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Nenjukku Neethi(1979) album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Poovattam Ponnana

From Nenjukku Neethi(1979) · 1979

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Nenjukku Neethi(1979)
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
5 Jan 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Poovaattam ponnana theraattam
Minnaatho ennaattam
Anaivarum rasikkaiyil unakkenna
Manathukkul poraattam
Naanaada ellorum thaanaada
Ennodu neeyaada
Urimaiyil azhaikkaiyil
Nammakenna uravukkul maaraattam
Poovaattam ponnana theraattam
Minnaatho ennaattam
Anaivarum rasikkaiyil unakkenna
Manathukkul poraattam
Naanaada ellorum thaanaada
Ennodu neeyaada
Urimaiyil azhaikkaiyil
Nammakenna uravukkul maaraattam
Naagaareegam illaatha
Naalum ketta jenmangal
Sonnaalae pollaapputhaan
Aasaiyattra perukku
Aadaiyenna melukku
Aanaattam veeraapputhaan
Ulaginil sila komaaligal
Adhai nampum pala yaemaaligal
Ulaginil sila komaaligal
Adhai nampum pala yaemaaligal
Poovaattam ponnana theraattam
Minnaatho ennaattam
Anaivarum rasikkaiyil unakkenna
Manathukkul poraattam
Naanaada ellorum thaanaada
Ennodu neeyaada
Urimaiyil azhaikkaiyil
Nammakenna uravukkul maaraattam
Kozhi vanthaa munnaalae
Seval varum pinnaalae
Yaenendru puriyaathatho
Maalaiyitta mangaithaan
Aalaiyitta karumpo
Thevaigal theriyaathatho
Sirikkuthu oru poochendu
Sinuguthu oru ponvandu
Sirikkuthu oru poochendu
Sinuguthu oru ponvandu
Poovaattam ponnana theraattam
Minnaatho ennaattam
Anaivarum rasikkaiyil unakkenna
Manathukkul poraattam
Naanaada ellorum thaanaada
Ennodu neeyaada
Urimaiyil azhaikkaiyil
Nammakenna uravukkul maaraattam
Netruvarai samsaari indru enna sanniyaasi
Penn paavam polaathaiyyaa
Oravizhi kannaalae nooru tharam sonnaenae
Inimael solluthaiyyaa
Sabhaiyinil ennai paaraattu
Araiyinil ennai thaalaattu
Sirikkuthu oru poochendu
Sinunguthu oru ponvandu
Poovaattam ponnana theraattam
Minnaatho ennaattam
Anaivarum rasikkaiyil unakkenna
Manathukkul poraattam
Naanaada ellorum thaanaada
Ennodu neeyaada
Urimaiyil azhaikkaiyil
Nammakenna uravukkul maaraattam
Like a blooming flower, like a golden chariot,
doesn't my dance dazzle and shine?
When everyone else enjoys it, why is there
such a struggle inside your heart?
When I dance, everyone else joins in;
come and dance with me!
When I call you with love and every right,
why should there be any conflict in our bond?
Like a blooming flower, like a golden chariot,
doesn't my dance dazzle and shine?
When everyone else enjoys it, why is there
such a struggle inside your heart?
When I dance, everyone else joins in;
come and dance with me!
When I call you with love and every right,
why should there be any conflict in our bond?
These uncivilized,
completely good-for-nothing people—
pointing them out only brings trouble.
For those who have no passion or desire,
what is the use of wearing fine clothes?
Their manly swagger is nothing but empty pride.
There are a few clowns in this world,
and many fools who fall for them.
There are a few clowns in this world,
and many fools who fall for them.
Like a blooming flower, like a golden chariot,
doesn't my dance dazzle and shine?
When everyone else enjoys it, why is there
such a struggle inside your heart?
When I dance, everyone else joins in;
come and dance with me!
When I call you with love and every right,
why should there be any conflict in our bond?
When the hen walks in front,
the rooster follows behind.
Don't you understand the reason why?
Is the woman you wed with a garland
just sugarcane to be crushed in a mill?
Don't you know her needs and desires?
A bouquet of flowers smiles sweetly,
while a golden beetle frets and grumbles...
A bouquet of flowers smiles sweetly,
while a golden beetle frets and grumbles...
Like a blooming flower, like a golden chariot,
doesn't my dance dazzle and shine?
When everyone else enjoys it, why is there
such a struggle inside your heart?
When I dance, everyone else joins in;
come and dance with me!
When I call you with love and every right,
why should there be any conflict in our bond?
A devoted family man until yesterday, why act like an ascetic today?
Hurting a woman brings bitter sorrow, my dear!
I have told you a hundred times through my sidelong glances;
don't say no to me anymore!
Praise me in front of the gathering,
and hold me gently in our bedroom...
A bouquet of flowers smiles sweetly,
while a golden beetle frets and grumbles...
Like a blooming flower, like a golden chariot,
doesn't my dance dazzle and shine?
When everyone else enjoys it, why is there
such a struggle inside your heart?
When I dance, everyone else joins in;
come and dance with me!
When I call you with love and every right,
why should there be any conflict in our bond?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic dance song features a heroine addressing her partner with playful coaxing, affectionate teasing, and romantic demands. She contrasts the joy and energy of her dance—which enthralls everyone—with her lover's aloofness or internal hesitation, questioning why he acts distant despite their close bond.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Poovaattam ponnana theraattam

Compares the heroine's dance to the delicate movement of a flower ('Poovaattam') and the grand motion of a golden chariot ('ponnana theraattam').

Rhyme (Edhugai)

Poovaattam ponnana theraattam / Minnaatho ennaattam

Second-letter rhyming across lines: 'Poovaattam' and 'Minnaatho' (double consonant matching patterns) and internal rhyme 'Poovaattam' / 'theraattam'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Sirikkuthu oru poochendu / Sinuguthu oru ponvandu

Metaphorically compares a smiling woman to a flower bouquet ('poochendu') and a coy lover to a golden beetle ('ponvandu').

Contrast / Antithesis

Netruvarai samsaari indru enna sanniyaasi

Contrasts yesterday's domestic life ('samsaari') with today's ascetic indifference ('sanniyaasi').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Nenjukku Neethi' (1979) features music by the duo Shankar-Ganesh and highlights veteran playback singer P. Susheela's vocal range in expressive dance-drama style numbers crafted by lyricist Vaali.

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