Poraale Ponnuthayi (Duet)
From Karuththamma · 1994
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Sujatha, Unni Menon
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Karuththamma1994
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Poraalae ponnu thaayi | The golden girl is leaving, |
| Pogira pokkil manasa thottu | Touching the heart casually as she goes, |
| Thara paarkkum karudha pola | Shyly bending down, |
| Vekka pattu | Like an ear of grain looking towards the earth. |
| Female | |
| Poraalae ponnu thaayi | The golden girl is leaving, |
| Puzhudhi kaattil manasa vittu | Leaving her heart in the dusty field, |
| Ullooru pollaapukku | Bound by the gossip, |
| Kattu pattu | And slanders of the local village. |
| Male | |
| Vellamai neethaan | You are the fertile crop, |
| Vellaadu naathaan | I am the grazing goat, |
| Vekkatha vittu thallamaa aa | Cast away your shyness, oh girl! |
| Female | |
| Vellaamai kaatta | To yield her harvest, |
| Vittu thara maattaa | She will not give up, |
| Panpaada katti kaakkum | Preserving and protecting traditional values, |
| Patti kaattu karuthammaa | Karuthamma of the rural village. |
| Male | |
| Poraalae ponnu thaayi | The golden girl is leaving, |
| Pogira pokkil manasa thottu | Touching the heart casually as she goes, |
| Thara paarkkum karudha pola | Shyly bending down, |
| Vekka pattu | Like an ear of grain looking towards the earth. |
| Female | |
| Poraalae ponnu thaayi | The golden girl is leaving, |
| Puzhudhi kaattil manasa vittu | Leaving her heart in the dusty field, |
| Ullooru pollaapukku | Bound by the gossip, |
| Kattu pattu | And slanders of the local village. |
| Male | |
| Padikkadha pulla | An uneducated girl, |
| Manasellaam vella | Her heart is pure white, |
| Ivaladhu naakkula pokkula | In her words and her ways, |
| Manasula kallamilla | There is no deceit in her heart. |
| Female | |
| Un melae kirukku | A craze for you, |
| Ulloora irukku | Lies deep within her, |
| Vaai vittu chollathaanae | To say it out loud, |
| Thodhu illa thodhu illa | There is no suitable chance, no chance. |
| Vaigaikku kadalai chera | For the Vaigai river to join the ocean, |
| Yogamilla yogamilla | There is no luck, no luck. |
| Male | |
| Athu sari vyazhanum velliyum | That may be true, but Jupiter and Venus, |
| Iruppadhu dhooramilla…aaa… | Are not that far apart... |
| Male | |
| Poraalae ponnu thaayi | The golden girl is leaving, |
| Pogira pokkil manasa thottu | Touching the heart casually as she goes, |
| Thara paarkkum karudha pola | Shyly bending down, |
| Vekka pattu | Like an ear of grain looking towards the earth. |
| Female | |
| Nee kanda valli | The vine you saw, |
| Chappaathi kalli | Is a prickly pear cactus, |
| Kalliyin ilaiyilum kaayilum | In the cactus leaf, fruit, |
| Kaniyilum mullirukkum | And flower, there are thorns! |
| Male | |
| Adi podi kalli | Oh go away, you wild girl, |
| Neethaandi alli | You are Alli yourself, |
| Kandaangi selai kattum | Wearing the rustic Kandaangi saree, |
| Kannagiyae kannagiyae | Oh Kannagi, oh virtuous Kannagi! |
| Un kosuvathil usura katti | Tying my soul in the pleats of your saree, |
| Kolluriyae kolluriyae | You are killing me, you are killing me! |
| Female | |
| Vara vara pombala pozhappaiyae | Gradually, you are dragging a woman's life, |
| Vambula maatturiyae….eeee | Into unnecessary trouble... |
| Female | |
| Poraalae ponnu thaayi | The golden girl is leaving, |
| Male :Poraalae ponnu thaayi | Male: The golden girl is leaving, |
