Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ponguthe Punnagai

From Ippadiyum Oru Penn · 1975

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, B. Vasantha
Music director
P. Banumathi
Details
Ippadiyum Oru Penn1975

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
……………………...
Male
Ponguthe punnagaiA smile overflows
Ponguthe punnagaiA smile overflows
Pulliyitta kalai maanaiLike a spotted deer
Alliyitta vizhi oramAt the corner of eyes filled with charm
Pon minnal vellam ponguthaeA flood of golden lightning overflows
Ponguthae punnagaiA smile overflows
Female
Pothumaa punnagaiIs this smile enough?
Pottu vaiththa mugaththoduWith a face adorned with a bindi
Katti vaiththa idhazh meethuUpon lips held in quiet grace
Pudhu vanna kolam pothumaaIs this new colorful pattern enough?
Pothumaa punnagaiIs this smile enough?
Male
Manamagal vaithegiVaithegi, the bride
Nadai paarkkiraenI watch her walk
Female :Dhasaratha raguramanDasaratha's Raguraman (Rama)
Mugam paarkkiraenI look at his face
Male
Ini kalyaanamaeNow it is marriage
Female :Suba vaipogamaeAn auspicious celebration
Male :Athu illaavidilIf it were not so
Female :Kangal mazhai megamaeThe eyes would turn into rain clouds
Male :Intha raguraman manamThe heart of this Raguraman
Engum oru raagamaeIs everywhere a sweet melody
Male
Ponguthe punnagaiA smile overflows
Female :Pothumaa punnagaiIs this smile enough?
Female
Mazhaikkaalam varumpothuWhen the rainy season arrives
Male :Mazhai vanthathuThe rain has arrived
Female :Manakkolam varumendriExpecting the wedding attire to arrive
Male :Manam sonnathuThe heart spoke
Male
Anbu nilaiyaanathuLove is permanent
Female :Nenjil silaiyaanathuIt has become a statue in the heart
Both :Kalaiyaana nam sontham kalaiyaathathuOur artistic relationship is unbreakable
Male
Ponguthe punnagaiA smile overflows
Female :Pothumaa punnagaiIs this smile enough?
Male :Pulliyitta kalai maanaiLike a spotted deer
Female :Alliyitta vizhi oramAt the corner of eyes filled with charm
Male :Pon minnal vellam ponguthaeA flood of golden lightning overflows
Ponguthae punnagaiA smile overflows

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Ponguthe Punnagai is a charming romantic duet from the film 'Ippadiyum Oru Penn' (1975). The song presents a loving dialogue between a bride and groom, where they express their deep affection and anticipation of marriage by evoking the divine pair Rama (Raguraman) and Sita (Vaithegi). The groom praises the bride's beauty, comparing her grace to a spotted deer and her smile to a flood of golden lightning, while the bride adores his noble face and eagerly awaits their auspicious union. The lyrics highlight the theme of enduring devotion, portraying love as something carved permanently into their hearts like a statue. Through sweet allegories of rain, melody, and colorful kolam patterns, Kannadasan captures the deep joy, emotional resonance, and unbreakable bond of marriage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaai (Metaphor / Simile)

Pulliyitta kalai maanai

Compares the heroine's quick, playful glances and beauty to a swift spotted deer (Kalai maan).

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Ponguthe punnagai

Repetition of the 'Po' sound at the start of words creating a melodic rhythm.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Anbu nilaiyaanathu / Nenjil silaiyaanathu / Kalaiyaana nam sontham kalaiyaathathu

End-rhyming scheme creating harmony across consecutive lines (nilaiyaanathu / silaiyaanathu / kalaiyaathathu).

Uvamaai (Metaphor)

Kangal mazhai megamae

Compares teary or emotion-filled eyes to rain clouds (mazhai megam).

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ippadiyum Oru Penn' (1975) was directed by veteran multi-talented artist P. Bhanumathi, who also composed the film's soundtrack. She was one of the early pioneering female music directors in Tamil cinema history.

Keep listening

More from Ippadiyum Oru Penn