Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poonthottam Ondru Kannil

From Hotel Sorgam · 1975

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Hotel Sorgam1975

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aaa….aahaa aa…..haa haa aa….aa…Aaa....aahaa aa.....haa haa aa....aa…
Aha aa……haa haa aa…..Aha aa……haa haa aa…..
Oooho ooho…..ho….Oooho ooho…..ho….
Male
Poonthottam ondru kannil pattathuA flower garden caught my eye
Female :Neerottam vanthu ennai thottathuA stream of water came and touched me
Male :Poonthottam ondru kannil pattathuA flower garden caught my eye
Female :Neerottam vanthu ennai thottathuA stream of water came and touched me
Male
Vaadaiththaan mellaththaan muththamittaththuThe cool breeze gently planted a kiss
Female :Aaa….poovumthaan mellaththaanAh... and the flower too, very softly
Naanam vittathuShed its shyness
Male
Poonthottam ondru kannil pattathuA flower garden caught my eye
Female :Neerottam vanthu ennai thottathuA stream of water came and touched me
Male
Aayiram thadavai alli edupeanI will scoop you up a thousand times
Naan aaramba paadam solli kodupenI will teach you the initial lesson
Aayiram thadavai alli edupeanI will scoop you up a thousand times
Naan aaramba paadam solli kodupenI will teach you the initial lesson
Female
Mellidhazh thiranthu naan tharum virunthuOpening delicate lips, the feast I shall grant
Mellidhazh thiranthu naan tharum virunthuOpening delicate lips, the feast I shall grant
Kannam ennum kinnam konduHolding the cup that is your cheek
Unnath tharuven….I will serve it to you to taste...
Male
Aa…..aahaa….Aa.....aahaa....
Poonthottam ondru kannil pattathuA flower garden caught my eye
Female :Neerottam vanthu ennai thottathuA stream of water came and touched me
Male
Paavaiyin idhazhgal thangasimizhoAre the maiden's lips a golden casket?
Athu pesidum mozhigal santhath thamizhoAre the words she speaks rhythmic Tamil poetry?
Paavaiyin idhazhgal thangasimizhoAre the maiden's lips a golden casket?
Athu pesidum mozhigal santhath thamizhoAre the words she speaks rhythmic Tamil poetry?
Female
Mellidai valaiththu mannavan anaiththuBending her slender waist, as the king embraces
Mellidai valaiththu mannavan anaiththuBending her slender waist, as the king embraces
Solla solla ullam pongumAs it is told, the heart overflows
Vellam ennavo……What is this flood?
Male
Poonthottam ondru kannil pattathuA flower garden caught my eye
Female :Neerottam vanthu ennai thottathuA stream of water came and touched me
Male
Aa…..aahaa….Aa.....aahaa....
Poonthottam ondru kannil pattathuA flower garden caught my eye
Female :Neerottam vanthu ennai thottathuA stream of water came and touched me
Male
Vaadaiththaan mellaththaan muththamittaththuThe cool breeze gently planted a kiss
Female :Aaa….poovumthaan mellaththaanAh... and the flower too, very softly
Naanam vittathuShed its shyness

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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

More from Hotel Sorgam