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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ponne Vachaan

From Kathalithal Pothuma · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, L. R. Eswari
Music director
S. Vedhachalam
Details
Kathalithal Pothuma1967

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ponne vechaan poovae vechaanHe adorned with gold, he adorned with flowers,
Onnu veikka maranthuttaan vekka millaeHe forgot to instill one thing—there is no shyness!
Ponne vechaan poovae vechaanHe adorned with gold, he adorned with flowers,
Onnu veikka maranthuttaan vekka millaeHe forgot to instill one thing—there is no shyness!
Female
Unnae vechaan rendu kanne vechaanHe created you, and gave you two eyes,
Onnu veikka maranthuttaan aasaiyillaeHe forgot to give you one thing, out of desire!
Unnae vechaan rendu kanne vechaanHe created you, and gave you two eyes,
Onnu veikka maranthuttaan aasaiyillaeHe forgot to give you one thing, out of desire!
Female
Kannai vittu kannai pottuSetting eyes upon eyes,
Ponnai katti ilukanumOne must tie gold and pull close.
Karpoorathilae neruppu polaLike fire catching camphor,
Kappu kappunnu pudikanumIt should catch instantly with a spark!
Karpoorathilae neruppu polaLike fire catching camphor,
Kappu kappunnu pudikanumIt should catch instantly with a spark!
Female
Vandhu vandhu pesuranaeYou keep coming and talking,
Ennaiyaa nee ambalaeWhat kind of man are you?
Vandhu vandhu pesuranaeYou keep coming and talking,
Ennaiyaa nee ambalaeWhat kind of man are you?
Vanji pennai konja sonnaalWhen asked to pamper a delicate girl,
Vaanathaiye paarkkureYou stare up at the sky!
Vanji pennai konja sonnaalWhen asked to pamper a delicate girl,
Vaanathaiye paarkkuraYou stare up at the sky!
Male
Otti pora mottorukkuFor a running motor vehicle,
Ennaiyindri oodumaaCan it run without oil?
Ongi ongi thallinaalumEven if pushed hard again and again,
Maedu pallam yerumaWill it climb over hills and valleys?
Ongi ongi thallinaalumEven if pushed hard again and again,
Maedu pallam yerumaWill it climb over hills and valleys?
Male
Yetti yetti pesiriyaeYou talk keeping your distance,
Ennadi nee pombalaeWhat kind of woman are you?
Yetti yetti pesiriyaeYou talk keeping your distance,
Ennadi nee pombalaeWhat kind of woman are you?
L board kaadhalan naanI am an L-board (learner) lover,
Ennai yendi namburaWhy do you trust me?
L board kaadhalan naanI am an L-board (learner) lover,
Ennai yendi namburaWhy do you trust me?
Female
Unnae vechaan rendu kanne vechaanHe created you, and gave you two eyes,
Onnu veikka maranthuttaan aasaiyillaeHe forgot to give you one thing, out of desire!
Unnae vechaan rendu kanne vechaanHe created you, and gave you two eyes,
Onnu veikka maranthuttaan aasaiyillaeHe forgot to give you one thing, out of desire!
Female
Kaathadicha sakkarangalWheels filled with air,
Carr ah kooda thaangudhuEven support a whole car.
Carru mela yeri poraPeople riding atop the car,
Aalu ellaam thaangudhuSupport everything together.
Carru mela yeri poraPeople riding atop the car,
Aalu ellaam thaangudhuSupport everything together.
Female
Vatta sattamaayirukkaeYou look so well-built and sturdy,
Ennai thanga mudiaylaeYet you cannot support/hold me!
Vatta sattamaayirukkaeYou look so well-built and sturdy,
Ennai thanga mudiaylaeYet you cannot support/hold me!
Vasal varai thedi vandhumEven after coming searching right to the doorstep,
Veedhiyilae thurathureYou chase me away into the street!
Vasal varai thedi vandhumEven after coming searching right to the doorstep,
Veedhiyilae thurathureYou chase me away into the street!
Male
Ooril ulla perukkellaamTo all the people in this town,
Otta kathu kodukkirenI teach driving.
Oruthar kooda ennai thediNot a single person comes searching,
Indha ottam odalaRunning like this for me!
Oruthar kooda ennai thediNot a single person comes searching,
Indha ottam odalaRunning like this for me!
Male
Carai otta sonnadhukkuFor asking me to drive the car,
Kaadhal thaana sambalamIs love itself the salary?
Carai otta sonnadhukkuFor asking me to drive the car,
Kaadhal thaana sambalamIs love itself the salary?
Aalai vidu kaadhal thaaneSpare me! Love is indeed,
Aana perkkum sammadhamAcceptable to those who have become one.
Aalai vidu kaadhal thaaneSpare me! Love is indeed,
Aana perkkum sammadhamAcceptable to those who have become one.
Male
Jillujilluthaan jillu kuruviThe cheerful little bird,
Singaaram thaan pannuchamAdorned itself nicely.
Female :Kalakalakkira kaattukullaeIn the lively rustling forest,
Kalyanam thaan pannuchaamIt got married!
Male
Jillujilluthaan jillu kuruviThe cheerful little bird,
Singaaram thaan pannuchamAdorned itself nicely.
Female :Haan kalakalakkira kaattukullaeIn the lively rustling forest,
Kalyanam thaan pannuchaamIt got married!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful duet features a lighthearted banter between a passionate woman and a hesitant man who acts as a driving instructor or lover comparing romance to driving. The female protagonist teasingly complains about the man's shyness, lack of affection, and inability to act boldly despite his sturdy appearance. She uses metaphors of cars, oil, wheels, and fire on camphor to urge him to show passion. The male protagonist responds by playfully asserting his novice status in love ('L-board lover') and questions whether love can truly pay the bills for driving a car. The song concludes on a cheerful note with nature metaphors of birds dressing up and marrying in the forest, signifying their mutual affection and eventual union.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Karpoorathilae neruppu pola

Comparing the sudden spark of romance to fire catching camphor ('Karpoorathilae neruppu pola kappu kappunnu pudikanum').

Uruvagaim (Metaphor)

L board kaadhalan naan

Describing oneself as a novice or beginner in love using the driving term 'L board' (Learner's permit).

Monnai (Alliteration)

Kappu kappunnu pudikanum

Repetition of initial consonants/vowels in 'Karpoorathilae' and 'Kappu kappunnu' created for rhythm.

Edugai (Rhyme)

Ponne vechaan poovae vechaan

Matching second consonants across lines ('Ponne' / 'Onnu', 'Unnae' / 'Onnu').

Did you know?

Trivia

This track from the 1967 film 'Kadhalithal Pothuma' showcases Kannadasan's signature ability to blend modern everyday metaphors (like L-boards, car engines, and oil) with traditional romantic banter, set to S. Vedhachalam's lively rhythm.

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