- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. B. Sreenivas
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Movie name
- Padithal Mattum Podhuma
- Movie release year
- 1962
- Lyrics added on
- 16 Oct 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Pon Ondru Kanden is a celebrated conversational duet between two close friends describing the women they have encountered and fallen for. One friend describes a glamorous, modern woman like a moving cloud and a shimmering wave of modern elegance, while the other portrays a traditional, humble, and pious woman who embodies timeless virtue. Through contrasting descriptions of beauty—one modern and flashy, the other modest and divine—the song highlights how love shapes individual perception. Despite their differing views on romantic ideals, the song resolves with a deep expression of mutual affection and brotherhood, emphasizing that the two friends are fundamentally inseparable.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“நடமாடும் மேகம் நவநாகரீகம்”
The lyricist uses metaphors such as 'Pon' (gold), 'Nadamaadum megam' (walking cloud), and 'Panivaana deivam' (humble deity) to allegorize the physical and moral qualities of the women.
Internal Rhyme / Rhyming Sequence (Edhugai)
“சென்றேன்... கண்டேன்... வந்தேன்”
The rapid three-word action sequence uses matching end-sounds ('Sentrean', 'Kandrean', 'Vandrean') to create a rhythmic narrative pulse.
Antithesis (Maranpatta Karuthu)
“நவநாகரீகம் அலங்கார சின்னம் / பழங்காலச் சின்னம்”
Juxtaposes modern glamour ('Navanaagareegam alangaara chinnam') against traditional heritage ('Pazhangkaalach chinnam') to contrast two distinct cultural aesthetics of womanhood.
Did you know?
Trivia
Featuring T. M. Soundararajan for Sivaji Ganesan and P. B. Sreenivas for Gemini Ganesan, this song from Padithal Mattum Podhuma (1962) is widely acclaimed for how lyricist Kannadasan and composers Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy crafted contrasting personas for the two lead heroes within a single harmonious duet.
Keep listening
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