Pombalaya Latchanama
From Ilaya Thalaimurai · 1977
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Ilaya Thalaimurai1977
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Pombalaiyaa latchanamaa podavaiyai kattu | Wear a saree gracefully like a proper woman, |
| Summaa purupurnnu kizhichchu pona trousar-a vittu | Leaving behind those torn trousers. |
| Pombalaiyaa latchanamaa podavaiyai kattu | Wear a saree gracefully like a proper woman, |
| Summaa purupurnnu kizhichchu pona trousar-a vittu | Leaving behind those torn trousers. |
| Female | |
| Koondhalukku pinnalittu kungumam ittu | Braid your hair and wear kumkum on your forehead, |
| Siru kurunagaithaan seiyya venum pombala chittu | A little sparrow-like woman should adorn a gentle smile. |
| Koondhalukku pinnalittu kungumam ittu | Braid your hair and wear kumkum on your forehead, |
| Siru kurunagaithaan seiyya venum pombala chittu | A little sparrow-like woman should adorn a gentle smile. |
| Male | |
| : Pombalaiyaa latchanamaa podavaiyai kattu | Wear a saree gracefully like a proper woman, |
| Summaa purupurnnu kizhichchu pona trousar-a vittu | Leaving behind those torn trousers. |
| Male | |
| Alli sorugu adhu kodaali kondai | Gather your hair into an axe-shaped traditional bun, |
| Maiyittu paaru chinna kangalirandai | Apply kohl and look at those two small eyes. |
| Vettrilai pottu nallaa sivakkanum udhadu | Chew betel leaves so your lips turn bright red, |
| Veyyil pattaalae summaa jolikkanum azhagu | Your beauty should dazzle when sunlight touches it. |
| Male | |
| Manjal poosu thangathattu polirukku | Apply turmeric, making yourself gleam like a golden plate, |
| Maamanaiyum pakkaththilae sundi izhukkum | It will draw your beloved close to your side. |
| Achcham naanam kooda vanthaal deivam pirakkum | If modesty and shyness accompany you, divinity is born, |
| Antha kaala paththinigal amsam irukkum | Reflecting the divine essence of virtuous women from the past. |
| Male | |
| Pombalaiyaa latchanamaa podavaiyai kattu | Wear a saree gracefully like a proper woman, |
| Summaa purupurnnu kizhichchu pona trousar-a vittu | Leaving behind those torn trousers. |
| Male | |
| Harae rama harae krishna izhukkuthu ulaga | 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' pulls the world along, |
| Aadhikaala thathuvangal kalakkuthu manasai | Ancient philosophies stir the mind. |
| Harae rama harae krishna izhukkuthu ulaga | 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' pulls the world along, |
| Aadhikaala thathuvangal kalakkuthu manasai | Ancient philosophies stir the mind. |
| Naagareegam namma naattai paduththuthu paadu | Modernization is troubling our country, |
| Namakku mattum uriyathandro pazhaiya panpaadu | For our ancient culture belongs uniquely to us. |
| Male | |
| Thaayin pinnae maranthu sellum | A Tamil woman follows humbly behind her mother, |
| Tamizhar pennammaa | She is the pride of Tamil culture. |
| Thalaivan munnae thalai kuniyum | She bows her head with modesty before her beloved, |
| Azhagu kannammaa hmm hmm hmm | My beautiful Kannamma, hmm hmm hmm. |
| Intha naattil piranthavalnnaa onnu seiyyammaa | If you are born in this land, do just one thing, girl: |
| Idaiya nallaa izhuththu moodi pudavaiyai kattammaa | Pull and cover your waist properly with a saree! |
| Male | |
| Pombalaiyaa latchanamaa podavaiyai kattu | Wear a saree gracefully like a proper woman, |
| Summaa purupurnnu kizhichchu pona trousar-a vittu | Leaving behind those torn trousers. |
பொம்பளையா லட்சணமா பொடவையை கட்டு
சும்மா புறுபுறுன்னு கிழிஞ்சுப் போன ட்ரௌசர விட்டு
பொம்பளையா லட்சணமா பொடவையை கட்டு
சும்மா புறுபுறுன்னு கிழிஞ்சுப் போன ட்ரௌசர விட்டு
Wear a saree gracefully like a proper woman,
Leaving behind those torn trousers.
Wear a saree gracefully like a proper woman,
Leaving behind those torn trousers.
