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Lyrics & meaning

Pongalo Pongalayya

From Porantha Veeda Puguntha Veeda · 1993

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Porantha Veeda Puguntha Veeda1993

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pongalo Pongal aiyaaOh sir, it is Pongal festival time!
En pondatti buthi mangal aiyaaMy wife's mind has gone dull, oh sir!
Dear brothers and sistersDear brothers and sisters,
Kumbalo kumbal aiyaaLook at the huge crowd gathered, oh sir!
Maadiyilo pengal aiyaaWomen are gathered upstairs, oh sir!
Veettukkulla irundhaalumWhether I stay inside the house,
Illa veliyila than thirinjaalumOr wander around outside,
Eppavume naan than single aiyaa..haeiI am always single, oh sir... haei!
Male
Adi aambadaiyaan endraleIs a husband someone who...
Adangi kidakkum jadamaa hoi hoiStays silently submissive like an inanimate object? Hoi hoi!
Oru sample-ukku ippodhu sarakka avuthu vidavaShould I unleash the liquor/truth now as a sample?
Udhattu saayamthaan velukum neranthaanLipstick color will fade in time,
Veluthaa theriyumae unga latchanam latchanam thanYour true nature will be exposed in all its glory!
Male
Naalu adiyile sauri mudiyileWith four feet of false hair extensions,
Vera vazhiyillae azhagaa pozhappu nadakkudhuHaving no other choice, life goes on somehow!
Chorus
Namma vaathiyaaru annaathaOur master is the elder brother figure,
Vevaram purinja aaludaA guy who understands everything, man!
Anga paathiayaada pista polDid you see him over there, like a big shot,
Vedachi kedakku thozhudaaLying stretched out, my friend!
Chorus
Riska mithikuromWe crush all risks,
Kistha pozhaikkiromWe survive by paying taxes,
Maada ozhaikkiromWe work hard like oxen,
Adhathaan maathikka oothikkiromTo change that state, we pour ourselves a drink!
Adi gulputhaan adichaaIf you gulp down the drink,
Silputhaan aandhira sarakkuthaanIt is sharp Andhra liquor!
Innikku pongaloo pongalthaanToday is a grand festival of Pongal!
Chorus
Namma vaathiyaaru annaathaOur master is the elder brother figure,
Vevaram purinja aaludaA guy who understands everything, man!
Anga paathiayaada pista polDid you see him over there, like a big shot,
Vedachi kedakku thozhudaaLying stretched out, my friend!
Male
Maadiyilae maadharsangamUpstairs, the women's association,
Meetinguh than nadakkuthappaIs conducting its meeting, oh man!
Naal eluthu padichathellamThose who learned a few letters of education,
Vela kettu alakkuthappaAre wandering aimlessly without doing real work, oh man!
Indha lillyamma pilla pethu pottaaThis Lilly lady gave birth to a child,
Thaaipaal kodukka othukave mattaaBut she refuses to breastfeed at all!
Male
Andha kaaranatha naama konja kaettaWhen we asked her the reason behind it,
Iva kattazhagu kettudumaam vaerthaaShe says her figure will get ruined if she sweats!
Male
Ada paarthaalum paarthendaaOh, I have seen so many like her!
Peiyattum pombalaLet her be, this woman!
Aathaadi ellamae vaayadi pombalaOh my goodness, all of them are talkative women!
Chorus
Namma vaathiyaaru annaathaOur master is the elder brother figure,
Vevaram purinja aaludaA guy who understands everything, man!
Anga paathiayaada pista polDid you see him over there, like a big shot,
Vedachi kedakku thozhudaaLying stretched out, my friend!
Male
Sevalgala kevalama pesugira kozhigalaeYou hens who talk demeaningly about roosters,
Serndhirukkum kudumbathaiyeYou schemers who break apart united families!
Pirichi veikkum koonigalaeBecause your husband put a wedding garland on you,
Unga purushan kaaran pottuputtaan maalaiShould he wash your clothes as a punishment for that sin?
Andha paavathukku thovaikkanuma saelaWill the country prosper if you form women's associations?
Male
Neenga sangam vechu uruppudumaa naaduYour association itself is a major disgrace!
Unga sangathithaan romba vetkakaeduOur master has abandoned his dose due to great trouble,
Chorus
Badaa baejaaraaga uttaaru vaathiyaru dosuthaanThis troublesome case has gone piece by piece!
Piece piece ah poyaachu baejaaru case-uh thanIs a husband someone who...
Male
Aambadaiyaan endraaleStays silently submissive like an inanimate object?
Adangi kidakkum jadamaHoi hoi!
Chorus :Hoi hoiShould I unleash the liquor/truth now as a sample?
Male :Oru sample-ukku ippodhu sarakka avuthu vidavaHoi hoi!
Chorus :Hoi hoiWe crush all risks,
Riska mithikuromWe survive by paying taxes,
Kistha pozhaikkiromWe work hard like oxen,
Maada ozhaikkiromTo change that state, we pour ourselves a drink!
Adhathaan maathikka oothikkiromIf you gulp down the drink,
Adi gulputhaan adichaaIt is sharp Andhra liquor!
Silputhaan aandhira sarakkuthaanToday is a grand festival of Pongal!
Innikku pongaloo pongalthaanOur master is the elder brother figure,
Chorus
Namma vaathiyaaru annaathaA guy who understands everything, man!
Vevaram purinja aaludaDid you see him over there, like a big shot,
Anga paathiayaada pista polLying stretched out, my friend!
Vedachi kedakku thozhudaa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic satirical song from 'Porantha Veeda Puguntha Veeda' (1993) expresses the humorous grievances of husbands against modern women's associations ('Maadharsangam'). Set against a festive backdrop, the male protagonist and his companions poke fun at domestic conflicts, modern lifestyle choices, and the shifting power dynamics between husbands and wives in contemporary society.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monorhyme / Rhyming Couplets (Emoni)

Riska mithikurom / Kistha pozhaikkirom

Use of end rhymes like 'mangal' and 'single', 'riska' and 'kistha' to create a lively rhythmic flow.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Maada ozhaikkirom / Adangi kidakkum jadamaa

Comparing hardworking husbands to oxen ('Maada ozhaikkirom') and comparing husbands sitting silently to lifeless objects ('Jadamaa').

Alliteration (Moonaai)

Maadiyilae maadharsangam / Meetinguh than nadakkuthappa

Repetition of initial consonants like 'Maadiyilae maadharsangam' to reinforce tempo.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features the distinct vocal delivery of Malaysia Vasudevan, a frequent collaborator of Ilaiyaraaja known for delivering high-energy folk and comedy songs with expressive colloquial dialogue.

Keep listening

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