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Palum Pazhamum album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ponal Pogattum Poda

From Palum Pazhamum · 1961

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Palum Pazhamum
Movie release year
1961
Lyrics added on
25 Apr 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
…………………..
{ Ponaal pogatum poda } (2)
Indha boomiyil nilaiyaai
Vaazhnthavar yaaradaa
Ponaal pogatum poda
Indha boomiyil nilaiyaai
Vaazhnthavar yaaradaa
Ponaal pogatum poda
……………………
Vanthadhu
Theriyum povathu engae
Vaasal namakae theriyaadhu
Vanthavarellam
Thangi vittal indha
Mannil namakae idamethu
Vaazhkai
Enbathu viyabaram
Varum jananam
Enbathu varavaagum
Adhil maranam enbathu selavaagum
{ Ponaal pogatum poda } (4)
Iraval thanthavan
Ketkindran adhai
Illaiyendral avan viduvana
Uravai solli
Azhuvathanaalae uyirai
Meendum tharuvana
Kookuralaalae
Kidaikaathu idhu
Courtuku ponaal
Jeikaathu andha
Kottaiyil nuzhainthaal
Thirumbaathu
{ Ponaal pogatum poda } (2)
Indha boomiyil nilaiyaai
Vaazhnthavar yaaradaa
Ponaal pogatum poda
………………
Elumbukum
Sathaikum maruthuvam
Kanden idharkoru
Marunthai kandena
Irunthaal
Avalai thannanthaniyae
Eriyum nerupil viduvena
Namakum
Melae oruvanada
Avan naalum therintha
Thalaivanada dhinam
Naadagam aadum kalaignanada
{ Ponaal pogatum poda } (2)
Indha boomiyil nilaiyaai
Vaazhnthavar yaaradaa
{ Ponaal pogatum poda } (3)
…………………………
...
Let it go, just let it go, my friend!
On this earth, forever,
who has ever lived, my friend?
Let it go, just let it go, my friend!
On this earth, forever,
who has ever lived, my friend?
Let it go, just let it go, my friend!
...
We know our arrival,
but where we go when we leave,
we do not even know the doorway.
If everyone who came here
stayed back forever,
where would there be room on this earth for us?
Life
is just like a business:
our birth
is an income,
and death in it is an expense.
Let it go, just let it go, my friend!
The one who lent life
is asking for it back;
if we refuse, will he let it go?
Speaking of our bonds
and weeping in sorrow,
will he give back that life?
With mere crying
you cannot get it back;
even if you take it to court,
you cannot win;
once entered into that fort,
it will never return.
Let it go, just let it go, my friend!
On this earth, forever,
who has ever lived, my friend?
Let it go, just let it go, my friend!
...
For bones
and flesh, I found medicine;
but for this condition,
did I find any cure?
If I had,
would I have left her all alone
to the burning fire?
Above all of us,
there is One, my friend;
he is the master who knows all time,
an artist who stages
a play every single day!
Let it go, just let it go, my friend!
On this earth, forever,
who has ever lived, my friend?
Let it go, just let it go, my friend!
...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Ponaal Pogattum Poda from the 1961 film Paalum Pazhamum is a classic philosophical song composed by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, sung by T. M. Soundararajan, and written by Kannadasan. The song explores deep themes of mortality, impermanence, and detachment following the grief of loss. The protagonist comes to terms with the reality that life is transient and human existence is merely borrowed time. Kannadasan uses brilliant metaphors, comparing life to a business ledger where birth is credit and death is debit, and death to an unappealable sentence that no court or fortress can defy. Ultimately, the song calls for acceptance of the divine master's cosmic play, offering solace in times of profound loss.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

“Vaazhkai Enbathu viyabaram Varum jananam Enbathu varavaagum Adhil maranam enbathu selavaagum”

Life is explicitly compared to a business transaction where birth is income/credit and death is expense/debit.

Rhetorical Question (வினா நவிற்சி)

“Indha boomiyil nilaiyaai Vaazhnthavar yaaradaa”

The speaker asks who has lived permanently on earth, highlighting the unquestionable truth that no one is immortal.

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

“dhinam Naadagam aadum kalaignanada”

God/Destiny is personified as an artist playing a daily theatrical drama.

Second-Letter Rhyme / Edhukai (எதுகை)

“Iraval thanthavan ... Uravai solli”

The second letter in adjacent lines rhymes ('Iraval' / 'Uravai').

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Oru Kootil Sila Kaalam1995
Engirundho VandhanImpermanenceGrief
Kavalai Illaadha Manidhan1960
Kavalai Illaadha ManithanImpermanenceTime
Kanneer Thuliye2007
KireedamGriefAcceptance
Idhu Neerodu Selkindra1971
Justice ViswanathanMortalityContemplative
Kizhakku Paravai1979
Thisai Maariya ParavaigalContemplativeSpirituality
Enthan Peru Komali1968
Siritha MugamSpiritualityMelancholic

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