Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pondugakala Vazha Thandukala

From Madurai Sooran · 1984

Lyricist
Poonguyilan
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Madurai Sooran1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
………….....
Male
Sozhiyan kudumi idhu chummaavum aadaathuThis Choliya Brahmin's tuft of hair does not dance without a purpose,
Thozhiga keli pannaa thoththu poe odaathuIf women tease me, it will not flee in defeat.
Siluththukittu nikkumadi sinthukala paadumadiIt bristles up, my girl, and sings folk Sindhu tunes,
Sela kattum ponnukittaAround the girl clad in a saree,
Aalavattam podumadi….adiyaei…..It circles around with zeal... Oh girl!
Male
Pondugalaa vaazhthandugalaaAre you young women or plantain-pests?
En sangathiyil kaiya vachcha mandugalaaYou fools who meddled in my affairs!
Vandugalaa kadal nandugalaaAre you beetles or sea crabs?
Naan koiyaatha rosaa sendugalaaI am a bunch of unplucked roses!
Male
Pondugalaa vaazhthandugalaaAre you young women or plantain-pests?
En sangathiyil kaiya vachcha mandugalaaYou fools who meddled in my affairs!
Vandugalaa kadal nandugalaaAre you beetles or sea crabs?
Naan koiyaatha rosaa sendugalaaI am a bunch of unplucked roses!
Male
Aaththaa unga pattanamthaanOh mother, your city is such a sight,
Vanthu paththaa rompa latchanamthaanWhen seen close up, its character is quite something!
Mariyaathai kidaiyaathaeThere is no respect found here at all,
Maanamellaam moottaiyilae kattanumthaanOne must bundle up all sense of shame!
Male
Adi aaththaa unga pattanamthaanHey mother, your city is such a sight,
Vanthu paththaa rompa latchanamthaanWhen seen close up, its character is quite something!
Mariyaathai kidaiyaathaeThere is no respect found here at all,
Maanamellaam moottaiyilae kattanumthaanOne must bundle up all sense of shame!
Male
Ingu aanodu ponnu thotdaaduthuHere, men and women touch and dance together,
Achcham naanangalai adhu vittaaduthuThrowing away all fear and modesty to the wind!
Male
Haei pondugalaa vaazhthandugalaaHey, are you young women or plantain-pests?
En sangathiyil kaiya vachcha mandugalaaYou fools who meddled in my affairs!
Vandugalaa kadal nandugalaaAre you beetles or sea crabs?
Naan koiyaatha rosaa sendugalaaI am a bunch of unplucked roses!
Male
Pondugalaa vaazhthandugalaaAre you young women or plantain-pests?
En sangathiyil kaiya vachcha mandugalaaYou fools who meddled in my affairs!
Adiyae vandugalaaHey, you beetles!
Female
Haan….haei….hmm…aah….Haan... haei... hmm... aah...
Male
Haei….haei….haei…..haei….haei…Haei... haei... haei... haei... haei...
Ramba…haei….ramba ramba oo…rambaRamba... haei... ramba ramba oo... ramba
Ramba…haei….ramba ramba oo…rambaRamba... haei... ramba ramba oo... ramba
Ramba…oo…ramba ramba oo…ramba rambaRamba... oo... ramba ramba oo... ramba ramba
Male
Vaasam konda kasthooriyaeOh fragrant, musk-scented girl,
Vanthu kelu namma kachcheriyaiCome and listen to our musical concert!
Sinungaathae silukkaathaeDo not whine, do not put on airs,
Vaai koduththu vambizhuththa singaariOh stylish girl who picked a fight with your talk!
Male
Vaasam konda kasthooriyaeOh fragrant, musk-scented girl,
Vanthu kelu namma kachcheriyaiCome and listen to our musical concert!
Sinungaathae silukkaathaeDo not whine, do not put on airs,
Vaai koduththu vambizhuththa singaariOh stylish girl who picked a fight with your talk!
Male
Nalla adi naan poduven nalla dappaanguththuI will dance a high-energy dappanguthu beat,
Potti venaamadi chumma vaaya poththuNo need for a contest, girl, just shut your mouth!
Male
Haei pondugalaa vaazhthandugalaaHey, are you young women or plantain-pests?
En sangathiyil kaiya vachcha mandugalaaYou fools who meddled in my affairs!
Vandugalaa kadal nandugalaaAre you beetles or sea crabs?
Naan koiyaatha rosaa sendugalaaI am a bunch of unplucked roses!
Male
Pondugalaa vaazhthandugalaaAre you young women or plantain-pests?
En sangathiyil kaiya vachcha mandugalaaYou fools who meddled in my affairs!
Vandugalaa kadal nandugalaaAre you beetles or sea crabs?
Naan koiyaatha rosaa sendugalaaI am a bunch of unplucked roses!
Male
…………….....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This lively song from 'Madurai Sooran' (1984) expresses humorous social commentary and playful banter delivered in a classic folk-dappanguthu style. The protagonist playfully mocks modern city culture, pointing out how social norms, modesty, and traditional respect are tossed aside in urban party settings where men and women dance together freely. He also engages in a boastful musical duel with women, asserting his folk rhythm superiority and warning them not to pick fights with him.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Proverb / Idiom

Sozhiyan kudumi idhu chummaavum aadaathu

The opening phrase uses the famous Tamil proverb 'Sozhiyan kudumi chumma aadaathu', referring to a person who never acts without a hidden motive or serious purpose.

Edukku (Second-letter Rhyme)

Pondugalaa vaazhthandugalaa / En sangathiyil kaiya vachcha mandugalaa

Rhyming of second letters 'n' in sequential rhyming noun endings 'Pondugalaa', 'Mandugalaa', 'Vandugalaa', and 'Nandugalaa'.

Monai (Alliteration)

Vaasam konda kasthooriyae / Vanthu kelu namma kachcheriyai

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'Va' in 'Vaasam' and 'Vanthu'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Madurai Sooran' (1984) featured music composed by the veteran duo Shankar-Ganesh. Singer Malaysia Vasudevan was renowned for delivering high-energy rustic and folk tracks like this with unique vocal improvisations.

Keep listening

More from Madurai Sooran