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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ponmeni Uruguthey

From Moondram Pirai · 1982

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Moondram Pirai1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
{Ponmeni urugudhaeMy golden body is melting
Ennaasai peruguthaeMy desire is surging
Yedhedho ninaivu thonudhaeAll kinds of thoughts arise
Engaeyo idhayam pogudhaeMy heart wanders somewhere
Panikaatrilae…. thananaaIn the chilly breeze... thananaa
Nananaa…nananaa} (2)Nananaa...nananaa
Female
Ilamai idhu yengum vayadhuYouth is an age of longing
Iru vizhiyum thoongaadhuBoth eyes do not sleep
Inimai sugam vaangum mandhuThe mind receives sweet pleasure
Iniyum idhu thaangaadhuIt cannot endure this anymore
Female
Ilam maeni vaaduthaeThe young body wilts
Thanalaagavae…haaahLike hot embers... haaah
Ilangaatru veesuthaeThe gentle breeze blows
Analaagavae….Like burning fire...
Bathil illaiyo thananaaIs there no answer? Thananaa
Nananaa…nananaa…..Nananaa...nananaa...
Female
Ponmeni urugudhaeMy golden body is melting
Ennaasai peruguthaeMy desire is surging
Yedhedho ninaivu thonudhaeAll kinds of thoughts arise
Engaeyo idhayam pogudhaeMy heart wanders somewhere
Panikaatrilae…. thara raraIn the chilly breeze... thara rara
Ru ruuu..du duuuu…Ru ruuu..du duuuu...
Female
Aruviyena aasai ezhundhuDesire arises like a waterfall
Anaikkum sugam paarkaadhooWon't it experience the joy of an embrace?
Urugum manam unnai ninaindhuThe melting heart thinks of you
Unarvugalai serkkaadhoWon't it bring the feelings together?
Female
Unakkaaga yengudhaeIt yearns for you
Oru poo udalA flower-like body
Uravaadum inbamoIs the joy of intimacy
Thiru paarkadalLike the divine ocean of milk?
Bathil illaiyo pababaaaIs there no answer? Pababaaa
Pababaaa pababaaaPababaaa pababaaa
Female
Ponmeni urugudhaeMy golden body is melting
Ennaasai..haan… peruguthaeMy desire... haan... is surging
Yedhedho ninaivu thonudhaeAll kinds of thoughts arise
Engaeyo idhayam pogudhaeMy heart wanders somewhere
Panikaatrilae…. thananaaaIn the chilly breeze... thananaaa
Nananaa nananaaa…..Nananaa nananaaa.....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Ponmeni Urugudhae' is a sensuous and evocative song from the classic 1982 film Moondram Pirai, composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. Janaki with lyrics by Gangai Amaran. The song vividly captures the intense romantic and physical longing of a woman during a cold night in a hill station. The cold mountain breeze paradoxically feels like a burning fire against her yearning body, highlighting her extreme passion and restlessness. Throughout the song, rich Tamil imagery compares her surging desires to a rushing waterfall and the euphoria of romantic intimacy to the vast, divine ocean of milk. The protagonist yearns for closeness, questioning if her heartfelt desires will ever be fulfilled.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Aruviyena aasai ezhundhu

Compares the sudden surge of passion to a rushing waterfall using the suffix 'ena' (Aruviyena).

Oxymoron / Paradox

Ilangaatru veesuthae Analaagavae....

Contrasts the cold wind ('Panikaatru') feeling like scorching fire ('Analaagavae') to express intense physical longing.

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Ponmeni urugudhae

Compares the soft, delicate physical body to a flower ('Poo udal') and passion to melting metal/wax ('Ponmeni urugudhae').

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Ilamai idhu yengum vayadhu / Iru vizhiyum thoongaadhu

Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'I' across consecutive lines for musical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and written by Gangai Amaran, 'Ponmeni Urugudhae' is acclaimed for S. Janaki's incredible vocal performance, which incorporates realistic sighs, humming, and breath control to heighten the song's sensuous mood. Visually picturized in the chilly landscapes of Kodaikanal, the song remains one of the most iconic sultry tracks in Tamil cinema history.

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