கூந்தலுக்கு பின்னலிட்டு குங்குமம் இட்டு
சிறு குறுநகைதான் செய்ய வேணும் பொம்பளைச் சிட்டு
கூந்தலுக்கு பின்னலிட்டு குங்குமம் இட்டு
சிறு குறுநகைதான் செய்ய வேணும் பொம்பளைச் சிட்டு
Braid your hair and wear kumkum on your forehead,
A little sparrow-like woman should adorn a gentle smile.
Braid your hair and wear kumkum on your forehead,
A little sparrow-like woman should adorn a gentle smile.
பொம்பளையா லட்சணமா பொடவையை கட்டு
சும்மா புறுபுறுன்னு கிழிஞ்சுப் போன ட்ரௌசர விட்டு
Wear a saree gracefully like a proper woman,
Leaving behind those torn trousers.
அள்ளிச் சொருகு அது கோடாலி கொண்டை
மையிட்டுப் பாரு சின்ன கண்களிரண்டை
வெற்றிலை போட்டு நல்லா சிவக்கணும் உதடு
வெய்யில் பட்டாலே சும்மா ஜொலிக்கணும் அழகு
Gather your hair into an axe-shaped traditional bun,
Apply kohl and look at those two small eyes.
Chew betel leaves so your lips turn bright red,
Your beauty should dazzle when sunlight touches it.
மஞ்சள் பூசு தங்கத்தட்டு போலிருக்கும்
மாமனையும் பக்கத்திலே சுண்டி இழுக்கும்
அச்சம் நாணம் கூட வந்தால் தெய்வம் பிறக்கும்
அந்த கால பத்தினிகள் அம்சம் இருக்கும்...
Apply turmeric, making yourself gleam like a golden plate,
It will draw your beloved close to your side.
If modesty and shyness accompany you, divinity is born,
Reflecting the divine essence of virtuous women from the past.
பொம்பளையா லட்சணமா பொடவையை கட்டு
சும்மா புறுபுறுன்னு கிழிஞ்சுப் போன ட்ரௌசர விட்டு
Wear a saree gracefully like a proper woman,
Leaving behind those torn trousers.
ஹரே ராமா ஹரே கிருஷ்ணா இழுக்குது உலக
ஆதிகால தத்துவங்கள் கலக்குது மனசை
ஹரே ராமா ஹரே கிருஷ்ணா இழுக்குது உலக
ஆதிகால தத்துவங்கள் கலக்குது மனசை
நாகரீகம் நம்ம நாட்டை படுத்துது பாடு
நமக்கு மட்டும் உரியதன்றோ பழைய பண்பாடு
'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' pulls the world along,
Ancient philosophies stir the mind.
'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' pulls the world along,
Ancient philosophies stir the mind.
Modernization is troubling our country,
For our ancient culture belongs uniquely to us.
தாயின் பின்னே மறைந்து செல்லும்
தமிழர் பெண்ணம்மா
தலைவன் முன்னே தலை குனியும்
அழகு கண்ணம்மா ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம்
இந்த நாட்டில் பிறந்தவள்ன்னா ஒன்னு செய்யம்மா
இடைய நல்லா இழுத்து மூடி புடவையை கட்டம்மா ..
A Tamil woman follows humbly behind her mother,
She is the pride of Tamil culture.
She bows her head with modesty before her beloved,
My beautiful Kannamma, hmm hmm hmm.
If you are born in this land, do just one thing, girl:
Pull and cover your waist properly with a saree!
பொம்பளையா லட்சணமா பொடவையை கட்டு
சும்மா புறுபுறுன்னு கிழிஞ்சுப் போன ட்ரௌசர விட்டு
Wear a saree gracefully like a proper woman,
Leaving behind those torn trousers.
Pombalaiyaa latchanamaa podavaiyai kattu
Wear a saree gracefully like a proper woman,
Summaa purupurnnu kizhichchu pona trousar-a vittu
Leaving behind those torn trousers.
Pombalaiyaa latchanamaa podavaiyai kattu
Wear a saree gracefully like a proper woman,
Summaa purupurnnu kizhichchu pona trousar-a vittu
Leaving behind those torn trousers.
Koondhalukku pinnalittu kungumam ittu
Braid your hair and wear kumkum on your forehead,
Siru kurunagaithaan seiyya venum pombala chittu
A little sparrow-like woman should adorn a gentle smile.
