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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poo Mottu Ponnu

From Yemanukku Yeman · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
K. Chakravarthy
Details
Yemanukku Yeman1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Poo mottu ponnu idhu ponnallaThis girl is like a flower bud, not just gold
Pon vandu kannu idhu kannallaThese eyes are like golden beetles, not just eyes
Poo mottu ponnu idhu ponnallaThis girl is like a flower bud, not just gold
Pon vandu kannu idhu kannallaThese eyes are like golden beetles, not just eyes
Therukkoru selai kattiDraped in a stunning saree
Ooru pakkam vandhadhadiShe came towards the town side
Singara kili polaLike a beautiful parrot
Sirikkindra sendhaazha madal polaeLike a smiling golden screw-pine petal
Singara kili polaLike a beautiful parrot
Sirikkindra sendhaazha madal polaeLike a smiling golden screw-pine petal
Female
Kaadhalukku rendum pakkam kannillaeLove has no eyes on either side
Kaadhalilae sikkatti ponnillaeThere is no woman trapped in love without passion
Kaadhalukku rendum pakkam kannillaeLove has no eyes on either side
Kaadhalilae sikkatti ponnillaeThere is no woman trapped in love without passion
Kalaiyilae mottaachuA bud in the morning
Maalaiyilae poovaachuBlossomed into a flower in the evening
Kalyaana vayasaachuReached marriageable age
Adeiyamma ennenna therinjaachuOh my, look at all the things she now understands!
Kalyaana vayasaachuReached marriageable age
Adeiyamma ennenna therinjaachuOh my, look at all the things she now understands!
Male
Vattatha pottu vechu vilaiyaaduPlace a round bindi and play around
On machaana kai irandil edai poduWeigh yourself in your lover's arms
Vattatha pottu vechu vilaiyaaduPlace a round bindi and play around
On machaana kai irandil edai poduWeigh yourself in your lover's arms
Senthoora vaayil sindhukavi paaduSing a melodic poem with crimson red lips
Siru punnagiya vidalama bodhaiyoduShould we leave with a subtle smile in intoxication?
Female
Haa..aa..aaa…aaaHaa..aa..aaa…aaa
Idhudhaanae onga aasaiIs this your desire?
Eduthu kondaal ketpenaWould I refuse if you take it?
Idhudhaanae onga aasaiIs this your desire?
Eduthu kondaal ketpenaWould I refuse if you take it?
Mazhaiyil vellam varumaanaalIf floodwaters come in the rain
Mazhaiyil vellam varumaanaalIf floodwaters come in the rain
Nadhikku thaanae sandhosamIt brings joy to the river itself
Female
Koodu katti methai ittuBuilding a nest and laying a bed
Jodigalai aada vittaLetting couples dance in joy
Kondattam kuraiyadhuThe celebration never diminishes
Thodarkadhai eppodhum mudiyadhuThe continuous story never ends
Ammammaa kondattam kuraiyadhuOh my, the celebration never diminishes
Thodarkadhai eppodhum mudiyadhuThe continuous story never ends
Male
AdadadaeOh dear!
Poo mottu ponnu idhu ponnallaThis girl is like a flower bud, not just gold
Pon vandu kannu idhu kannallaThese eyes are like golden beetles, not just eyes
Poo mottu ponnu idhu ponnallaThis girl is like a flower bud, not just gold
Pon vandu kannu idhu kannallaThese eyes are like golden beetles, not just eyes
Therukkoru selai kattiDraped in a stunning saree
Ooru pakkam vandhadhadiShe came towards the town side
Singara kili polaLike a beautiful parrot
Sirikkindra sendhaazha madal polaeLike a smiling golden screw-pine petal
Singara kili polaLike a beautiful parrot
Sirikkindra sendhaazha madal polaeLike a smiling golden screw-pine petal
Male
Pallakku polae oru odambachuHer body became as graceful as a palanquin
Pasi vandha velaiyilae karumbaachuWhen hunger struck, she became sweet like sugarcane
Pallakku polae oru odambachuHer body became as graceful as a palanquin
Pasi vandha velaiyilae karumbaachuWhen hunger struck, she became sweet like sugarcane
Thottaakka mella mella suttadhadi moochuUpon touch, her warm breath scorched gently
Nee solla vandha kadhai ellaam enga pochuWhere did all the stories you were going to tell go?
Female
Haa..aaa..aaa..aa..Haa..aaa..aaa..aa..
Polladha rasiganaiyyaaYou naughty admirer!
