Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Policekaran Magal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Poo Sumanthu Pogiral

From Policekaran Magal · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Sirkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Policekaran Magal
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
13 Oct 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Poo sumandhu pogindraal
Potteduthu pogindraal
Punnagaiyai sertheduthae
Kanni magal pogindraal
Malargalilae aval veitha
Malar ellam deivam amma
Mangaiyaval kungumamae
Thanganira kovil amma
Ivvulagam aval vaazha
Yettra edam illaiyamma
Avvulagam azhaithathamma
Azhagu mayil paranthathamma
Amma ammma ammaa
Covered in flowers, she departs,
Wearing her bindi, she departs,
Taking her smile along with her,
The young girl departs...
Among all flowers, the ones she wore
Are like the divine, oh mother.
The kumkum on her forehead
Is like a golden temple, oh mother...
For her to live in,
This world was not the right place, oh mother.
The world beyond called out to her,
And the beautiful peacock flew away.
Mother... oh mother... mother...
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Poo Sumandhu Pogindraal from the 1962 film Policekaran Magal is a soulful emotional lament composed by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy and written by Kannadasan. The song mourns the passing or departure of a pure, virtuous young maiden, describing her divinity and innocence. The lyrics express that the maiden was so pure and sacred that the earthly world was not worthy of her presence. Consequently, the divine heavenly world summoned her back, and her soul, depicted as a beautiful peacock, has flown away to the heavens, leaving behind grief and reverence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Poo sumandhu pogindraal / Potteduthu pogindraal / Punnagaiyai sertheduthae

Repetition of the initial 'P' sound across the opening lines ('Poo', 'Pot', 'Punnagaiyai') creates a soft melodic rhythm.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Azhagu mayil paranthathamma

The young woman's soul is metaphorically compared to a 'beautiful peacock' ('azhagu mayil') taking flight to the heavens.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Ivvulagam aval vaazha / Avvulagam azhaithathamma

Matching of the second consonant sound 'vv' in 'Ivvulagam' and 'Avvulagam' across adjacent lines.

Anaphora / Repetition (Etonai)

Amma ammma ammaa

The mournful repetition of 'Amma' at the end of lines and in the closing refrain builds deep emotional urgency and grief.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is one of Sirkazhi Govindarajan's iconic grief-laden tracks in Tamil cinema, renowned for his resonant operatic voice. Directed by C. V. Sridhar, 'Policekaran Magal' featured a memorable soundtrack where Kannadasan's philosophical lyricism brilliantly complemented the narrative drama.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Policekaran Magal

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.