl who goes stringing flowers
Kannam pulikka rendu koduthidava thinnammaShall I give two slaps to sour your cheeks? Take that!
Male
Pazhgaamal pesaadhae urgent ordinaryDon't talk about 'urgent' or 'ordinary' without knowing me well
Paagupaadu ennidathil yedhammaWhere is any distinction or inequality in me?
Pazhgaamal pesaadhae urgent ordinaryDon't talk about 'urgent' or 'ordinary' without knowing me well
Paagupaadu ennidathil yedhammaWhere is any distinction or inequality in me?
En paarvaiyilae rendum onnudhaanamma kelammaIn my eyes, both are the same, listen to me dear girl
Saakkupokku ini edhukku ponnammaWhy make excuses anymore, golden girl?
Un Sammadham dhaaan therinju pochae kannammaaYour consent has become clear to me, my dear girl
Saakkupokku ini edhukku ponnammaWhy make excuses anymore, golden girl?
Un Sammadham dhaaan therinju pochae kannammaaYour consent has become clear to me, my dear girl

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a lighthearted, playful romantic duet between a man and a flower-vendor woman. The man tries to court her with affectionate banter, while she playfully spurns his immediate advances, comparing his persistence to a crow cawing and an eagle circling. She cheekily asks if his affection is 'urgent' or 'ordinary' love—using contemporary urban terminology borrowed from laundry services of that era. The male protagonist counters her teasing with witty charming responses, assuring her that even a slap from her would taste as sweet as sugarcane and cure his love-sickness. As the banter unfolds, he sees through her playful threats and recognizes her hidden affection and ultimate consent, concluding that excuses are no longer needed.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Kaakkaaya kathikittu kazhugaaga suthikittu

The female singer compares the male pursuer's loud persistence to a cawing crow ('Kaakkaaya kathikittu') and his hovering presence to a circling eagle ('Kazhugaaga suthikittu').

Metaphor / Social Metaphor

Veluppadhu pol urgent kaadhala... yenga vaikkum ordinary kaadhala

Lyricist A. Maruthakasi cleverly uses laundry service classifications ('urgent' vs 'ordinary') as a metaphor for hasty insincere courtship versus patient long-term romance.

Iyaibu (Rhyme) & Ethirai (Assonance)

Kannathilae nee koduthaa kattaayam adhu enakku / Karumbaaga inikkum adi kannamma

Strong internal rhyming and rhythmic alliteration across words like 'Kathikittu' / 'Suthikittu' and 'Ponnammaa' / 'Kannammaa'.

Did you know?

Trivia

In 1950s urban South India, dhobi (laundry) services used the English terms 'Urgent' (quick delivery) and 'Ordinary' (standard delivery). Lyricist A. Maruthakasi creatively incorporated these English loanwords into folk-style lyrics to create a comical, culturally relatable metaphor for courtship speeds in 'Maya Manithan' (1958).

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