Ponnai Naan Paarthadhillai
From Kannamoochi · 1978
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Kannamoochi1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ponnai naan paarththathillai | I have not seen gold, |
| Pennaiththaan paarththathundu | but I have seen a woman. |
| Poovai naan kandathillai | I have not seen a flower, |
| Poovaiyai kandathundu | but I have seen a young maiden. |
| Male | |
| Ponnai naan paarththathillai | I have not seen gold, |
| Pennaiththaan paarththathundu | but I have seen a woman. |
| Poovai naan kandathillai | I have not seen a flower, |
| Poovaiyai kandathundu | but I have seen a young maiden. |
| Male | |
| Intha boomiyin inba devathai | You are the goddess of bliss on this earth, |
| Anbu raagam neeyaethaan | You alone are the melody of love. |
| Enthan kovilil manjal oviyam | A turmeric portrait in my temple, |
| Kadhal dheepam neeyaethaan | You alone are the lamp of love. |
| Male | |
| Ponnai naan paarththathillai | I have not seen gold, |
| Pennaiththaan paarththathundu | but I have seen a woman. |
| Poovai naan kandathillai | I have not seen a flower, |
| Poovaiyai kandathundu | but I have seen a young maiden. |
| Male | |
| Thaalaatum megangal nanallavaa | Am I not the clouds that rock you to sleep? |
| Nadamaadum mamayil neeyallavaa | Are you not the magnificent dancing peacock? |
| Thaalaatum megangal nanallavaa | Am I not the clouds that rock you to sleep? |
| Nadamaadum mamayil neeyallavaa | Are you not the magnificent dancing peacock? |
| Male | |
| Enathu kai veenai raagangalae | My hands are the melodies of the veena, |
| En uyirae un vaarththaigalae | My very life is found in your words. |
| Paaduvathu en manathu aaduvathu un manathu | My heart sings, while your heart dances. |
| Male | |
| Ponnai naan paarththathillai | I have not seen gold, |
| Pennaiththaan paarththathundu | but I have seen a woman. |
| Poovai naan kandathillai | I have not seen a flower, |
| Poovaiyai kandathundu | but I have seen a young maiden. |
| Male | |
| Manakkolam nee kaanum nannaal edhu | Which auspicious day will you wear your wedding attire? |
| Maapillai oorkola ponnaal edhu | Which golden day will be the groom's procession? |
| Manakkolam nee kaanum nannaal edhu | Which auspicious day will you wear your wedding attire? |
| Maapillai oorkola ponnaal edhu | Which golden day will be the groom's procession? |
| Male | |
| Kungumasaanthu kolam ittu | Adorning with patterns of red vermilion paste, |
| Nee varum kaalam neram edhu | What is the time and hour when you will arrive? |
| Vaazhiyavae oviyangal | Long live these artistic portraits, |
| Yaezhai nenjil kaaviyangal | These grand epics in a poor man's heart! |
| Male | |
| {Ponnai naan paarththathillai | I have not seen gold, |
| Pennaiththaan paarththathundu | but I have seen a woman. |
| Poovai naan kandathillai | I have not seen a flower, |
| Poovaiyai kandathundu} (2) | but I have seen a young maiden. |
பொன்னை நான் பார்த்ததில்லை
பெண்ணைத்தான் பார்த்ததுண்டு
பூவை நான் கண்டதில்லை
பூவையைக் கண்டதுண்டு
I have not seen gold,
but I have seen a woman.
I have not seen a flower,
but I have seen a young maiden.
பொன்னை நான் பார்த்ததில்லை
பெண்ணைத்தான் பார்த்ததுண்டு
பூவை நான் கண்டதில்லை
பூவையைக் கண்டதுண்டு
I have not seen gold,
but I have seen a woman.
I have not seen a flower,
but I have seen a young maiden.
இந்த பூமியின் இன்ப தேவதை
அன்பு ராகம் நீயேதான்
எந்தன் கோவிலில் மஞ்சள் ஓவியம்
காதல் தீபம் நீயேதான்
You are the goddess of bliss on this earth,
You alone are the melody of love.
A turmeric portrait in my temple,
You alone are the lamp of love.
பொன்னை நான் பார்த்ததில்லை
பெண்ணைத்தான் பார்த்ததுண்டு
பூவை நான் கண்டதில்லை
பூவையைக் கண்டதுண்டு
I have not seen gold,
but I have seen a woman.
I have not seen a flower,
but I have seen a young maiden.
தாலாட்டும் மேகங்கள் நானல்லவா
நடமாடும் மாமயில் நீயல்லவா
தாலாட்டும் மேகங்கள் நானல்லவா
நடமாடும் மாமயில் நீயல்லவா
Am I not the clouds that rock you to sleep?
Are you not the magnificent dancing peacock?
Am I not the clouds that rock you to sleep?
Are you not the magnificent dancing peacock?
எனது கை வீணை ராகங்களே
என் உயிரே உன் வார்த்தைகளே
பாடுவது என் மனது ஆடுவது உன் மனது
My hands are the melodies of the veena,
My very life is found in your words.
My heart sings, while your heart dances.
பொன்னை நான் பார்த்ததில்லை
பெண்ணைத்தான் பார்த்ததுண்டு
பூவை நான் கண்டதில்லை
பூவையைக் கண்டதுண்டு
I have not seen gold,
but I have seen a woman.
I have not seen a flower,
but I have seen a young maiden.
