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Maruthu Pandi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pombala Illama

From Maruthu Pandi · 1990

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Mano, S. Janagi
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Maruthu Pandi
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
28 Sept 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pomabala illama needhan
Ingu enna seiya mudiyum maama
Pomabala illama needhan
Ingu enna seiya mudiyum maama
Sattai thuvaikkavum pottu thaeikkavum
Kattu podavum katti kaakkavum
Enna venum enni paaru maama
Kanni ponnu venum
Solliputten aama….
Pombala thunai enaku venaa
Vaaya poththikkittu anthapakkam podi
Pombala thunai enaku venaa
Vaaya poththikkittu anthapakkam podi
Kenda kaalaiyum konda poovaiyum
Kadu mayangura kaala naanillai
Adi etti konjam thalli nillu maanae
Illa ekkthappaa aagipogum venae…
Aadi odi vaelai senjaa
Kaalu kayi nogumae
Angae ingae naanum thottu
Kaiya vachcha theerumae
Haei thembirukku velai seiyaa
Oonjathillai naanamma
Vanthu vanthu vambizhukkum
Vela ippa veenammaa
Velakku yaeththavum konjam
Koraikkavum veanum pombala
Nanaeduththu yaeththi vachcha
Velakku enna eriyaathaa
Yaeththi vachch ennoda kaithaan
Erakki vaikka mudiyaathaa
Antha kastama aambalaikethukku
Adhuthaan pombalaikku
Pombala thunai enaku venaa
Vaaya poththikkittu anthapakkam podi
Pombala thunai enaku venaa
Vaaya poththikkittu anthapakkam podi….podi….
Ponnaasaiyaal saabam vaangi
Ponaanammaa indhiran
Boomi maelae aasai vachchu
Thaenjenamma chandhiran
Ellorukkum saabam theerkka
Ulla inam pombala
Ungalukku yaedhumilla
Aanalum nee aambala
Paruva kirukkula patta pagalula
Kanvil mithakkura
Maruthupandi peraiyum solla
Maganum porakka venaamaa
Oo…magana thaanga ammaa naanthaan
Manasa konjam thaa mama
Yammaa yammaa sonnathu sarithaan
Naalonnu paarppomaa
Pombala illaama needhaan ingu
Enna seiya mudiyum maamaa
Male :Pombala illaama needhaan ingu
Enna seiya mudiyum maamaa
Sattai thuvaikkavum pottu theikkavum
Kattu podavum katti kaakkavum
Male :Ponnu onnu vaenumadi maanae
Nee sonnathella oththukittaen naanae
Pombala illaama needhaan ingu
Enna seiya mudiyum maamaa
Without a woman by your side,
what can you even do here, my man?
Without a woman by your side,
what can you even do here, my man?
To wash your shirts and iron them neat,
to bandage your wounds and look after you,
just think about what you need, my man!
You need a young girl by your side,
and yes, I have told you so!
I don't need any woman's help,
shut your mouth and get lost, girl!
I don't need any woman's help,
shut your mouth and get lost, girl!
Drawn by shapely calves and flowers in the hair,
I'm not a wild bull to lose my head!
Hey, step back and keep your distance, dear,
or things might go wrong for no good reason!
If you run around working hard all day,
your arms and legs will surely ache.
If I gently massage you here and there,
the pain will simply fade away!
Hey, I have plenty of strength to do my work,
I haven't grown weak, girl!
Coming over and picking fights with me—
all this teasing is useless now!
To light the oil lamp and then
lower the flame, you need a woman!
If I pick it up and light it myself,
won't the lamp burn just fine?
The very hand that turned up the flame,
can't it turn it back down too?
Why should a man take on that trouble?
That is what a woman is there for!
I don't need any woman's help,
shut your mouth and get lost, girl!
I don't need any woman's help,
shut your mouth and get lost... go away, girl!
Cursed for his uncontrollable desire,
even Lord Indra suffered and fell!
Yearning for the world down below,
the moon faded and waned away!
To lift the curses of everyone,
womankind was born on this earth!
You don't carry any curse on you,
but you are still just a man!
In the craze of youth, in broad daylight,
you are drifting away in daydreams!
To carry forward the name of Maruthu Pandi,
shouldn't a son be born to you?
Oh, I am the mother who will give you that son,
so give me your heart, my man!
Oh dear, oh dear, what you said is true,
shall we pick an auspicious wedding day?
Without a woman by your side,
what can you even do here, my man?
[Male] Without a woman by my side,
what could I even do here?
To wash my shirts and iron them neat,
to bandage my wounds and look after me,
[Male] I truly need a girl, my sweet dear,
I agree with everything you said!
Without a woman by your side,
what can you even do here, my man?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Pombala Illama Needhan' is a lively folk duet from the film 'Maruthu Pandi' (1990), structured as a playful battle of sexes between a persistent young woman and a stubborn man. The heroine asserts that a man cannot survive without a woman to manage household duties, provide romantic care, and carry forward his lineage. The hero initial resists, boasting about his self-sufficiency, strength, and immunity to female charm while warning her to stay away.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhyme / Ethirai (Second Letter Agreement)

Sattai thuvaikkavum pottu thaeikkavum / Kattu podavum katti kaakkavum

The second letters of 'Sattai' and 'Kattu' match the Tamil rhyming pattern (Ethirai).

Metaphor (Kenda Kaal)

Kenda kaalaiyum konda poovaiyum

Comparing a woman's beautiful calves to the sleek shape of a 'Kenda' (carp) fish.

Mythological Allusion

Ponnaasaiyaal saabam vaangi / Ponaanammaa indhiran / Boomi maelae aasai vachchu / Thaenjenamma chandhiran

References the Hindu myth of Lord Indra being cursed due to lust, and Chandran (the Moon) waning due to a curse.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Maruthu Pandi' (1990) features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, starring Ramki and Seetha in lead roles. Lyricist Gangai Amaran wrote this song as a humorous rural dialogue duet showcasing traditional folk lyric patterns and gender banter common in 1990s Tamil village drama films.

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