- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Movie name
- Hotel Sorgam
- Movie release year
- 1975
- Lyrics added on
- 4 Aug 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Poonthottam Ondru is a evocative romantic duet from the 1975 Tamil film Hotel Sorgam, penned by legendary lyricist Vaali. The track captures the tender blossoming of romance between two lovers using rich imagery drawn from nature. The male protagonist compares his lover to a blossoming flower garden that instantly captures his gaze, while the female protagonist perceives his gentle affection as a flowing stream and a cool breeze that washes away her shyness.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Poonthottam ondru kannil pattathu / Neerottam vanthu ennai thottathu”
Comparing the heroine's beauty to a blooming garden ('Poonthottam') and the hero's touch to a flowing stream ('Neerottam').
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Kannam ennum kinnam kondu”
Describing the cheek directly as a vessel or cup ('kinnam') used to serve love.
Rhetorical Question & Metaphor
“Paavaiyin idhazhgal thangasimizho / Athu pesidum mozhigal santhath thamizho”
Asking whether the maiden's lips are a golden box and if her speech is rhythmic, sweet Tamil.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Poonthottam ondru kannil pattathu / Neerottam vanthu ennai thottathu”
Matching end sounds in adjacent lines ('pattathu' and 'thottathu', 'thangasimizho' and 'thamizho').
Did you know?
Trivia
Hotel Sorgam (1975) is a lesser-known Tamil romantic film starring Jaishankar. Lyricist Vaali infused classical Tamil literary tropes—such as comparing sweet speech to 'santhath thamizh'—into a contemporary film song structure.
Keep listening
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