மணக்கோலம் நீ காணும் நன்னாள் எது
மாப்பிள்ளை ஊர்கோல பொன்னாள் எது
மணக்கோலம் நீ காணும் நன்னாள் எது
மாப்பிள்ளை ஊர்கோல பொன்னாள் எது
Which auspicious day will you wear your wedding attire?
Which golden day will be the groom's procession?
Which auspicious day will you wear your wedding attire?
Which golden day will be the groom's procession?
குங்குமச்சாந்து கோலம் இட்டு
நீ வரும் காலம் நேரம் எது
வாழியவே ஓவியங்கள்
ஏழை நெஞ்சின் காவியங்கள்
Adorning with patterns of red vermilion paste,
What is the time and hour when you will arrive?
Long live these artistic portraits,
These grand epics in a poor man's heart!
{பொன்னை நான் பார்த்ததில்லை
பெண்ணைத்தான் பார்த்ததுண்டு
பூவை நான் கண்டதில்லை
பூவையைக் கண்டதுண்டு} (2)
I have not seen gold,
but I have seen a woman.
I have not seen a flower,
but I have seen a young maiden.
Ponnai naan paarththathillai
I have not seen gold,
Pennaiththaan paarththathundu
but I have seen a woman.
Poovai naan kandathillai
I have not seen a flower,
Poovaiyai kandathundu
but I have seen a young maiden.
Ponnai naan paarththathillai
I have not seen gold,
Pennaiththaan paarththathundu
but I have seen a woman.
Poovai naan kandathillai
I have not seen a flower,
Poovaiyai kandathundu
but I have seen a young maiden.
Intha boomiyin inba devathai
You are the goddess of bliss on this earth,
Anbu raagam neeyaethaan
You alone are the melody of love.
Enthan kovilil manjal oviyam
A turmeric portrait in my temple,
Kadhal dheepam neeyaethaan
You alone are the lamp of love.
Ponnai naan paarththathillai
I have not seen gold,
Pennaiththaan paarththathundu
but I have seen a woman.
Poovai naan kandathillai
I have not seen a flower,
Poovaiyai kandathundu
but I have seen a young maiden.
Thaalaatum megangal nanallavaa
Am I not the clouds that rock you to sleep?
Nadamaadum mamayil neeyallavaa
Are you not the magnificent dancing peacock?
Thaalaatum megangal nanallavaa
Am I not the clouds that rock you to sleep?
Nadamaadum mamayil neeyallavaa
Are you not the magnificent dancing peacock?
Enathu kai veenai raagangalae
My hands are the melodies of the veena,
En uyirae un vaarththaigalae
My very life is found in your words.
Paaduvathu en manathu aaduvathu un manathu
My heart sings, while your heart dances.
Ponnai naan paarththathillai
I have not seen gold,
Pennaiththaan paarththathundu
but I have seen a woman.
Poovai naan kandathillai
I have not seen a flower,
Poovaiyai kandathundu
but I have seen a young maiden.
Manakkolam nee kaanum nannaal edhu
Which auspicious day will you wear your wedding attire?
Maapillai oorkola ponnaal edhu
Which golden day will be the groom's procession?
Manakkolam nee kaanum nannaal edhu
Which auspicious day will you wear your wedding attire?
Maapillai oorkola ponnaal edhu
Which golden day will be the groom's procession?
Kungumasaanthu kolam ittu
Adorning with patterns of red vermilion paste,
Nee varum kaalam neram edhu
What is the time and hour when you will arrive?
Vaazhiyavae oviyangal
Long live these artistic portraits,
Yaezhai nenjil kaaviyangal
These grand epics in a poor man's heart!
{Ponnai naan paarththathillai
I have not seen gold,
Pennaiththaan paarththathundu
but I have seen a woman.
Poovai naan kandathillai
I have not seen a flower,
Poovaiyai kandathundu} (2)
but I have seen a young maiden.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Ponnai Naan Paarththathillai is a classic romantic melody from the 1978 film Kannamoochi, featuring lyrics by Vaali and music by V. Kumar. The song expresses a lover's deep devotion and admiration for his beloved, declaring that he cares not for gold or physical flowers because he has found supreme beauty and value in her. He compares her to a divine deity in his heart's temple, a dancing peacock, and an embodiment of love. Throughout the song, the protagonist eagerly anticipates their wedding day, asking when she will adorn her bridal attire and join him in holy matrimony. Delivered with tender expression by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, the song captures both poetical reverence and joyful romantic expectation.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Yamakam / Wordplay
“Ponnai naan paarththathillai / Pennaiththaan paarththathundu”
Clever phonetic juxtaposition of 'Pon' (gold) vs 'Pen' (woman) and 'Poo' (flower) vs 'Poovai' (young maiden), creating a rhythmic and semantic contrast.
Metaphor (Uvaman)
“Intha boomiyin inba devathai”
Comparing the beloved directly to a goddess of happiness, a turmeric painting in a temple, and a dancing peacock.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Paaduvathu en manathu aaduvathu un manathu”
Repetition of the initial 'Pa' / 'P' sound across adjacent lyric segments.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Manakkolam nee kaanum nannaal edhu / Maapillai oorkola ponnaal edhu”
Rhyming second letters in 'Manakkolam' and 'Maapillai' across consecutive lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
Music director V. Kumar was renowned for his lightweight, melody-driven compositions in Tamil cinema during the late 60s and 70s. Lyricist Vaali often used clever word pairings (like Pon/Pen and Poo/Poovai) to make songs immediately catchy and poetically resonant for general audiences.
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