- Lyricist
- Ilango Krishnan
- Singers
- A. R. Rahman, A. R. Reihana, Bamba Bakya
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Movie name
- Ponniyin Selvan – Part 1
- Movie release year
- 2022
- Lyrics added on
- 15 Jun 2022
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ohh.. Kavariyaal neermadikku
Ambaramaai anaiyeduthaan
Neer satham ketadhumae
Nel poothu nikkum
Uli saththam ketadhumae
Kal poothu nikkum
Pagai satham ketadhumae
Vil poothu nikkum
Chozhathin perumaikoora
Sol poothu nikkum
Ponni nadhi paakanumae
Chorus :Theeyari esamaari
Male :Pozhudhukkulla
Chorus :Theeyari esamaari
Kanni pengal kaananumae
Chorus :Theeyari Esamaari
Male :Kaatraippola
Chorus :Theeyari Esamaari
Male :Pottal Kadandhu
Chorus :Theeyari Esamari
Male :Puzhudhi Kadandhu
Chorus :Theeyari Esamari
Male :Tharisu Kadandhu
Chorus :Theeyari Esamari
Male :Karisal Kadandhu
Chorus :Veeram Velanja Mannu
Andho naan ivvazhaginilae..
Chorus :Haiye semba semba
Male :Kaalam marandhadhenna..
Chorus :Haiye
Male :Hoo oo oo oo
Manne un maarbil kidakka
Chorus :Pachai naranja mannu
Achho oor aasai mulaika
Chorus :Manju thoorum mannu
Male :En kaalam kaniyadho
Chorus :Kokku pootha mannu
En kaalgal thaniyadho
Chorus :Vella manasu mannu
Male :Sembanee
Chorus :Veeram velanja mannu
Thathatthada thathatthada thathatthada
Thadavane sel..
Chorus :Veeram velanja mannu
Ponni Magal
Chorus :Theeyari Esamaari
Laali lallaa laali lalla laali lalla
Paadi sellum
All :Veera chozhapuri
Paarthu viraivaai nee
Thaavu azhaga
Thaavum nadhiyaai
Saga.. kanavai.. mudida..
Ponni nadhi paakanumae
Chorus :Theeyari esamaari
Male :Pozhudhukkulla
Chorus :Veeram velanja mannu
Male :Kanni pengal kaananumae
Chorus :Theeyari Esamaari
Male :Kaatrai Pola
Chorus :Veeram velanja mannu
Male :Sekka sagappi
Chorus :Theeyari Esamaari
Male :Nenjil irudi
Chorus :Veeram velanja mannu
Male :Retta suzhachi
Chorus :Theeyari Esamaari
Male :Otti irudi
Chorus :Veeram velanja mannu
Sozha silaithaan ivalo
Chorus :Semba
Male :Sola karuthaai sirichaa
Chorus :Semba
Male :Eezha minnal unnala
Chorus :Semba
Male :Naanum rasichida aagatha
Chorus :Amba
Male :Koodathae
Chorus :Amba
Hoo oo oo
Kadalukkedhu oivu
Chorus :Semba
Male :Kadamai irukudhu ezhundhuru
Chorus :Semba
Male :Seeripaindhudu ambaaga
Chorus :Semba
Male :Kaala thangam ponaalae
Chorus :Semba
Male :Thambiyae ennaalum varumoda
Nanjaigalae punjaigalae
Rambaigalai vinji nirkkum vanjigalae
Nanjaigalae punjaigalae
Rambaigalai vinji nirkkum vanjigalae
Ponni nadhi paakanumae
Chorus :Theeyari esamaari
Male :Pozhudhukkulla
Chorus :Theeyari esamaari
Male :Kanni pengal kaananumae
Chorus :Veeram velanja mannu
Male :Kaatrai Pola
Chorus :Theeyari Esamaari
Male :Sekka sagappi
Chorus :Veeram velanja mannu
Male :Nenjil irudi
Chorus :Theeyari Esamaari
Male :Retta suzhachi
Chorus :Veeram velanja mannu
Male :Otti irudi
Chorus :Theeyari Esamaari
Andho naan-ivvazhaginilae
Chorus :Veeram velanja mannu
Male :Ho oh oh..
Chorus :Ha..aa..aa
Male :Ho oh oh..
Chorus :Ha..aa..aa
Male :Ho oh oh..
Chorus :Ha..aa..aa
Oh, to hold the surging waters of Kaveri,
he raised a mighty dam!
The moment the sound of water is heard,
the paddy crops burst into bloom!
The moment the sound of the chisel is heard,
sculptures blossom from stone!
The moment the sound of the enemy is heard,
bows rise ready for battle!
To tell the greatness of the Cholas,
words blossom in praise!
I must see the Ponni River,
Chorus: Theeyari Esamaari!
Male: before the sun sets!
Chorus: Theeyari Esamaari!
I must see the young women,
Chorus: Theeyari Esamaari!
Male: racing like the wind!
Chorus: Theeyari Esamaari!
Male: Crossing the open plains,
Chorus: Theeyari Esamaari!
Male: crossing the swirling dust,
Chorus: Theeyari Esamaari!
