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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pombala Sirichapochu

From Sange Muzhangu · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Sange Muzhangu1972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pombala sirichaa pochuIf a woman laughs, it is ruined
Pugaiyila virichaa pochuIf tobacco leaves are opened, it is ruined
Pennae unakkenna aachuOh girl, what happened to you?
Neruppaa kodhikkudhu moochuYour breath is boiling like fire
Male
Pombala sirichaa pochuIf a woman laughs, it is ruined
Pugaiyila virichaa pochuIf tobacco leaves are opened, it is ruined
Pennae unakkenna aachuOh girl, what happened to you?
Neruppaa kodhikkudhu moochuYour breath is boiling like fire
Neruppaa kodhikkudhu moochuYour breath is boiling like fire
Male
Naerathukkaayiram pechuA thousand words depending on the time
Un kobathil enakkenna aachuWhat happened to me in your anger?
Naerathukkaayiram pechuA thousand words depending on the time
Un kobathil enakkenna aachuWhat happened to me in your anger?
Male
{Koodai pandhaattamPlaying basketball game
Koondhal thallaadumHer tresses sway wildly
Maenaattu naagareegamIs this Western culture?
Moodum mundhaanai oorkolam sellumThe veil covering her goes in a procession
Poraattam enna kolam} (2)A conflict, what kind of appearance is this?
Male
Pennai pennaaga paarkka vendumA woman should be seen as a traditional woman
Saelai naan tharavaaShall I give you a saree?
Pennai pennaaga paarkka vendumA woman should be seen as a traditional woman
Saelai naan tharavaaShall I give you a saree?
Pettai kozhiyai kaaval kaakkaTo guard the hen in the yard
Saeval naan varavaaShall I come as the rooster?
Any objectionAny objection?
Male
Pombala sirichaa pochuIf a woman laughs, it is ruined
Pugaiyila virichaa pochuIf tobacco leaves are opened, it is ruined
Pennae unakkenna aachuOh girl, what happened to you?
Neruppaa kodhikkudhu moochuYour breath is boiling like fire
Male
Kaalgal pinnaalumEven if feet step back
Naanam munnaalumModesty steps forward
Selgindra penmai kolamThe graceful way womanhood proceeds
Konjum anbodu pongum panpaaduCulture overflowing with tender love
Nam naattu naagareegamThat is the civilization of our country
Poovum pottodu veedu kaakkumAdorned with flowers and bindi, protecting the home
Dheivam pennallavaaIsn't a woman a goddess?
Male
Poovum pottodu veedu kaakkumAdorned with flowers and bindi, protecting the home
Dheivam pennallavaaIsn't a woman a goddess?
Poovai endru unnai chollaTo call you a delicate flower
Poovai choodammaaAdorn yourself with flowers, my girl
Male
Pombala sirichaa pochuIf a woman laughs, it is ruined
Pugaiyila virichaa pochuIf tobacco leaves are opened, it is ruined
Pennae unakkenna aachuOh girl, what happened to you?
Neruppaa kodhikkudhu moochuYour breath is boiling like fire
Male
{Gangai endraalumEven if it is the sacred Ganges river
Engae sendraalumWherever it flows
Kadalai kandaaga vendumIt must ultimately meet the ocean
Kaattu pennaana valli endraalumEven if she is Valli, a tribal mountain girl
Murugan vandhaaga vendum} (2)Lord Murugan must come to claim her
Male
Yaaro oruvan naalai varuvaanSomeone will come tomorrow
Unnai pennaakkaTo make you a true woman
Yaaro oruvan naalai varuvaanSomeone will come tomorrow
Unnai pennaakkaTo make you a true woman
Pennae neeyum maattridaadhaeOh girl, do not transform him
Avanai pennaagaInto a woman yourself
Male
Pombala sirichaa pochuIf a woman laughs, it is ruined
Pugaiyila virichaa pochuIf tobacco leaves are opened, it is ruined
Pennae unakkenna aachuOh girl, what happened to you?
Neruppaa kodhikkudhu moochuYour breath is boiling like fire
Neruppaa kodhikkudhu moochuYour breath is boiling like fire
Male
Naerathukkaayiram pechuA thousand words depending on the time
Un kobathil enakkenna aachuWhat happened to me in your anger?
Naerathukkaayiram pechuA thousand words depending on the time
Un kobathil enakkenna aachuWhat happened to me in your anger?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song from the 1972 movie 'Sange Muzhangu' playfully contrasts modern Westernized trends among young women with traditional Indian cultural values. The protagonist teases a modern, fiery woman who plays modern games like basketball, encouraging her to embrace traditional attire like sarees, flowers, and modesty.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Proverbial Metaphor / Old Saying

Pombala sirichaa pochu / Pugaiyila virichaa pochu

Uses the traditional Tamil proverb 'Pombala sirichaa pochu, pugaiyila virichaa pochu' (If a woman laughs carelessly, her modesty is lost; if tobacco leaves are spread, their potency is lost) to open the song with cultural resonance.

Mogana (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Pettai kozhiyai kaaval kaakka / Saeval naan varavaa

Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'P' ('Pennai', 'Pettai') and 'S' ('Saelai', 'Saeval') across line openings.

Simile and Hyperbole

Neruppaa kodhikkudhu moochu

Comparing breath to boiling fire ('Neruppaa kodhikkudhu moochu') to dramatically depict intense rage.

Mythological Allusion

Kaattu pennaana valli endraalum / Murugan vandhaaga vendum

Referencing the sacred Ganges meeting the ocean and Lord Murugan seeking the tribal girl Valli to illustrate natural order and traditional romantic destiny.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Sange Muzhangu' (1972) stars M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Lakshmi. The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics penned by Kavinar Kannadasan. The opening lines draw from a very famous ancient Tamil folk proverb about female decorum and tobacco leaf curing.

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