Purindhu konden maharasaI have understood you, my king
Polladha rasiganaiyyaaYou naughty admirer!
Purindhu konden maharasaI have understood you, my king
Marathil undu elaneruThere is tender coconut on the tree
Parichupoga naal paaruCheck for an auspicious day to pluck it
Marathil undu elaneruThere is tender coconut on the tree
Parichupoga naal paaruCheck for an auspicious day to pluck it
Female
Thaalam thatti melam kottiBeating the rhythm, sounding the drums
Malaiyittu kaiya thottaPlacing the garland and holding hands
Samsaaram nadakkadha adikadiDoesn't family life happen frequently?
Sangeetham pirakkaadhaDoesn't music get born?
Ammamma samsaaram nadakkadha adikadiOh my, doesn't family life happen frequently?
Sangeetham pirakkaadhaDoesn't music get born?
Male
AdadadaeOh dear!
Poo mottu ponnu idhu ponnallaThis girl is like a flower bud, not just gold
Pon vandu kannu idhu kannallaThese eyes are like golden beetles, not just eyes
Poo mottu ponnu idhu ponnallaThis girl is like a flower bud, not just gold
Pon vandu kannu idhu kannallaThese eyes are like golden beetles, not just eyes
Therukkoru selai kattiDraped in a stunning saree
Ooru pakkam vandhadhadiShe came towards the town side
Singara kili polaLike a beautiful parrot
Sirikkindra sendhaazha madal polaeLike a smiling golden screw-pine petal
Singara kili polaLike a beautiful parrot
Sirikkindra sendhaazha madal polaeLike a smiling golden screw-pine petal
Female
HaanHaan
Kaadhalukku rendum pakkam kannillaeLove has no eyes on either side
Kaadhalilae sikkatti ponnillaeThere is no woman trapped in love without passion
Kaadhalukku rendum pakkam kannillaeLove has no eyes on either side
Kaadhalilae sikkatti ponnillaeThere is no woman trapped in love without passion
Kalaiyilae mottaachuA bud in the morning
Maalaiyilae poovaachuBlossomed into a flower in the evening
Kalyaana vayasaachuReached marriageable age
Adeiyamma ennenna therinjaachuOh my, look at all the things she now understands!
Ammammaa kalyaana vayasaachuOh my, reached marriageable age
Adeiyamma ennenna therinjaachuOh my, look at all the things she now understands!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful romantic duet expresses the blossoming love and desire between a young woman and her admirer. The male protagonist compares her radiance and grace to natural beauty—a flower bud, a golden beetle, and a screw-pine petal—highlighting her youth and charm. In response, the female protagonist coyly acknowledges his affection, playfully teasing him about waiting for the right time and wedding rituals before fully indulging in their romantic union. Through nature metaphors like tender coconut, overflowing rivers, and music born from rhythm, lyricist Kannadasan captures the innocent excitement and passionate anticipation of romance leading up to matrimony.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Simile

Singara kili pola / Sirikkindra sendhaazha madal polae

Compares the woman to a beautiful parrot ('Singara kili pola') and a smiling fragrant screw-pine leaf ('Sirikkindra sendhaazha madal polae').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Vattatha pottu vechu vilaiyaadu

The second consonant sound 'tt' rhymes across consecutive lines ('Vattatha' and 'On machaana' / 'Senthoora' / 'Siru').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Marathil undu elaneru

Compares youth and affection to a tender coconut waiting to be harvested on an auspicious day ('Marathil undu elaneru, Parichupoga naal paaru').

Uruvagam / Metaphor

Sangeetham pirakkaadha

Compares marital harmony and union to music born from beat and drums ('Thaalam thatti melam kotti... Sangeetham pirakkaadha').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features in the 1980 Tamil fantasy-comedy film 'Yemanukku Yeman', starring Sivaji Ganesan in dual roles along with Sripriya. The music was composed by K. Chakravarthy, who adapted his hit Telugu tunes for this movie, which was a remake of the 1977 Telugu hit 'Yamagola'.

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