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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ponnendrum Poovendrum

From Nilave Nee Saatchi · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Nilave Nee Saatchi1970

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Mmmm… mmmm…Mmmm… mmmm…
Aa aahaa haa haahaaAa aahaa haa haahaa
Male
Ponnendrum poovendrumShall I call her gold, or a flower,
Thaenendrum solvaeno…Or shall I call her honey?
Male
Ponnendrum poovendrumShall I call her gold, or a flower,
Thaenendrum solvaenoOr shall I call her honey?
Pennai paarthaal solla thondrumWhen looking at a woman, I feel like saying
Innum nooraayiram… innum nooraayiramA hundred thousand more things... a hundred thousand more.
Male
Moondru kani chaaru ondraaga pizhindhuExtracting the juice of three fruits together,
Moga rasam konjam alavodu kalandhuMixing a measured potion of desire,
Moondru kani chaaru ondraaga pizhindhuExtracting the juice of three fruits together,
Moga rasam konjam alavodu kalandhuMixing a measured potion of desire,
Bodhai madhuvaaga pon maeni malarndhuBlossoming with a golden body like intoxicating wine,
Poovai vandhaal pennaaga pirandhuThe flower-like lady arrived, born as a woman.
Poovai vandhaal pennaaga pirandhuThe flower-like lady arrived, born as a woman.
Male
Ponnendrum poovendrumShall I call her gold, or a flower,
Thaenendrum solvaenoOr shall I call her honey?
Pennai paarthaal solla thondrumWhen looking at a woman, I feel like saying
Innum nooraayiram… innum nooraayiramA hundred thousand more things... a hundred thousand more.
Male
Kodai vasanthangal kulir kaalam endruSaying summer, spring, and winter seasons,
Odum paruvangal kana neram nindruThe fleeting ages pause for a moment,
Kaadhal kavi paadum aval maeni kanduSeeing her body, which sings love poetry,
Kaana kan vendum oru kodu indruToday, one needs ten million eyes just to behold her.
Kaana kan vendum oru kodu indruToday, one needs ten million eyes just to behold her.
Male
Kanni ilam koondhal kalyaana palliThe maiden's youthful hair is a bridal bed,
Kangal oli veesum adhikaalai velliHer shining eyes are like the early morning star.
Kanni ilam koondhal kalyaana palliThe maiden's youthful hair is a bridal bed,
Kangal oli veesum adhikaalai velliHer shining eyes are like the early morning star.
Thendral vilaiyaadum aval paerai cholliThe gentle breeze plays, whispering her name,
Inbam aval innum ariyaadha kalviPleasure is an untaught lesson she has yet to learn.
Inbam aval innum ariyaadha kalviPleasure is an untaught lesson she has yet to learn.
Male
Ponnendrum poovendrumShall I call her gold, or a flower,
Thaenendrum solvaenoOr shall I call her honey?
Pennai paarthaal solla thondrumWhen looking at a woman, I feel like saying
Innum nooraayiram… innum nooraayiramA hundred thousand more things... a hundred thousand more.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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

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