Ponno Maniyo Poovo Kaniyo
From Suthanthira Nattin Adimaigal · 1988
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singers
- Mano, K. S. Chitra
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Suthanthira Nattin Adimaigal1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ponno maniyo poovo kaniyo | Is it gold, a gem, a flower, or a fruit? |
| Mannil nilavo maran kaviyo | Is it the moon on earth, or Kama's poetry? |
| Mannil nilavo maran kaviyo | Is it the moon on earth, or Kama's poetry? |
| Kanno illai meeno | Are those eyes, or fish? |
| Kanno illai meeno maano | Are those eyes, or fish, or a deer? |
| Female | |
| Ponno maniyo poovo kaniyo | Is it gold, a gem, a flower, or a fruit? |
| Male :Mannil nilavo maran kaviyo | Male: Is it the moon on earth, or Kama's poetry? |
| Female :Kanno illai meeno maano | Female: Are those eyes, or fish, or a deer? |
| Ponno maniyo | Is it gold, a gem, |
| Male :Poovo kaniyo | Male: Or a flower, or a fruit? |
| Female | |
| {Paalum thel thenum | {Milk and clear honey |
| Parimaarum kani vaayum | Served by her fruit-like lips, |
| Adhil naal thorum naadagam arangerum} (2) | On which every day a romantic drama unfolds} (2) |
| Male | |
| Noolin idai vaadum | Her thread-like waist wilts, |
| Adhan maelae vidai thedum | Searching for an answer above it, |
| Noolin idai vaadum | Her thread-like waist wilts, |
| Adhan maelae vidai thedum | Searching for an answer above it, |
| Viral meettamal meettidum swarasthaanam | A musical note played without plucking with fingers, |
| Female | |
| Palli paadal…. | A night song... |
| Dhinam alli koodal….. | Daily embrace and union... |
| Solli paadum suam niththam thaedal…. | Singing of bliss, a daily continuous search... |
| Female | |
| Ponno maniyo | Is it gold, a gem, |
| Male :Poovo kaniyo | Male: Or a flower, or a fruit? |
| Mannil nilavo | Is it the moon on earth, |
| Female :Maran kaviyo | Female: Or Kama's poetry? |
| Male :Kanno illai meeno maano | Male: Are those eyes, or fish, or a deer? |
| Female :Ponno maniyo | Female: Is it gold, a gem, |
| Male :Poovo kaniyo….oo….. | Male: Or a flower, or a fruit... oo... |
| Female | |
| {Aahaa haa…..ha….aaa…. | {Aahaa haa.....ha....aaa.... |
| Male :Aaa….aa….} (3) | Male: Aaa....aa....} (3) |
| Male | |
| {Koondhal oru megam | {Her long hair is a cloud, |
| Adhi koodum oru mogam | In which a passion gathers, |
| Adhil neenthaamal neendhidum ivan thegam} (2) | In which his body swims without actually swimming} (2) |
| Female | |
| Naanum ini neeyum | From now on, you and I, |
| Oru thaayum aval saeyum | Are like a mother and her child, |
| Naanum ini neeyum | From now on, you and I, |
| Oru thaayum aval saeyum | Are like a mother and her child, |
| Un thaalaattu kettida alai paayum | My mind surges to hear your lullaby, |
| Male | |
| Thannanthaniyae | All alone, |
| Sugam sinthum paniyae | O dew dripping with bliss, |
| Ennai thazhuvu pala inbam pazhgu | Embrace me and taste various delights, |
| Female | |
| Ponno maniyo | Is it gold, a gem, |
| Male :Poovo kaniyo | Male: Or a flower, or a fruit? |
| Female :Mannil nilavo | Female: Is it the moon on earth, |
| Male :Maran kaviyo | Male: Or Kama's poetry? |
| Female :Kanno illai meeno | Female: Are those eyes, or fish, |
| Male :Maano | Male: Or a deer? |
| Female :Laalalalalalaa | Female: Laalalalalalaa |
| Male :Haahaa aaahha… | Male: Haahaa aaahha... |
| Female :Hmm mmm…. | Female: Hmm mmm.... |
பொன்னோ மணியோ பூவோ கனியோ
மண்ணில் நிலவோ மாறன் கவியோ
மண்ணில் நிலவோ மாறன் கவியோ
கண்ணோ இல்லை மீனோ
கண்ணோ இல்லை மீனோ மானோ
Is it gold, a gem, a flower, or a fruit?
