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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ponnai Virumbum

From Aalayamani · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Aalayamani1962

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ponnai virumbum boomiyilaeIn a world that desires gold,
Ennai virumbum orr uyiraeOh soul who desires me!
Pudhaiyal thaedi alaiyum ulagilIn a world wandering in search of treasure,
Idhayam thaedum en uyiraeOh my life who searches for a heart!
Male
Ponnai virumbum boomiyilaeIn a world that desires gold,
Ennai virumbum orr uyiraeOh soul who desires me!
Pudhaiyal thaedi alaiyum ulagilIn a world wandering in search of treasure,
Idhayam thaedum en uyiraeOh my life who searches for a heart!
Male
Aayiram malaril oru malar neeyaeYou are the single blossom among a thousand flowers,
Aalaya maniyin innisai neeyaeYou are the sweet music of a temple bell.
Aayiram malaril oru malar neeyaeYou are the single blossom among a thousand flowers,
Aalaya maniyin innisai neeyaeYou are the sweet music of a temple bell.
Male
Thaaimai enakkae thandhavan neeyaeYou are the one who bestowed motherhood upon me,
Thanga gopuram pola vandhaayaeYou arrived like a golden temple tower.
Pudhiya ulagam pudhiya paasamA new world, a new affection,
Pudhiya dheepam kondu vandhaayaeYou brought along a new light.
Male
Ponnai virumbum boomiyilaeIn a world that desires gold,
Ennai virumbum orr uyiraeOh soul who desires me!
Pudhaiyal thaedi alaiyum ulagilIn a world wandering in search of treasure,
Idhayam thaedum en uyiraeOh my life who searches for a heart!
Male
Parandhu sellum paravaiyai kettenI asked the bird flying away,
Paadi chellum kaattraiyum kettenI asked the wind passing by in song.
Parandhu sellum paravaiyai kettenI asked the bird flying away,
Paadi chellum kaattraiyum kettenI asked the wind passing by in song.
Male
Alaiyum nenjai avaridam sonnenI spoke of my wandering heart to Him,
Azhaithu vandhaar ennidam unnaiAnd He brought you to me.
Indha manamum indha uravumThis heart and this relationship,
Endrum vendum en uyiraeI want forever, my darling!
Male
Ponnai virumbum boomiyilaeIn a world that desires gold,
Ennai virumbum orr uyiraeOh soul who desires me!
Pudhaiyal thaedi alaiyum ulagilIn a world wandering in search of treasure,
Idhayam thaedum en uyiraeOh my life who searches for a heart!
Male
Aala marathin vizhudhinai polaeLike the prop roots of a banyan tree,
Anaithu nirkkum uravu thandhaayaeYou gave me a relationship that embraces and protects.
Aala marathin vizhudhinai polaeLike the prop roots of a banyan tree,
Anaithu nirkkum uravu thandhaayaeYou gave me a relationship that embraces and protects.
Male
Vaazhai kandru annaiyin nizhalilLike a young plantain in its mother plant's shade,
Vaazhvadhu polae vaazha vaithaayaeYou made me live sheltered.
Uruvam irandu uyirgal iranduTwo forms, two lives,
Ullam ondrae en uyiraeOne single heart, my darling!
Male
Ponnai virumbum boomiyilaeIn a world that desires gold,
Ennai virumbum orr uyiraeOh soul who desires me!
Pudhaiyal thaedi alaiyum ulagilIn a world wandering in search of treasure,
Idhayam thaedum en uyiraeOh my life who searches for a heart!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Ponnai Virumbum Boomiyilae is a classic Tamil song from the 1962 movie Aalayamani, written by Kannadasan. The song expresses deep love, devotion, and gratitude, contrasting the world's pursuit of material wealth (gold and treasures) with the pure emotional fulfillment found in love and companionship. The female protagonist reflects on how her partner brought light, shelter, and the blessing of motherhood into her life, viewing their connection as two distinct bodies united by a single heart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Aalaya maniyin innisai neeyae

Compares the beloved directly to the soothing music of a sacred temple bell.

Simile (Uvamai)

Thanga gopuram pola vandhaayae

Uses 'pola' to compare the arrival of the beloved to a magnificent golden temple tower.

Simile (Uvamai)

Aala marathin vizhudhinai polae

Uses 'polae' to compare supportive love to the anchoring aerial roots of a banyan tree.

Ethukai (Second letter rhyming)

Ponnai virumbum boomiyilae / Ennai virumbum orr uyirae

Rhyming of the second letters 'n' across lines (Ponnai / Ennai).

Did you know?

Trivia

Aalayamani (1962) was directed by K. Shankar and starred Sivaji Ganesan, B. Saroja Devi, and T. R. Ramachandran. The evergreen music was composed by the duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and sung by P. Susheela.

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