Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Maya Manithan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pokkukatti Poravale Ponnamma

From Maya Manithan · 1958

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
A. L. Ragavan, A. G. Rathnamala
Music director
G. Govindarajulu Naidu
Movie name
Maya Manithan
Movie release year
1958
Lyrics added on
26 Jan 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pookkukatti poravalae ponnammaa
Konjam pudikoduthu pesina dhaan ennama
Pookkukatti poravalae ponnammaa
Konjam pudikoduthu pesina dhaan ennama
Kaakkaaya…Kaakkaaya kathikittu
Kazhugaaga suthikittu
Shokku panna odivandha thangamae
Kaakkaaya kathikittu kazhugaaga suthikittu
Shokku panna odivandha thangamae
Nee paakkaadha porulaai enna paathuttae singamae
Pookkukatti pora indha ponnammaa
Kannam pulikka rendu koduthidava thinnamma
Pookkukatti pora indha ponnammaa
Kannam pulikka rendu koduthidava thinnamma
Kannathilae nee koduthaa kattaayam adhu enakku
Karumbaaga inikkum adi kannamma
Kannathilae nee koduthaa kattaayam adhu enakku
Karumbaaga inikkum adi kannamma
En kaadhal noiyum thannalae parakkumadi ponnamaa
Pookkukatti poravalae ponnammaa
Konjam pudikoduthu pesina dhaan ennama
Azhukkellam pogaamal avasarama thunimaniiyai
Veluppadhu pol urgent kaadhala
Male :Ho ho ho oo
Female :Ha ha ha haa
Male :Ho ho ho oo
Female :Ha ha ha haa
Azhukkellam pogaamal avasarama thunimaniiyai
Veluppadhu pol urgent kaadhala
Illae veyittu panni yenga vaikkum ordinary kaadhala
Pookkukatti pora indha ponnammaa
Kannam pulikka rendu koduthidava thinnamma
Pazhgaamal pesaadhae urgent ordinary
Paagupaadu ennidathil yedhamma
Pazhgaamal pesaadhae urgent ordinary
Paagupaadu ennidathil yedhamma
En paarvaiyilae rendum onnudhaanamma kelamma
Saakkupokku ini edhukku ponnamma
Un Sammadham dhaaan therinju pochae kannammaa
Saakkupokku ini edhukku ponnamma
Un Sammadham dhaaan therinju pochae kannammaa
O Ponnamma, stringing flowers as you walk along,
What is the harm if you warm up and talk a little?
O Ponnamma, stringing flowers as you walk along,
What is the harm if you warm up and talk a little?
Cawing like a crow... cawing like a crow,
and circling around like an eagle,
O handsome one who came running to show off your style!
Cawing like a crow and hovering like an eagle,
O handsome one who came running to show off your style!
Did you spot something rare you have never seen before, my brave man?
From this Ponnamma who walks along stringing flowers,
should I give you two stinging slaps on the cheek to taste?
From this Ponnamma who walks along stringing flowers,
should I give you two stinging slaps on the cheek to taste?
If you give me a hit on my cheek, surely to me,
it will taste as sweet as sugarcane, my dear Kannamma!
If you give me a hit on my cheek, surely to me,
it will taste as sweet as sugarcane, my dear Kannamma!
And my lovesickness will simply vanish, O Ponnamma!
O Ponnamma, stringing flowers as you walk along,
What is the harm if you warm up and talk a little?
Like hastily washing clothes before the dirt is cleared,
is yours a rushed, urgent kind of love?
Male: Ho ho ho oo
Female: Ha ha ha ha
Male: Ho ho ho oo
Female: Ha ha ha ha
Like hastily washing clothes before the dirt is cleared,
is yours a rushed, urgent kind of love?
Or is it an ordinary love that makes one wait and long?
From this Ponnamma who walks along stringing flowers,
should I give you two stinging slaps on the cheek to taste?
Do not judge without getting to know me; urgent or ordinary,
what difference does any of that make to me?
Do not judge without getting to know me; urgent or ordinary,
what difference does any of that make to me?
In my eyes, both are one and the same, listen to me!
Why make excuses anymore, Ponnamma?
For your sweet consent is already clear, Kannamma!
Why make excuses anymore, Ponnamma?
For your sweet consent is already clear, Kannamma!
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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).

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Paruvam Ennum1965
VazhikattiPlayful RomancePlayful
Aathadi2017
SagaaCourtshipPlayful Romance
Madhurakkaran Thaana1987
Aankalai NambatheyCourtshipPlayful Romance
Azhagiya Rathiye1965
Kakkum KarangalCourtshipPlayful Romance
Thoppul Enna1997
VallalCourtshipAttraction
Aavani Masathula Thavani2015
Aayusu NooruCourtshipPlayful Romance

From the same album

More songs from Maya Manithan

View album
Achcha Pyari Pombala1958
Maya ManithanPlayful
Iru Manasum Oru Manasa1958
Maya ManithanCelebratory
Kaana Venum Kaana Venum1958
Maya ManithanJoyful
Kanna Kanna Vaarai Radhai1958
Maya ManithanWistful
Kannukkulle Minnal Aadudhu1958
Maya ManithanCheerful
Yengi Yengi Vaduthey1958
Maya ManithanMelancholic

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.