Ponnunna Ponnu
From Vellai Pura Ondru · 1984
- Lyricist
- Muthulingam
- Singers
- S. Janaki, Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Vellai Pura Ondru1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ponnunnaa ponnu | If you talk about a girl, what a girl she is! |
| Emmaa periya ponnu | My goodness, such a fully grown girl! |
| En kannunnaa kannu | If you talk about my eyes, what eyes! |
| Thammaathoonduthaan kannu | But my eyes are so tiny! |
| Male | |
| Oottinaa ottuvaen ottavaa | If you feed me, I will stick close, shall I stick close? |
| Kattinaa kattuvaen kattavaa | If you hug me, I will embrace you, shall I embrace? |
| Kannadikkirae kadhaiyalakkirae | You wink your eyes and spin tall tales! |
| Ammaadi aaththaadi thool kelppurae | Oh my goodness, you are raising quite a storm! |
| Female | |
| Ponnunnaa ponnu | If you talk about a girl, what a girl she is! |
| Emmaa periya ponnu | My goodness, such a fully grown girl! |
| En kannunnaa kannu | If you talk about my eyes, what eyes! |
| Thammaathoonduthaan kannu | But my eyes are so tiny! |
| Female | |
| Oottinaa ottuvaen ottavaa | If you feed me, I will stick close, shall I stick close? |
| Kattinaa kattuvaen kattavaa | If you hug me, I will embrace you, shall I embrace? |
| Kannadikkirae kadhaiyalakkirae | You wink your eyes and spin tall tales! |
| Ammaadi aaththaadi thool kelppurae | Oh my goodness, you are raising quite a storm! |
| Male | |
| Paara pudikkirappo maaru thudikkithu | When holding a heavy rock, my heart throbs! |
| Maelae nadakirapo keezhae nadukkuthu | When walking high up above, there is a shudder down below! |
| Paara pudikkirappo maaru thudikkithu | When holding a heavy rock, my heart throbs! |
| Maelae nadakirapo keezhae nadukkuthu | When walking high up above, there is a shudder down below! |
| Female | |
| Panthuthaan oru ponnaattam thulluthaiyaa | A bouncing ball jumps around just like a young girl! |
| Vanthuthaan….vaa vaa vaa | Come closer... come, come, come! |
| Male :Panjuthaan adi un maeni chinnakuyil | Male: Hey little cuckoo, your body is as soft as cotton! |
| Konjithaan vaa vaa vaa | Come let us talk sweet words, come, come, come! |
| Female | |
| Machchaan en mamuthanthaan | My beloved cousin is sweet as nectar! |
| Naan thedum mannavanthaan | He is the king whom I have been searching for! |
| Aanaalum chinnavanthaan | Even so, he is smaller in stature! |
| Morattu izhuppu unakku edhukku | Why do you have such a stubborn pull? |
| Male | |
| Ponnunnaa ponnu | If you talk about a girl, what a girl she is! |
| Emmaa periya ponnu | My goodness, such a fully grown girl! |
| En kannunnaa kannu | If you talk about my eyes, what eyes! |
| Thammaathoonduthaan kannu | But my eyes are so tiny! |
| Male | |
| Aththaan nenappulathaan pitthaa irukkuraen | I am mad in love thinking about my beloved cousin! |
| Chippi vedichchu vantha muththa sirikkiraen | I smile like a sparkling pearl emerging from an opened shell! |
| Aththaan nenappulathaan pitthaa irukkuraen | I am mad in love thinking about my beloved cousin! |
| Chippi vedichchu vantha muththa sirikkiraen | I smile like a sparkling pearl emerging from an opened shell! |
| Male | |
| Sundhari unna kaiyodu | Hey beautiful girl, holding your hands... |
