Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pollatha Madhana Paanam

From Hey Ram · 2000

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Anupama, Mahalakshmi Iyer
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Hey Ram2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Ippiriki saloLet us go this way
Sangu kushiGreat happiness
Me vagu kushiI am very happy
Rangu sagu kushiColorful great happiness
Chorus
Me nahalabas ye paanapathI have taken standard route
So koruna ala rama pathSo merciful Lord Rama's path
Keli da kodiPlayful sound of bangles
Pondi ke sadi ke liyeFor the wedding saree
Dhere dhere dhereSlowly slowly slowly
Varadha kothFlood arrives
Aalu dhadu dhadu dhadu dhaduPerson trembles repeatedly
Poora karoComplete it
Oh bis lagaOh poison spreads
Toh has lagaThen laughter blooms
Me lago chaleI walk away
Bekar bekar bekarUseless, useless, useless
Female
UttaanpaadaththaLying face up
Kaama devanLord of desire
Chorus :Aago baiyeChorus: Oh mother
Female :Ada che peFemale: Oh stop it
Female
Pollatha madana baanamThe wicked arrow of Cupid
PaanjidichchiHas struck and pierced
Male :EngaMale: Where?
Female :Ullaara ooduruviFemale: Penetrating deep inside
NeenjidichchiIt swam through
Male :AppadiyaMale: Is that so?
Female
Chinna ponnaThis young girl
Ambal techchaanaeHe rubbed/hit with a water lily
Male :Haan…Male: Yes...
Female :Thechcha idamFemale: The touched spot
Punnaa pochchuTurned into a wound
Ponnu manamThe girl's mind
Piththa pochchuHas gone crazy
Female :Ooosi poda vaiththiyanaFemale: To give an injection, a doctor
Konda kondaBring him, bring him
Male :Aah haaMale: Ah ha
Female
Pollatha madana baanamThe wicked arrow of Cupid
PaanjidichchiHas struck and pierced
Ullaara ooduruvi neenjidichchiDeep inside penetrating, it swam through
Chorus
Thakku na dhinRhythmic vocal syllable
Dhina dhinRhythmic syllable
Thakku na dhinRhythmic vocal syllable
Dhina dhinRhythmic syllable
Thakina thakinaRhythmic Solkattu
Thakina thakkinaRhythmic Solkattu
Tha kida thirukida thirukidaPercussive rhythmic phrase
Tha kida thirukida thirukidaPercussive rhythmic phrase
ThaamThaam
Female
Kodaiyilae avan nenappuIn summer, his memory feels like
Pachcha thanniCool fresh water
Chorus :Ahaa..aaaChorus: Ahaa..aaa
Female :Vaadaiyilae avan nenappuFemale: In the winter breeze, his memory feels like
Venni thanniHot water
Chorus :Ahaa..aaaChorus: Ahaa..aaa
Female
Naala vara ennaavumoWhat will happen tomorrow
Yaaru kandaWho knows?
Chorus :Ohoo…oooChorus: Ohoo…ooo
Female :Ichchaaba pichchedukkaFemale: Begging for desire's alms
Aala konda…aaaa…Captivated the person...aaaa...
Female
Aaala kondaCaptivated the person
Aala konda…Captivated the person...
Female
Kai vala kazhandiduchuBangles slipped off the wrists
Kachcha kooda koranjiduchuEven the waist belt got loose
Ambu thechcha kaaranamthaanBecause the arrow struck
VelangiduchchuIt has become clear
Female
Ini summa iruppaanaWill he stay quiet now,
Kaama devanThe God of love?
Female
Pollatha madana baanamThe wicked arrow of Cupid
PaanjidichchiHas struck and pierced
Male :EngaMale: Where?
Female :Ullaara ooduruviFemale: Penetrating deep inside
NeenjidichchiIt swam through
Male :AppadiyaMale: Is that so?
Female
Chinna ponnaThis young girl
Ambal techchaanaeHe rubbed with a lily
Male :Haan…Male: Yes...
Female :Thechcha idamFemale: The touched spot
Punnaa pochchuTurned into a wound
Ponnu manamThe girl's mind
Piththa pochchuHas gone crazy
Female :Ooosi poda vaiththiyanaFemale: To give an injection, a doctor
Konda kondaBring him, bring him
Male :Aah haaMale: Ah ha
Female
Pollatha madana baanamThe wicked arrow of Cupid
Chorus :Pollatha madana baanamChorus: The wicked arrow of Cupid
Female :Pollatha madana baanamFemale: The wicked arrow of Cupid
Chorus :Pollatha madana baaNamChorus: The wicked arrow of Cupid
Paanjidichchi..hey heyHas struck... hey hey
Female
Ah ha..Ah ha..
Kanavil vantha kaamaO Lord of love who came in dreams,
Pagalil kooda vaCome even during daytime
Chorus :Ah ha haChorus: Ah ha ha
Female
Oh hoOh ho
Iravil sonna thaalamThe rhythm spoken in the night,
Isaiyil koota vaJoin it into the music
Chorus :Ah ha haChorus: Ah ha ha
Female
Thatti eduththu paaduPlay the beat rhythmically
Chitta swaram poduSing the solfege notes
Sol thattai kaathil solluSpeak playful sweet words in the ear
Malligai mottoduAlong with jasmine buds
Female
Kumari ivalThis young woman's
Meni vadivellaamEntire bodily shape
Gama gama endruIs fragrant and aromatic
Indru aanathaeToday it has become so
Chorus
Thagina thaginananaRhythmic rhythmic solkattu
Thagina thaginananaRhythmic rhythmic solkattu
Thagina thaginaRhythmic beat
Thagina thagina na naRhythmic beat pattern
Female
Aaah….Aaah….

