Ponni Nadhi Orathile
From Kuruvi Koodu · 1980
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Kuruvi Koodu1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ponni nadhi oraththilae yaelaelo | On the banks of the River Ponni, Yaelaelo |
| Ponnu onnu kaaththirukku yaelaelo | A young girl is waiting, Yaelaelo |
| Ponni nadhi oraththilae yaelaelo | On the banks of the River Ponni, Yaelaelo |
| Ponnu onnu kaaththirukku yaelaelo | A young girl is waiting, Yaelaelo |
| Pakththila avan irunthum paarkka kooda mudiyalayae | Even though he was right beside her, she could not even look at him |
| Vetkaththukku vetkkam illa yaelaelo | Her shyness knows no shame, Yaelaelo |
| Male | |
| Ponni nadhi oraththilae yaelaelo | On the banks of the River Ponni, Yaelaelo |
| Ponnu onnu kaaththirukku yaelaelo | A young girl is waiting, Yaelaelo |
| Male | |
| Naalaa pala pozhuthaa | As days and moments passed, |
| Ava aalaanathum thaalaamala | Unable to bear her blossoming into womanhood, |
| Naalu viral elachchuvittaa yaelaelo | She grew thin by four finger-widths, Yaelaelo |
| Paalaa idhu pazhamaa idai noolaa | Is this milk, fruit, or a waist like a thread? |
| Kannu velaannu | Her eyes are like sharp spears, |
| Paavipaya thudichchu ninnaan yaelaelo | That yearning man stood there trembling, Yaelaelo |
| Male | |
| Ponni nadhi oraththilae yaelaelo | On the banks of the River Ponni, Yaelaelo |
| Ponnu onnu kaaththirukku yaelaelo | A young girl is waiting, Yaelaelo |
| Male | |
| Nenaikku konjam sirakkum | Her memories sprout little wings, |
| Adhu thudikkum vayasu | That is the age when youth throbs, |
| Anaikkum thalaiyanaiyai | Embracing her pillow, |
| Adhil irukkum manasu | Her mind lingers upon it, |
| Avalum ada avanum antha rendum sirusu | She and oh, he—both of them are young, |
| Sirusaa adhu irunthaalenna manaso perusu | So what if they are young? Their hearts are grand, |
| Male | |
| Vaayaal solli kelaathathu | That which will not listen to spoken words, |
| Paayil palli kollaathathu | That which will not rest upon a sleeping mat, |
| Vattamittu odumadaa yaelaelo | It runs around in circles, Yaelaelo |
| Thaayo illa neeyo solli kelaathathu | It will not listen to a mother or to you, |
| Aasai ennum thaththuvaththin velaiyadaa yaelaelo | It is the handiwork of the philosophy called desire, Yaelaelo |
| Male | |
| Ponni nadhi oraththilae yaelaelo | On the banks of the River Ponni, Yaelaelo |
| Ponnu onnu kaaththirukku yaelaelo | A young girl is waiting, Yaelaelo |
| Male | |
| Mananthaa unna manappaen | If I marry, I shall marry only you, |
| Ena thavikkum vizhigal | So yearn her anxious eyes, |
| Arinjo thanna marantho | Whether knowingly or forgetting oneself, |
| Adhai thadukkum vazhigal | There are ways that try to block it, |
| Male | |
| Irandum thani thaniyae | Both lying separately, |
| Dhinam padukkum kiligal | Like parrots roosting every day, |
| Irunthaalenna kannaa | So what if it is so, my dear? |
| Illa pesum mozhigal | No spoken languages are required, |
| Male | |
| Mama konjalaamaa | Darling, shall we cuddle? |
| Ada yaemmaa pakkam vaamaa ena | Oh girl, come closer, saying so, |
| Naanaththaiyum vittu vittu yaelaelo | Shedding all modesty, Yaelaelo |
| Raja adi rani enthan kooja malarmaeni ena | King and Queen, my tender flower-like body, saying so, |
| Nenjukulla konjuthadaa yaelaelo | It fondles within the heart, Yaelaelo |
| Male | |
| Ponni nadhi oraththilae yaelaelo | On the banks of the River Ponni, Yaelaelo |
| Ponnu onnu kaaththirukku yaelaelo | A young girl is waiting, Yaelaelo |
பொன்னி நதி ஓரத்திலே ஏலேலோ
பொண்ணு ஒன்னு காத்திருக்கு ஏலேலோ
பொன்னி நதி ஓரத்திலே ஏலேலோ
பொண்ணு ஒன்னு காத்திருக்கு ஏலேலோ
பக்கத்தில அவன் இருந்தும் பார்க்க கூட முடியலயே
வெட்கத்துக்கு வெட்கம் இல்ல ஏலேலோ..
