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Lyrics & meaning

Ponnu Oru Porkaruvi

From Rettai Kuzhal Thuppakki · 1989

Lyricist
Thirupathooran
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Rettai Kuzhal Thuppakki
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
29 May 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Poovendrum thaenendrum
Maanendrum meenendrum
Pengalai sonnavar yaar
Unmai adhu illai paar….
Ponnu oru porkkaruvi aah aah
Bhoogampaththin marupiravi ohhohoh
Kalakaththa undu pannum aah aahha
Ulagaththa thundu pannum ohhohoh
Idhil indhiranum chandhiranum
Sandaiyittu mandiyitta sangathigal nooru undu
Ponnu oru porkkaruvi aah aah
Bhoogampaththin marupiravi ohhohoh
Kalakaththa undu pannum aah aahha
Ulagaththa thundu pannum ohhohoh
Idhil indhiranum chandhiranum
Sandaiyittu mandiyitta sangathigal nooru undu
Kambu sandai veerar palar ingae vanthaanga
Themba kaatti thimira kaatti thoththu ponaanga
Kambu sandai veerar palar ingae vanthaanga
Themba kaatti thimira kaatti thoththu ponaanga
Kuththu sandai veerar thulli kudhichchu vanthaaru
En kuththukala thaangaama kumbittaaru
Kuththu sandai veerar thulli kudhichchu vanthaaru
En kuththukala thaangaama kumbittaaru
Ponnu oru porkkaruvi aah aah
Bhoogampaththin marupiravi ohhohoh
Kalakaththa undu pannum aah aahha
Ulagaththa thundu pannum ohhohoh
Idhil indhiranum chandhiranum
Sandaiyittu mandiyitta sangathigal nooru undu
Ponnu oru porkkaruvi aah aah
Bhoogampaththin marupiravi ohhohoh
Thodum idaththa naan thottaa nee out-tu
Naan thotta perkku theernthu pochchu antha doubt-tu
Thodum idaththa naan thottaa nee out-tu
Naan thotta perkku theernthu pochchu antha doubt-tu
Aiyaa romba aabaththunga antha sangathi
Nee ariyaama maattikkittaa ambael un kadhi
Aiyaa romba aabaththunga antha sangathi
Nee ariyaama maattikkittaa ambael un kadhi
Ponnu oru porkkaruvi aah aah
Bhoogampaththin marupiravi ohhohoh
Kalakaththa undu pannum aah aahha
Ulagaththa thundu pannum ohhohoh
Idhil indhiranum chandhiranum
Sandaiyittu mandiyitta sangathigal nooru undu
Lalalala….aaaaaahha lalalala…..ohoh…..
As a flower, as honey,
As a gentle deer, as a fish,
Who described women like that?
Look, that is not the truth!
A woman is a weapon of war, ah ah!
An earthquake reborn, oh oh oh!
She will stir up a rebellion, ah ah!
She will tear the world to pieces, oh oh oh!
Over this, even king Indra and the Moon god
Fought and fell to their knees in a hundred tales!
A woman is a weapon of war, ah ah!
An earthquake reborn, oh oh oh!
She will stir up a rebellion, ah ah!
She will tear the world to pieces, oh oh oh!
Over this, even king Indra and the Moon god
Fought and fell to their knees in a hundred tales!
Many stick-fighting masters came here,
Showing off their strength and swagger, only to lose!
Many stick-fighting masters came here,
Showing off their strength and swagger, only to lose!
A boxer came leaping and bouncing in,
Unable to take my punches, he folded his hands and surrendered...
A boxer came leaping and bouncing in,
Unable to take my punches, he folded his hands and surrendered...
A woman is a weapon of war, ah ah!
An earthquake reborn, oh oh oh!
She will stir up a rebellion, ah ah!
She will tear the world to pieces, oh oh oh!
Over this, even king Indra and the Moon god
Fought and fell to their knees in a hundred tales!
A woman is a weapon of war, ah ah!
An earthquake reborn, oh oh oh!
If I strike the vital spot, you are knocked out!
For anyone I've ever hit, all doubts were cleared!
If I strike the vital spot, you are knocked out!
For anyone I've ever hit, all doubts were cleared!
Mister, that matter is extremely dangerous!
If you walk in blindly and get trapped, you are finished!
Mister, that matter is extremely dangerous!
If you walk in blindly and get trapped, you are finished!
A woman is a weapon of war, ah ah!
An earthquake reborn, oh oh oh!
She will stir up a rebellion, ah ah!
She will tear the world to pieces, oh oh oh!
Over this, even king Indra and the Moon god
Fought and fell to their knees in a hundred tales!
La la la la... aah ah, la la la la... oh oh...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This energetic song subverts conventional poetic imagery that traditionally compares women to soft flowers, sweet honey, or delicate deer. Instead, the lyricist portrays a woman as a formidable weapon of war and a force of nature akin to a reincarnation of an earthquake, capable of tearing down old norms and defeating even powerful celestial figures like Indra and Chandra. The protagonist asserts her physical dominance and combat skill, detailing how various male fighters, including stick fighters and boxers who showed off their strength, ended up bowing down in defeat before her. It serves as a powerful declaration of female strength, self-reliance, and physical prowess.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Ponnu oru porkkaruvi aah aah / Bhoogampaththin marupiravi ohhohoh

Compares a woman directly to a weapon of war (porkkaruvi) and a reborn earthquake (bhoogampaththin marupiravi) rather than conventional delicate objects.

Hyperbole (Athyokthi)

Idhil indhiranum chandhiranum / Sandaiyittu mandiyitta sangathigal nooru undu

Exaggerates the impact of a woman by stating that even celestial kings like Indra and Chandra fought and bowed down to women.

Ethirai (Second-letter rhyme)

Kambu sandai veerar palar ingae vanthaanga / Themba kaatti thimira kaatti thoththu ponaanga

The second letter consonant rhyming pattern in Tamil poetry, seen in 'Kambu' and 'Themba' or 'Thodum' and 'Naan'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Rettai Kuzhal Thuppakki (1989) is a Tamil action film featuring female-centric action sequences, and this track serves as an anthem breaking conventional gentle stereotypes of women in mainstream Tamil cinema.

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