| Female :Puzhudhi kaattil manasa vittu | Female: Leaving her heart in the dusty field, |
| Ullooru pollaapukku | Bound by the gossip, |
| Kattu pattu | And slanders of the local village, |
| Male :Kattu pattu | Male: Bound by the gossip, |
| Female | |
| Poraalae ponnu thaayi | The golden girl is leaving, |
| Puzhudhi kaattil manasa vittu | Leaving her heart in the dusty field, |
| Ullooru pollaapukku | Bound by the gossip, |
| Kattu pattu | And slanders of the local village. |
| Male | |
| Vellamai neethaan | You are the fertile crop, |
| Vellaadu naathaan | I am the grazing goat, |
| Vekkatha vittu thallamaa aa | Cast away your shyness, oh girl! |
| Female | |
| Vellaamai kaatta | To yield her harvest, |
| Vittu thara maattaa | She will not give up, |
| Panpaada katti kaakkum | Preserving and protecting traditional values, |
| Patti kaattu karuthammaa | Karuthamma of the rural village. |
| Male | |
| Poraalae ponnu thaayi | The golden girl is leaving, |
| Pogira pokkil manasa thottu | Touching the heart casually as she goes, |
| Thara paarkkum karudha pola | Shyly bending down, |
| Vekka pattu | Like an ear of grain looking towards the earth. |
| Female | |
| Poraalae ponnu thaayi | The golden girl is leaving, |
| Puzhudhi kaattil manasa vittu | Leaving her heart in the dusty field, |
| Ullooru pollaapukku | Bound by the gossip, |
| Kattu pattu | And slanders of the local village. |
போறாளே பொண்ணுத்தாயீ
போகிற போக்கில் மனச தொட்டு
தர பாக்கும் கதிர போல வெக்கபட்டு
The golden girl is leaving,
Touching the heart casually as she goes,
Shyly bending down,
Like an ear of grain looking towards the earth.
போறாளே பொண்ணுத்தாயீ
புழுதி காட்டில் மனச விட்டு
உள்ளூரு பொல்லாப்புக்கு கட்டு பட்டு
The golden girl is leaving,
Leaving her heart in the dusty field,
Bound by the gossip,
And slanders of the local village.
வெள்ளாமை நீ தான்
வெள்ளாடு நான் தான்
வெட்கத்த விட்டு தள்ளமா
You are the fertile crop,
I am the grazing goat,
Cast away your shyness, oh girl!
வெள்ளாமை காட்ட
விட்டு தர மாட்டா
பண்பாட கட்டிகாக்கும்
பட்டி காட்டு கருத்தம்மா
To yield her harvest,
She will not give up,
Preserving and protecting traditional values,
Karuthamma of the rural village.
போறாளே பொண்ணுத்தாயீ
போகிற போக்கில் மனச தொட்டு
தர பாக்கும் கதிர போல வெக்கபட்டு
The golden girl is leaving,
Touching the heart casually as she goes,
Shyly bending down,
Like an ear of grain looking towards the earth.
போறாளே பொண்ணுத்தாயீ
புழுதி காட்டில் மனச விட்டு
உள்ளூரு பொல்லாப்புக்கு கட்டு பட்டு
The golden girl is leaving,
Leaving her heart in the dusty field,
Bound by the gossip,
And slanders of the local village.
படிக்காத புள்ள
மனசெல்லாம் வெள்ளை
இவளது நாக்குல போக்குல
மனசிலே கள்ளமில்லை
An uneducated girl,
Her heart is pure white,
In her words and her ways,
There is no deceit in her heart.
உன் மேலே கிறுக்கு
உள்ளூர இருக்கு
வாய்விட்டு சொல்லத்தானே
தோதுயில்லை தோதுயில்லை
வைகைக்கு கடலை சேர
யோகமில்லை யோகமில்லை
A craze for you,
Lies deep within her,
To say it out loud,
There is no suitable chance, no chance.
For the Vaigai river to join the ocean,
There is no luck, no luck.
அது சரி வியாழனும் வெள்ளியும்
இருப்பது தூரமில்லை
That may be true, but Jupiter and Venus,
Are not that far apart...
போறாளே பொண்ணுத்தாயீ
போகிற போக்கில் மனச தொட்டு
தர பாக்கும் கதிர போல வெக்கபட்டு
The golden girl is leaving,
Touching the heart casually as she goes,
Shyly bending down,
Like an ear of grain looking towards the earth.
நீ கண்ட வள்ளி
சப்பாத்தி கள்ளி
கள்ளியின் இலையிலும் காயிலும்
கனியிலும் முள்ளிருக்கும்
The vine you saw,
Is a prickly pear cactus,
In the cactus leaf, fruit,
And flower, there are thorns!