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Pollatha Madana Baanam' from Kamal Haasan's masterpiece 'Hey Ram' (2000), composed by Ilaiyaraaja, is a playful, sensual, and theatrical song capturing the intoxication of love and youthful desire. Opening with gibberish and theatrical vocal scatting representing North-South cultural synthesis, the song transitions into a vibrant folk-classical cabaret duet. The female protagonist playfully complains that Cupid's (Madana) arrow has struck her heart, causing a sweet affliction that only her lover (or a doctor) can cure. Vaali's lyrics brilliantly contrast physical sensations across seasons—describing memories of her beloved as cool water during harsh summer heat and warm water during chilly winter winds. Rich in rhythm (konnakol/solkattu) and metaphors of blossoming youth and fragrance, the song portrays a lover's yearning through vivid Tamil colloquialisms, classical rhythm syllables, and expressive folk inflections.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uruvagam)

Kodaiyilae avan nenappu Pachcha thanni

Comparing memories of the lover to refreshing 'Pachcha thanni' (cold water) in summer and 'Venni thanni' (hot water) in winter.

Emona / Rhyme (Edugai)

Pollatha madana baanam / Ullaara ooduruvi

Second-letter rhyming across lines: 'Pollatha' / 'Ullaara', 'Chinna' / 'Punnaa'.

Onomatopoeia (Erattai Kilavi / Dhvani)

Gama gama endru Indru aanathae

Use of sensory sound repetition 'Gama gama' to describe overwhelming floral fragrance.

Solkattu / Konnakol (Rhythmic Vocalization)

Tha kida thirukida thirukida Thaam

Extensive use of traditional Carnatic percussion syllables to convey passion and musical urgency.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for Kamal Haasan's period drama 'Hey Ram' (2000), this song features vocal renditions by Kamal Haasan, Mahalakshmi Iyer, and Preeti Uttam. The track mixes Hindi gibberish, Bengali theatrical textures, and traditional Tamil folk-classical beats, reflecting the film's pan-Indian narrative set during the turbulent 1940s.

Keep listening

More from Hey Ram