Poo Pondra Pengale
From Kashmir Kadhali · 1983
- Lyricist
- Thanjai Vaanan
- Singer
- K. J. Jesudass
- Music director
- G. K. Venkatesh
- Details
- Kashmir Kadhali1983
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Poo pondra pengalae…haei you | Oh flower-like women... hey you |
| Pon naattin kangalae…hear me | Oh eyes of the golden land... hear me |
| Male | |
| Poo pondra pengalae… | Oh flower-like women... |
| Pon naattin kangalae… | Oh eyes of the golden land... |
| Kaappattra vendiyathai | That which you ought to protect |
| Kai nazhuva vitteerae | You let slip through your hands |
| Kai nazhuva vitteerae | You let slip through your hands |
| Male | |
| Poo pondra pengalae… | Oh flower-like women... |
| Pon naattin kangalae… | Oh eyes of the golden land... |
| Kaappattra vendiyathai | That which you ought to protect |
| Kai nazhuva vitteerae… | You let slip through your hands... |
| Kai nazhuva vitteerae… | You let slip through your hands... |
| Male | |
| Melai naattu mogam kondathaalae | Because of fascination with Western culture |
| Selai suttrum azhagu ketupochu | The beauty of wearing a saree has been ruined |
| Melai naattu mogam kondathaalae | Because of fascination with Western culture |
| Selai suttrum azhagu ketupochu | The beauty of wearing a saree has been ruined |
| Male | |
| Aadai paathi aadai paathi adhilum kurainthaalae | Half-dressed, and if even that diminishes further |
| Artificial beauty niraiyalaachchu | Artificial beauty has taken over |
| Male | |
| Poo pondra pengalae… | Oh flower-like women... |
| Pon naattin kangalae… | Oh eyes of the golden land... |
| Kaappattra vendiyathai | That which you ought to protect |
| Kai nazhuva vitteerae… | You let slip through your hands... |
| Kai nazhuva vitteerae… | You let slip through your hands... |
| Male | |
| Valai kulungum kalai niraintha kaigalae | Oh artistic hands where bangles jingle! |
| Vaari annam vazhangi oottum viralgalae | Oh fingers that generously feed rice! |
| Valai kulungum kalai niraintha kaigalae | Oh artistic hands where bangles jingle! |
| Vaari annam vazhangi oottum viralgalae | Oh fingers that generously feed rice! |
| Male | |
| Mazhalai selvam kulavi konjum idhzhgalae | Oh lips that cuddle and babble to young children! |
| Naanam vittu pugaippathenna sabaiyilae | Why abandon modesty and smoke in public gatherings? |
| Male | |
| Poo pondra pengalae… | Oh flower-like women... |
| Pon naattin kangalae… | Oh eyes of the golden land... |
| Kaappattra vendiyathai | That which you ought to protect |
| Kai nazhuva vitteerae…. | You let slip through your hands.... |
| Kai nazhuva vitteerae…. | You let slip through your hands.... |
பூ போன்ற பெண்களே.....ஹேய் யூ
பொன் நாட்டின் கண்களே.....ஹியர் மீ
Oh flower-like women... hey you
Oh eyes of the golden land... hear me
பூ போன்ற பெண்களே
பொன் நாட்டின் கண்களே
காப்பாற்ற வேண்டியதை
கை நழுவ விட்டீரே
கை நழுவ விட்டீரே
Oh flower-like women...
Oh eyes of the golden land...
That which you ought to protect
You let slip through your hands
You let slip through your hands
பூ போன்ற பெண்களே
பொன் நாட்டின் கண்களே
காப்பாற்ற வேண்டியதை
கை நழுவ விட்டீரே....
கை நழுவ விட்டீரே....
Oh flower-like women...
Oh eyes of the golden land...
That which you ought to protect
You let slip through your hands...
You let slip through your hands...
மேலை நாட்டு மோகம் கொண்டதாலே
சேலை சுற்றும் அழகு கெட்டுப்போச்சு
மேலை நாட்டு மோகம் கொண்டதாலே
சேலை சுற்றும் அழகு கெட்டுப்போச்சு
Because of fascination with Western culture
The beauty of wearing a saree has been ruined
Because of fascination with Western culture
The beauty of wearing a saree has been ruined
ஆடை பாதி ஆடை பாதி அதிலும் குறைந்ததாலே
ஆர்ட்டிபிஷியல் ப்யூட்டி நிறையலாச்சு
Half-dressed, and if even that diminishes further
Artificial beauty has taken over
பூ போன்ற பெண்களே
பொன் நாட்டின் கண்களே
காப்பாற்ற வேண்டியதை
கை நழுவ விட்டீரே....
கை நழுவ விட்டீரே....
Oh flower-like women...
Oh eyes of the golden land...
That which you ought to protect
You let slip through your hands...
You let slip through your hands...
