Ponna Thodaathe
From Gangai Karai Paattu · 1995
- Lyricist
- Kalidasan
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Deva
- Details
- Gangai Karai Paattu1995
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ponna thodaathae | Don't touch a woman |
| Thottaa vidaathea | If you touch her, don't abandon her |
| Male :Yaei | Male: Hey! |
| Male :Ponna thodaathae | Male: Don't touch a woman |
| Thottaa vidaathae | If you touch her, don't abandon her |
| Male | |
| Haei ponna thodaathae | Hey, don't touch a woman |
| Thottaa vidaathae | If you touch her, don't abandon her |
| Kettu pogum aamabalaiyae | O man who is straying onto a bad path |
| Katha konjam neettu | Lend your ear for a moment |
| Idhu pattinaththaar paadiyathil | This is a song that was left out |
| Vittu pona paattu | From the teachings sang by Saint Pattinathar |
| Dhinam pattu pattu thelinja | Learned through daily trials and hard experiences |
| Engappan sonna routtu | This is the righteous path taught by my father |
| Male | |
| Ponna thodaathae | Don't touch a woman |
| Thottaa vidaathea | If you touch her, don't abandon her |
| Haei ponna thodaathae | Hey, don't touch a woman |
| Thottaa vidaathae….. | If you touch her, don't abandon her... |
| Male | |
| {Aambalainga manasu pombalainga inaththa | The mind of men treats the women's gender |
| Alatchiyamaaththaan nenaikuthu | With disregard and disrespect |
| Kadhalikka oruththi kattikida oruththi | One woman to romance, another woman to marry |
| Kathaithaan rompa nadakkuthu} (2) | This kind of play happens way too much (2) |
| Male | |
| Idhu india muzhuvathum irukkuthu | This situation exists all across India |
| Pala yaemaththu kalaiya valakkuthu | It fosters many arts of deception |
| Namma thaaikulanga thathalichchu thavikkuthu | Our mothers and women are suffering in deep distress |
| Pala tharkolainga idhanaal nadakkuthu | Many suicides happen because of this |
| Male | |
| Ingu innumoru bharathi porakkanum | Another poet Bharathi needs to be born here |
| Avan paattoda thuppaakki edukkanum | Along with his poetry, he must pick up a gun |
| Yae pappalikkaa nikka vachchu paavingala sudanum | Hey, he should make these sinners stand out in the open and shoot them! |
| Male | |
| Ponna thodaathae | Don't touch a woman |
| Thottaa vidaathea | If you touch her, don't abandon her |
| Haei ponna thodaathae | Hey, don't touch a woman |
| Thottaa vidaathae…..ae….hae… | If you touch her, don't abandon her...ae...hae... |
| Male | |
| {Aadhisivan oadambula paadhiyidam pudichcha | Goddess Parvathi who took half the place in Lord Shiva's body |
| Parvathiyum oru pombala | Was also a woman |
| Needhiyatra ara theeyilittu erichcha | Kannagi who burnt the unjust city of Madurai with righteous anger |
| Kannagiyum oru pombala} (2) | Was also a woman (2) |
| Female | |
| Namma peththava valaththava pombala | The one who gave birth to us and raised us is a woman |
| Avala kuththam sonnaa vambula | If you speak ill of her, you are inviting trouble |
| Unna thiruththikka thiruththikka anboda | To correct yourself, correct yourself with love |
| Illa theruvukku varanum vamboda | Otherwise, you will have to come to the streets with conflict |
| Male | |
| Unna nambi vantha | The woman who came trusting you |
| Pombalaiya kaakkanum | You must protect her |
| Illa kambi vachcha jannala pakkanum | Otherwise, you will end up looking through window bars in prison |
| Ada thappu senjaa neyaathaan | Ah, if you have done a wrong, |
| Thaalikatti vaazhnum | You must tie the sacred thread and live with her |
| Male | |
| Ponna thodaathae | Don't touch a woman |
| Thottaa vidaathea | If you touch her, don't abandon her |
| Haei ponna thodaathae | Hey, don't touch a woman |
| Thottaa vidaathae….. | If you touch her, don't abandon her... |
| Male | |
| Kettu pogum aamabalaiyae | O man who is straying onto a bad path |
| Katha konjam neettu | Lend your ear for a moment |
| Idhu pattinaththaar paadiyathil | This is a song that was left out |
| Vittu pona paattu | From the teachings sang by Saint Pattinathar |
| Dhinam pattu pattu thelinja | Learned through daily trials and hard experiences |
| Engappan sonna routtu | This is the righteous path taught by my father |
| Male | |
| Ponna thodaathae | Don't touch a woman |
| Thottaa vidaathea | If you touch her, don't abandon her |
| Haei ponna thodaathae | Hey, don't touch a woman |
| Thottaa vidaathae….. | If you touch her, don't abandon her... |
பொண்ண தொடாதே
தொட்டா விடாதே
ஏய்.....
