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Satharam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pongi Varum

From Satharam · 1956

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Bhanumathi
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Satharam
Movie release year
1956
Lyrics added on
8 Feb 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pongi varum pudhu nilave
Ponmaeni paavaiyae
Pongi varum pudhu nilave
Ponmaeni paavaiyae
Bodhai tharum senbagame
Povadhum yen vilagi povadhum yen
Pongi varum pudhu nilave
Ponmaeni paavaiyae
Bodhai tharum senbagame
Povadhum yen vilagi povadhum yen
Thangamilla ungal thavam
Bangmurum swaamigale
Thangamilla ungal thavam
Bangmurum swaamigale
Mangai naan umatharugil vandhaale
Nerungi vandhaale
Mangai naan umatharugil vandhaale
Nerungi vandhaale…
Sanyaasi thannai indru
Samsaariyakkiyadhu
Sanyaasi thannai indru
Samsaariyakkiyadhu
Thangame singaara yavvaname
Unadhu yavvaname
Thangame singaara yavvaname
Unadhu yavvaname
Sanyaasa maargam vittu
Samsaariyaanadhu pol hoo o o o
Sanyaasa maargam vittu
Samsaariyaanadhu pol
Thangal manam maaridumoo thavam puriya
Meendum thavam puriya
Thangal manam maaridumoo thavam puriya
Meendum thavam puriya
Kannae un anbu manam
Kanda pinnum maaridumoo
Kannae un anbu manam
Kanda pinnum maaridumoo
Kaaviyudai virumbidumoo en idhayam
Kaaviyudai virumbidumoo en idhayam
Sonna sol unmai endraale
Sorgam bogam inimelae
Sonna sol unmai endraale
Sorgam bogam inimelae
Sondhame aagum thannaale
Endrum namm vaazhvinilae
Sondhame aagum thannaale
Endrum namm vaazhvinilae
Kannaithamizh kavidhaiyile kaanadha inbame
Both :Kannaithamizh kavidhaiyile kaanadha inbame
Kaadhal ennum kadalinile neendhiduvom
Naame neendhiduvom…..naame neendhiduvom
O rising new moon,
O golden-skinned beauty,
O rising new moon,
O golden-skinned beauty,
O intoxicating Shenbagam flower,
Why are you leaving? Why are you stepping away?
O rising new moon,
O golden-skinned beauty,
O intoxicating Shenbagam flower,
Why are you leaving? Why are you stepping away?
Your unsteady penance
will be broken, holy master!
Your unsteady penance
will be broken, holy master!
If I, a woman, come beside you,
if I come close to you...
If I, a woman, come beside you,
if I come close to you...
What turned an ascetic today
into a devoted family man,
What turned an ascetic today
into a devoted family man,
is your golden, alluring youth,
only your youth!
is your golden, alluring youth,
only your youth!
Just as you gave up the ascetic path
and became a family man,
Just as you gave up the ascetic path
and became a family man,
will your mind change again to do penance,
to do penance once more?
will your mind change again to do penance,
to do penance once more?
My dear, having known your loving heart,
will my mind ever change?
My dear, having known your loving heart,
will my mind ever change?
Will my heart ever yearn for saffron robes again?
Will my heart ever yearn for saffron robes again?
If the words you spoke are true,
then heavenly joy is ours from this moment,
If the words you spoke are true,
then heavenly joy is ours from this moment,
It will naturally belong to us
forever in our lives.
It will naturally belong to us
forever in our lives.
A bliss unseen even in sweet Tamil poetry!
A bliss unseen even in sweet Tamil poetry!
Let us swim in this ocean of love,
let us swim together... yes, let us swim!
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song from 'Satharam' (1956) depicts a romantic duet between a former ascetic and his beloved. The heroine playfully teases the hero about how easily his strict vow of penance crumbled upon her arrival, turning a renunciate ('sanyaasi') into a family man ('samsaari'). She questions if his commitment to love is genuine or if he will revert to his austere spiritual life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

“Pongi varum pudhu nilave”

Comparing the heroine to a rising moon ('pudhu nilave') and an intoxicating flower ('bodhai tharum senbagame'), and love to an ocean ('kaadhal ennum kadalinile').

Antonymy / Juxtaposition

“Sanyaasi thannai indru Samsaariyakkiyadhu”

Contrasting 'Sanyaasi' (ascetic) with 'Samsaari' (family man) to highlight the dramatic transformation brought by romantic love.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Thangamilla ungal thavam / Bangmurum swaamigale”

The second consonant sound matches between lines: 'Thangamilla' and 'Bangmurum'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by G. Ramanathan with lyrics penned by A. Maruthakasi, 'Pongi varum pudhu nilave' is a celebrated duet sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Bhanumathi. Bhanumathi also starred in the movie 'Satharam' (1956) alongside Sivaji Ganesan.

Keep listening

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