Pombala Illama
From Marudhu Pandi · 1990
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Marudhu Pandi1990
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Pombala illaama needhan ingu | Without a woman, what can you |
| Enna seiya mudiyum maama | do here, uncle? |
| Pombala illaama needhan ingu | Without a woman, what can you |
| Enna seiya mudiyum maama | do here, uncle? |
| Female | |
| Sattai thuvaikkavum pottu thaeikkavum | To wash shirts and iron them, |
| Kattu podavum katti kakkavum | To bandage wounds and hold you close to protect, |
| Enn venum enni paaru maama | Count and see what you need, uncle! |
| Kanni ponnu vaenum | You need a young maiden, |
| Sollipputtaen aama…… | Yes, I am telling you... |
| Male | |
| Pombala thunai enakku vaenaa | I don't need a woman's company! |
| Vaaya pothikittu andhapakkam podi | Keep your mouth shut and go over there! |
| Pombala thunai enakku vaenaa | I don't need a woman's company! |
| Vaaya pothikittu andhapakkam podi | Keep your mouth shut and go over there! |
| Male | |
| Kenda kaalaiyum konda poovaiyum | Seeing calf muscles and flowers in a hair bun, |
| Kandu mayangura kaala naanillai | I am not a bull that loses his mind! |
| Adi etti konjam thalli nillu maane | Hey deer, stand a little far away, |
| Illa yekkuthappa aagipogum veenae | Or things will go completely wrong in vain! |
| Female | |
| Aadi odi velai senja | When you work hard running around, |
| Kaalu kaiyi nogumae | Your hands and legs will ache! |
| Ange inge naanum thottu | If I touch here and there |
| Kaiya vechaa theerumae | and massage with my hands, the pain will fade away! |
| Male | |
| Haei thembirukku velai seiya | Hey, I have the stamina to work, |
| Onjadhillai naanamma | I am not exhausted, my girl! |
| Vandhu vandhu vambilukkum | Coming repeatedly to pick a fight, |
| Vela ippa veen amma | This effort is useless now, my girl! |
| Female | |
| Velakku yethavum konjam | To light the lamp and to dim it down, |
| Koraikkavum venum pombala | You need a woman! |
| Male :Naaneduthu yethi vechaa | Male: If I light it up myself, |
| Velakku enna yeriyaadha | won't the lamp burn? |
| Yethi vecha ennodu kaithaan | The very hand of mine that lit it up, |
| Erakki veikka mudiyaadha | can't it also turn it down? |
| Female | |
| Andha kastam aambalaikkedhukku | Why should a man endure that trouble? |
| Adhuthaan pombalaikku | That task belongs to a woman! |
| Male | |
| Pombala thunai enakku vaenaa | I don't need a woman's company! |
| Vaaya pothikittu andhapakkam podi | Keep your mouth shut and go over there! |
| Pombala thunai pombala thunai | A woman's company, a woman's company... |
| Vaaya pothikittu | Keep your mouth shut |
| Andhapakkam podi …podi | and go over there... go! |
| Male | |
| Pennaasaiyaal saabam vaangi | Receiving a curse due to desire for women, |
| Pononaanamma indhiran | Indra was ruined, my girl! |
| Boomi melae aasai vechu | By desiring the earth, |
| Thaenjaanamma chandhiran | the Moon waned away, my girl! |
| Female | |
| Ellorukkum saabam theerkka | To remove the curse for everyone, |
| Ulla inam pombala | the existing gender is woman! |
| Ungalukku yedhum illa | Nothing happened to you, |
| Aanaalum nee aambala | yet you act like a stubborn man! |
| Male | |
| Paruva kirukkula patta pagalula | In youthful craze, in broad daylight, |
| Kanavil midhakkura | you are floating in dreams! |
| Female :Maruthapaandi peraiyum solla | Female: To carry forward the name of Maruthapandi, |
| Maganum porakka venamaa | shouldn't a son be born? |
| O…Magana thaanga ammaa naanum | Oh... To bear that son, |
| Manasu konjam thaa maamaa | give me a little place in your heart, uncle! |
| Male | |
| Yamma yamma sonnadhu sari than | Oh my, oh my, what you said is right! |
| Naalonnu paarppoma | Shall we fix an auspicious day? |
| Female | |
| Pombala illaama needhan ingu | Without a woman, what can you |
| Enna seiya mudiyum maama | do here, uncle? |
| Male :Pombala illaama yaarum ingu | Male: Without a woman, what can anyone |
| Enna seiya mudiyum vaama | do here? Come, my girl! |
| Female | |
| Sattai thuvaikkavum | To wash shirts, |
| Pottu thaeikkavum | and to iron them, |
| Kattu podavum katti kakkavum | To bandage wounds and hold close to protect, |
| Male :Ponnu onnu venumadi maane | Male: You need a maiden, my deer! |
| Nee sonnadhellaam othukitten naanae | I accept everything you said! |
| Female | |
| Pombala illaama needhan ingu | Without a woman, what can you |
| Enna seiya mudiyum maama | do here, uncle? |
பொம்பள இல்லாம நீதான் இங்கு
என்ன செய்ய முடியும் மாமா
பொம்பள இல்லாம நீதான் இங்கு
என்ன செய்ய முடியும் மாமா
Without a woman, what can you
do here, uncle?