Is it the moon on earth, or Kama's poetry?
Is it the moon on earth, or Kama's poetry?
Are those eyes, or fish?
Are those eyes, or fish, or a deer?
பொன்னோ மணியோ பூவோ கனியோ
மண்ணில் நிலவோ மாறன் கவியோ
கண்ணோ இல்லை மீனோ மானோ
பொன்னோ மணியோ
பூவோ கனியோ
Is it gold, a gem, a flower, or a fruit?
Male: Is it the moon on earth, or Kama's poetry?
Female: Are those eyes, or fish, or a deer?
Is it gold, a gem,
Male: Or a flower, or a fruit?
{பாலும் தெளி தேனும்
பரிமாறும் கனி வாயும்
அதில் நாள் தோறும் நாடகம் அரங்கேறும்} (2)
{Milk and clear honey
Served by her fruit-like lips,
On which every day a romantic drama unfolds} (2)
நூலின் இடை வாடும்
அதன் மேலே விடை தேடும்
நூலின் இடை வாடும்
அதன் மேலே விடை தேடும்
விரல் மீட்டாமல் மீட்டிடும் ஸ்வரஸ்தானம்
Her thread-like waist wilts,
Searching for an answer above it,
Her thread-like waist wilts,
Searching for an answer above it,
A musical note played without plucking with fingers,
பள்ளிப் பாடல்........
தினம் அள்ளிக் கூடல்.......
சொல்லி பாடும் சுகம் நித்தம் தேடல்.....
A night song...
Daily embrace and union...
Singing of bliss, a daily continuous search...
பொன்னோ மணியோ
பூவோ கனியோ
மண்ணில் நிலவோ
மாறன் கவியோ
கண்ணோ இல்லை மீனோ மானோ
பொன்னோ மணியோ
பூவோ கனியோ.....ஓ....
Is it gold, a gem,
Male: Or a flower, or a fruit?
Is it the moon on earth,
Female: Or Kama's poetry?
Male: Are those eyes, or fish, or a deer?
Female: Is it gold, a gem,
Male: Or a flower, or a fruit... oo...
{ஆஹா ஹா.....ஹ.....ஆஅ.....
ஆஅ....ஆ.....} (3)
{Aahaa haa.....ha....aaa....
Male: Aaa....aa....} (3)
{கூந்தல் ஒரு மேகம்
அதில் கூடும் ஒரு மோகம்
அதில் நீந்தாமல் நீந்திடும் இவன் தேகம்} (2)
{Her long hair is a cloud,
In which a passion gathers,
In which his body swims without actually swimming} (2)
நானும் இனி நீயும்
ஒரு தாயும் அவள் சேயும்
நானும் இனி நீயும்
ஒரு தாயும் அவள் சேயும்
உன் தாலாட்டு கேட்டிட அலை பாயும்
From now on, you and I,
Are like a mother and her child,
From now on, you and I,
Are like a mother and her child,
My mind surges to hear your lullaby,
தன்னந்தனியே.......
சுகம் சிந்தும் பனியே......
என்னைத் தழுவு பல இன்பம் பழகு...
All alone,
O dew dripping with bliss,
Embrace me and taste various delights,
பொன்னோ மணியோ
பூவோ கனியோ
மண்ணில் நிலவோ
மாறன் கவியோ
கண்ணோ இல்லை மீனோ
மானோ
லாலலலலா....
ஹாஹாஆஆஹ்ஹ.....
ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்.....
Is it gold, a gem,
Male: Or a flower, or a fruit?
Female: Is it the moon on earth,
Male: Or Kama's poetry?
Female: Are those eyes, or fish,
Male: Or a deer?
Female: Laalalalalalaa
Male: Haahaa aaahha...
Female: Hmm mmm....
Ponno maniyo poovo kaniyo
Is it gold, a gem, a flower, or a fruit?
Mannil nilavo maran kaviyo
Is it the moon on earth, or Kama's poetry?
