Ponnulagam Vanthaalum
From Deiva Kuzhanthaikal · 1973
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Deiva Kuzhanthaikal1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Ponnulagam vanthaalum | Even if a golden world comes to me, |
| Ennulagam unnudanae | my world resides only with you. |
| Neeyae en ullaththin raagam | You alone are the melody of my heart, |
| Neeyae en penmaikku naatham | you alone are the sound of my womanhood, |
| Neeyae en rajanga vedham | you alone are the sacred Veda of my kingdom. |
| Yaar arivaar yaar arivaar yaar arivaar… | Who knows, who knows, who knows... |
| Female | |
| Manitha kulam muzhuthum erumbu | All of mankind is like ants, |
| Naan palarum virumbugindra karumbu | and I am the sugarcane that many desire. |
| Manitha kulam muzhuthum erumbu | All of mankind is like ants, |
| Naan palarum virumbugindra karumbu | and I am the sugarcane that many desire. |
| Ulagam unathadiyil thurumbu naan | To you, the whole world is a speck at your feet; and I, |
| Unathu kodi valarththa arumbu | am a flower bud raised by your vine. |
| Female | |
| Maalai soodavo manjal poosavo | To wear a garland, to apply turmeric, |
| Thaali kollavo yogam illaiyae | to tie the sacred thread, I lack the destiny. |
| Female | |
| Ponnulagam vanthaalum | Even if a golden world comes to me, |
| Ennulagam unnudanae | my world resides only with you. |
| Female | |
| Manaivi ena ninaikkum ninaippu | The thought of being considered a wife, |
| Manaivi ena ninaikkum ninaippu | the thought of being considered a wife, |
| Manathil adhu inikkum inippu | is a sweetness that sweetens my heart. |
| Veliyil adhai uraikka thudippu | There is a yearning to express it outside, |
| Enakku yaedhu antha madhippu | yet where do I have that respect and status? |
| Female | |
| Mogam kollalaam pogam kaanalaam | One may feel desire, one may experience pleasure, |
| Thaaram aagavae kaalamillaiyae | but there is no opportunity or time to become a wedded wife. |
| Female | |
| Ponnulagam vanthaalum | Even if a golden world comes to me, |
| Ennulagam unnudanae | my world resides only with you. |
| Neeyae en ullaththin raagam | You alone are the melody of my heart, |
| Neeyae en penmaikku naatham | you alone are the sound of my womanhood, |
| Neeyae en rajanga vedham | you alone are the sacred Veda of my kingdom. |
| Yaar arivaar yaar arivaar yaar arivaar… | Who knows, who knows, who knows... |
பொன்னுலகம் வந்தாலும்
என்னுலகம் உன்னுடனே
நீயே என் உள்ளத்தின் ராகம்
நீயே என் பெண்மைக்கு நாதம்
நீயே என் ராஜாங்க வேதம்
யார் அறிவார் யார் அறிவார் யார் அறிவார்....
Even if a golden world comes to me,
my world resides only with you.
You alone are the melody of my heart,
you alone are the sound of my womanhood,
you alone are the sacred Veda of my kingdom.
Who knows, who knows, who knows...
மனித குலம் முழுதும் எறும்பு
நான் பலரும் விரும்புகின்ற கரும்பு
னித குலம் முழுதும் எறும்பு
நான் பலரும் விரும்புகின்ற கரும்பு
உலகம் உனதடியில் துரும்பு நான்
உனது கொடி வளர்த்த அரும்பு
All of mankind is like ants,
and I am the sugarcane that many desire.
All of mankind is like ants,
and I am the sugarcane that many desire.
To you, the whole world is a speck at your feet; and I,
am a flower bud raised by your vine.
மாலை சூடவோ மஞ்சள் பூசவோ
தாலிக் கொள்ளவோ யோகம் இல்லையே
To wear a garland, to apply turmeric,
to tie the sacred thread, I lack the destiny.
பொன்னுலகம் வந்தாலும்
என்னுலகம் உன்னுடனே
Even if a golden world comes to me,
my world resides only with you.
மனைவி என நினைக்கும் நினைப்பு
மனைவி என நினைக்கும் நினைப்பு
மனதில் அது இனிக்கும் இனிப்பு
வெளியில் அதை உரைக்க துடிப்பு
எனக்கு ஏது அந்த மதிப்பு
The thought of being considered a wife,
the thought of being considered a wife,
is a sweetness that sweetens my heart.