| Kaiyanaippaen enthiri vaa vaa vaa | I will embrace you warmly, get up and come, come, come! |
| Female :Kullanae nenjai killaama killukirae | Female: Short man, you pinch my heart without mercy! |
| Kallanae vaa vaa vaa | You charming rogue, come, come, come! |
| Male | |
| Villaathi villanadi veeraathi veeranadi | He is a master among villains, a hero among heroes! |
| Sooraathi sooranadi adakki odukki udambu keedhu | A warrior among the brave, yet my body bows in submission! |
| Female | |
| Ponnunnaa ponnu | If you talk about a girl, what a girl she is! |
| Emmaa periya ponnu | My goodness, such a fully grown girl! |
| En kannunnaa kannu | If you talk about my eyes, what eyes! |
| Thammaathoonduthaan kannu | But my eyes are so tiny! |
| Female | |
| Oottinaa ottuvaen ottavaa | If you feed me, I will stick close, shall I stick close? |
| Kattinaa kattuvaen kattavaa | If you hug me, I will embrace you, shall I embrace? |
| Kannadikkirae kadhaiyalakkirae | You wink your eyes and spin tall tales! |
| Ammaadi aaththaadi thool kelppurae | Oh my goodness, you are raising quite a storm! |
| Male | |
| Ponnunnaa ponnu | If you talk about a girl, what a girl she is! |
| Emmaa periya ponnu | My goodness, such a fully grown girl! |
| En kannunnaa kannu | If you talk about my eyes, what eyes! |
| Thammaathoonduthaan kannu | But my eyes are so tiny! |
பொண்ணுன்னா பொண்ணு
எம்மா பெரிய பொண்ணு
என் கண்ணுன்னா கண்ணு
தம்மாதூண்டுதான் கண்ணு
If you talk about a girl, what a girl she is!
My goodness, such a fully grown girl!
If you talk about my eyes, what eyes!
But my eyes are so tiny!
ஒட்டினா ஒட்டுவேன் ஒட்டவா
கட்டினா கட்டுவேன் கட்டவா
கண்ணடிக்கிறே கதையளக்கிறே
அம்மாடி ஆத்தாடி தூள் கெளப்புறே...
If you feed me, I will stick close, shall I stick close?
If you hug me, I will embrace you, shall I embrace?
You wink your eyes and spin tall tales!
Oh my goodness, you are raising quite a storm!
பொண்ணுன்னா பொண்ணு
எம்மா பெரிய பொண்ணு
என் கண்ணுன்னா கண்ணு
தம்மாதூண்டுதான் கண்ணு
If you talk about a girl, what a girl she is!
My goodness, such a fully grown girl!
If you talk about my eyes, what eyes!
But my eyes are so tiny!
ஒட்டினா ஒட்டுவேன் ஒட்டவா
கட்டினா கட்டுவேன் கட்டவா
கண்ணடிக்கிறே கதையளக்கிறே
அம்மாடி ஆத்தாடி தூள் கெளப்புறே...
If you feed me, I will stick close, shall I stick close?
If you hug me, I will embrace you, shall I embrace?
You wink your eyes and spin tall tales!
Oh my goodness, you are raising quite a storm!
பொண்ணுன்னா பொண்ணு
எம்மா பெரிய பொண்ணு
என் கண்ணுன்னா கண்ணு
தம்மாதூண்டுதான் கண்ணு
When holding a heavy rock, my heart throbs!
When walking high up above, there is a shudder down below!
When holding a heavy rock, my heart throbs!
When walking high up above, there is a shudder down below!
பார புடிக்கிறப்போ மாரு துடிக்கிது
மேலே நடக்கிறப்போ கீழே நடுங்குது
பார புடிக்கிறப்போ மாரு துடிக்கிது
மேலே நடக்கிறப்போ கீழே நடுங்குது
A bouncing ball jumps around just like a young girl!
Come closer... come, come, come!
Male: Hey little cuckoo, your body is as soft as cotton!
Come let us talk sweet words, come, come, come!
பந்துதான் ஒரு பொண்ணாட்டம் துள்ளுதய்யா
வந்துதான்......வா வா வா..
பஞ்சுதான் அடி உன் மேனி சின்னக்குயில்
கொஞ்சிதான் வா வா வா
My beloved cousin is sweet as nectar!
He is the king whom I have been searching for!
Even so, he is smaller in stature!
