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Vazhkkai Oppandam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ponaa Varaadhu

From Vazhkkai Oppandam · 1959

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
Jikki
Music director
Ghantasala
Movie name
Vazhkkai Oppandam
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
6 Apr 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vaa vaa
Vaa raajaa vaa
Ponaa varadhu idhu
Poludhu ponaa kedaikkaadhu
Ponaa varadhu idhu
Poludhu ponaa kedaikkaadhu
Poomaalai ennai pol
Thodukka yaarum mudiyaathu
Poomaalai ennai pol
Thodukka yaarum mudiyaathu
Ponaa varadhu idhu
Poludhu ponaa kedaikkaadhu
Aanaana mainaraiyum
Asara vaikkum paathukkangha
Aanaana mainaraiyum
Asara vaikkum paathukkangha
China Singapore ellaam
Parcelilae parakkudhunga
Ye machaan ye maama
Achaarm illama yen
Appidi ippadi paakkuringha
Achaarm illama yen
Appidi ippadi paakkuringha
Ponaa varadhu idhu
Poludhu ponaa kedaikkaadhu
Paati kizhavi thalaiyil vechaa
Palaiya vayasu thirumbidungha
Pazhuthu pona thathavukkum
Balathai koduthu mayakkidungha
Haan paati kizhavi thalaiyil vechaa
Palaiya vayasu thirumbidungha
Pazhuthu pona thathavukkum
Balathai koduthu mayakkidungha
Bajaaru vilaiyai kettu
Paadhi kodutha podhumungha
Bajaaru vilaiyai kettu
Paadhi kodutha podhumungha
Hae maami hae saami
Pallae killae kattaamalae
Purse ai eduthu neetidungha
Pallae killae kattaamalae
Purse ai eduthu neetidungha
Ponaa varadhu idhu
Poludhu ponaa kedaikkaadhu
Hae machaan
Kuthaalathula vechukittaa idhu
Kumbakonathilae kumaaikkum
Pethaapurathil vechikitta idhu
Peralathula jamaaikkum
Haan
Kuthaalathula vechukittaa idhu
Kumbakonathilae kumaaikkum
Pethaapurathil vechikitta idhu
Peralathula jamaaikkum
China bajaarukkellam
Selavani idhuthaangha
Cinema starkkellaam
Vaadikkaiyum naan thane
Hae raja hae rojaa
Methaiyilae visirivittaa
Athar manam veesidungha
Ponaa varadhu idhu
Poludhu ponaa kedaikkaadhu
Poomaalai ennai pol
Thodukka yaarum mudiyaathu
Poomaalai ennai pol
Thodukka yaarum mudiyaathu
Ponaa varadhu idhu
Poludhu ponaa kedaikkaadhu
Come, come!
Come, my king, come!
Once it is gone, it will not come back,
once time slips away, you cannot get it back!
Once it is gone, it will not come back,
once time slips away, you cannot get it back!
Flower garlands like I do,
no one else can string!
Flower garlands like I do,
no one else can string!
Once it is gone, it will not come back,
once time slips away, you cannot get it back!
Even the wealthiest, proudest young men—
just watch, it will stun them all!
Even the wealthiest, proudest young men—
just watch, it will stun them all!
All the way to China and Singapore,
it flies out in parcel packages!
Hey handsome, hey uncle,
without paying an advance, why
are you looking this way and that?
Without paying an advance, why
are you looking this way and that?
Once it is gone, it will not come back,
once time slips away, you cannot get it back...
If an old grandmother wears it in her hair,
her youth will return to her!
And even a frail, elderly grandpa
will regain his strength and be charmed!
Yes, if an old grandmother wears it in her hair,
her youth will return to her!
And even a frail, elderly grandpa
will regain his strength and be charmed!
Just check the market price
and pay half, that is plenty!
Just check the market price
and pay half, that is plenty!
Hey lady, hey mister,
without grinning sheepishly,
take out your purse and hand over the cash!
Without grinning sheepishly,
take out your purse and hand over the cash!
Once it is gone, it will not come back,
once time slips away, you cannot get it back...
Hey handsome!
If you wear it in Kutralam,
its fragrance will create a buzz in Kumbakonam!
If you wear it in Peddapuram,
it will dazzle everyone in Peralam!
Aha!
If you wear it in Kutralam,
its fragrance will create a buzz in Kumbakonam!
If you wear it in Peddapuram,
it will dazzle everyone in Peralam!
In all of China Bazaar,
this is the currency that rules!
And to all the cinema stars,
I am the favorite regular vendor!
Hey my king, hey my rose,
if you fan it over the bed,
it will spread the scent of attar perfume...
Once it is gone, it will not come back,
once time slips away, you cannot get it back!
Flower garlands like I do,
no one else can string!
Flower garlands like I do,
no one else can string!
Once it is gone, it will not come back,
once time slips away, you cannot get it back!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful street-vendor style song, 'Vaa Vaa Raajaa Vaa' from the 1959 film 'Vazhkkai Oppandam', features a lively seller singing about her irresistible goods and charm. She entices passersby by claiming that her woven flower garlands and imported luxury items are one-of-a-kind. Using humor and exaggeration, she sings how her products can revitalize the elderly, impress grand playboys, and bring fragrance and delight to anyone who purchases them before time slips away. Composed by legendary music director Ghantasala with lyrics by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass and vocals by Jikki, the song captures the energetic spirit of folk street-cries with clever rhyme schemes, urban street slang, and geographic puns, creating a catchy dance sequence full of theatrical flair.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monorhyme / Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Ponaa varadhu idhu / Poludhu ponaa kedaikkaadhu”

The second letter 'naa' in 'Ponaa' matches 'Poludhu' (alliteration/rhyme pattern) creating a rhythmic cadence standard in Tamil lyricism.

Alliteration / Mōnai (First Letter Harmony)

“Paati kizhavi thalaiyil vechaa / Palaiya vayasu thirumbidungha”

Repetition of the initial sound 'P' ('Paati', 'Palaiya', 'Pazhuthu') creates lyrical harmony across the stanza lines.

Assonance & Geographical Wordplay

“Kuthaalathula vechukittaa idhu / Kumbakonathilae kumaaikkum”

Rhyming town names using matching phonetics ('Kuthaalathula' with 'Kumbakonathilae', 'Pethaapurathil' with 'Peralathula').

Metaphor

“Poomaalai ennai pol / Thodukka yaarum mudiyaathu”

Comparing oneself to an exquisite flower garland that no one else can string together.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Vazhkkai Oppandam' (1959) was a bilingual film project made simultaneously in Tamil and Telugu (as 'Pelli Sandadi'). Singer Jikki's energetic rendition of this song made it one of the popular folk-style dance numbers of late 1950s Tamil cinema, heavily highlighting Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass's knack for incorporating contemporary urban colloquialisms and imported slang into mainstream lyrics.

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