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Chittu Kuruvi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ponnula Ponnula Pannuna

From Chittu Kuruvi · 1978

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Chittu Kuruvi
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
13 Nov 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ish aah
Ponnula ponnula pannuna
Mookkuththi
Minnudhu minnudhu oththa kal
Mookkuththi
Pokkiri ponnuku panguni maasam
Kalyanam pattu katcheri
Ada poi kaalu kurudhayilae oorgolam
Ponnula ponnula pannuna
Mookkuththi
Minnudhu minnudhu oththa kal
Mookkuththi
Pokkiri ponnuku panguni maasam
Kalyanam pattu katcheri
Ada poi kaalu kurudhayilae oorgolam
{Vendhampatti vaenga kutti
Vella vetti varinju katti
Paanjaandi jeyichaandi
Pandhayam thaandi} (2)
Sinna chittu sikkikittu
Paavam thavikkidhu
Kovam porakkudhu
Pakkam vara vekkam vandhu
Poraadudhu
Ponnula ponnula pannuna
Mookkuththi
Minnudhu minnudhu oththa kal
Mookkuththi
Pokkiri ponnuku panguni maasam
Kalyanam pattu katcheri
Ada poi kaalu kurudhayilae oorgolam
{Arasaani alliyamma
Arjunan mel aaththiramaa
Aan vaada vendanna
Aasayum vidumaa} (2)
Indha pullae nenjukullae
Nesam irukudhu neram kadathudhu
Pallaakku pol
Ullam rendum thallaadudhu
Ponnula ponnula pannuna
Mookkuththi
Minnudhu minnudhu oththa kal
Mookkuththi
Pokkiri ponnuku panguni maasam
Kalyanam pattu katcheri
Ada poi kaalu kurudhayilae oorgolam
Ada poi kaalu kurudhayilae oorgolam
Ish... ah!
Made of pure, pure gold,
a nose stud!
It sparkles and shines, this single-stone
nose stud!
For this feisty girl, in the month of Panguni,
there is a wedding, with silk and music concerts,
and a grand procession with dummy-horse dancers!
Made of pure, pure gold,
a nose stud!
It sparkles and shines, this single-stone
nose stud!
For this feisty girl, in the month of Panguni,
there is a wedding, with silk and music concerts,
and a grand procession with dummy-horse dancers!
The young tiger from Vendampatti,
tucking up his white dhoti tightly,
leaped right in and won,
he won the challenge!
Caught and trapped, the little bird
flutters in distress, poor thing!
Anger flares up inside,
yet as he draws near, shyness steps in
and struggles with her heart!
Made of pure, pure gold,
a nose stud!
It sparkles and shines, this single-stone
nose stud!
For this feisty girl, in the month of Panguni,
there is a wedding, with silk and music concerts,
and a grand procession with dummy-horse dancers!
O ruling queen Alli,
why so furious at Arjuna?
Even if you say you don't want a man's touch,
will your longing ever go away?
Deep inside this girl's heart,
there is love, yet she simply stalls for time!
Just like a swaying palanquin,
both our hearts are rocking back and forth!
Made of pure, pure gold,
a nose stud!
It sparkles and shines, this single-stone
nose stud!
For this feisty girl, in the month of Panguni,
there is a wedding, with silk and music concerts,
and a grand procession with dummy-horse dancers!
Yes, a grand procession with dummy-horse dancers!
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful and rhythmic folk-style song portrays a lighthearted romantic banter between a feisty, independent young woman and a determined suitor. The lyrics highlight the girl's dazzling single-stone gold nose ring, symbolizing her charm and proud demeanor, while celebrating traditional village festivities, weddings, and fun processions. Through cultural metaphors like 'Alli' (the proud warrior queen who resists Arjuna), the lyricist describes how despite her outward resistance and feigned anger, her heart harbors deep love for him, causing both their hearts to sway in sweet anticipation like a palanquin.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Ponnula ponnula pannuna / Minnudhu minnudhu oththa kal”

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'Ponnula' and 'Minnudhu', or 'Sinna' and 'Pakkam'.

Mona i (Initial Alliteration)

“Pokkiri ponnuku panguni maasam”

Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds in words within the same line, as seen in 'Pokkiri ponnuku panguni'.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Sinna chittu sikkikittu / Paavam thavikkidhu”

Matching end syllables creating a rhythmic bounce, seen in 'sikkikittu', 'thavikkidhu', 'porakkudhu', 'poraadudhu'.

Upamai (Simile)

“Pallaakku pol / Ullam rendum thallaadudhu”

Comparing the unsteady, fluttering hearts of lovers to the swaying motion of a palanquin ('Pallaakku pol').

Cultural Allusion

“Arasaani alliyamma / Arjunan mel aaththiramaa”

Referencing the legendary queen Alliyarasani (Alli) and her pride against Arjuna from Tamil folklore to mirror the heroine's resistance.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Chittu Kuruvi' (1978) is a Tamil film starring Sivakumar and Sumithra, with iconic music composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The track features classic folk rhythms and vivid rural imagery crafted by Vaali, capturing the traditional folk art of 'Poi Kaal Kuthirai' (dummy horse dance) in its chorus lines.

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