Why do you have such a stubborn pull?
மச்சான் என் மம்முதன் தான்
நான் தேடும் மன்னவன் தான்
ஆனாலும் சின்னவன்தான்
மொரட்டு இழுப்பு உனக்கு எதுக்கு
If you talk about a girl, what a girl she is!
My goodness, such a fully grown girl!
If you talk about my eyes, what eyes!
But my eyes are so tiny!
பொண்ணுன்னா பொண்ணு
எம்மா பெரிய பொண்ணு
என் கண்ணுன்னா கண்ணு
தம்மாதூண்டுதான் கண்ணு
I am mad in love thinking about my beloved cousin!
I smile like a sparkling pearl emerging from an opened shell!
I am mad in love thinking about my beloved cousin!
I smile like a sparkling pearl emerging from an opened shell!
ஒட்டினா ஒட்டுவேன் ஒட்டவா
கட்டினா கட்டுவேன் கட்டவா
கண்ணடிக்கிறே கதையளக்கிறே
அம்மாடி ஆத்தாடி தூள் கெளப்புறே...
Hey beautiful girl, holding your hands...
I will embrace you warmly, get up and come, come, come!
Female: Short man, you pinch my heart without mercy!
You charming rogue, come, come, come!
பொண்ணுன்னா பொண்ணு
எம்மா பெரிய பொண்ணு
என் கண்ணுன்னா கண்ணு
தம்மாதூண்டுதான் கண்ணு
He is a master among villains, a hero among heroes!
A warrior among the brave, yet my body bows in submission!
அத்தான் நெனப்புலத்தான் பித்தா இருக்குறேன்
சிப்பி வெடிச்சு வந்த முத்தா சிரிக்கிறேன்
அத்தான் நெனப்புலத்தான் பித்தா இருக்குறேன்
சிப்பி வெடிச்சு வந்த முத்தா சிரிக்கிறேன்
If you talk about a girl, what a girl she is!
My goodness, such a fully grown girl!
If you talk about my eyes, what eyes!
But my eyes are so tiny!
சுந்தரி உன்ன கையோடு
கையணைப்பேன் எந்திரி வா வா வா
குள்ளனே நெஞ்சை கிள்ளாம கிள்ளுகிறே
கள்ளனே வா வா வா
If you feed me, I will stick close, shall I stick close?
If you hug me, I will embrace you, shall I embrace?
You wink your eyes and spin tall tales!
Oh my goodness, you are raising quite a storm!
வில்லாதி வில்லனடி வீராதி வீரனடி
சூராதி சூரனடி அடக்கி ஒடுக்கி உடம்பு கீது
If you talk about a girl, what a girl she is!
My goodness, such a fully grown girl!
If you talk about my eyes, what eyes!
But my eyes are so tiny!
பொண்ணுன்னா பொண்ணு
எம்மா பெரிய பொண்ணு
என் கண்ணுன்னா கண்ணு
தம்மாதூண்டுதான் கண்ணு
ஒட்டினா ஒட்டுவேன் ஒட்டவா
கட்டினா கட்டுவேன் கட்டவா
கண்ணடிக்கிறே கதையளக்கிறே
அம்மாடி ஆத்தாடி தூள் கெளப்புறே...
பொண்ணுன்னா பொண்ணு
எம்மா பெரிய பொண்ணு
என் கண்ணுன்னா கண்ணு
தம்மாதூண்டுதான் கண்ணு
Ponnunnaa ponnu
If you talk about a girl, what a girl she is!
Emmaa periya ponnu
My goodness, such a fully grown girl!
En kannunnaa kannu
If you talk about my eyes, what eyes!
Thammaathoonduthaan kannu
But my eyes are so tiny!
Oottinaa ottuvaen ottavaa
If you feed me, I will stick close, shall I stick close?
Kattinaa kattuvaen kattavaa
If you hug me, I will embrace you, shall I embrace?
Kannadikkirae kadhaiyalakkirae
You wink your eyes and spin tall tales!
Ammaadi aaththaadi thool kelppurae
Oh my goodness, you are raising quite a storm!