அடி போடி கள்ளி
நீ தாண்டி அல்லி
கண்டாங்கி சேலை கட்டும்
கண்ணகியே கண்ணகியே
உன் கொசுவத்தில் உசுர கட்டி
கொல்லுரியே கொல்லுரியே
Oh go away, you wild girl,
You are Alli yourself,
Wearing the rustic Kandaangi saree,
Oh Kannagi, oh virtuous Kannagi!
Tying my soul in the pleats of your saree,
You are killing me, you are killing me!
வர வர பொம்பள பொழப்பயே
வம்புல மாட்டுறியே
Gradually, you are dragging a woman's life,
Into unnecessary trouble...
போறாளே பொண்ணுத்தாயீ
போறாளே பொண்ணுத்தாயீ
புழுதி காட்டில் மனச விட்டு
உள்ளூரு பொல்லாப்புக்கு கட்டு பட்டு
கட்டு பட்டு
The golden girl is leaving,
Male: The golden girl is leaving,
Female: Leaving her heart in the dusty field,
Bound by the gossip,
And slanders of the local village,
Male: Bound by the gossip,
போறாளே பொண்ணுத்தாயீ
புழுதி காட்டில் மனச விட்டு
உள்ளூரு பொல்லாப்புக்கு கட்டு பட்டு
The golden girl is leaving,
Leaving her heart in the dusty field,
Bound by the gossip,
And slanders of the local village.
வெள்ளாமை நீ தான்
வெள்ளாடு நான் தான்
வெட்கத்த விட்டு தள்ளமா
You are the fertile crop,
I am the grazing goat,
Cast away your shyness, oh girl!
வெள்ளாமை காட்ட
விட்டு தர மாட்டா
பண்பாட கட்டிகாக்கும்
பட்டி காட்டு கருத்தம்மா
To yield her harvest,
She will not give up,
Preserving and protecting traditional values,
Karuthamma of the rural village.
போறாளே பொண்ணுத்தாயீ
போகிற போக்கில் மனச தொட்டு
தர பாக்கும் கதிர போல வெக்கபட்டு
The golden girl is leaving,
Touching the heart casually as she goes,
Shyly bending down,
Like an ear of grain looking towards the earth.
போறாளே பொண்ணுத்தாயீ
புழுதி காட்டில் மனச விட்டு
உள்ளூரு பொல்லாப்புக்கு கட்டு பட்டு
The golden girl is leaving,
Leaving her heart in the dusty field,
Bound by the gossip,
And slanders of the local village.
Poraalae ponnu thaayi
The golden girl is leaving,
Pogira pokkil manasa thottu
Touching the heart casually as she goes,
Thara paarkkum karudha pola
Shyly bending down,
Vekka pattu
Like an ear of grain looking towards the earth.
Poraalae ponnu thaayi
The golden girl is leaving,
Puzhudhi kaattil manasa vittu
Leaving her heart in the dusty field,
Ullooru pollaapukku
Bound by the gossip,
Kattu pattu
And slanders of the local village.
Vellamai neethaan
You are the fertile crop,
Vellaadu naathaan
I am the grazing goat,
Vekkatha vittu thallamaa aa
Cast away your shyness, oh girl!
Vellaamai kaatta
To yield her harvest,
Vittu thara maattaa
She will not give up,
Panpaada katti kaakkum
Preserving and protecting traditional values,
Patti kaattu karuthammaa
Karuthamma of the rural village.
Poraalae ponnu thaayi
The golden girl is leaving,
Pogira pokkil manasa thottu
Touching the heart casually as she goes,
Thara paarkkum karudha pola
Shyly bending down,
Vekka pattu
Like an ear of grain looking towards the earth.
Poraalae ponnu thaayi
The golden girl is leaving,
Puzhudhi kaattil manasa vittu
Leaving her heart in the dusty field,
Ullooru pollaapukku
Bound by the gossip,
Kattu pattu
And slanders of the local village.
Padikkadha pulla
An uneducated girl,
Manasellaam vella
Her heart is pure white,
Ivaladhu naakkula pokkula
In her words and her ways,
Manasula kallamilla
There is no deceit in her heart.
Un melae kirukku
A craze for you,
Ulloora irukku
Lies deep within her,
Vaai vittu chollathaanae
To say it out loud,
Thodhu illa thodhu illa
There is no suitable chance, no chance.