Without a woman, what can you
do here, uncle?
சட்டை துவைக்கவும் போட்டு தேய்க்கவும்
கட்டு போடவும் கட்டிக் காக்கவும்
என்ன வேணும் எண்ணி பாரு மாமா
கன்னிப் பொண்ணு வேணும்
சொல்லிப்புட்டேன் ஆமா....
To wash shirts and iron them,
To bandage wounds and hold you close to protect,
Count and see what you need, uncle!
You need a young maiden,
Yes, I am telling you...
பொம்பள துணை எனக்கு வேணா
வாயப் பொத்திக்கிட்டு அந்தப்பக்கம் போடி
பொம்பள துணை எனக்கு வேணா
வாயப் பொத்திக்கிட்டு அந்தப்பக்கம் போடி
I don't need a woman's company!
Keep your mouth shut and go over there!
I don't need a woman's company!
Keep your mouth shut and go over there!
கெண்டக் காலையும் கொண்டப் பூவையும்
கண்டு மயங்குற காள நானில்லை
அடி எட்டிக் கொஞ்சம் தள்ளி நில்லு மானே
இல்ல எக்குத்தப்பா ஆகிப்போகும் வீணே..
Seeing calf muscles and flowers in a hair bun,
I am not a bull that loses his mind!
Hey deer, stand a little far away,
Or things will go completely wrong in vain!
ஆடி ஓடி வேலை செஞ்சா
காலு கையி நோகுமே
அங்கே இங்கே நானும் தொட்டு
கைய வச்சா தீருமே
When you work hard running around,
Your hands and legs will ache!
If I touch here and there
and massage with my hands, the pain will fade away!
ஹேய் தெம்பிருக்கு வேலை செய்ய
ஒஞ்சதில்லை நானம்மா
வந்து வந்து வம்பிழுக்கும்
வேல இப்ப வீணம்மா
Hey, I have the stamina to work,
I am not exhausted, my girl!
Coming repeatedly to pick a fight,
This effort is useless now, my girl!
வெளக்கு ஏத்தவும் கொஞ்சம்
கொறைக்கவும் வேணும் பொம்பள
நானெடுத்து ஏத்தி வச்சா
வெளக்கு என்ன எரியாதா
ஏத்தி வச்ச என்னோட கைதான்
எறக்கி வைக்க முடியாதா
To light the lamp and to dim it down,
You need a woman!
Male: If I light it up myself,
won't the lamp burn?
The very hand of mine that lit it up,
can't it also turn it down?
அந்த கஷ்டம் ஆம்பளைக்கெதுக்கு
அதுதான் பொம்பளைக்கு
Why should a man endure that trouble?
That task belongs to a woman!
பொம்பள துணை எனக்கு வேணா
வாயப் பொத்திக்கிட்டு அந்தப்பக்கம் போடி
பொம்பள துணை எனக்கு வேணா
வாயப் பொத்திக்கிட்டு
அந்தப்பக்கம் போடி..போடி..
I don't need a woman's company!
Keep your mouth shut and go over there!
A woman's company, a woman's company...
Keep your mouth shut
and go over there... go!
பெண்ணாசையால் சாபம் வாங்கி
போனானம்மா இந்திரன்
பூமி மேலே ஆசை வச்சு
தேஞ்சானம்மா சந்திரன்
Receiving a curse due to desire for women,
Indra was ruined, my girl!
By desiring the earth,
the Moon waned away, my girl!
எல்லோருக்கும் சாபம் தீர்க்க
உள்ள இனம் பொம்பள
உங்களுக்கு ஏதுமில்ல
ஆனாலும் நீ ஆம்பள
To remove the curse for everyone,
the existing gender is woman!
Nothing happened to you,
yet you act like a stubborn man!
பருவக் கிறுக்குல பட்டப் பகலுல
கனவில் மிதக்குற
மருதுபாண்டி பேரையும் சொல்ல
மகனும் பொறக்க வேணாமா
ஓ..மகன தாங்க அம்மா நானும்
மனச கொஞ்சம் தா மாமா
In youthful craze, in broad daylight,
you are floating in dreams!
Female: To carry forward the name of Maruthapandi,
shouldn't a son be born?
Oh... To bear that son,
give me a little place in your heart, uncle!
யம்மா யம்மா சொன்னது சரிதான்
நாளொண்ணு பார்ப்போமா
Oh my, oh my, what you said is right!
Shall we fix an auspicious day?
பொம்பள இல்லாம நீதான் இங்கு
என்ன செய்ய முடியும் மாமா
பொம்பள இல்லாம யாரும் இங்கு
என்ன செய்ய முடியும் வாம்மா
Without a woman, what can you
do here, uncle?
Male: Without a woman, what can anyone
do here? Come, my girl!