Ponnunnaa ponnu
If you talk about a girl, what a girl she is!
Emmaa periya ponnu
My goodness, such a fully grown girl!
En kannunnaa kannu
If you talk about my eyes, what eyes!
Thammaathoonduthaan kannu
But my eyes are so tiny!
Oottinaa ottuvaen ottavaa
If you feed me, I will stick close, shall I stick close?
Kattinaa kattuvaen kattavaa
If you hug me, I will embrace you, shall I embrace?
Kannadikkirae kadhaiyalakkirae
You wink your eyes and spin tall tales!
Ammaadi aaththaadi thool kelppurae
Oh my goodness, you are raising quite a storm!
Paara pudikkirappo maaru thudikkithu
When holding a heavy rock, my heart throbs!
Maelae nadakirapo keezhae nadukkuthu
When walking high up above, there is a shudder down below!
Paara pudikkirappo maaru thudikkithu
When holding a heavy rock, my heart throbs!
Maelae nadakirapo keezhae nadukkuthu
When walking high up above, there is a shudder down below!
Panthuthaan oru ponnaattam thulluthaiyaa
A bouncing ball jumps around just like a young girl!
Vanthuthaan….vaa vaa vaa
Come closer... come, come, come!
Male :Panjuthaan adi un maeni chinnakuyil
Male: Hey little cuckoo, your body is as soft as cotton!
Konjithaan vaa vaa vaa
Come let us talk sweet words, come, come, come!
Machchaan en mamuthanthaan
My beloved cousin is sweet as nectar!
Naan thedum mannavanthaan
He is the king whom I have been searching for!
Aanaalum chinnavanthaan
Even so, he is smaller in stature!
Morattu izhuppu unakku edhukku
Why do you have such a stubborn pull?
Ponnunnaa ponnu
If you talk about a girl, what a girl she is!
Emmaa periya ponnu
My goodness, such a fully grown girl!
En kannunnaa kannu
If you talk about my eyes, what eyes!
Thammaathoonduthaan kannu
But my eyes are so tiny!
Aththaan nenappulathaan pitthaa irukkuraen
I am mad in love thinking about my beloved cousin!
Chippi vedichchu vantha muththa sirikkiraen
I smile like a sparkling pearl emerging from an opened shell!
Aththaan nenappulathaan pitthaa irukkuraen
I am mad in love thinking about my beloved cousin!
Chippi vedichchu vantha muththa sirikkiraen
I smile like a sparkling pearl emerging from an opened shell!
Sundhari unna kaiyodu
Hey beautiful girl, holding your hands...
Kaiyanaippaen enthiri vaa vaa vaa
I will embrace you warmly, get up and come, come, come!
Female :Kullanae nenjai killaama killukirae
Female: Short man, you pinch my heart without mercy!
Kallanae vaa vaa vaa
You charming rogue, come, come, come!
Villaathi villanadi veeraathi veeranadi
He is a master among villains, a hero among heroes!
Sooraathi sooranadi adakki odukki udambu keedhu
A warrior among the brave, yet my body bows in submission!
Ponnunnaa ponnu
If you talk about a girl, what a girl she is!
Emmaa periya ponnu
My goodness, such a fully grown girl!
En kannunnaa kannu
If you talk about my eyes, what eyes!
Thammaathoonduthaan kannu
But my eyes are so tiny!
Oottinaa ottuvaen ottavaa
If you feed me, I will stick close, shall I stick close?
Kattinaa kattuvaen kattavaa
If you hug me, I will embrace you, shall I embrace?
Kannadikkirae kadhaiyalakkirae
You wink your eyes and spin tall tales!
Ammaadi aaththaadi thool kelppurae
Oh my goodness, you are raising quite a storm!
Ponnunnaa ponnu
If you talk about a girl, what a girl she is!
Emmaa periya ponnu
My goodness, such a fully grown girl!
En kannunnaa kannu
If you talk about my eyes, what eyes!
Thammaathoonduthaan kannu
But my eyes are so tiny!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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
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