வளை குலுங்கும் கலை நிறைந்த கைகளே
வாரி அன்னம் வழங்கி ஊட்டும் விரல்களே
வளை குலுங்கும் கலை நிறைந்த கைகளே
வாரி அன்னம் வழங்கி ஊட்டும் விரல்களே
Oh artistic hands where bangles jingle!
Oh fingers that generously feed rice!
Oh artistic hands where bangles jingle!
Oh fingers that generously feed rice!
மழலை செல்வம் குலவி கொஞ்சும் இதழ்களே
நாணம் விட்டு புகைப்பதென்ன சபையிலே......
Oh lips that cuddle and babble to young children!
Why abandon modesty and smoke in public gatherings?
பூ போன்ற பெண்களே
பொன் நாட்டின் கண்களே
காப்பாற்ற வேண்டியதை
கை நழுவ விட்டீரே....
கை நழுவ விட்டீரே....
Oh flower-like women...
Oh eyes of the golden land...
That which you ought to protect
You let slip through your hands....
You let slip through your hands....
Poo pondra pengalae…haei you
Oh flower-like women... hey you
Pon naattin kangalae…hear me
Oh eyes of the golden land... hear me
Poo pondra pengalae…
Oh flower-like women...
Pon naattin kangalae…
Oh eyes of the golden land...
Kaappattra vendiyathai
That which you ought to protect
Kai nazhuva vitteerae
You let slip through your hands
Kai nazhuva vitteerae
You let slip through your hands
Poo pondra pengalae…
Oh flower-like women...
Pon naattin kangalae…
Oh eyes of the golden land...
Kaappattra vendiyathai
That which you ought to protect
Kai nazhuva vitteerae…
You let slip through your hands...
Kai nazhuva vitteerae…
You let slip through your hands...
Melai naattu mogam kondathaalae
Because of fascination with Western culture
Selai suttrum azhagu ketupochu
The beauty of wearing a saree has been ruined
Melai naattu mogam kondathaalae
Because of fascination with Western culture
Selai suttrum azhagu ketupochu
The beauty of wearing a saree has been ruined
Aadai paathi aadai paathi adhilum kurainthaalae
Half-dressed, and if even that diminishes further
Artificial beauty niraiyalaachchu
Artificial beauty has taken over
Poo pondra pengalae…
Oh flower-like women...
Pon naattin kangalae…
Oh eyes of the golden land...
Kaappattra vendiyathai
That which you ought to protect
Kai nazhuva vitteerae…
You let slip through your hands...
Kai nazhuva vitteerae…
You let slip through your hands...
Valai kulungum kalai niraintha kaigalae
Oh artistic hands where bangles jingle!
Vaari annam vazhangi oottum viralgalae
Oh fingers that generously feed rice!
Valai kulungum kalai niraintha kaigalae
Oh artistic hands where bangles jingle!
Vaari annam vazhangi oottum viralgalae
Oh fingers that generously feed rice!
Mazhalai selvam kulavi konjum idhzhgalae
Oh lips that cuddle and babble to young children!
Naanam vittu pugaippathenna sabaiyilae
Why abandon modesty and smoke in public gatherings?
Poo pondra pengalae…
Oh flower-like women...
Pon naattin kangalae…
Oh eyes of the golden land...
Kaappattra vendiyathai
That which you ought to protect
Kai nazhuva vitteerae….
You let slip through your hands....
Kai nazhuva vitteerae….
You let slip through your hands....
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song Poo Pondra Pengalae from Kashmir Kadhali (1983) presents a direct cultural critique regarding Western influences on Indian women and traditional values. The narrator addresses women tenderly as the delicate eyes and pride of the nation, expressing sorrow over how traditional grace, modest clothing like the saree, and cultural heritage are being abandoned in favor of Westernized fashion and lifestyle. The song contrasts the noble, nurturing maternal roles of women—such as feeding children and comforting infants—with modern habits like public smoking and superficial aesthetic trends, appealing to women to preserve their intrinsic cultural identity and dignity.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Poo pondra pengalae…”
Compares women to delicate, pure flowers using the comparative marker 'pondra'.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Pon naattin kangalae…”
Directly equates women to the vital 'eyes' of the golden nation, highlighting their importance.
Alliteration / Second-letter Rhyme (Ethirai)
“Melai naattu mogam kondathaalae / Selai suttrum azhagu ketupochu”
The second letter 'i' matches between 'Melai' and 'Selai', creating poetic rhythmic harmony.
Irony / Contrast (Muran)
“Mazhalai selvam kulavi konjum idhzhgalae / Naanam vittu pugaippathenna sabaiyilae”
Contrasts gentle maternal imagery with the bold adoption of public smoking, highlighting cultural shift.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kashmir Kadhali (1983) features music by the legendary G. K. Venkatesh, a veteran composer who mentored legendary musicians like Ilaiyaraaja. The song reflects a common theme in 1980s Tamil cinema addressing cultural shifts and Westernization.
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