On the banks of the River Ponni, Yaelaelo
A young girl is waiting, Yaelaelo
On the banks of the River Ponni, Yaelaelo
A young girl is waiting, Yaelaelo
Even though he was right beside her, she could not even look at him
Her shyness knows no shame, Yaelaelo
பொன்னி நதி ஓரத்திலே ஏலேலோ
பொண்ணு ஒன்னு காத்திருக்கு ஏலேலோ
On the banks of the River Ponni, Yaelaelo
A young girl is waiting, Yaelaelo
நாளா பல பொழுதா
அவ ஆளானதும் தாளாமலே
நாலு விரல் எளச்சுவிட்டா ஏலேலோ
பாலா இது பழமா இடை நூலா
கண்ணு வேலான்னு
பாவிப்பய துடிச்சு நின்னான் ஏலேலோ...
As days and moments passed,
Unable to bear her blossoming into womanhood,
She grew thin by four finger-widths, Yaelaelo
Is this milk, fruit, or a waist like a thread?
Her eyes are like sharp spears,
That yearning man stood there trembling, Yaelaelo
பொன்னி நதி ஓரத்திலே ஏலேலோ
பொண்ணு ஒன்னு காத்திருக்கு ஏலேலோ
On the banks of the River Ponni, Yaelaelo
A young girl is waiting, Yaelaelo
நெனைக்கும் கொஞ்சம் சிரிக்கும்
அது துடிக்கும் வயசு
அணைக்கும் தலையணையை
அதில் இருக்கும் மனசு
அவளும் அட அவனும் அந்த ரெண்டும் சிறுசு
சிறுசா அது இருந்தாலென்ன மனசோ பெருசு
Her memories sprout little wings,
That is the age when youth throbs,
Embracing her pillow,
Her mind lingers upon it,
She and oh, he—both of them are young,
So what if they are young? Their hearts are grand,
வாயால் சொல்லி கேளாதது
பாயில் பள்ளி கொள்ளாதது
வட்டமிட்டு ஓடுமடா ஏலேலோ
தாயோ இல்ல நீயோ சொல்லி கேளாதது
ஆசை என்னும் தத்துவத்தின் வேலையடா ஏலேலோ
That which will not listen to spoken words,
That which will not rest upon a sleeping mat,
It runs around in circles, Yaelaelo
It will not listen to a mother or to you,
It is the handiwork of the philosophy called desire, Yaelaelo
பொன்னி நதி ஓரத்திலே ஏலேலோ
பொண்ணு ஒன்னு காத்திருக்கு ஏலேலோ
On the banks of the River Ponni, Yaelaelo
A young girl is waiting, Yaelaelo
மணந்தா உன்ன மணப்பேன்
என தவிக்கும் விழிகள்
அறிஞ்சோ தன்ன மறந்தோ
அதை தடுக்கும் வழிகள்
If I marry, I shall marry only you,
So yearn her anxious eyes,
Whether knowingly or forgetting oneself,
There are ways that try to block it,
இரண்டும் தனி தனியே
தினம் படுக்கும் கிளிகள்
இருந்தாலென்ன கண்ணா
இல்ல பேசும் மொழிகள்
Both lying separately,
Like parrots roosting every day,
So what if it is so, my dear?
No spoken languages are required,
மாமா கொஞ்சலாமா
அட ஏம்மா பக்கம் வாமா என
நாணத்தையும் விட்டு விட்டு ஏலேலோ
ராஜா அடி ராணி எந்தன் கூஜா மலர்மேனி என
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள கொஞ்சுதடா ஏலேலோ......
Darling, shall we cuddle?
Oh girl, come closer, saying so,
Shedding all modesty, Yaelaelo
King and Queen, my tender flower-like body, saying so,
It fondles within the heart, Yaelaelo
பொன்னி நதி ஓரத்திலே ஏலேலோ
பொண்ணு ஒன்னு காத்திருக்கு ஏலேலோ
On the banks of the River Ponni, Yaelaelo
A young girl is waiting, Yaelaelo
Ponni nadhi oraththilae yaelaelo
On the banks of the River Ponni, Yaelaelo
Ponnu onnu kaaththirukku yaelaelo
A young girl is waiting, Yaelaelo
Ponni nadhi oraththilae yaelaelo
On the banks of the River Ponni, Yaelaelo
Ponnu onnu kaaththirukku yaelaelo
A young girl is waiting, Yaelaelo
Pakththila avan irunthum paarkka kooda mudiyalayae
Even though he was right beside her, she could not even look at him
Vetkaththukku vetkkam illa yaelaelo
Her shyness knows no shame, Yaelaelo
Ponni nadhi oraththilae yaelaelo
On the banks of the River Ponni, Yaelaelo
Ponnu onnu kaaththirukku yaelaelo
A young girl is waiting, Yaelaelo
Naalaa pala pozhuthaa
As days and moments passed,
Ava aalaanathum thaalaamala
Unable to bear her blossoming into womanhood,
Naalu viral elachchuvittaa yaelaelo
She grew thin by four finger-widths, Yaelaelo
Paalaa idhu pazhamaa idai noolaa
Is this milk, fruit, or a waist like a thread?