பொண்ண தொடாதே
தொட்டா விடாதே
Don't touch a woman
If you touch her, don't abandon her
Male: Hey!
Male: Don't touch a woman
If you touch her, don't abandon her
ஹேய் பொண்ண தொடாதே
தொட்டா விடாதே
கெட்டு போகும் ஆம்பளையே
காத கொஞ்சம் நீட்டு
இது பட்டினத்தார் பாடியதில்
விட்டுப்போன பாட்டு
தெனம் பட்டு பட்டு தெளிஞ்ச
எங்கப்பன் சொன்ன ரூட்டு
Hey, don't touch a woman
If you touch her, don't abandon her
O man who is straying onto a bad path
Lend your ear for a moment
This is a song that was left out
From the teachings sang by Saint Pattinathar
Learned through daily trials and hard experiences
This is the righteous path taught by my father
பொண்ண தொடாதே
தொட்டா விடாதே
ஹேய் பொண்ண தொடாதே
தொட்டா விடாதே......
Don't touch a woman
If you touch her, don't abandon her
Hey, don't touch a woman
If you touch her, don't abandon her...
{ஆம்பளைங்க மனசு பொம்பளைங்க இனத்த
அலட்சியமாத்தான் நெனைக்குது
காதலிக்க ஒருத்தி கட்டிக்கிட ஒருத்தி
கதைதான் ரொம்ப ரொம்ப நடக்குது} ( 2 )
The mind of men treats the women's gender
With disregard and disrespect
One woman to romance, another woman to marry
This kind of play happens way too much (2)
இது இந்தியா முழுவதும் இருக்குது
பல ஏமாத்து கலைய வளக்குது
நம்ம தாய்க்குலங்க தத்தளிச்சு தவிக்குது
பல தற்கொலைங்க இதனால் நடக்குது
This situation exists all across India
It fosters many arts of deception
Our mothers and women are suffering in deep distress
Many suicides happen because of this
இங்கு இன்னுமொரு பாரதி பொறக்கணும்
அவன் பாட்டோட துப்பாக்கி எடுக்கணும்
யே பப்ளிக்கா நிக்க வச்சு பாவிங்கள சுடணும்
Another poet Bharathi needs to be born here
Along with his poetry, he must pick up a gun
Hey, he should make these sinners stand out in the open and shoot them!
பொண்ண தொடாதே
தொட்டா விடாதே
ஹேய் பொண்ண தொடாதே
தொட்டா விடாதே......ஏ.....ஹே.....
Don't touch a woman
If you touch her, don't abandon her
Hey, don't touch a woman
If you touch her, don't abandon her...ae...hae...