Koondhalukku pinnalittu kungumam ittu
Braid your hair and wear kumkum on your forehead,
Siru kurunagaithaan seiyya venum pombala chittu
A little sparrow-like woman should adorn a gentle smile.
: Pombalaiyaa latchanamaa podavaiyai kattu
Wear a saree gracefully like a proper woman,
Summaa purupurnnu kizhichchu pona trousar-a vittu
Leaving behind those torn trousers.
Alli sorugu adhu kodaali kondai
Gather your hair into an axe-shaped traditional bun,
Maiyittu paaru chinna kangalirandai
Apply kohl and look at those two small eyes.
Vettrilai pottu nallaa sivakkanum udhadu
Chew betel leaves so your lips turn bright red,
Veyyil pattaalae summaa jolikkanum azhagu
Your beauty should dazzle when sunlight touches it.
Manjal poosu thangathattu polirukku
Apply turmeric, making yourself gleam like a golden plate,
Maamanaiyum pakkaththilae sundi izhukkum
It will draw your beloved close to your side.
Achcham naanam kooda vanthaal deivam pirakkum
If modesty and shyness accompany you, divinity is born,
Antha kaala paththinigal amsam irukkum
Reflecting the divine essence of virtuous women from the past.
Pombalaiyaa latchanamaa podavaiyai kattu
Wear a saree gracefully like a proper woman,
Summaa purupurnnu kizhichchu pona trousar-a vittu
Leaving behind those torn trousers.
Harae rama harae krishna izhukkuthu ulaga
'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' pulls the world along,
Aadhikaala thathuvangal kalakkuthu manasai
Ancient philosophies stir the mind.
Harae rama harae krishna izhukkuthu ulaga
'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' pulls the world along,
Aadhikaala thathuvangal kalakkuthu manasai
Ancient philosophies stir the mind.
Naagareegam namma naattai paduththuthu paadu
Modernization is troubling our country,
Namakku mattum uriyathandro pazhaiya panpaadu
For our ancient culture belongs uniquely to us.
Thaayin pinnae maranthu sellum
A Tamil woman follows humbly behind her mother,
Tamizhar pennammaa
She is the pride of Tamil culture.
Thalaivan munnae thalai kuniyum
She bows her head with modesty before her beloved,
Azhagu kannammaa hmm hmm hmm
My beautiful Kannamma, hmm hmm hmm.
Intha naattil piranthavalnnaa onnu seiyyammaa
If you are born in this land, do just one thing, girl:
Idaiya nallaa izhuththu moodi pudavaiyai kattammaa
Pull and cover your waist properly with a saree!
Pombalaiyaa latchanamaa podavaiyai kattu
Wear a saree gracefully like a proper woman,
Summaa purupurnnu kizhichchu pona trousar-a vittu
Leaving behind those torn trousers.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Pombalaiyaa Latchanamaa from the 1977 movie Ilaya Thalaimurai is a playful yet culturally reflective song in which the singer advises young women to cherish traditional Tamil values and attire over westernized fashion trends like torn trousers. Lyricist Kannadasan contrasts modern influences with traditional aesthetic elements, such as wearing a saree, styling hair in a traditional bun (kodaali kondai), applying kohl, wearing kumkum and turmeric, and displaying gentle smiles.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor / Simile (Uvamai)
“Manjal poosu thangathattu polirukku”
Compares turmeric-covered glowing skin to a glistening gold plate ('thangathattu polirukku').
Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Alli sorugu adhu kodaali kondai / Maiyittu paaru chinna kangalirandai”
Rhyming of the second letter 'n' sound between 'kondai' and 'irandai'.
Monai (Initial Consonant Alliteration)
“Pombalaiyaa latchanamaa podavaiyai kattu”
Repetition of the 'P' sound at the beginning of words within the same line ('Pombalaiyaa', 'podavaiyai').
Imagery (Chittu Metaphor)
“Siru kurunagaithaan seiyya venum pombala chittu”
Refers to a young woman as a 'chittu' (sparrow), evoking innocence and agility.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by lyricist Kannadasan and composed by M. S. Viswanathan, this song captures the late-1970s social context in Tamil Nadu when Western clothing like jeans and trousers was becoming popular among urban youth. Kannadasan used witty satire to champion traditional Tamil attire like the saree.
Keep listening
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