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Isaimozhi
Meenava Nanban album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pongum Kadalosai

From Meenava Nanban · 1977

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Meenava Nanban
Movie release year
1977
Lyrics added on
28 May 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hoo oo oo oo
Hoo ooo oo oo oo oo hoo ooo
Hoo oo oo oo
Hoo oo oo oo oo ooo hooo oo
Pongum kadalosai…
Pongum kadalosai…
Thanneerilae odangalai thaalaattavae
Konjum thamizhosai
Thanneerilae odangalai thaalaattavae
Konjum thamizhosai
Pachai kili oru thoniyil
Pakkam varum adhikaalaiyil
Pachai kili oru thoniyil
Pakkam varum adhikaalaiyil
Mannavan odam paarthadho
Mayakkam kondu aadudho
Mannavan odam paarthadho
Mayakkam kondu aadudho
Saadhanai seigaiyil sodhanai thondrinaal
Mayanguvadhaeno
Pongum kadalosai…
Thanneerilae odangalai thaalaattavae
Konjum thamizhosai
Velli alai vandhu modhalaam
Sellum vazhi dhisai maaralaam
Pon alai kaattru veesinaal
Padagu thaalam podalaam
Neeralai maedaiyil meenavan
Naadagam nadippadhum yaeno
Pongum kadalosai…
Solli thara oru vaathiyaar
Ennai vida ingu vaeru yaar
Solli thara oru vaathiyaar
Ennai vida ingu vaeru yaar
Pattadhu podhum endru
Nee paadhai oram thaedi vaa
Sorndhadhu podhum vaa
Saerndhu naam pogalaam oorvalamaaga
Pongum kadalosai…
Thanneerilae odangalai thaalaattavae
Konjum thamizhosai
Pongum kadalosai
Konjum thamizhosai konjum thamizhosai…
Ho o o o
Ho o o o o o ho o
Ho o o o
Ho o o o o o ho o
The sound of the surging sea,
The sound of the surging sea,
Lulls the boats upon the water like a cradle,
Just like the sweet sound of Tamil!
Lulls the boats upon the water like a cradle,
Just like the sweet sound of Tamil!
A sweet green parrot on a little boat,
Comes near in the early morning.
A sweet green parrot on a little boat,
Comes near in the early morning.
Did it catch sight of its king's boat,
And begin to sway in a dizzy trance?
Did it catch sight of its king's boat,
And begin to sway in a dizzy trance?
When trials appear while striving for success,
Why lose your heart and faint?
The sound of the surging sea,
Lulls the boats upon the water like a cradle,
Just like the sweet sound of Tamil!
Silver waves may come and crash,
The path you take may change direction.
When the golden breeze of rain blows,
The boat may dance to the rhythm.
Upon the stage of rolling waves,
Why does the fisherman act out this play?
The sound of the surging sea...
As a master to guide and teach you,
Who else is here besides me?
As a master to guide and teach you,
Who else is here besides me?
Thinking you have endured enough,
Come halfway to meet my side!
Enough of feeling tired, come,
Together we can go in a grand procession!
The sound of the surging sea,
The sound of the surging sea,
Lulls the boats upon the water like a cradle,
Just like the sweet sound of Tamil!
Sweet sound of Tamil, sweet sound of Tamil!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song poetically equates the soothing sound of the ocean waves with the sweetness of the Tamil language. Set against a seafaring backdrop, it uses the sea, boats, and gentle breezes as allegories for human life, love, and perseverance. The lyrics offer philosophical encouragement, advising that trials during major endeavors should not cause faintness of heart, and that unity and determination will lead to a celebratory outcome.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Thanneerilae odangalai thaalaattavae Konjum thamizhosai”

Compares the sound of ocean waves rocking boats to the soothing sweet sounds of the Tamil language ('Konjum thamizhosai'). Also describes the crests of water as a stage ('Neeralai maedaiyil').

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Saadhanai seigaiyil sodhanai thondrinaal”

Use of matching initial consonants ('Saa' and 'So') in 'Saadhanai' and 'Sodhanai' to create a rhythmic, mnemonic structure.

Personification

“Mannavan odam paarthadho Mayakkam kondu aadudho”

Attributing human actions like rocking a cradle ('thaalaattavae') and dancing in trance/enchantment ('mayakkam kondu aadudho') to boats and waves.

Imagery

“Velli alai vandhu modhalaam... Pon alai kaattru veesinaal”

Uses vibrant visual imagery such as silver waves ('Velli alai'), golden breeze ('Pon alai kaattru'), and a green parrot ('Pachai kili') to paint a picturesque morning at sea.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the 1977 M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) blockbuster 'Meenava Nanban', the music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics penned by Vaali. Sung as a duet by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, the song incorporates MGR's signature political and philosophical subtext woven subtly into a romantic sea ballad.

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