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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ponnu Velayara

From Periya Marudhu · 1994

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Periya Marudhu1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ponnu velaiyira boomi idhuThis is the land where gold grows
Indha boomiya kaakkura saami idhuThis is the deity who protects this land
Female
Aiyanaara vandhu paadungadiCome sing for Lord Aiyanaar, girls
Ingae aasaiyaa kai kotti aadungadiClap hands with joy and dance here, girls
Female
Mannil irukkudhu vaasamadiThere is a fragrance in this soil
Namma paattula eppavum veesumadiIt always wafts through our song
Paattu manakkattum paadungadiLet the song be fragrant, sing girls
Vala kaiya kulungattum kummiyadiLet bangled hands shake as you dance Kummi, girls
Male
Kummiyadi ponnu kummiyadiDance Kummi girls, dance Kummi
Valai kulunga kai kotti kummiyadiClap hands till bangles jingle and dance Kummi
Male
Oorukku ellaiyil koyiladiThere is a temple at the town border, girls
Ingae ulladhu aiyanaar saamiadiLord Aiyanaar resides here, girls
Male
Kaaval irukkira saami idhuHe is the guardian deity
Adhan kaiyil irukkira boomi idhuThis land is in his hands
Saamiya mudhalil kumbidadiWorship the god first, girls
Indha boomiya dheivamaa nambidadiTrust this land as god, girls
Sanda sacharavu yaedhukkadiWhy have fights and disputes, girls?
Namma saadhi sanathoda koodikkadiUnite with our kin and community, girls
Male
Saami varam tharum paathukkadiLook, god will grant boons, girls
Idhai thandhana thom solli kummiyadiSay 'thandhana thom' and dance Kummi to this
Male
Haei kai valaiyal paattu kattaHey, hand bangles weave a rhythm
Kaal salangai thaalam thattaAnklets on feet tap to the beat
Kanakkaaga adi eduppomWe will step precisely to the measure
Male
Paatha sanam ichu kottaSo the onlookers smack their lips in awe
Paaraatti mechi kollaTo praise and appreciate us
Ellorum kai pudippomWe will all hold hands
Male
Kai valaiyal paattu kattaHand bangles weave a rhythm
Kaal salangai thaalam thattaAnklets on feet tap to the beat
Kanakkaaga adi eduppomWe will step precisely to the measure
Male
Paatha sanam ichu kottaSo the onlookers smack their lips in awe
Paaraatti mechi kollaTo praise and appreciate us
Ellorum kai pudippomWe will all hold hands
Male
Mayilaattam aada vandhaa thirunaaluIt is a festive day when arriving to perform the peacock dance
Male
Namma manam polaJust as our heart desires
Nanma tharum oru naaluA day that bestows goodness
Male
Mayilaattam aada vandhaa thirunaaluIt is a festive day when arriving to perform the peacock dance
Namma manam pola nanma tharum oru naaluA day that bestows goodness just as our heart desires
Oyilaaga vandhu ninnu asanjaaduCome stand elegantly and sway with rhythm
Indha ooraarkku vaazhthu cholli yesa paaduSing folk songs wishing well for these villagers
Female
Mayilaattam aadayilaWhile performing the peacock dance
Maappu vachu paadayilaWhile singing with artistic style
Mainar paiyan suthi valachaanA playful young man surrounded us
Female
Maaraappu chaelaiyilaIn the pallu of the saree
Maiyal vachu aasaiyilaWith infatuation and desire
Naisaaga kannu adichaanHe slyly winked his eye
Female
Mayilaattam aadayilaWhile performing the peacock dance
Maappu vachu paadayilaWhile singing with artistic style
Mainar paiyan suthi valachaanA playful young man surrounded us
Female
Maaraappu chaelaiyilaIn the pallu of the saree
Maiyal vachu aasaiyilaWith infatuation and desire
Naisaaga kannu adichaanHe slyly winked his eye
Female
Maamaannu solla cholli sirichaandiHe smiled and asked to be called 'uncle'
Female
Oru malliya poo senduA bouquet of jasmine flowers
Katti kodutthaandiHe tied and gave to me
Female
Maamaannu solla cholli sirichaandiHe smiled and asked to be called 'uncle'
Oru malliyap poo sendu katti kodutthaandiHe tied and gave a bouquet of jasmine flowers
Vittaakkaa innum konjam povaandiIf left alone, he will go even further
Chinna veettukkoru aal pudikkum vaelaandiIt is the trick of finding someone for a second home
Male