சட்டை துவைக்கவும்
போட்டு தேய்க்கவும்
கட்டு போடவும் கட்டிக் காக்கவும்
பொண்ணு ஒண்ணு வேணுமடி மானே
நீ சொன்னதெல்லாம் ஒத்துக்கிட்டேன் நானே
To wash shirts,
and to iron them,
To bandage wounds and hold close to protect,
Male: You need a maiden, my deer!
I accept everything you said!
பொம்பள இல்லாம நீதான் இங்கு
என்ன செய்ய முடியும் மாமா
Without a woman, what can you
do here, uncle?
Pombala illaama needhan ingu
Without a woman, what can you
Enna seiya mudiyum maama
do here, uncle?
Pombala illaama needhan ingu
Without a woman, what can you
Enna seiya mudiyum maama
do here, uncle?
Sattai thuvaikkavum pottu thaeikkavum
To wash shirts and iron them,
Kattu podavum katti kakkavum
To bandage wounds and hold you close to protect,
Enn venum enni paaru maama
Count and see what you need, uncle!
Kanni ponnu vaenum
You need a young maiden,
Sollipputtaen aama……
Yes, I am telling you...
Pombala thunai enakku vaenaa
I don't need a woman's company!
Vaaya pothikittu andhapakkam podi
Keep your mouth shut and go over there!
Pombala thunai enakku vaenaa
I don't need a woman's company!
Vaaya pothikittu andhapakkam podi
Keep your mouth shut and go over there!
Kenda kaalaiyum konda poovaiyum
Seeing calf muscles and flowers in a hair bun,
Kandu mayangura kaala naanillai
I am not a bull that loses his mind!
Adi etti konjam thalli nillu maane
Hey deer, stand a little far away,
Illa yekkuthappa aagipogum veenae
Or things will go completely wrong in vain!
Aadi odi velai senja
When you work hard running around,
Kaalu kaiyi nogumae
Your hands and legs will ache!
Ange inge naanum thottu
If I touch here and there
Kaiya vechaa theerumae
and massage with my hands, the pain will fade away!
Haei thembirukku velai seiya
Hey, I have the stamina to work,
Onjadhillai naanamma
I am not exhausted, my girl!
Vandhu vandhu vambilukkum
Coming repeatedly to pick a fight,
Vela ippa veen amma
This effort is useless now, my girl!
Velakku yethavum konjam
To light the lamp and to dim it down,
Koraikkavum venum pombala
You need a woman!
Male :Naaneduthu yethi vechaa
Male: If I light it up myself,
Velakku enna yeriyaadha
won't the lamp burn?
Yethi vecha ennodu kaithaan
The very hand of mine that lit it up,
Erakki veikka mudiyaadha
can't it also turn it down?
Andha kastam aambalaikkedhukku
Why should a man endure that trouble?
Adhuthaan pombalaikku
That task belongs to a woman!
Pombala thunai enakku vaenaa
I don't need a woman's company!
Vaaya pothikittu andhapakkam podi
Keep your mouth shut and go over there!
Pombala thunai pombala thunai
A woman's company, a woman's company...
Vaaya pothikittu
Keep your mouth shut
Andhapakkam podi …podi
and go over there... go!
Pennaasaiyaal saabam vaangi
Receiving a curse due to desire for women,
Pononaanamma indhiran
Indra was ruined, my girl!
Boomi melae aasai vechu
By desiring the earth,
Thaenjaanamma chandhiran
the Moon waned away, my girl!
Ellorukkum saabam theerkka
To remove the curse for everyone,
Ulla inam pombala
the existing gender is woman!
Ungalukku yedhum illa
Nothing happened to you,
Aanaalum nee aambala
yet you act like a stubborn man!
Paruva kirukkula patta pagalula
In youthful craze, in broad daylight,
Kanavil midhakkura
you are floating in dreams!
Female :Maruthapaandi peraiyum solla
Female: To carry forward the name of Maruthapandi,
Maganum porakka venamaa
shouldn't a son be born?
O…Magana thaanga ammaa naanum
Oh... To bear that son,
Manasu konjam thaa maamaa
give me a little place in your heart, uncle!
Yamma yamma sonnadhu sari than
Oh my, oh my, what you said is right!
Naalonnu paarppoma
Shall we fix an auspicious day?
Pombala illaama needhan ingu
Without a woman, what can you
Enna seiya mudiyum maama
do here, uncle?
Male :Pombala illaama yaarum ingu
Male: Without a woman, what can anyone
Enna seiya mudiyum vaama
do here? Come, my girl!
Sattai thuvaikkavum
To wash shirts,
Pottu thaeikkavum
and to iron them,
Kattu podavum katti kakkavum
To bandage wounds and hold close to protect,
Male :Ponnu onnu venumadi maane
Male: You need a maiden, my deer!
Nee sonnadhellaam othukitten naanae
I accept everything you said!
Pombala illaama needhan ingu
Without a woman, what can you
Enna seiya mudiyum maama
do here, uncle?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'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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