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Lyrics & meaning

Poovum Pottum Inge

From Sorkkam Naragam · 1977

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Sorkkam Naragam1977

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Poovum pottum ingaeThe flowers and vermilion are right here,
En poojai deivamum ingaeMy worshiped deity is also right here.
Poovum pottum ingaeThe flowers and vermilion are right here,
En poojai deivamum ingaeMy worshiped deity is also right here.
Naan unnai pirivathu engaeWhere could I ever part from you?
En kanna nee odi vaaOh my beloved, run and come to me!
En kanna nee odi vaaOh my beloved, run and come to me!
Male
Poovum pottum ingaeThe flowers and vermilion are right here,
En poojai deivamum ingaeMy worshiped deity is also right here.
Poovum pottum ingaeThe flowers and vermilion are right here,
En poojai deivamum ingaeMy worshiped deity is also right here.
Naan unnai pirivathu engaeWhere could I ever part from you?
En kanna nee odi vaaOh my beloved, run and come to me!
En kanna nee odi vaaOh my beloved, run and come to me!
Female
Moga koondhalai alli mudinthaalWhen I gather and tie up my passionate hair,
Munnae nirpathu neethaanaeIs it not you who stands before me?
Moodiya udhattil panithuli pattaalWhen a dewdrop touches closed lips,
Vaadai kaattrum neethaanaeIs it not you who comes as the chilly northern wind?
Female
Moga koondhalai alli mudinthaalWhen I gather and tie up my passionate hair,
Munnae nirpathu neethaanaeIs it not you who stands before me?
Moodiya udhattil panithuli pattaalWhen a dewdrop touches closed lips,
Vaadai kaattrum neethaanaeIs it not you who comes as the chilly northern wind?
Male
Thottu thazhuvi tholgal irandilTouching and caressing upon both shoulders,
Thottil pottaaval needhaanaeAre you not the one who cradled me?
Thottu thazhuvi tholgal irandilTouching and caressing upon both shoulders,
Thottil pottaaval needhaanaeAre you not the one who cradled me?
Male
Thodara thodara sugamaayirukkumAs it continues, it feels so blissful,
Thodar kadhai sonnaval needhaanaeAre you not the one who told a never-ending tale?
Thodara thodara sugamaayirukkumAs it continues, it feels so blissful,
Thodar kadhai sonnaval needhaanaeAre you not the one who told a never-ending tale?
Female
Poovum pottum ingaeThe flowers and vermilion are right here,
En poojai deivamum ingaeMy worshiped deity is also right here.
Naan unnai pirivathu engaeWhere could I ever part from you?
En kanna nee odi vaaOh my beloved, run and come to me!
En kanna nee odi vaaOh my beloved, run and come to me!
Female
Kayiththu kattil malaeyyirunthuSitting upon the woven rope cot,
Kaalai pidippathu punniyamaeHolding your feet is a sacred blessing.
Male :Kaalai podikkum katti karumbinMale: Holding the hands of this sweet sugarcane-like lover,
Kaiyil pidippathu punniyamaeHolding her hand is a sacred blessing.
Female
Kayiththu kattil malaeyyirunthuSitting upon the woven rope cot,
Kaalai pidippathu punniyamaeHolding your feet is a sacred blessing.
Male :Kaalai podikkum katti karumbinMale: Holding the hands of this sweet sugarcane-like lover,
Kaiyil pidippathu punniyamaeHolding her hand is a sacred blessing.
Female
Ennai thavira innoru mugaththaiNot thinking of any other face besides mine,
Ennaathiruppathum punniyamaeLiving with such single-minded devotion is a sacred blessing.
Ennai thavira innoru mugaththaiNot thinking of any other face besides mine,
Ennaathiruppathum punniyamaeLiving with such single-minded devotion is a sacred blessing.
Male
Innoru pennum ulagam muzhuthumFor no other woman to exist in your world,
Illaathirupathum punniyamaeLiving in such exclusive love is a sacred blessing.
Innoru pennum ulagam muzhuthumFor no other woman to exist in your world,
Illaathirupathum punniyamaeLiving in such exclusive love is a sacred blessing.
Male
Poovum pottum ingaeThe flowers and vermilion are right here,
En poojai deivamum ingaeMy worshiped deity is also right here.
Naan unnai pirivathu engaeWhere could I ever part from you?
En kanna nee odi vaaOh my beloved, run and come to me!
En kanna nee odi vaaOh my beloved, run and come to me!
Female
Poovum pottum ingaeThe flowers and vermilion are right here,
En poojai deivamum ingaeMy worshiped deity is also right here.
Naan unnai pirivathu engaeWhere could I ever part from you?
En kanna nee odi vaaOh my beloved, run and come to me!
En kanna nee odi vaaOh my beloved, run and come to me!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Poovum Pottum Ingae is a soulful romantic duet composed by Shankar Ganesh for the 1977 movie Sorkkam Naragam. Lyricist Kannadasan crafts a poetic dialogue between lovers who view their bond not just as physical affection, but as a sacred and divinely ordain union. The woman expresses that her marital symbols (flowers and pottu) and her living deity (her lover) are present in the same space, making separation impossible.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emonai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Thottu thazhuvi tholgal irandil / Thodara thodara sugamaayirukkum

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'Poovum' and 'Naan' or 'Thottu' and 'Thodara'.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Kaalai podikkum katti karumbin

Comparing the female lover to 'katti karumbu' (a block of sugarcane), emphasizing sweetness and richness of affection.

Anaphora / Repetition

Poovum pottum ingae / En poojai deivamum ingae

The repetitive refrain 'Poovum pottum ingae' and 'punniyamae' reinforces themes of sacredness, domestic bliss, and emotional devotion.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the dynamic duo Shankar-Ganesh, who were prolific hitmakers in Tamil cinema during the late 70s and 80s, the song showcases the classical-pop synthesis typical of their style, beautifully rendered by veterans T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela.

Keep listening

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