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Nilave Nee Saatchi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ponnendrum Poovendrum

From Nilave Nee Saatchi · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Nilave Nee Saatchi
Movie release year
1970
Lyrics added on
22 Nov 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mmmm… mmmm…
Aa aahaa haa haahaa
Ponnendrum poovendrum
Thaenendrum solvaeno…
Ponnendrum poovendrum
Thaenendrum solvaeno
Pennai paarthaal solla thondrum
Innum nooraayiram… innum nooraayiram
Moondru kani chaaru ondraaga pizhindhu
Moga rasam konjam alavodu kalandhu
Moondru kani chaaru ondraaga pizhindhu
Moga rasam konjam alavodu kalandhu
Bodhai madhuvaaga pon maeni malarndhu
Poovai vandhaal pennaaga pirandhu
Poovai vandhaal pennaaga pirandhu
Ponnendrum poovendrum
Thaenendrum solvaeno
Pennai paarthaal solla thondrum
Innum nooraayiram… innum nooraayiram
Kodai vasanthangal kulir kaalam endru
Odum paruvangal kana neram nindru
Kaadhal kavi paadum aval maeni kandu
Kaana kan vendum oru kodu indru
Kaana kan vendum oru kodu indru
Kanni ilam koondhal kalyaana palli
Kangal oli veesum adhikaalai velli
Kanni ilam koondhal kalyaana palli
Kangal oli veesum adhikaalai velli
Thendral vilaiyaadum aval paerai cholli
Inbam aval innum ariyaadha kalvi
Inbam aval innum ariyaadha kalvi
Ponnendrum poovendrum
Thaenendrum solvaeno
Pennai paarthaal solla thondrum
Innum nooraayiram… innum nooraayiram
Mmm... Mmm...
Aah... Aaha ha haha
Shall I call her gold, or a flower,
or call her sweet honey?
Shall I call her gold, or a flower,
or call her sweet honey?
Looking at this woman makes me want to say
a hundred thousand things more, a hundred thousand more!
Squeezing the juice of three sweet fruits together,
blending in just the right touch of passion,
Squeezing the juice of three sweet fruits together,
blending in just the right touch of passion,
with her golden body blossoming like intoxicating wine,
this lovely woman arrived, born into this world.
This lovely woman arrived, born into this world.
Shall I call her gold, or a flower,
or call her sweet honey?
Looking at this woman makes me want to say
a hundred thousand things more, a hundred thousand more!
Summer, spring, and winter—
the passing seasons feel like just a moment today.
Seeing her body sing a poem of love,
I need ten million eyes to take it in today.
I need ten million eyes to take it in today.
Her soft young hair is a school of love,
her bright eyes shine like the morning star.
Her soft young hair is a school of love,
her bright eyes shine like the morning star.
The gentle breeze plays, whispering her name,
and pleasure is a lesson she is yet to learn.
Pleasure is a lesson she is yet to learn.
Shall I call her gold, or a flower,
or call her sweet honey?
Looking at this woman makes me want to say
a hundred thousand things more, a hundred thousand more!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Ponnendrum Poovendrum from the film Nilave Nee Saatchi (1970) is a classic Tamil romantic song written by Kannadasan. The song portrays a lover enraptured by the enchanting beauty of his beloved. He feels conventional praises like gold, flowers, or honey fall short, declaring that a hundred thousand metaphors wouldn't suffice to describe her essence. The lyrics vividly describe her creation as if she were crafted from the nectar of three royal fruits mixed with an essence of passion, giving her a divine and intoxicating allure. Her radiant eyes shine like the morning star, her hair resembles a soft bridal chamber, and her sheer presence brings time and nature to a standstill.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Kangal oli veesum adhikaalai velli”

Compares her bright, shining eyes directly to 'adhikaalai velli' (the early morning star/Venus).

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

“Kaana kan vendum oru kodu indru”

Exaggerates her beauty by stating that one needs ten million ('kodu') eyes just to behold her adequately.

Imagery / Allegory

“Moondru kani chaaru ondraaga pizhindhu”

Creates a sensory image of her creation using the juice of the three sacred fruits (Mukkani: mango, banana, jackfruit) mixed with passion.

Alliteration (Moonaai)

“Ponnendrum poovendrum”

Repetition of the initial letter 'Po' across words in the line for musical rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Nilave Nee Saatchi (1970) features music composed by M. S. Viswanathan with iconic playback singing by T. M. Soundararajan. Kannadasan's lyrics in this song famously use the traditional Tamil concept of 'Mukkani' (three royal fruits: Mango, Banana, Jackfruit) as a poetic recipe for feminine beauty.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Vizhigal Meeno1983
Raagangal MaaruvathillaiBeautyAdmiration
Thol Kandaen1965
Idhaya KamalamBeautyAdmiration
Kaattu Roja1973
Nalla MudivuBeautyNature
Thaamtha Theemtha Aadum1979
Pagalil Oru IravuBeautyYouth
Isaimedaiyil Intha Velayil1983
Ilamai KaalangalRomanticBeauty
Thennamarathula Thendraladikkudhu1979
Lakshmi (1979)RomanticBeauty

From the same album

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Nilave Nee Saatchi Male1970
Nilave Nee SaatchiContemplative

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