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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ponaa Varaadhu

From Vazhkkai Oppandam · 1959

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
Jikki
Music director
Ghantasala
Details
Vazhkkai Oppandam1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Vaa vaaCome, come
Vaa raajaa vaaCome, oh king, come
Ponaa varadhu idhuIf this goes away, it won't return
Poludhu ponaa kedaikkaadhuOnce time passes, it cannot be regained
Ponaa varadhu idhuIf this goes away, it won't return
Poludhu ponaa kedaikkaadhuOnce time passes, it cannot be regained
Poomaalai ennai polA flower garland like me
Thodukka yaarum mudiyaathuNo one else can weave
Poomaalai ennai polA flower garland like me
Thodukka yaarum mudiyaathuNo one else can weave
Ponaa varadhu idhuIf this goes away, it won't return
Poludhu ponaa kedaikkaadhuOnce time passes, it cannot be regained
Female
Aanaana mainaraiyumEven the grandest dandy playboys
Asara vaikkum paathukkanghaLook at these shoes that leave them awestruck
Aanaana mainaraiyumEven the grandest dandy playboys
Asara vaikkum paathukkanghaLook at these shoes that leave them awestruck
China Singapore ellaamEverything from China and Singapore
Parcelilae parakkudhungaFlies over directly in parcels
Ye machaan ye maamaHey cousin, hey uncle
Achaarm illama yenWhy, without paying any advance
Appidi ippadi paakkuringhaAre you looking at me this way and that way?
Achaarm illama yenWhy, without paying any advance
Appidi ippadi paakkuringhaAre you looking at me this way and that way?
Ponaa varadhu idhuIf this goes away, it won't return
Poludhu ponaa kedaikkaadhuOnce time passes, it cannot be regained
Female
Paati kizhavi thalaiyil vechaaIf an old lady puts it on her head
Palaiya vayasu thirumbidunghaHer youthfulness from the past returns
Pazhuthu pona thathavukkumAnd for a feeble old grandfather
Balathai koduthu mayakkidunghaIt grants strength and mesmerizes him
Female
Haan paati kizhavi thalaiyil vechaaAha, if an old lady puts it on her head
Palaiya vayasu thirumbidunghaHer youthfulness from the past returns
Pazhuthu pona thathavukkumAnd for a feeble old grandfather
Balathai koduthu mayakkidunghaIt grants strength and mesmerizes him
Bajaaru vilaiyai kettuInquire about the market price
Paadhi kodutha podhumunghaAnd paying just half is enough
Bajaaru vilaiyai kettuInquire about the market price
Paadhi kodutha podhumunghaAnd paying just half is enough
Hae maami hae saamiHey aunt, hey sir
Pallae killae kattaamalaeWithout showing any hesitation or reluctance
Purse ai eduthu neetidunghaPull out your purse and offer the money
Pallae killae kattaamalaeWithout showing any hesitation or reluctance
Purse ai eduthu neetidunghaPull out your purse and offer the money
Ponaa varadhu idhuIf this goes away, it won't return
Poludhu ponaa kedaikkaadhuOnce time passes, it cannot be regained
Female
Hae machaanHey cousin
Kuthaalathula vechukittaa idhuIf you keep it in Courtallam
Kumbakonathilae kumaaikkumIt will celebrate merrily in Kumbakonam
Pethaapurathil vechikitta idhuIf you keep it in Pithapuram
Peralathula jamaaikkumIt will create a sensation in Peralam
Female
HaanAha
Kuthaalathula vechukittaa idhuIf you keep it in Courtallam
Kumbakonathilae kumaaikkumIt will celebrate merrily in Kumbakonam
Pethaapurathil vechikitta idhuIf you keep it in Pithapuram
Peralathula jamaaikkumIt will create a sensation in Peralam
China bajaarukkellamFor all of China Bazaar
Selavani idhuthaanghaThis is the ultimate currency
Cinema starkkellaamFor all the cinema stars
Vaadikkaiyum naan thaneI am the regular supplier myself
Hae raja hae rojaaHey king, hey rose
Methaiyilae visirivittaaIf fanned out open on a mattress
Athar manam veesidunghaThe fragrant scent of attar perfume will waft around
Female
Ponaa varadhu idhuIf this goes away, it won't return
Poludhu ponaa kedaikkaadhuOnce time passes, it cannot be regained
Poomaalai ennai polA flower garland like me
Thodukka yaarum mudiyaathuNo one else can weave
Poomaalai ennai polA flower garland like me
Thodukka yaarum mudiyaathuNo one else can weave
Ponaa varadhu idhuIf this goes away, it won't return
Poludhu ponaa kedaikkaadhuOnce time passes, it cannot be regained

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

Keep listening

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