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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pombalaiyinna Aamabalai

From Oor Kuruvi · 1987

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. N. Surendar
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
Oor Kuruvi1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pombalaiyinnaa aambalai manamIf it is a woman, a man's heart
Sanjalappadum vambula vizhumBecomes restless and falls into trouble
Pengalai nambathaeDo not trust women
Pengalai nambathaeDo not trust women
Male
Pombalaiyinnaa aambalai manamIf it is a woman, a man's heart
Sanjalappadum vambula vizhumBecomes restless and falls into trouble
Pengalai nambathaeDo not trust women
Pengalai nambathaeDo not trust women
Male
Antha ponnungalai nenaichchuThinking about those girls
Bothai thannigalai adichchuDrinking intoxicating liquor
Antha ponnungalai nenaichchuThinking about those girls
Bothai thannigalai adichchuDrinking intoxicating liquor
Un sontha pantham saathi sanamYour own relations, caste, and kin
Aththanai peraiyum moththamaa maranthuCompletely forgetting every single one of them
Male
Pombalaiyinnaa aambalai manamIf it is a woman, a man's heart
Sanjalappadum vambula vizhumBecomes restless and falls into trouble
Pengalai nambathaeDo not trust women
Aangalai pengalai nambathaeDo not trust men or women
Pengalai nambathae….Do not trust women...
Pengalai nambathae….Do not trust women...
Male
Mota thadava paakkumpothuWhen looking for the first time
Mogaththa sulikkiraaShe scowls her face
Ada aduththa thadava paakkumpothuAh, when looking the next time
Thalaiya kuniyuraaShe bows her head down
……………….....
Male
Hae pombalayinnaa perum sothanaidaaHey, if it is a woman, it is a great trial, mate
Antha ponnugalaal varum vedhanaidaaPain comes because of those girls, mate
Male
Ava thalukkum kulukkum sirippum virippumHer glamour, sway, smile, and expressions
Kurukku vazhiyil kannakka mudikkumWill settle the accounts through shortcut ways
Male
PombalaiyinnaaIf it is a woman
Male :Machi machiMale: Friend, friend
Male :PompalaiyinnaaMale: If it is a woman
Aambalai manamA man's heart
Sanjalappadum vambula vizhumBecomes restless and falls into trouble
Pengalai nambathaeDo not trust women
Pengalai nambathaeDo not trust women
Pengalai nambathaeDo not trust women
Aangalai pengalai nambathaeDo not trust men or women
Male
Nenaichcavana yaeikkirath unakku pazhakkamaaIs deceiving the one you think of a habit for you?
Nee neraththa maaththu kunaththa maaththi irukka venumaaShould you change your character as time changes?
Nenaichcavana yaeikkirath unakku pazhakkamaaIs deceiving the one you think of a habit for you?
All :Nee neraththa maaththu kunaththa maaththi irukka venumaaAll: Should you change your character as time changes?
Male
Un koyililae thenam archanaithaanIn your temple, there is daily worship
Abisegangalum varum nichchainthaanRitual baths will surely take place
En manasa keduththu odamba keduththuSpoiling my mind and ruining my body
Kudiyai kudikkum pazhagi kodukkumIt ruins the family and habituates vices
Male
PombalaiyinnaaIf it is a woman
Male :MachiMale: Friend
Aambalai manamA man's heart
Sanjalappadum vambula vizhumBecomes restless and falls into trouble
Pengalai nambathae pengalai nambathaeDo not trust women, do not trust women
Male
Antha ponnungalai nenaichchuThinking about those girls
Bothai thannigalai adichchuDrinking intoxicating liquor
Un sontha pantham saathi sanamYour own relations, caste, and kin
Aththanai peraiyum moththamaa maranthuCompletely forgetting every single one of them
Male
Pombalaiyinnaa aambalai manamIf it is a woman, a man's heart
Sanjalappadum vambula vizhumBecomes restless and falls into trouble
All :Pengalai nambathae…..pengalai nambathaeAll: Do not trust women... do not trust women
Pengalai nambathae…pengalai nambathaeDo not trust women... do not trust women

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Pombalaiyinnaa Aambalai Manam is a folk-infused, colloquial song from the 1987 Tamil film Oor Kuruvi, with lyrics penned by Gangai Amaran. The song delivers a dramatic and rustic warning against falling blindly in love. It depicts how romantic infatuation can make a man's mind restless, leading him to abandon his family, ties, and duties while turning to vices like alcohol.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora (Repetition)

Pengalai nambathae

The refrain 'Pengalai nambathae' is repeated throughout the song to strongly reinforce the central theme of caution.

Egal / Internal Rhyme (Edhugai)

Ava thalukkum kulukkum sirippum virippum

The line uses rhyming suffixes (-um) in rapid succession ('thalukkum', 'kulukkum', 'sirippum', 'virippum') to create a rhythmic, musical bounce.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Hae pombalayinnaa perum sothanaidaa / Antha ponnugalaal varum vedhanaidaa

The words 'sothanaidaa' and 'vedhanaidaa' end with identical phonetic sounds, enhancing oral tradition poetry.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Gangai Amaran, the song heavily utilizes local Tamil slang terms like 'bothai thanni' (alcohol) and 'machi' (friend/brother-in-law) to capture a realistic informal street-folks conversation dynamic.

Keep listening

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