Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Vellai Pura Ondru album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ponnunna Ponnu

From Vellai Pura Ondru · 1984

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singers
S. Janaki, Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Vellai Pura Ondru
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
17 Mar 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ponnunnaa ponnu
Emmaa periya ponnu
En kannunnaa kannu
Thammaathoonduthaan kannu
Oottinaa ottuvaen ottavaa
Kattinaa kattuvaen kattavaa
Kannadikkirae kadhaiyalakkirae
Ammaadi aaththaadi thool kelppurae
Ponnunnaa ponnu
Emmaa periya ponnu
En kannunnaa kannu
Thammaathoonduthaan kannu
Oottinaa ottuvaen ottavaa
Kattinaa kattuvaen kattavaa
Kannadikkirae kadhaiyalakkirae
Ammaadi aaththaadi thool kelppurae
Paara pudikkirappo maaru thudikkithu
Maelae nadakirapo keezhae nadukkuthu
Paara pudikkirappo maaru thudikkithu
Maelae nadakirapo keezhae nadukkuthu
Panthuthaan oru ponnaattam thulluthaiyaa
Vanthuthaan….vaa vaa vaa
Male :Panjuthaan adi un maeni chinnakuyil
Konjithaan vaa vaa vaa
Machchaan en mamuthanthaan
Naan thedum mannavanthaan
Aanaalum chinnavanthaan
Morattu izhuppu unakku edhukku
Ponnunnaa ponnu
Emmaa periya ponnu
En kannunnaa kannu
Thammaathoonduthaan kannu
Aththaan nenappulathaan pitthaa irukkuraen
Chippi vedichchu vantha muththa sirikkiraen
Aththaan nenappulathaan pitthaa irukkuraen
Chippi vedichchu vantha muththa sirikkiraen
Sundhari unna kaiyodu
Kaiyanaippaen enthiri vaa vaa vaa
Female :Kullanae nenjai killaama killukirae
Kallanae vaa vaa vaa
Villaathi villanadi veeraathi veeranadi
Sooraathi sooranadi adakki odukki udambu keedhu
Ponnunnaa ponnu
Emmaa periya ponnu
En kannunnaa kannu
Thammaathoonduthaan kannu
Oottinaa ottuvaen ottavaa
Kattinaa kattuvaen kattavaa
Kannadikkirae kadhaiyalakkirae
Ammaadi aaththaadi thool kelppurae
Ponnunnaa ponnu
Emmaa periya ponnu
En kannunnaa kannu
Thammaathoonduthaan kannu
Talk about a girl, what a girl she is!
Oh, look how big she is!
And talk about my darling,
He is just pint-sized!
If you pamper me, I will stick close—shall I?
If you embrace me, I will hold on tight—shall I?
You wink your eye and spin tall tales!
Oh my goodness, you are rocking it!
Talk about a girl, what a girl she is!
Oh, look how big she is!
And talk about my darling,
He is just pint-sized!
If you pamper me, I will stick close—shall I?
If you embrace me, I will hold on tight—shall I?
You wink your eye and spin tall tales!
Oh my goodness, you are rocking it!
When carrying the heavy load, my chest pounds fast,
When I walk up above, it trembles down below!
When carrying the heavy load, my chest pounds fast,
When I walk up above, it trembles down below!
Bouncing just like a golden ball,
Come close to me... come, come, come!
Your body is soft as cotton, my little cuckoo bird,
Come to cuddle and tease, come, come, come!
My man is like the god of love to me,
He is the king I have been searching for,
Even though he is a tiny little guy!
Why do you tug at me so roughly?
Talk about a girl, what a girl she is!
Oh, look how big she is!
And talk about my darling,
He is just pint-sized!
Lost in thoughts of you, darling, I have gone crazy,
I smile like a pearl bursting from an oyster shell!
Lost in thoughts of you, darling, I have gone crazy,
I smile like a pearl bursting from an oyster shell!
My beautiful girl, in my arms
I will embrace you; get up and come, come, come!
You short fellow, you pinch my heart without even touching it!
You playful rogue, come, come, come!
I am the greatest archer, the bravest of heroes,
The champion of champions, even if packed into a tiny frame!
Talk about a girl, what a girl she is!
Oh, look how big she is!
And talk about my darling,
He is just pint-sized!
If you pamper me, I will stick close—shall I?
If you embrace me, I will hold on tight—shall I?
You wink your eye and spin tall tales!
Oh my goodness, you are rocking it!
Talk about a girl, what a girl she is!
Oh, look how big she is!
And talk about my darling,
He is just pint-sized!
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful folk-duet from the 1984 movie 'Vellai Pura Ondru' showcases a humorous and affectionate banter between a tall woman and a shorter man. The lyrics tease the contrast in their physical appearance while expressing their underlying romance, longing, and mutual attraction.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

“Oottinaa ottuvaen ottavaa / Kattinaa kattuvaen kattavaa”

Matching of the second consonant in consecutive lines, such as 'Oottinaa' and 'Kattinaa'.

Monae (Initial rhyme/alliteration)

“Kannadikkirae kadhaiyalakkirae”

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across words in the same line, such as 'Ponnunnaa ponnu' and 'Kannadikkirae kadhaiyalakkirae'.

Upamai (Simile)

“Chippi vedichchu vantha muththa sirikkiraen”

Comparing the body's softness to cotton ('Panjuthaan adi un maeni') and a smiling face to a pearl emerging from a shell ('Chippi vedichchu vantha muththa sirikkiraen').

Anaphora (Repetition for emphasis)

“Panjuthaan adi un maeni chinnakuyil / Konjithaan vaa vaa vaa”

Repetition of words like 'vaa vaa vaa' and phrase structures to enhance rhythmic bounce.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja, 'Ponnunnaa Ponnu' stands out as a unique rural folk comedy song rendered energetic by Malaysia Vasudevan and S. Janaki. The song features traditional Tamil folk percussion alongside upbeat orchestral arrangements typical of Ilaiyaraaja's mid-1980s style.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Pothi Vacha Rathiname1991
Vasanthakala ParavaiCourtshipPlayful Romance
Maman Engirukkaan2008
PooPlayful RomancePlayful
Santhaikku Vantha Kili1991
Dharma DuraiCourtshipPlayful Romance
Karutha Machan1991
Pudhu Nellu Pudhu NaathuPlayful RomancePlayful
Thandattikarupaiyee2004
KaadhalCourtshipVillage Life
Saarattu Vandiyile2017
Kaatru VeliyidaiCourtshipPlayful Romance

From the same album

More songs from Vellai Pura Ondru

View album
Thenooruthe Aasaiyo1984
Vellai Pura OndruPassionate
Ilam Kadhal Veenai1984
Vellai Pura OndruRomantic
Dinasari Colour-ai Paarkka1984
Vellai Pura OndruPlayful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.