{ஆதிசிவன் ஒடம்புல பாதியிடம் புடிச்ச
பார்வதியும் ஒரு பொம்பள
நீதியற்ற அரச தீயிலிட்டு எரிச்ச
கண்ணகியும் ஒரு பொம்பள} ( 2 )
Goddess Parvathi who took half the place in Lord Shiva's body
Was also a woman
Kannagi who burnt the unjust city of Madurai with righteous anger
Was also a woman (2)
நம்ம பெத்தவ வளத்தவ பொம்பள
அவள குத்தம் சொன்னா வம்புல
உன்ன திருத்திக்க திருத்திக்க அன்போட
இல்ல தெருவுக்கு வரணும் வம்போட
The one who gave birth to us and raised us is a woman
If you speak ill of her, you are inviting trouble
To correct yourself, correct yourself with love
Otherwise, you will have to come to the streets with conflict
உன்ன நம்பி வந்த
பொம்பளைய காக்கணும்
இல்ல கம்பி வச்ச ஜன்னல பாக்கணும்
அட தப்பு செஞ்சா நீயேதான்
தாலிக்கட்டி வாழணும்
The woman who came trusting you
You must protect her
Otherwise, you will end up looking through window bars in prison
Ah, if you have done a wrong,
You must tie the sacred thread and live with her
பொண்ண தொடாதே
தொட்டா விடாதே
ஹேய் பொண்ண தொடாதே
தொட்டா விடாதே......
Don't touch a woman
If you touch her, don't abandon her
Hey, don't touch a woman
If you touch her, don't abandon her...
கெட்டு போகும் ஆம்பளையே
காத கொஞ்சம் நீட்டு
இது பட்டினத்தார் பாடியதில்
விட்டுப்போன பாட்டு
தெனம் பட்டு பட்டு தெளிஞ்ச
எங்கப்பன் சொன்ன ரூட்டு
O man who is straying onto a bad path
Lend your ear for a moment
This is a song that was left out
From the teachings sang by Saint Pattinathar
Learned through daily trials and hard experiences
This is the righteous path taught by my father
பொண்ண தொடாதே
தொட்டா விடாதே
ஹேய் பொண்ண தொடாதே
தொட்டா விடாதே......
Don't touch a woman
If you touch her, don't abandon her
Hey, don't touch a woman
If you touch her, don't abandon her...
Ponna thodaathae
Don't touch a woman
Thottaa vidaathea
If you touch her, don't abandon her
Male :Yaei
Male: Hey!
Male :Ponna thodaathae
Male: Don't touch a woman
Thottaa vidaathae
If you touch her, don't abandon her
Haei ponna thodaathae
Hey, don't touch a woman
Thottaa vidaathae
If you touch her, don't abandon her
Kettu pogum aamabalaiyae
O man who is straying onto a bad path
Katha konjam neettu
Lend your ear for a moment
Idhu pattinaththaar paadiyathil
This is a song that was left out
Vittu pona paattu
From the teachings sang by Saint Pattinathar
Dhinam pattu pattu thelinja
Learned through daily trials and hard experiences
Engappan sonna routtu
This is the righteous path taught by my father
Ponna thodaathae
Don't touch a woman
Thottaa vidaathea
If you touch her, don't abandon her
Haei ponna thodaathae
Hey, don't touch a woman
Thottaa vidaathae…..
If you touch her, don't abandon her...
{Aambalainga manasu pombalainga inaththa
The mind of men treats the women's gender
Alatchiyamaaththaan nenaikuthu
With disregard and disrespect
Kadhalikka oruththi kattikida oruththi
One woman to romance, another woman to marry
Kathaithaan rompa nadakkuthu} (2)
This kind of play happens way too much (2)
Idhu india muzhuvathum irukkuthu
This situation exists all across India
Pala yaemaththu kalaiya valakkuthu
It fosters many arts of deception
Namma thaaikulanga thathalichchu thavikkuthu
Our mothers and women are suffering in deep distress
Pala tharkolainga idhanaal nadakkuthu
Many suicides happen because of this
Ingu innumoru bharathi porakkanum
Another poet Bharathi needs to be born here
Avan paattoda thuppaakki edukkanum
Along with his poetry, he must pick up a gun
Yae pappalikkaa nikka vachchu paavingala sudanum
Hey, he should make these sinners stand out in the open and shoot them!