There is a yearning to express it outside,
yet where do I have that respect and status?
மோகம் கொள்ளலாம் போகம் காணலாம்
தாரம் ஆகவே காலமில்லையே
One may feel desire, one may experience pleasure,
but there is no opportunity or time to become a wedded wife.
பொன்னுலகம் வந்தாலும்
என்னுலகம் உன்னுடனே
நீயே என் உள்ளத்தின் ராகம்
நீயே என் பெண்மைக்கு நாதம்
நீயே என் ராஜாங்க வேதம்
யார் அறிவார் யார் அறிவார் யார் அறிவார்....
Even if a golden world comes to me,
my world resides only with you.
You alone are the melody of my heart,
you alone are the sound of my womanhood,
you alone are the sacred Veda of my kingdom.
Who knows, who knows, who knows...
Ponnulagam vanthaalum
Even if a golden world comes to me,
Ennulagam unnudanae
my world resides only with you.
Neeyae en ullaththin raagam
You alone are the melody of my heart,
Neeyae en penmaikku naatham
you alone are the sound of my womanhood,
Neeyae en rajanga vedham
you alone are the sacred Veda of my kingdom.
Yaar arivaar yaar arivaar yaar arivaar…
Who knows, who knows, who knows...
Manitha kulam muzhuthum erumbu
All of mankind is like ants,
Naan palarum virumbugindra karumbu
and I am the sugarcane that many desire.
Manitha kulam muzhuthum erumbu
All of mankind is like ants,
Naan palarum virumbugindra karumbu
and I am the sugarcane that many desire.
Ulagam unathadiyil thurumbu naan
To you, the whole world is a speck at your feet; and I,
Unathu kodi valarththa arumbu
am a flower bud raised by your vine.
Maalai soodavo manjal poosavo
To wear a garland, to apply turmeric,
Thaali kollavo yogam illaiyae
to tie the sacred thread, I lack the destiny.
Ponnulagam vanthaalum
Even if a golden world comes to me,
Ennulagam unnudanae
my world resides only with you.
Manaivi ena ninaikkum ninaippu
The thought of being considered a wife,
Manaivi ena ninaikkum ninaippu
the thought of being considered a wife,
Manathil adhu inikkum inippu
is a sweetness that sweetens my heart.
Veliyil adhai uraikka thudippu
There is a yearning to express it outside,
Enakku yaedhu antha madhippu
yet where do I have that respect and status?
Mogam kollalaam pogam kaanalaam
One may feel desire, one may experience pleasure,
Thaaram aagavae kaalamillaiyae
but there is no opportunity or time to become a wedded wife.
Ponnulagam vanthaalum
Even if a golden world comes to me,
Ennulagam unnudanae
my world resides only with you.
Neeyae en ullaththin raagam
You alone are the melody of my heart,
Neeyae en penmaikku naatham
you alone are the sound of my womanhood,
Neeyae en rajanga vedham
you alone are the sacred Veda of my kingdom.
Yaar arivaar yaar arivaar yaar arivaar…
Who knows, who knows, who knows...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song expresses the deep, poignant love of a woman who devotionally considers her beloved to be her entire universe, yet laments her tragic plight of lacking legitimate status as a wedded wife. She compares mankind to ants swarming around sugarcane, highlighting how society objectifies her beauty, whereas her heart purely belongs to her lover as a delicate bud under his care.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Manitha kulam muzhuthum erumbu / Naan palarum virumbugindra karumbu”
Compares society to ants ('erumbu') attracted to sugarcane ('karumbu'), metaphorically capturing her desirability and unwanted external attention versus her inner devotion.
Anaphora (Adukku Repetition)
“Neeyae en ullaththin raagam / Neeyae en penmaikku naatham”
Repetition of 'Neeyae' (You alone) at the start of successive lines emphasizes exclusive, absolute emotional dedication.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Manaivi ena ninaikkum ninaippu / Manathil adhu inikkum inippu”
Matching end sounds ('ninaippu', 'inippu', 'thudippu', 'madhippu') create a melodic, rhythmic cadence characteristic of Kannadasan's poetry.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by V. Kumar (known as 'Mellisai Maamani') with lyrics by Kannadasan, 'Ponnulagam vanthaalum' highlights P. Susheela's expressive vocals depicting a woman's bittersweet longing for matrimonial legitimacy.
Keep listening
More from Deiva Kuzhanthaikal
Deiva Kuzhanthaikal
Deiva Kuzhanthaikal
Deiva Kuzhanthaikal