Pongum Kadalosai
From Meenava Nanban · 1977
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Meenava Nanban1977
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Hoo oo oo oo | Hoo oo oo oo |
| Hoo ooo oo oo oo oo hoo ooo | Hoo ooo oo oo oo oo hoo ooo |
| Hoo oo oo oo | Hoo oo oo oo |
| Hoo oo oo oo oo ooo hooo oo | Hoo oo oo oo oo ooo hooo oo |
| Female | |
| Pongum kadalosai… | The sound of the surging ocean... |
| Pongum kadalosai… | The sound of the surging ocean... |
| Thanneerilae odangalai thaalaattavae | To lull the boats on the water |
| Konjum thamizhosai | The sweet, caressing sound of Tamil |
| Thanneerilae odangalai thaalaattavae | To lull the boats on the water |
| Konjum thamizhosai | The sweet, caressing sound of Tamil |
| Female | |
| Pachai kili oru thoniyil | A green parrot in a small boat |
| Pakkam varum adhikaalaiyil | Comes near in the early morning |
| Pachai kili oru thoniyil | A green parrot in a small boat |
| Pakkam varum adhikaalaiyil | Comes near in the early morning |
| Mannavan odam paarthadho | Did it see the king's boat |
| Mayakkam kondu aadudho | And sway in enchantment? |
| Mannavan odam paarthadho | Did it see the king's boat |
| Mayakkam kondu aadudho | And sway in enchantment? |
| Saadhanai seigaiyil sodhanai thondrinaal | When trials arise while striving for achievements |
| Mayanguvadhaeno | Why grow faint or disheartened? |
| Female | |
| Pongum kadalosai… | The sound of the surging ocean... |
| Thanneerilae odangalai thaalaattavae | To lull the boats on the water |
| Konjum thamizhosai | The sweet, caressing sound of Tamil |
| Female | |
| Velli alai vandhu modhalaam | Silver waves may come and dash |
| Sellum vazhi dhisai maaralaam | settings and direction of the path may shift |
| Pon alai kaattru veesinaal | If the golden breeze blows |
| Padagu thaalam podalaam | The boat can set its beat to the rhythm |
| Neeralai maedaiyil meenavan | On the stage of water waves, the fisherman |
| Naadagam nadippadhum yaeno | Why does he act in a drama? |
| Female | |
| Pongum kadalosai… | The sound of the surging ocean... |
| Female | |
| Solli thara oru vaathiyaar | As a master to guide and teach |
| Ennai vida ingu vaeru yaar | Who else is here besides me? |
| Solli thara oru vaathiyaar | As a master to guide and teach |
| Ennai vida ingu vaeru yaar | Who else is here besides me? |
| Pattadhu podhum endru | Deciding that enough has been endured |
| Nee paadhai oram thaedi vaa | Come searching along the roadside |
| Sorndhadhu podhum vaa | Enough of being weary, come |
| Saerndhu naam pogalaam oorvalamaaga | Together let us go in a joyous procession |
| Female | |
| Pongum kadalosai… | The sound of the surging ocean... |
| Thanneerilae odangalai thaalaattavae | To lull the boats on the water |
| Konjum thamizhosai | The sweet, caressing sound of Tamil |
| Pongum kadalosai | The sound of the surging ocean |
| Konjum thamizhosai konjum thamizhosai… | Sweet Tamil sound, sweet Tamil sound... |
ஹோ ஓ ஓ ஓ
ஹோ ஓ ஓ ஓ ஓ ஓ ஹோ ஓஒ
ஹோ ஓ ஓ ஓ
ஹோ ஓ ஓ ஓ ஓ ஓ ஹோ ஓஒ
Hoo oo oo oo
Hoo ooo oo oo oo oo hoo ooo
Hoo oo oo oo
Hoo oo oo oo oo ooo hooo oo
பொங்கும் கடலோசை
பொங்கும் கடலோசை
தண்ணீரிலே ஓடங்களை தாலாட்டவே
கொஞ்சும் தமிழோசை
தண்ணீரிலே ஓடங்களை தாலாட்டவே
கொஞ்சும் தமிழோசை
The sound of the surging ocean...
The sound of the surging ocean...
To lull the boats on the water
The sweet, caressing sound of Tamil
To lull the boats on the water
The sweet, caressing sound of Tamil
பச்சைக்கிளி ஒரு தோணியில்
பக்கம் வரும் அதிகாலையில்
பச்சைக்கிளி ஒரு தோணியில்
பக்கம் வரும் அதிகாலையில்
மன்னவன் ஓடம் பார்த்ததோ
மயக்கம் கொண்டு ஆடுதோ
மன்னவன் ஓடம் பார்த்ததோ
மயக்கம் கொண்டு ஆடுதோ
சாதனை செய்கையில் சோதனை
தோன்றினால் மயங்குவதேனோ
A green parrot in a small boat
Comes near in the early morning
A green parrot in a small boat
Comes near in the early morning
Did it see the king's boat
And sway in enchantment?
