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En Magan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ponnukkenna Azhagu

From En Magan · 1974

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
En Magan
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
4 Jul 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ponnukkenna azhagu
Female :Aaha haa haa hmm
Male :Poovukenna perumai
Female :Aaha haa haa hmm
Ponnukkenna azhagu
Female :Aaha haa haa hmm
Male :Poovukenna perumai
Female :Aaha haa haa hmm
Un kann ezhuthum tamizh kolangal
Pothaavo Vannakkiliyae
Ponnukkenna azhagu
Poovukenna perumai
Oru porul marai porul
Vivarikkum ilakkiyamae
Udanpattu thunai nindru
Sugam tharum ilakkanamae
Oru porul marai porul
Vivarikkum ilakkiyamae
Udanpattu thunai nindru
Sugam tharum ilakkanamae
Male :Edhugaiyil un mugam
Female :Monaiyil un mugam
Ponnukkenna azhagu
Female :Aaha haa haa hmm
Male :Poovukenna perumai
Female :Aaha haa haa hmm
Ponnukkenna azhagu
Poovukenna perumai
Kamba rasa kinnam adhilae
Katti vella kannam
Kaama devan vaaganangal
Kaattrilae aaduthae….ae….
Cheran magal vanji edhirae
Senai kandu anji
Kadhal devan maarbin meedhu
Kaavalai theduthae….yae….
Minnum neelamani pol
Indru en mael aadi kannae
Female :Innum enna yaekkam
Inba vannam paadu kannaa
Ponnukkenna azhagu
Female :Aaha haa haa hmm
Male :Poovukenna perumai
Female :Aaha haa haa hmm
Aasaiyulla panthu isaikkum
Osaiyull sindhu
Anthi veyil manjal maeni
Ennavo theduthae
Naalu pakkam kootti idaiyil
Naana kalai kaatti
Kanni maadam thantha vegam
Engaengo poguthae
Ondrae kaana vendum
Adhai nandrae kaana vendum
Male :Nandrae kaana vendum
Adhai indrae kaana vendum
Ponnukkenna azhagu
Female :Aaha haa haa hmm
Male :Poovukenna perumai
Female :Aaha haa haa…..
Un kann ezhuthum tamizh kolangal
Pothaavo Vannakkiliyae
What beauty does a woman need?
Female: Aaha ha ha hmm
Male: What pride does a flower need?
Female: Aaha ha ha hmm
What beauty does a woman need?
Female: Aaha ha ha hmm
Male: What pride does a flower need?
Female: Aaha ha ha hmm
Aren't the Tamil patterns drawn by your eyes
enough, my colorful parrot?
What beauty does a woman need?
What pride does a flower need?
Revealing both the direct and hidden meanings,
you are literature that describes it all!
Agreeing and standing faithfully by my side,
you are grammar that brings pure delight!
Revealing both the direct and hidden meanings,
you are literature that describes it all!
Agreeing and standing faithfully by my side,
you are grammar that brings pure delight!
Male: In the rhyme, I see your face...
Female: In the rhythm, I see your face...
What beauty does a woman need?
Female: Aaha ha ha hmm
Male: What pride does a flower need?
Female: Aaha ha ha hmm
What beauty does a woman need?
What pride does a flower need?
In a cup filled with Kambar's sweet poetry,
with cheeks as sweet as jaggery,
the chariots of the God of Love
sway gently in the breeze...
Like a graceful princess of the Chera land,
trembling in fear before an army,
upon the chest of the god of love,
she seeks shelter and protection...
Shining like a sparkling blue sapphire,
dance over me today, my darling!
Female: Why do you still long for more?
Sing a melody of joy, my love!
What beauty does a woman need?
Female: Aaha ha ha hmm
Male: What pride does a flower need?
Female: Aaha ha ha hmm
Like a playful ball of desire,
singing a sweet, musical tune,
a golden body in the evening glow
searches for something unknown...
Gathering gently on every side,
revealing the tender art of shyness,
the rush of passion from her private chamber
drifts everywhere without bounds...
There is only one true joy we must see,
and we must experience it in all its goodness...
Male: We must experience it in all its goodness,
and we must experience it today!
What beauty does a woman need?
Female: Aaha ha ha hmm
Male: What pride does a flower need?
Female: Aaha ha ha...
Aren't the Tamil patterns drawn by your eyes
enough, my colorful parrot?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Ponnukkenna Azhagu is a classic romantic duet from the 1974 Tamil film En Magan, written by Poet Kannadasan and composed by M. S. Viswanathan. In this song, the lovers express their admiration for each other by comparing their romance and beauty to Tamil literary arts. The male and female leads cleverly equate each other's charm to classical prosody elements like Ilakkiyam (literature), Ilakkanam (grammar), Monai (alliteration), and Edhugai (rhyme). The song weaves poetic metaphors involving classical legends, Kamban's poetic juice, twilight aesthetics, and precious gems to depict their intimate bond.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Male :Edhugaiyil un mugam”

Kannadasan explicitly refers to Edhugai (the classical Tamil poetic device where the second letter of consecutive lines match) as a metaphor for the lover's face.

Monai (First-letter Alliteration)

“Female :Monaiyil un mugam”

The heroine responds using Monai (alliteration in Tamil poetry), keeping the literary banter alive.

Metaphor (Uvamaoorithu)

“Vivarikkum ilakkiyamae... Sugam tharum ilakkanamae”

Comparing the beloved to literature (Ilakkiyam) that explains both obvious and hidden meanings, and grammar (Ilakkanam) that brings structure and joy.

Simile (Uvamai)

“Minnum neelamani pol”

Comparing the heroine's radiance to a shining blue sapphire (neelamani).

Did you know?

Trivia

Kannadasan famously integrated formal Tamil prosody terminology—such as Monai, Edhugai, Ilakkiyam, and Ilakkanam—into a mainstream romantic film song, showcasing his unique ability to bridge academic Tamil grammar with accessible, popular cinema lyrics.

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