Kannu velaannu
Her eyes are like sharp spears,
Paavipaya thudichchu ninnaan yaelaelo
That yearning man stood there trembling, Yaelaelo
Ponni nadhi oraththilae yaelaelo
On the banks of the River Ponni, Yaelaelo
Ponnu onnu kaaththirukku yaelaelo
A young girl is waiting, Yaelaelo
Nenaikku konjam sirakkum
Her memories sprout little wings,
Adhu thudikkum vayasu
That is the age when youth throbs,
Anaikkum thalaiyanaiyai
Embracing her pillow,
Adhil irukkum manasu
Her mind lingers upon it,
Avalum ada avanum antha rendum sirusu
She and oh, he—both of them are young,
Sirusaa adhu irunthaalenna manaso perusu
So what if they are young? Their hearts are grand,
Vaayaal solli kelaathathu
That which will not listen to spoken words,
Paayil palli kollaathathu
That which will not rest upon a sleeping mat,
Vattamittu odumadaa yaelaelo
It runs around in circles, Yaelaelo
Thaayo illa neeyo solli kelaathathu
It will not listen to a mother or to you,
Aasai ennum thaththuvaththin velaiyadaa yaelaelo
It is the handiwork of the philosophy called desire, Yaelaelo
Ponni nadhi oraththilae yaelaelo
On the banks of the River Ponni, Yaelaelo
Ponnu onnu kaaththirukku yaelaelo
A young girl is waiting, Yaelaelo
Mananthaa unna manappaen
If I marry, I shall marry only you,
Ena thavikkum vizhigal
So yearn her anxious eyes,
Arinjo thanna marantho
Whether knowingly or forgetting oneself,
Adhai thadukkum vazhigal
There are ways that try to block it,
Irandum thani thaniyae
Both lying separately,
Dhinam padukkum kiligal
Like parrots roosting every day,
Irunthaalenna kannaa
So what if it is so, my dear?
Illa pesum mozhigal
No spoken languages are required,
Mama konjalaamaa
Darling, shall we cuddle?
Ada yaemmaa pakkam vaamaa ena
Oh girl, come closer, saying so,
Naanaththaiyum vittu vittu yaelaelo
Shedding all modesty, Yaelaelo
Raja adi rani enthan kooja malarmaeni ena
King and Queen, my tender flower-like body, saying so,
Nenjukulla konjuthadaa yaelaelo
It fondles within the heart, Yaelaelo
Ponni nadhi oraththilae yaelaelo
On the banks of the River Ponni, Yaelaelo
Ponnu onnu kaaththirukku yaelaelo
A young girl is waiting, Yaelaelo
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This folk-infused romantic song from Kuruvi Koodu (1980) portrays the intense romantic longing and tender bashfulness of a young woman waiting by the riverbank for her lover. Set along the Kaveri (Ponni) river, the lyrics express how youthful love creates restlessness, making one unable to sleep or listen to reason, as desire takes over the mind and body.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Folk Refrain (Aatruppaattu / Folk Rhythm)
“Ponni nadhi oraththilae yaelaelo”
The repetitive use of 'Yaelaelo' anchors the song in traditional Tamil riverboat and agrarian folk music styles.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)
“Naalu viral elachchuvittaa yaelaelo”
Exaggerating the weight loss caused by romantic yearning ('grew thin by four finger-widths').
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Paalaa idhu pazhamaa idai noolaa”
Comparing the heroine's slender waist to a thin thread and her eyes to sharp spears.
Monai / Rhyme Scheme
“Vaayaal solli kelaathathu / Paayil palli kollaathathu”
Use of end-rhyme and rhythm across lines to show the restless nature of love ('kelaathathu / kollaathathu').
Did you know?
Trivia
The term 'Ponni' is an ancient Tamil poetic name for the Kaveri River, named after the golden silt ('pon') it carries. Kannadasan uses traditional rural folk rhythmic structures ('yaelaelo') combined with K. V. Mahadevan's melodic arrangement to evoke the authentic atmosphere of riverbank folk songs of Tamil Nadu.
Keep listening
More from Kuruvi Koodu
No related songs found yet.