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Lyrics & meaning

Ponnu Pakka Vaarigala

From Ullathil Nalla Ullam · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Chorus
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
Ullathil Nalla Ullam1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Dialogue………….[Dialogue]
Male
Ponnu pakka vaarigalaAre you coming to see the bride?
Chorus :Vaarom vaarom vaarom vaaromWe are coming, coming, coming, coming!
Male :Pooveduthu thaarigalaAre you bringing flowers?
Chorus :Thaarom thaarom thaarom thaaromWe are giving, giving, giving, giving!
Male
Ponnu pakka vaarigalaAre you coming to see the bride?
Pooveduthu thaarigalaAre you bringing flowers?
Nammalodu annanukkuFor our elder brother who is with us,
Anni onnu pakka poromWe are going to see a sister-in-law.
Sethu veikka thaedhi onnuTo unite them, a date
Neram onnu kekka poromAnd an auspicious time, we are going to ask.
Male
Nammaloda annanukkuFor our elder brother,
Chorus :Anni onnu pakka poromWe are going to see a sister-in-law.
Male :Sethu veikka thaedhi onnuTo unite them, a date
Chorus :Neram onnu kekka poromAnd an auspicious time, we are going to ask.
Male
Ponnu pakka vaarigalaAre you coming to see the bride?
Pooveduthu thaarigalaAre you bringing flowers?
Ponnu pakka vaarigalaAre you coming to see the bride?
Pooveduthu thaarigalaAre you bringing flowers?
Male
Mappillai nallavaru oorukkulla madhippu ullavaruThe groom is a good man, highly respected in the village.
Chorus :UllavaruRespected man!
Male
Veerathil vallavaru rombha rombha poruppu ullavaruStrong in courage, and very, very responsible.
Chorus :UllavaruResponsible man!
Male
Ezhai ezhiya sanatha paathu irakkam ullavaruHe shows compassion when looking at poor and needy people.
Oru solai kiliyai paarthu keezha irangi vandhavaruSeeing a garden parrot, he stepped down for her.
Parisam poda porom oorvalama vaaromWe are going to present the engagement gift, coming as a procession.
Chorus :Thandhana thana thaanaanaThandhana thana thaanaana
Thandhana thana thaanaanaThandhana thana thaanaana
Male :Irumbhu manasu irukkum ponnukkuFor the girl with an iron heart,
Pudichi paiyana thaaromWe give a groom she likes.
Male
Ponnu pakka vaarigalaAre you coming to see the bride?
Pooveduthu thaarigalaAre you bringing flowers?
Ponnu pakka vaarigala…aa…hoiAre you coming to see the bride... aa... hoi!
Male
Kaiyila kaappu potta ponnukkuoruFor the girl wearing handcuffs on her hands,
Kappaiyum poda poromWe will place a grand gift ship too.
Kambhi gate-ula pooti veikkum ponnaThe girl who is locked behind iron gates,
Annan nenjula potta poromWe will lock her safely inside our brother's heart.
Chorus :Potta poromWe will lock her!
Male
Kakkki satta potta pullaikkuFor the girl wearing a khaki uniform,
Pattu selai kuduppomWe will give a silk saree.
Kambha puducha kaiya annanThe hand that held the police baton,
Kaiyila serkka poromWe will join with our brother's hand.
Male
Katcheriyil kacheri enga paattu kacheriA grand musical event among concerts, our singing concert!
Chorus :Thandhana thana thaanaanaThandhana thana thaanaana
Thandhana thana thaanaanaThandhana thana thaanaana
Male :Poruthamaana ponnathaanOnly a suitable girl,
Naam madhichu kekka poromWe will respectfully go and request.
Male
Ponnu pakka vaarigalaAre you coming to see the bride?
Chorus :Vaarom vaarom vaarom vaaromWe are coming, coming, coming, coming!
Male :Pooveduthu thaarigalaAre you bringing flowers?
Chorus :Thaarom thaarom thaarom thaaromWe are giving, giving, giving, giving!
Male
Ponnu pakka vaarigalaAre you coming to see the bride?
Pooveduthu thaarigalaAre you bringing flowers?
Nammalodu annanukkuFor our elder brother who is with us,
Anni onnu pakka poromWe are going to see a sister-in-law.
Sethu veikka thaedhi onnuTo unite them, a date
Neram onnu kekka poromAnd an auspicious time, we are going to ask.
Male
Nammaloda annanukkuFor our elder brother,
Chorus :Anni onnu pakka poromWe are going to see a sister-in-law.
Male :Sethu veikka thaedhi onnuTo unite them, a date
Chorus :Neram onnu kekka poromAnd an auspicious time, we are going to ask.
Male
Ponnu pakka vaarigalaAre you coming to see the bride?
Pooveduthu thaarigalaAre you bringing flowers?
Ponnu pakka vaarigalaAre you coming to see the bride?
Aaaa…..Aaaa...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic celebratory track from 'Ullathil Nalla Ullam' (1988) captures a traditional Tamil bride-seeking procession (Ponnu Paarkkum Padalam). The hero's friends and villagers march joyfully in a musical celebration to seek a bride for their beloved elder brother. The lyrics praise the groom's exceptional virtues—his bravery, respectability, generosity to the poor, and noble character. The song playfully contrasts the bride's tough exterior—referencing her police uniform, handcuffs, and iron heart—with the loving home and respect she will receive as their sister-in-law. Through lively folk rhythm and chorus exchanges, the song celebrates love overcoming differences and the joyous community spirit involved in matchmaking.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Chorus :Vaarom vaarom vaarom vaarom

Repetition of words like 'Vaarom' and 'Thaarom' creates rhythmic enthusiasm characteristic of Tamil folk call-and-response songs.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Irumbhu manasu irukkum ponnukku

'Irumbhu manasu' (Iron heart) metaphorically describes a firm, tough personality, while 'Solai kili' compares a gentle woman to a garden parrot.

Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Veerathil vallavaru rombha rombha poruppu ullavaru

Rhyming of the second consonant 'r' in 'Veerathil' and 'Ezhai' or 'Mappillai' and 'Veerathil' across lines adds poetic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed and written by Gangai Amaran, this track features the iconic booming rustic voice of Malaysia Vasudevan. The song utilizes traditional folk percussion and call-and-response choruses typical of late 1980s Tamil cinema celebratory song sequences.

Keep listening

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