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Sange Muzhangu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pombala Sirichapochu

From Sange Muzhangu · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Sange Muzhangu
Movie release year
1972
Lyrics added on
21 Dec 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pombala sirichaa pochu
Pugaiyila virichaa pochu
Pennae unakkenna aachu
Neruppaa kodhikkudhu moochu
Pombala sirichaa pochu
Pugaiyila virichaa pochu
Pennae unakkenna aachu
Neruppaa kodhikkudhu moochu
Neruppaa kodhikkudhu moochu
Naerathukkaayiram pechu
Un kobathil enakkenna aachu
Naerathukkaayiram pechu
Un kobathil enakkenna aachu
{Koodai pandhaattam
Koondhal thallaadum
Maenaattu naagareegam
Moodum mundhaanai oorkolam sellum
Poraattam enna kolam} (2)
Pennai pennaaga paarkka vendum
Saelai naan tharavaa
Pennai pennaaga paarkka vendum
Saelai naan tharavaa
Pettai kozhiyai kaaval kaakka
Saeval naan varavaa
Any objection
Pombala sirichaa pochu
Pugaiyila virichaa pochu
Pennae unakkenna aachu
Neruppaa kodhikkudhu moochu
Kaalgal pinnaalum
Naanam munnaalum
Selgindra penmai kolam
Konjum anbodu pongum panpaadu
Nam naattu naagareegam
Poovum pottodu veedu kaakkum
Dheivam pennallavaa
Poovum pottodu veedu kaakkum
Dheivam pennallavaa
Poovai endru unnai cholla
Poovai choodammaa
Pombala sirichaa pochu
Pugaiyila virichaa pochu
Pennae unakkenna aachu
Neruppaa kodhikkudhu moochu
{Gangai endraalum
Engae sendraalum
Kadalai kandaaga vendum
Kaattu pennaana valli endraalum
Murugan vandhaaga vendum} (2)
Yaaro oruvan naalai varuvaan
Unnai pennaakka
Yaaro oruvan naalai varuvaan
Unnai pennaakka
Pennae neeyum maattridaadhae
Avanai pennaaga
Pombala sirichaa pochu
Pugaiyila virichaa pochu
Pennae unakkenna aachu
Neruppaa kodhikkudhu moochu
Neruppaa kodhikkudhu moochu
Naerathukkaayiram pechu
Un kobathil enakkenna aachu
Naerathukkaayiram pechu
Un kobathil enakkenna aachu
A woman gives in once she smiles,
Tobacco is ruined once it is spread open.
Girl, what has happened to you?
Your breath is boiling like fire!
A woman gives in once she smiles,
Tobacco is ruined once it is spread open.
Girl, what has happened to you?
Your breath is boiling like fire!
Your breath is boiling like fire!
A thousand words change with every passing hour,
What do I care about your anger?
A thousand words change with every passing hour,
What do I care about your anger?
Playing a game of basketball,
with hair swaying all around,
all in the name of Western fashion!
The sari veil that should cover drifts in procession,
what a strange, rebellious sight!
A woman ought to look like a woman,
shall I give you a sari?
A woman ought to look like a woman,
shall I give you a sari?
To guard over the little hen,
shall I come as the rooster?
Any objection?
A woman gives in once she smiles,
Tobacco is ruined once it is spread open.
Girl, what has happened to you?
Your breath is boiling like fire!
With feet stepping gently behind,
and modesty leading the way,
that is the true grace of womanhood.
With sweet affection and rich culture,
that is our land's tradition!
Protecting the home with flowers and a pottu (bindi),
isn't a woman a living goddess?
Protecting the home with flowers and a pottu (bindi),
isn't a woman a living goddess?
To truly be called a flower-like woman,
wear flowers in your hair, girl!
A woman gives in once she smiles,
Tobacco is ruined once it is spread open.
Girl, what has happened to you?
Your breath is boiling like fire!
Even if it is the sacred river Ganga,
wherever it may flow,
it must eventually reach the ocean.
Even for Valli, the simple forest girl,
Lord Murugan had to come.
Someone will surely come tomorrow
to make you a gentle woman.
Someone will surely come tomorrow
to make you a gentle woman.
Just make sure, girl, that you don't turn
him into a woman instead!
A woman gives in once she smiles,
Tobacco is ruined once it is spread open.
Girl, what has happened to you?
Your breath is boiling like fire!
Your breath is boiling like fire!
A thousand words change with every passing hour,
What do I care about your anger?
A thousand words change with every passing hour,
What do I care about your anger?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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