Ponna thodaathae
Don't touch a woman
Thottaa vidaathea
If you touch her, don't abandon her
Haei ponna thodaathae
Hey, don't touch a woman
Thottaa vidaathae…..ae….hae…
If you touch her, don't abandon her...ae...hae...
{Aadhisivan oadambula paadhiyidam pudichcha
Goddess Parvathi who took half the place in Lord Shiva's body
Parvathiyum oru pombala
Was also a woman
Needhiyatra ara theeyilittu erichcha
Kannagi who burnt the unjust city of Madurai with righteous anger
Kannagiyum oru pombala} (2)
Was also a woman (2)
Namma peththava valaththava pombala
The one who gave birth to us and raised us is a woman
Avala kuththam sonnaa vambula
If you speak ill of her, you are inviting trouble
Unna thiruththikka thiruththikka anboda
To correct yourself, correct yourself with love
Illa theruvukku varanum vamboda
Otherwise, you will have to come to the streets with conflict
Unna nambi vantha
The woman who came trusting you
Pombalaiya kaakkanum
You must protect her
Illa kambi vachcha jannala pakkanum
Otherwise, you will end up looking through window bars in prison
Ada thappu senjaa neyaathaan
Ah, if you have done a wrong,
Thaalikatti vaazhnum
You must tie the sacred thread and live with her
Ponna thodaathae
Don't touch a woman
Thottaa vidaathea
If you touch her, don't abandon her
Haei ponna thodaathae
Hey, don't touch a woman
Thottaa vidaathae…..
If you touch her, don't abandon her...
Kettu pogum aamabalaiyae
O man who is straying onto a bad path
Katha konjam neettu
Lend your ear for a moment
Idhu pattinaththaar paadiyathil
This is a song that was left out
Vittu pona paattu
From the teachings sang by Saint Pattinathar
Dhinam pattu pattu thelinja
Learned through daily trials and hard experiences
Engappan sonna routtu
This is the righteous path taught by my father
Ponna thodaathae
Don't touch a woman
Thottaa vidaathea
If you touch her, don't abandon her
Haei ponna thodaathae
Hey, don't touch a woman
Thottaa vidaathae…..
If you touch her, don't abandon her...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Ponna Thodaathae' from the film Gangai Karai Paattu (1995) is a moralistic call to action addressed to men regarding the respect and commitment owed to women. Written by lyricist Kalidasan, the song strongly condemns men who play with women's emotions, deceive them in relationships, or abandon them after making promises. It reminds listeners of the power and sacredness of women by citing legendary figures such as Goddess Parvathi, the chaste Kannagi who destroyed an unjust kingdom, and motherly figures in society. The narrator urges men to take responsibility for their actions through marriage rather than leading women to despair, warning that legal consequences (prison) or social dishonor await those who mistreat women.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Emona / Ethukai (Rhyme scheme)
“Ponna thodaathae / Thottaa vidaathae”
Tamil poetic second-letter rhyming seen in lines like 'Ponna' and 'Thottaa' or 'Idhu' and 'Vittu'.
Mythological & Historical Allusion
“Aadhisivan oadambula paadhiyidam pudichcha Parvathiyum oru pombala”
References to historical, literary, and religious figures like Pattinathar, Goddess Parvathi, Kannagi, and Subramanya Bharathi to reinforce moral authority.
Anaphora / Refrain
“Ponna thodaathae / Thottaa vidaathae”
Repetition of the primary warning advice throughout the song to emphasize commitment and moral rectitude.
Did you know?
Trivia
Gangai Karai Paattu (1995) was directed by Manivannan and featured music composed by Deva. The song uses a traditional gaana/folk pace to convey serious social commentary regarding women's rights and male accountability.
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