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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ponmani Ponmanikku Naane

From Annanukku Jai · 1989

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Annanukku Jai1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ponmani ponmanikku naanaeGolden gem, I am the one for the golden gem
Unnaadha thaenaeUntasted honey
En kanmani kanmanikku naanaeFor my darling, I am the darling
Endraagi ponenThus I have become
Male
Ponmani ponmanikku naanaeGolden gem, I am the one for the golden gem
Unnaadha thaenaeUntasted honey
En kanmani kanmanikku naanaeFor my darling, I am the darling
Endraagi ponenThus I have become
Male
Paniyum kodhikkudhuEven the dew is boiling
Pathi eriyum veyilum kulireduthuThe blazing sun has turned cold
PoyaachuIt has gone away
Kaniyum thavikkudhuThe ripe fruit also yearns
Unna nenachu kanavu dhenamum vandhuThinking of you, dreams come daily
NooraachuCrossing a hundred
Male
Ponmani ponmanikku naanaeGolden gem, I am the one for the golden gem
Unnaadha thaenaeUntasted honey
En kanmani kanmanikku naanaeFor my darling, I am the darling
Endraagi ponenThus I have become
Male
Melae moodum vaanam polaLike the sky covering above
Naanum maara aasa thaanI too desire to wrap around you
Naala parthu maala podaChoosing an auspicious day to place the wedding garland
Naanum senja poojai thaanIt is the prayer I performed
Female
Neram varum bothuWhen the time arrives
Baaram idam maaraadhoWon't the heavy burden shift places?
Thaaram ena aanaaIf you become my spouse
Dhaagam adhu theeradhoWon't this thirst be quenched?
Male
Azhagu silaiya paarthuLooking at the beautiful statue
Anbaalae aasa meeralachuDesire overflowed through love
Pavazha idhazha serthuJoining the coral lips
Un mela paasam koodi pochuMy affection for you grew immensely
Female
Ada raasa unnai lesaa serndhaaOh my king, if I join you softly
Raavum pagalum sogamaachuNight and day turned into sweet yearning
Male
Ponmani ponmanikku naanaeGolden gem, I am the one for the golden gem
Unnaadha thaenaeUntasted honey
En kanmani kanmanikku naanaeFor my darling, I am the darling
Endraagi ponenThus I have become
Female
Thaana vandhu mela saanjuLeaning upon you on her own
Thaenaa ootrum poongodiA flowering vine pouring honey
Maama indha neram paarthuMy dear, seeing this right moment
Neeya vandhu thaen kudiYou come and drink the honey
Male
Kodai mazhai naanaeI am the summer rain
Soodum vayal needhaanaeYou are the warm field
Vaadum idhazh paarthuSeeing the wilting lips
Vaari thara vandhenaeI came to shower love generously
Female
Mayangi mayangi ponenI swooned completely in love
Unnaalae manasu izhakkalaanaenBecause of you, I lost my heart
Dhinamum nenachu nenachuThinking of you every single day
Unnaalae thisaiyai maranthu ponnenBecause of you, I forgot my direction
Male
Adi thaenae paalae maanae mayilaeOh my honey, my milk, my deer, my peacock
Thaedum enna paadum kuyilaeOh singing cuckoo that searches for me
Male
Ponmani ponmanikku naanaeGolden gem, I am the one for the golden gem
Female :Unnaadha thaenaeFemale: Untasted honey
Male :En kanmani kanmanikku naanaeMale: For my darling, I am the darling
Female :Endraagi ponenFemale: Thus I have become
Female
Paniyum kodhikkudhuPaniyum kodhikkudhu (Even the dew is boiling)
Pathi eriyum veyilum kulireduthuPathi eriyum veyilum kulireduthu (The blazing sun has turned cold)
PoyaachuPoyaachu (It has happened)
Male :Kaniyum thavikkudhuMale: The ripe fruit also yearns
Unna nenachu kanavu dhenamum vandhuThinking of you, dreams come daily
NooraachuCrossing a hundred
Male
Ponmani ponmanikku naanaeGolden gem, I am the one for the golden gem
Female :Unnaadha thaenaeFemale: Untasted honey
Male :En kanmani kanmanikku naanaeMale: For my darling, I am the darling
Female :Endraagi ponenFemale: Thus I have become

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Ponmani Ponmanikku Naanae is a romantic duet expressing intense passion, anticipation, and the sweet madness of love between two lovers. The lyrics utilize vivid sensory imagery to illustrate how love turns nature upside down—cool dew boils while the scorching sun feels cold. Both lovers exchange poetic endearments, declaring their devotion, longing for marital union, and losing themselves in thoughts of each other. The song highlights how romantic affection creates a dreamlike state, causing both lovers to lose track of direction and time in each other's embrace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Paradox / Oxymoron

Paniyum kodhikkudhu pathi eriyum veyilum kulireduthu

Paniyum kodhikkudhu pathi eriyum veyilum kulireduthu creates a paradox where cold dew boils and hot sun turns cold to express the feverish state of love.

Metaphor

Kodai mazhai naanae soodum vayal needhaanae

Comparing the female lover to summer rain (Kodai mazhai) and the male lover to a parched warm field (Soodum vayal).

Adukkuthodar / Series of Endearments

Adi thaenae paalae maanae mayilae

A rhythmic listing of sweet natural elements (honey, milk, deer, peacock) used affectionally to address the beloved.

Etukai (Second letter rhyming)

Paniyum kodhikkudhu / Pathi eriyum veyilum kulireduthu

The second letters 'na' in 'Paniyum' and 'Pathi' match, forming classical Tamil second-letter rhyme.

Did you know?

Trivia

Annanukku Jai (1989) featured music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by his brother Gangai Amaran. The film starred Arjun Sarja and Seetha in leading roles. The song is well known for Gangai Amaran's trademark playful folk-pop lyricism and catchy rhythmic refrains.

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