Did it see the king's boat
And sway in enchantment?
When trials arise while striving for achievements
Why grow faint or disheartened?
பொங்கும் கடலோசை
தண்ணீரிலே ஓடங்களை தாலாட்டவே
கொஞ்சும் தமிழோசை
The sound of the surging ocean...
To lull the boats on the water
The sweet, caressing sound of Tamil
வெள்ளி அலை வந்து மோதலாம்
செல்லும் வழி திசை மாறலாம்
பொன் மழைக்காற்று வீசினால்
படகு தாளம் போடலாம்
நீரலை மேடையில்
மீனவன் நாடகம் நடிப்பதும் ஏனோ
Silver waves may come and dash
settings and direction of the path may shift
If the golden breeze blows
The boat can set its beat to the rhythm
On the stage of water waves, the fisherman
Why does he act in a drama?
பொங்கும் கடலோசை
The sound of the surging ocean...
சொல்லிதர ஒரு வாத்தியார்
என்னை விட இங்கு வேறு யார்
சொல்லிதர ஒரு வாத்தியார்
என்னை விட இங்கு வேறு யார்
பட்டது போதும் என்று
நீ பாதி ஓரம் தேடி வா
சோர்ந்தது போதும் வா
சேர்ந்து நாம் போகலாம் ஊர்வலமாக
As a master to guide and teach
Who else is here besides me?
As a master to guide and teach
Who else is here besides me?
Deciding that enough has been endured
Come searching along the roadside
Enough of being weary, come
Together let us go in a joyous procession
பொங்கும் கடலோசை
பொங்கும் கடலோசை
தண்ணீரிலே ஓடங்களை தாலாட்டவே
கொஞ்சும் தமிழோசை
கொஞ்சும் தமிழோசை கொஞ்சும் தமிழோசை
The sound of the surging ocean...
To lull the boats on the water
The sweet, caressing sound of Tamil
The sound of the surging ocean
Sweet Tamil sound, sweet Tamil sound...
Hoo oo oo oo
Hoo oo oo oo
Hoo ooo oo oo oo oo hoo ooo
Hoo ooo oo oo oo oo hoo ooo
Hoo oo oo oo
Hoo oo oo oo
Hoo oo oo oo oo ooo hooo oo
Hoo oo oo oo oo ooo hooo oo
Pongum kadalosai…
The sound of the surging ocean...
Pongum kadalosai…
The sound of the surging ocean...
Thanneerilae odangalai thaalaattavae
To lull the boats on the water
Konjum thamizhosai
The sweet, caressing sound of Tamil
Thanneerilae odangalai thaalaattavae
To lull the boats on the water
Konjum thamizhosai
The sweet, caressing sound of Tamil
Pachai kili oru thoniyil
A green parrot in a small boat
Pakkam varum adhikaalaiyil
Comes near in the early morning
Pachai kili oru thoniyil
A green parrot in a small boat
Pakkam varum adhikaalaiyil
Comes near in the early morning
Mannavan odam paarthadho
Did it see the king's boat
Mayakkam kondu aadudho
And sway in enchantment?
Mannavan odam paarthadho
Did it see the king's boat
Mayakkam kondu aadudho
And sway in enchantment?
Saadhanai seigaiyil sodhanai thondrinaal
When trials arise while striving for achievements
Mayanguvadhaeno
Why grow faint or disheartened?
Pongum kadalosai…
The sound of the surging ocean...
Thanneerilae odangalai thaalaattavae
To lull the boats on the water
Konjum thamizhosai
The sweet, caressing sound of Tamil
Velli alai vandhu modhalaam
Silver waves may come and dash
Sellum vazhi dhisai maaralaam
settings and direction of the path may shift
Pon alai kaattru veesinaal
If the golden breeze blows
Padagu thaalam podalaam
The boat can set its beat to the rhythm
Neeralai maedaiyil meenavan
On the stage of water waves, the fisherman
Naadagam nadippadhum yaeno
Why does he act in a drama?
Pongum kadalosai…
The sound of the surging ocean...
Solli thara oru vaathiyaar
As a master to guide and teach
Ennai vida ingu vaeru yaar
Who else is here besides me?
Solli thara oru vaathiyaar
As a master to guide and teach
Ennai vida ingu vaeru yaar
Who else is here besides me?
Pattadhu podhum endru
Deciding that enough has been endured
Nee paadhai oram thaedi vaa
Come searching along the roadside
Sorndhadhu podhum vaa
Enough of being weary, come
Saerndhu naam pogalaam oorvalamaaga
Together let us go in a joyous procession
Pongum kadalosai…
The sound of the surging ocean...
Thanneerilae odangalai thaalaattavae
To lull the boats on the water
Konjum thamizhosai
The sweet, caressing sound of Tamil
Pongum kadalosai
The sound of the surging ocean
Konjum thamizhosai konjum thamizhosai…
Sweet Tamil sound, sweet Tamil sound...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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