Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ponniyamma

From Harkara · 2023

Lyricist
R. Deepak Krishna
Singers
Pradeep Kumar, Sinduri Vishal
Music director
Ramshanker
Details
Harkara2023

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Veeran un kannupadaAs your brave eyes fell upon me,
Othaiyula sarinjiputtenI collapsed all alone.
Ennadi ponniyammaWhat is it, my Ponniyamma?
Yendi solladi ponniyammaWhy, tell me, my Ponniyamma?
Female
Seerum un satham kettuHearing your roaring voice,
Kithappellaam tholaichiputtenI lost all my sense and composure.
Rathina muthazhagaOh handsome gem of a beauty,
Ennada rathina muthazhagaWhat is it, my gem-like handsome beauty?
Female
Pesama paiya vandhuWithout speaking, slowly arriving,
Nenjaang kotta niraichittaYou filled the fort of my heart.
Male : Virasaathaan vesham kettiMale: Disguising myself with sternness,
Surundu putten pathukkaI curled up inside to hide.
Male
Malai uchiyammaOh mountain top,
Thala suthudhammaMy head is spinning.
Usara yeri kirangi kidanthaClimbing high and lying dizzy,
Usira vaatturaYou torment my soul.
Male
Ye thattiyandhaan pannadhaHey, don't tease me like that,
Verappa kattadhaDon't show off your pride.
Poosama pesamaWithout hesitation or words,
Pichi pichi thinnadhaDon't tear me apart and consume me.
Male
Naracha koodaEven when my hair turns grey,
Enna vecha kanna vaangammaDon't take your eyes off me, my woman.
Nila viriyum surukkamThe spreading moonlight of wrinkles,
Enna kondae podumaeWill eventually claim me.
Female
Madathi ennaLike a shrine, me,
Maa thirathalaeWith great majesty,
Kanama pinni kattu poduraYou weave and bind me tightly.
Male :Odura naanum oiveduthenaeMale: I who was running have taken a rest,
Kalaiyum seela sundi izhukkudhaeThe fluttering saree tuck pulls me in.
Female
Ada kattandhara patttiniyaAh, starved on the bare floor,
Thookkang ketta naanumHaving lost my sleep,
Koottaanjoru koodikittuGathering for a shared meal,
Madi saayurenI lean into your lap.
Male
Koorakulla potta pullaThe girl under the thatched roof,
Koodi vandha neramWhen the time came together,
Kathukutti kaadhal onnuA novice love,
KaruvagudhaeIs taking form in the womb.
Female
En kaatraaasaMy king of breezes,
Thari kettu laesaGoing out of control lightly,
Saruga polaLike a dry leaf,
Mayangi vizhundhaFainting and falling,
Manasu thaanguraYou support my heart.
Male
Nee mayangi vizhundhaWhen you faint and fall,
Manasu thaanguraYou hold and comfort my heart.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This soulful duet from 'Harkara' portrays a deep, raw, and rustic romantic dialogue between two lovers living in the hills. The lyrics capture their mutual vulnerability, passion, and enduring commitment. The female lead expresses falling helplessly in love with the hero's strength and captivating presence, while the male lead reflects on how her devotion breaks through his stern exterior, offering him a peaceful refuge from his restless life. Together, they look forward to growing old side-by-side, visualising affection that deepens with age as wrinkles set in, and celebrating the budding new life that emerges from their union.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Nenjaang kotta niraichitta

Compares the heart to a fort ('nenjaang kottai') that is now completely occupied by love.

Alliteration (Ethukai / Munaai)

Poosama pesama

Repetition of the initial 'P' sound ('Poosama', 'pesama', 'pichi') creates a soft rhythmic cadence.

Simile (Uvamai)

Saruga pola

Compares the delicate, fluttering feeling of swooning in love to a dry leaf drifting softly in the wind ('Saruga pola').

Did you know?

Trivia

Harkara (2023) is a Tamil historical drama film directed by Ram Raaghav that centers around the historical tradition of 'Harkaras'—the native postal runners of India who navigated rugged terrains to deliver messages. Composed by Ramshanker, the soundtrack incorporates indigenous rural folk textures and acoustic instrumentation to mirror the film's highland backdrop.

Keep listening

More from Harkara