Male: crossing the barren lands,
Chorus: Theeyari Esamaari!
Male: crossing the rich black soil,
Chorus: this land where bravery grows!
Ah, lost in all this beauty...
Chorus: Hey, Semba, Semba!
Male: how did I lose track of time?
Chorus: Hey!
Male: Hoo oo oo oo
To lie upon your chest, my land,
Chorus: a land full of lush green!
ah, a desire sprouts within me,
Chorus: a land where the mist drizzles!
Male: will my time not turn golden?
Chorus: a land dotted with white storks!
will my restless feet not find rest?
Chorus: a land with a pure and simple heart!
Male: Semba, you golden one!
Chorus: this land where bravery grows!
Galloping fast to the pounding beat,
ride on ahead, ride swiftly!
Chorus: this land where bravery grows!
Daughter Ponni (River Kaveri),
Chorus: Theeyari Esamaari!
singing "laali lalla laali lalla laali lalla",
flows gracefully along!
All: Towards the valiant Chola city,
look ahead and rush on,
leap forward, my handsome horse,
like a leaping river,
and fulfill every dream!
I must see the Ponni River,
Chorus: Theeyari Esamaari!
Male: before the sun sets!
Chorus: this land where bravery grows!
Male: I must see the young women,
Chorus: Theeyari Esamaari!
Male: racing like the wind!
Chorus: this land where bravery grows!
Male: Rosy-cheeked beauty,
Chorus: Theeyari Esamaari!
Male: stay in my heart!
Chorus: this land where bravery grows!
Male: Girl with the twirling curls,
Chorus: Theeyari Esamaari!
Male: stay close to me!
Chorus: this land where bravery grows!
Is she a sculpture carved in Chola stone?
Chorus: Semba!
Male: When she smiled with dark and lovely grace,
Chorus: Semba!
Male: you lightning from Eelam (Sri Lanka), because of you,
Chorus: Semba!
Male: can't I just stop and admire you?
Chorus: Amba!
Male: No, I cannot!
Chorus: Amba!
Hoo oo oo
Does the ocean ever take a rest?
Chorus: Semba!
Male: Duty awaits, rise up!
Chorus: Semba!
Male: Speed forward like an arrow!
Chorus: Semba!
Male: If precious time slips away,
Chorus: Semba!
Male: my brother, will it ever come back?
O lush wetlands, O dry farmlands,
O lovely women who outshine heaven's dancers!
O lush wetlands, O dry farmlands,
O lovely women who outshine heaven's dancers!
I must see the Ponni River,
Chorus: Theeyari Esamaari!
Male: before the sun sets!
Chorus: Theeyari Esamaari!
Male: I must see the young women,
Chorus: this land where bravery grows!
Male: racing like the wind!
Chorus: Theeyari Esamaari!
Male: Rosy-cheeked beauty,
Chorus: this land where bravery grows!
Male: stay in my heart!
Chorus: Theeyari Esamaari!
Male: Girl with the twirling curls,
Chorus: this land where bravery grows!
Male: stay close to me!
Chorus: Theeyari Esamaari!
Ah, lost in all this beauty...
Chorus: this land where bravery grows!
Male: Ho oh oh...
Chorus: Ha ah ah...
Male: Ho oh oh...
Chorus: Ha ah ah...
Male: Ho oh oh...
Chorus: Ha ah ah...
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Male
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Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song 'Ponni Nadhi' serves as a vibrant introduction to the Chola kingdom and the protagonist Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan as he journeys towards the heart of Chola territory along the banks of the Kaveri (Ponni) river. Through rich imagery of agricultural prosperity, warrior culture, architecture, and scenic landscapes, the song glorifies the Chola land as a realm where nature, art, and valor thrive together in harmony.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Mondhai / Anaphora (Repetition of blossoming metaphor)
“Nel poothu nikkum... Kal poothu nikkum... Vil poothu nikkum... Sol poothu nikkum”
The lyricist uses 'poothu nikkum' (stands blooming) across different lines to show how water blooms crops, chisels bloom sculptures, enmity blooms bows, and praise blooms words.
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming in Tamil prosody)
“Neer satham... Nel poothu... Uli saththam... Kal poothu...”
The second letters 'er' / 'el' / 'il' / 'ol' match pattern structures in successive lines (Neer, Nel, Uli, Kal, Pagai, Vil, Sol).
Hyperbole (Uruvagaimai / Exaggeration)
“Rambaigalai vinji nirkkum vanjigalae”
Describing Chola women as surpassing Rambha, the celestial apsara in Hindu mythology.
Personification
“Ponni Magal... Laali lallaa... Paadi sellum”
The river Ponni (Kaveri) is personified as a daughter ('Ponni Magal') who sings lullabies while running.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Ponni Nadhi' marks the grand introduction of Vandiyadevan (played by Karthi) in Mani Ratnam's epic film adapted from Kalki Krishnamurthy's legendary Tamil novel 'Ponniyin Selvan'. Composer A. R. Rahman provided lead vocals himself for this track, blending traditional Tamil folk rhythm chants like 'Theeyari Esamaari' with epic orchestral arrangement.
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