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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pongalo Pongal

From Anni -1951 · 1951

Lyricist
M. S. Subramaniyam
Singer
G. Varalakshmi
Music director
Pendyala Nageswara Rao
Details
Anni -19511951

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Pongalo pongal pongi varuthammaaPongalo Pongal! Abundance is boiling over, dear mother.
Chorus :Pongi varuthamaaIt is boiling over, dear mother!
Female :Pongalo pongal pongi varuthammaaPongalo Pongal! Abundance is boiling over, dear mother.
Chorus :Pongi varuthamaaIt is boiling over, dear mother!
Female
Engum ini vaiboga bakkiyamthaanammaaEverywhere henceforth, there shall only be festive good fortune, dear mother.
Chorus :BakkiyamthaanammaaGood fortune indeed, dear mother!
Female :Engum ini vaiboga bakkiyamthaanammaaEverywhere henceforth, there shall only be festive good fortune, dear mother.
Chorus :BakkiyamthaanammaaGood fortune indeed, dear mother!
Female
Seerodu selva kuzhanthaigal pettruBlessed with prosperous and virtuous children,
Chorus :Seerodu selva kuzhanthaigal pettruBlessed with prosperous and virtuous children,
Female :Perodu pugalodu vaazhvaai neeyammaaMay you live with distinction and renown, dear mother!
Chorus :Perodu pugalodu vaazhvaai neeyammaaMay you live with distinction and renown, dear mother!
Female
Pandigai paruvam innaalathinil dharmamDoing acts of charity during this festival season,
Chorus :Pandigai paruvam innaalathinil dharmamDoing acts of charity during this festival season,
Female
Thanthitta punyam veenaagaathu ammaThe divine merit earned through giving will never go to waste, mother.
Chorus :Veenaagaathu ammaIt will never go to waste, mother!
Female :Thanthitta punyam veenaagaathu ammaThe divine merit earned through giving will never go to waste, mother.
Chorus :Veenaagaathu ammaIt will never go to waste, mother!
Female
Pongalo pongal pongi varuthammaaPongalo Pongal! Abundance is boiling over, dear mother.
Chorus :Pongi varuthamaaIt is boiling over, dear mother!
Chorus
………………...
Chorus
Varamarul thaayae gowriyammaaOh Goddess Gowri, mother who bestows boons!
Vanthanaigal seivomae goweiyammaWe offer our reverent greetings to you, Mother Gowri.
Varamarul thaayae gowriyammaaOh Goddess Gowri, mother who bestows boons!
Vanthanaigal seivomae goweiyammaWe offer our reverent greetings to you, Mother Gowri.
Chorus
Un paadham paninthom gowriyammaWe bow at your sacred feet, Goddess Gowri.
Un paadham paninthom gowriyammaWe bow at your sacred feet, Goddess Gowri.
Emmai kaana kaaththarulvaayae gowriyammaLook upon us and grant us your protection, Goddess Gowri.
Aahaa varamarul thaayae gowriyammaAha, mother Gowri who bestows boons!
Male
Oo….ini parivudan aandarul gowriyammaOh, rule over us with loving kindness from now on, Goddess Gowri.
Kodu panjamathum theerththarul gowriyammaaEradicate the harsh famine and suffering, Goddess Gowri!
Chorus :Kodu panjamathum theerththarul gowriyammaaEradicate the harsh famine and suffering, Goddess Gowri!
Kodu panjamathum theerththarul gowriyammaaEradicate the harsh famine and suffering, Goddess Gowri!
Varamarul thaayae gowriyammaOh Goddess Gowri, mother who bestows boons!
Vanthanaigal seivomae goweiyammaWe offer our reverent greetings to you, Mother Gowri.
Varamarul thaayae gowriyammaOh Goddess Gowri, mother who bestows boons!
Varamarul thaayae gowriyammaOh Goddess Gowri, mother who bestows boons!
Aahaa varamarul thaayae gowriyammaAha, mother Gowri who bestows boons!
Varamarul thaayae gowriyammaOh Goddess Gowri, mother who bestows boons!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic festive song from the 1951 movie Anni celebrates the spirit of the Harvest Festival (Pongal) combined with a deep devotional prayer to Goddess Gowri. The initial verses joyful announce the overflow of prosperity, wishing long life, fine children, and enduring glory to the family, while highlighting the moral lesson that acts of charity during holy times bring eternal merit.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition (Epanalepsis)

Pongalo pongal pongi varuthammaa

The joyful phrase 'Pongalo pongal' and the devotional chant 'Varamarul thaayae gowriyammaa' are repeated to build rhythmic folk enthusiasm and devotional fervor.

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Perodu pugalodu vaazhvaai neeyammaa

Matching second consonants across lines ('Perodu' / 'Thanthitta') creates traditional Tamil prosodic harmony.

Alliteration (Monai)

Pandigai paruvam innaalathinil dharmam

The repetition of the 'p' sound ('Pandigai', 'paruvam', 'punyam') creates a pleasant musical flow in the lyric.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Anni' (1951) featured music composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao and was sung prominently by legendary singer-actress G. Varalakshmi. The lyrics by M. S. Subramaniyam blend traditional Tamil folk festive customs with devotional classical prayer.

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