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Muthal Vasantham album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Poonguyilum Paaduthu Ponmayilum

From Muthal Vasantham · 1986

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Muthal Vasantham
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
3 Sept 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Poonguyilum paaduthu
Ponmayilum aaduthu
Poonguyilum paaduthu
Ponmayilum aaduthu
Varappukulla olinjukittu
Vayalukulla maranjikittu
Nellumani jadhi podudhu
Boomi pudhu vasanthatha paadudhu
Nellumani jadhi podudhu
Boomi pudhu vasanthatha paadudhu
Poonguyilum paaduthu
Ponmayilum aaduthu
Karisakaatu manmelae
Kalakalannu mazhai pozhinjaa
Boomikkellaam andru mudhal
Vasantham
Mottuvitta malliga poo
Ishtapattu vaasamvitta
Thottathula annikki thaan
Vasantham
Kanni ponnu kaathirunthu
Maamana thaan paathirunthu
Kaippidikkum kalyaana naal
Vasantham
Ini pon vasantham
Poo vasantham
Idhu muthal vasantham..mm
Poonguyilum paaduthu
Ponmayilum aaduthu
Ooril ulla aalunga ellaam
Oththumaiyaa vaazhnthiruntha
Naattukkadhu nalladhoru
Vasantham
Gangaiyilae vantha thanni
Kaatu vazhi odi vanthu
Kaveriyil kooduchunna
Vasantham
Mann paarthu vetha vethachu
Kann mulichi paadupatta
Ezhaikkellaam aruvadai naal
Vasantham
Ini pon vasantham
Poo vasantham
Idhu muthal vasantham..mm
The sweet cuckoo is singing,
The golden peacock is dancing.
The sweet cuckoo is singing,
The golden peacock is dancing.
Hiding along the field ridges,
tucked inside the lush crops,
the grains of paddy sway in rhythm,
and the earth sings of a new spring!
The grains of paddy sway in rhythm,
and the earth sings of a new spring!
The sweet cuckoo is singing,
The golden peacock is dancing.
On the black soil of the dry lands,
when the rain pours down with a cheerful sound,
from that day on, for the whole earth,
it is spring!
When the budding jasmine flower
freely shares its sweet fragrance,
in that garden, on that very day,
it is spring!
When a young girl waits patiently,
longing for her beloved,
the wedding day when they join hands
is spring!
From now on, a golden spring,
a blossoming spring,
this is the first spring... mmm.
The sweet cuckoo is singing,
The golden peacock is dancing.
If all the people in the village
live together in unity and peace,
for the whole land, that is a blessed
spring!
If the waters flowing from the Ganga
run across the wilderness
and join the Kaveri River,
it is spring!
Having tended the soil and sowed the seeds,
having toiled through sleepless nights,
for all the poor farmers, harvest day
is spring!
From now on, a golden spring,
a blossoming spring,
this is the first spring... mmm.
Male
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Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
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Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song celebrates the arrival of spring ('Vasantham') in various forms—nature, personal life, and societal harmony. It begins with vivid pastoral imagery of cuckoos singing, peacocks dancing, and paddy grains swaying rhythmically in the fields as rain refreshes the dry soil. The lyrics expand the definition of 'spring' beyond seasons: it is the blossoming of jasmine in a garden, the joyful wedding day of a waiting maiden, the harvest day rewarding hard-working farmers, and the peaceful unity of villagers living together without conflict. Through these metaphors, the song conveys that true prosperity and rejuvenation happen when love, nature, hard work, and unity converge.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethirai (Second letter rhyme)

“Poonguyilum paaduthu / Ponmayilum aaduthu”

Matching second consonants in initial words across paired lines, such as 'Poo-nguyilum' and 'Po-nmayilum'.

Moonaai (First letter alliteration)

“Varappukulla olinjukittu / Vayalukulla maranjikittu”

Matching initial consonant sounds, as seen in 'Varappukulla' and 'Vayalukulla'.

Personification

“Nellumani jadhi podudhu / Boomi pudhu vasanthatha paadudhu”

Attributing human traits like dancing rhythmic 'jati' steps to grains of paddy and singing to the Earth.

Anaphora / Refrain

“Ini pon vasantham / Poo vasantham / Idhu muthal vasantham..mm”

Repetition of the core refrain 'Vasantham' at the end of each stanza to emphasize the thematic motif of spring.

Metaphor

“Ezhaikkellaam aruvadai naal / Vasantham”

Equating various societal milestones (unity in a village, harvest for the poor, marriage) to 'Vasantham' (spring).

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed without music director and singer details in brief context, 'Muthal Vasantham' (1986) features a acclaimed soundtrack composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, directed by Manivannan. The film stars Pandiyan, Chandrasekar, Sathyaraj, and Radhika. The phrase 'Muthal Vasantham' means 'First Spring', and Gangai Amaran's lyrics effectively tie nature's renewal with human relationships and social harmony.

Keep listening

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Unnai Naan Serndhirukka1995
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Vilaiyattu PillaiNatureVillage Life
Kadellam Pichipoovu1981
Karaiyellam ShenbagapooNatureVillage Life
Maa Manakkuthu1959
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