Veerar kulam vaazhndhu vandha seemaiyadiThis is a region where a lineage of warriors lived, girl
Vaengai yena paayum indha kaalaiadiThis bull pounces like a tiger, girl
Female :Saaya kudi veerar kulam mangaiyadiFemale : I am a maiden from the brave Sayalgudi clan, girl
Thaavi vandhu naan nadathi kaaturendiI will leap forward and demonstrate it to you
Male
Pombalaikku ingu vambhu edhukkuWhy trouble a woman here?
Kaalaikku rendu kombu irukkuThe bull has two horns
Female :Ada dadadada kaalai adakka saelai irukkuFemale : Ah, there is a saree to tame the bull
Kombai adakka thembhu irukkuThere is courage to subdue its horns
Male
Jalli kattu kaalai ingu paayudhadiThe Jallikattu bull charges here, girl
Komba komba aatti kitti seerudhadiShaking its horns, it snorts fiercely
Female
Saelai idhan vaasam patta sokkumadiThe bull gets intoxicated just smelling the saree
Sonnabadi kettukittu nikkkumadiIt will stand listening to whatever is said
Female
Vaesham pottu vandha kaalaThe bull that came in disguise
Adhu aazha paarkkudhadi aalaIt is testing the depth of people, girl
Chorus :Thandha naana thandha naana thandhamChorus : Thandha naana thandha naana thandham
Female
Kaathil aadi varum saelaThe saree swaying in the wind
Adha paarthu aattudhadi vaalaSeeing that, it wags its tail
Chorus :Thandha naana thandha naana thandhamChorus : Thandha naana thandha naana thandham
Female
Innumum thulludhu kaalaThe bull leaps even more
Chorus :Haei haeiChorus : Hei hei
Female :Konjam paaradi kaaturen vaelaFemale : Look a bit, girl, I will show my skill
Chorus :Haei haeiChorus : Hei hei
Female :Idhu thaviya thavikkum erudhuFemale : This bull is restless and yearning
Adhu edhaiyo nanachu varudhuIt comes thinking of something
Female
Kaalaikku yedhadi meesaiWhy does a bull have a mustache, girl?
Chorus :Haei haeiChorus : Hei hei
Female :Adhu kannula ethanai aasaiFemale : How many desires are in its eyes!
Chorus :Haei haeiChorus : Hei hei
Female :Idhu azhaga irundha rasikkumFemale : If it is beautiful, it will enjoy it
Ada asanja nadantha mayangumAh, if it walks swaying, it will be mesmerized
Maadum ini aadum adha aada vekkattaThe bull will dance now, shall I make it dance?
Ye paati oru thaalam adha poda vekkattaHey grandma, shall I get a rhythm set for it?
Kaala pudippen vaala odippenI will hold its legs, break its tail
Komba valaippen endrum jayippenI will bend its horns and win forever
Female
Saaya kudi veerar kula mangaiyadiI am a maiden from the brave Sayalgudi clan
Kaalai idhu thaan adangi ponadhadiThis bull has finally been subdued

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This folk song from Periya Marudhu (1994) celebrates village culture, traditional dance forms like Kummi and Mayilaattam, and the valor associated with rural Tamil Nadu. It begins as a devotional and cultural ode to Lord Aiyanaar, the guardian deity of the village, praising the fertile soil and urging community harmony through traditional group dancing. As the song progresses, the narrative shifts playfully to a playful flirtation between a young woman dancing Mayilaattam and a flirtatious young man, before morphing into a spirited Jallikattu-style battle of wits and courage between a woman of the brave Sayalgudi lineage and a playful bull.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Vaengai yena paayum indha kaalaiadi

Compares the charging bull to a pouncing tiger using 'yena'.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Ponnu velaiyira boomi idhu / Indha boomiya kaakkura saami idhu

The second letter 'n' matches across adjacent lines creating a rhythmic harmony.

Moonaam (Alliteration)

Kaaval irukkira saami idhu / Adhan kaiyil irukkira boomi idhu

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'K' creates auditory rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features traditional Tamil folk music elements and portrays Kummi and Mayilaattam along with references to the famous rural bull-taming sport Jallikattu and clan heritage (Sayalgudi).

Keep listening

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