Mannil nilavo maran kaviyo
Is it the moon on earth, or Kama's poetry?
Kanno illai meeno
Are those eyes, or fish?
Kanno illai meeno maano
Are those eyes, or fish, or a deer?
Ponno maniyo poovo kaniyo
Is it gold, a gem, a flower, or a fruit?
Male :Mannil nilavo maran kaviyo
Male: Is it the moon on earth, or Kama's poetry?
Female :Kanno illai meeno maano
Female: Are those eyes, or fish, or a deer?
Ponno maniyo
Is it gold, a gem,
Male :Poovo kaniyo
Male: Or a flower, or a fruit?
{Paalum thel thenum
{Milk and clear honey
Parimaarum kani vaayum
Served by her fruit-like lips,
Adhil naal thorum naadagam arangerum} (2)
On which every day a romantic drama unfolds} (2)
Noolin idai vaadum
Her thread-like waist wilts,
Adhan maelae vidai thedum
Searching for an answer above it,
Noolin idai vaadum
Her thread-like waist wilts,
Adhan maelae vidai thedum
Searching for an answer above it,
Viral meettamal meettidum swarasthaanam
A musical note played without plucking with fingers,
Palli paadal….
A night song...
Dhinam alli koodal…..
Daily embrace and union...
Solli paadum suam niththam thaedal….
Singing of bliss, a daily continuous search...
Ponno maniyo
Is it gold, a gem,
Male :Poovo kaniyo
Male: Or a flower, or a fruit?
Mannil nilavo
Is it the moon on earth,
Female :Maran kaviyo
Female: Or Kama's poetry?
Male :Kanno illai meeno maano
Male: Are those eyes, or fish, or a deer?
Female :Ponno maniyo
Female: Is it gold, a gem,
Male :Poovo kaniyo….oo…..
Male: Or a flower, or a fruit... oo...
{Aahaa haa…..ha….aaa….
{Aahaa haa.....ha....aaa....
Male :Aaa….aa….} (3)
Male: Aaa....aa....} (3)
{Koondhal oru megam
{Her long hair is a cloud,
Adhi koodum oru mogam
In which a passion gathers,
Adhil neenthaamal neendhidum ivan thegam} (2)
In which his body swims without actually swimming} (2)
Naanum ini neeyum
From now on, you and I,
Oru thaayum aval saeyum
Are like a mother and her child,
Naanum ini neeyum
From now on, you and I,
Oru thaayum aval saeyum
Are like a mother and her child,
Un thaalaattu kettida alai paayum
My mind surges to hear your lullaby,
Thannanthaniyae
All alone,
Sugam sinthum paniyae
O dew dripping with bliss,
Ennai thazhuvu pala inbam pazhgu
Embrace me and taste various delights,
Ponno maniyo
Is it gold, a gem,
Male :Poovo kaniyo
Male: Or a flower, or a fruit?
Female :Mannil nilavo
Female: Is it the moon on earth,
Male :Maran kaviyo
Male: Or Kama's poetry?
Female :Kanno illai meeno
Female: Are those eyes, or fish,
Male :Maano
Male: Or a deer?
Female :Laalalalalalaa
Female: Laalalalalalaa
Male :Haahaa aaahha…
Male: Haahaa aaahha...
Female :Hmm mmm….
Female: Hmm mmm....
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a romantic duet expressing deep affection and sensual beauty through classical Tamil metaphors. The lovers admire each other's beauty, comparing features to gold, gems, flowers, fruits, the moon, and nature's finest elements. The lyrics depict intimate romantic moments, describing delicate physical beauty, sweet affection, and the comforting comfort of love akin to a mother's embrace.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Kanno illai meeno maano”
Compares eyes directly to fish and deer, and hair to a rain cloud.
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Alangaram)
“Ponno maniyo poovo kaniyo”
Uses a series of questions asking if the beloved is gold, a gem, a flower, or fruit to express poetic wonder.
Assonance and Rhyme (Edhugai / MonaI)
“Ponno maniyo poovo kaniyo”
Rhythmic repetition of '-o' ending sounds creating a melodic lyricism across the verse.
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyrics were penned by the veteran Tamil poet Pulamaipithan, known for his rich classical vocabulary and metaphorical depth in Tamil film music.
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