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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pongiyadhae Kadhal

From Mannukkul Vairam · 1986

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janki
Music director
Devendran
Details
Mannukkul Vairam1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
…………………....
Male
Pongiyathae kadhal vellaamThe flood of love overflowed
Thulliyathae aasai ullamThe heart of desires leaped with joy
Pongiyathae kadhal vellaamThe flood of love overflowed
Thulliyathae aasai ullamThe heart of desires leaped with joy
Male
Kannil nilaa mugam ulaviyathuA moon-like face wandered in my eyes
Enthan manam thinam ilagiyathuMy heart melted every single day
Kannil nilaa mugam ulaviyathuA moon-like face wandered in my eyes
Enthan manam thinam ilagiyathuMy heart melted every single day
Iruvizhiyil navarasamo vazhiyuthuAre the nine emotions overflowing from two eyes?
Anubavam iniyathu pudhaiyathuThe sweet experience cannot be buried
Male
Pongiyathae kadhal vellaamThe flood of love overflowed
Thulliyathae aasai ullam…..The heart of desires leaped with joy...
Male
Palli paadam vaasiththaalWhen reading school lessons
Palli paadam vaasiththaalWhen reading school lessons
Needhaanae kannil vanthaaiYou were the one who appeared before my eyes
Pon maegam vinnoduJust as golden clouds belong to the sky
Ennaalum ennullam unnoduMy heart is forever with you
Unnodu unnoduWith you, with you
Female
Entha sontham yaaroduWhich relationship belongs to whom?
Yaaringae sollakkoodumWho here can tell?
Kaalam naeram saerattumLet time and occasion join together
Kanni poo maalai soodumThe virgin girl shall wear the flower garland
Panbaadu maaraamal eppothumWithout ever changing culture and values
Panbaadu ennodu ennoduCulture is always with me, with me
Ennodu ennodu…With me, with me...
Male
Kadal koodakulamaagumEven a sea might shrink into a small pond
En kadhal maaraathuMy love will never change
Female
Pongiyathae kadhal vellaamThe flood of love overflowed
Male :Aa haa…..Thulliyathae aasai ullamMale: Aha... The heart of desires leaped with joy
Chorus
…………………....
Female
Yaezhai mullai penn pillaiA poor jasmine-like young girl
Yaezhai mullai penn pillaiA poor jasmine-like young girl
Sollaththaan vaarththai illaiThere are no words to express
En penmai thaalaathuMy womanhood cannot bear it
Endraalum ippothu sollaathuEven so, it will not speak right now
Sollaathu sollaathu sollaathuIt won't speak, won't speak, won't speak
Male
Kannaal paaru penn poovaeLook with your eyes, oh flower-like maiden
Vaai vaarththai thevai illaiSpoken words are not needed
Unnai pattri kavi paadaTo compose poetry about you
Oomaikku nyaanam illaiA mute person lacks the eloquence
Male
Neerindri meenillai ammaadiWithout water there is no fish, my dear
Neeyindri naanillaiWithout you there is no me
Naanillai naanillaiThere is no me, no me
Female
Unakkaaga en penmaiFor your sake, my womanhood
Thavam seithaal thappillaiThere is no harm if it performs penance
Male
Pongiyathae…..ae….kadhal vellaamThe flood of love overflowed
Thulliyathae……ae…..aasai ullamThe heart of desires leaped with joy
Female :Kannil nilaa mugam ulaviyathuFemale: A moon-like face wandered in my eyes
Enthan manam thinam ilagiyathuMy heart melted every single day
Iruvizhiyil navarasamo vazhiyuthuAre the nine emotions overflowing from two eyes?
Anubavam iniyathu pudhaiyathuThe sweet experience cannot be buried
Female
Pongiyathae…..ae….kadhal vellaamThe flood of love overflowed
Male :MmmmhmmMale: Mmmmhmm
Female :Thulliyathae……ae…..aasai ullamFemale: The heart of desires leaped with joy

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Pongiyathae Kadhal Vellaam' is a lyrical duet from the 1986 film Mannukkul Vairam that celebrates the overwhelming power and purity of romantic love. Through vivid imagery of overflowing floods, sky-bound clouds, and aquatic life, the lovers express an eternal bond that transcends simple verbal expression, while maintaining respect for traditional cultural values and personal dignity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagom)

Pongiyathae kadhal vellaam

Compares love to an overflowing flood ('kadhal vellaam') to denote its overwhelming intensity.

Analogy (Uvamai)

Neerindri meenillai ammaadi

Compares the interdependence of lovers to fish needing water to live.

Imagery (Katchi Inbam)

Kannil nilaa mugam ulaviyathu

Evokes a visual image of a moon-like face floating in one's vision.

Did you know?

Trivia

Mannukkul Vairam (1986) was directed by Manoj Kumar and features music composed by Devendran, with lyrics authored by Vairamuthu. The song highlights classic Tamil literary motifs adapted seamlessly for 1980s cinema.

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