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Marudhu Pandi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pombala Illama

From Marudhu Pandi · 1990

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Mano, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Marudhu Pandi
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
23 Dec 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pombala illaama needhan ingu
Enna seiya mudiyum maama
Pombala illaama needhan ingu
Enna seiya mudiyum maama
Sattai thuvaikkavum pottu thaeikkavum
Kattu podavum katti kakkavum
Enn venum enni paaru maama
Kanni ponnu vaenum
Sollipputtaen aama……
Pombala thunai enakku vaenaa
Vaaya pothikittu andhapakkam podi
Pombala thunai enakku vaenaa
Vaaya pothikittu andhapakkam podi
Kenda kaalaiyum konda poovaiyum
Kandu mayangura kaala naanillai
Adi etti konjam thalli nillu maane
Illa yekkuthappa aagipogum veenae
Aadi odi velai senja
Kaalu kaiyi nogumae
Ange inge naanum thottu
Kaiya vechaa theerumae
Haei thembirukku velai seiya
Onjadhillai naanamma
Vandhu vandhu vambilukkum
Vela ippa veen amma
Velakku yethavum konjam
Koraikkavum venum pombala
Male :Naaneduthu yethi vechaa
Velakku enna yeriyaadha
Yethi vecha ennodu kaithaan
Erakki veikka mudiyaadha
Andha kastam aambalaikkedhukku
Adhuthaan pombalaikku
Pombala thunai enakku vaenaa
Vaaya pothikittu andhapakkam podi
Pombala thunai pombala thunai
Vaaya pothikittu
Andhapakkam podi …podi
Pennaasaiyaal saabam vaangi
Pononaanamma indhiran
Boomi melae aasai vechu
Thaenjaanamma chandhiran
Ellorukkum saabam theerkka
Ulla inam pombala
Ungalukku yedhum illa
Aanaalum nee aambala
Paruva kirukkula patta pagalula
Kanavil midhakkura
Female :Maruthapaandi peraiyum solla
Maganum porakka venamaa
O…Magana thaanga ammaa naanum
Manasu konjam thaa maamaa
Yamma yamma sonnadhu sari than
Naalonnu paarppoma
Pombala illaama needhan ingu
Enna seiya mudiyum maama
Male :Pombala illaama yaarum ingu
Enna seiya mudiyum vaama
Sattai thuvaikkavum
Pottu thaeikkavum
Kattu podavum katti kakkavum
Male :Ponnu onnu venumadi maane
Nee sonnadhellaam othukitten naanae
Pombala illaama needhan ingu
Enna seiya mudiyum maama
Without a woman, what could you
ever do here on your own, darling?
Without a woman, what could you
ever do here on your own, darling?
To wash your shirts and iron them,
to bandage your wounds and care for you,
just think about what you need, darling!
You need a young woman,
I'm telling you the honest truth!
I don't need any woman's company,
shut your mouth and go away!
I don't need any woman's company,
shut your mouth and go away!
Just seeing shapely calves and flowers in hair,
I'm not the kind of man to lose my senses!
Hey, step back and keep your distance, little deer,
or things might go wrong for no reason!
If you run around and work hard all day,
won't your arms and legs ache?
If I gently touch and massage you here and there,
all that strain will vanish!
Hey, I have the strength to do my work,
I'm not worn out at all, girl!
Coming around and stirring up trouble
is completely pointless right now!
To light the lamp and to dim the wick,
you still need a woman!
Male: If I go ahead and light it myself,
won't the lamp burn just fine?
Can't the very hand that raised the flame
turn it back down too?
Why should a man take on that trouble?
That is a job meant for a woman!
I don't need any woman's company,
shut your mouth and go away!
Woman's company, woman's company...
Shut your mouth,
and go away... go away!
Getting cursed for craving a woman,
Lord Indra suffered in disgrace!
Yearning for the earth below,
the moon waned and wore away!
To lift the curses off everyone,
womankind is here on this earth!
Nothing troubles you like that,
yet you are still just a man!
In the madness of youth, in broad daylight,
you are drifting in dreams!
Female: To carry on the name of Marudhu Pandi,
doesn't a son need to be born?
Oh, I will be the mother who gives you a son,
just give me your heart, my dear!
Oh my, oh my, what you said is true,
shall we pick an auspicious day?
Without a woman, what could you
ever do here on your own, darling?
Male: Without a woman, what can anyone
ever do here? Come to me, girl!
To wash my shirts,
and iron them neat,
to bandage wounds and protect me close,
Male: I do need a woman, my sweet deer,
I agree with everything you said!
Without a woman, what could you
ever do here on your own, darling?
Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Pombala Illaama' from Marudhu Pandi (1990) is a playful duet between the protagonist Maruthapandi (played by Ramki) and the female lead (played by Seetha). The heroine playfully teases the hero about his bachelor lifestyle, insisting that a man cannot survive comfortably without a woman to take care of household tasks, provide emotional warmth, and carry forward his legacy. The hero initial resists, boasting about his self-reliance and citing mythological tales where women caused downfall. As the banter progresses, the heroine cleverly brings up the idea of continuing his lineage by bearing a son named after him. Realizing the truth and charm of her words, the hero relents and accepts that a woman's presence is essential, transforming his resistance into playful acceptance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emoni / Ethirukai (Rhyme & Assonance)

“Sattai thuvaikkavum pottu thaeikkavum”

Matching sound structures across consecutive phrases such as 'Sattai thuvaikkavum' and 'Pottu thaeikkavum'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Kandu mayangura kaala naanillai”

Comparing the hero's self-restraint to that of a bull ('kaala') unaffected by decorative or feminine allurements.

Alliteration (Monaai)

“Paruva kirukkula patta pagalula”

Repetition of the initial letter 'P' in 'Paruva', 'patta', and 'pagalula'.

Mythological Allusion

“Pennaasaiyaal saabam vaangi Pononaanamma indhiran”

Referencing Lord Indra's curse due to desire (Ahalya episode) and the celestial waxing/waning of the moon to highlight gender dynamics.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Gangai Amaran. Sung dynamic duo Mano and S. Janaki, the track is renowned for its folk-pop rhythm and lighthearted domestic debate, which was a common comedic trope in late 80s and early 90s Tamil rural cinema.

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