Vaigaikku kadalai chera
For the Vaigai river to join the ocean,
Yogamilla yogamilla
There is no luck, no luck.
Athu sari vyazhanum velliyum
That may be true, but Jupiter and Venus,
Iruppadhu dhooramilla…aaa…
Are not that far apart...
Poraalae ponnu thaayi
The golden girl is leaving,
Pogira pokkil manasa thottu
Touching the heart casually as she goes,
Thara paarkkum karudha pola
Shyly bending down,
Vekka pattu
Like an ear of grain looking towards the earth.
Nee kanda valli
The vine you saw,
Chappaathi kalli
Is a prickly pear cactus,
Kalliyin ilaiyilum kaayilum
In the cactus leaf, fruit,
Kaniyilum mullirukkum
And flower, there are thorns!
Adi podi kalli
Oh go away, you wild girl,
Neethaandi alli
You are Alli yourself,
Kandaangi selai kattum
Wearing the rustic Kandaangi saree,
Kannagiyae kannagiyae
Oh Kannagi, oh virtuous Kannagi!
Un kosuvathil usura katti
Tying my soul in the pleats of your saree,
Kolluriyae kolluriyae
You are killing me, you are killing me!
Vara vara pombala pozhappaiyae
Gradually, you are dragging a woman's life,
Vambula maatturiyae….eeee
Into unnecessary trouble...
Poraalae ponnu thaayi
The golden girl is leaving,
Male :Poraalae ponnu thaayi
Male: The golden girl is leaving,
Female :Puzhudhi kaattil manasa vittu
Female: Leaving her heart in the dusty field,
Ullooru pollaapukku
Bound by the gossip,
Kattu pattu
And slanders of the local village,
Male :Kattu pattu
Male: Bound by the gossip,
Poraalae ponnu thaayi
The golden girl is leaving,
Puzhudhi kaattil manasa vittu
Leaving her heart in the dusty field,
Ullooru pollaapukku
Bound by the gossip,
Kattu pattu
And slanders of the local village.
Vellamai neethaan
You are the fertile crop,
Vellaadu naathaan
I am the grazing goat,
Vekkatha vittu thallamaa aa
Cast away your shyness, oh girl!
Vellaamai kaatta
To yield her harvest,
Vittu thara maattaa
She will not give up,
Panpaada katti kaakkum
Preserving and protecting traditional values,
Patti kaattu karuthammaa
Karuthamma of the rural village.
Poraalae ponnu thaayi
The golden girl is leaving,
Pogira pokkil manasa thottu
Touching the heart casually as she goes,
Thara paarkkum karudha pola
Shyly bending down,
Vekka pattu
Like an ear of grain looking towards the earth.
Poraalae ponnu thaayi
The golden girl is leaving,
Puzhudhi kaattil manasa vittu
Leaving her heart in the dusty field,
Ullooru pollaapukku
Bound by the gossip,
Kattu pattu
And slanders of the local village.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Poraalae Ponnuthaayi from Karuththamma (1994) is a poignant Tamil folk song that captures the tender emotions, rustic beauty, and social struggles of the protagonist, Karuthamma. The song contrasts her innocent, pure love with the rigid societal constraints, village rumors, and traditional values that prevent her from freely expressing her feelings. Rich in rural metaphors drawn from Tamil agriculture and nature, the lyrics portray Karuthamma as both delicate and resilient—bending like an ear of paddy under the weight of shyness, yet steadfastly guarding her dignity and heritage.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Thara paarkkum karudha pola Vekka pattu”
Compares the shy girl's lowered gaze to a heavy, ripe ear of grain bending towards the ground.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Vellamai neethaan Vellaadu naathaan”
Metaphorically compares the girl to a fertile crop (vellaamai) and the lover to a grazing goat (vellaadu).
Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)
“Vellamai neethaan / Vellaadu naathaan”
The second letter 'lla' rhymes across consecutive lines, creating a rhythmic folk bounce.
Alliteration (Moonaai)
“Panpaada katti kaakkum Patti kaattu karuthammaa”
Repetition of the initial 'p' consonant sound across words enhances the musical cadence.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu, 'Poraalae Ponnuthaayi' won the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for Swarnalatha in 1994. The song is widely acclaimed for its masterful blend of authentic Tamil folk orchestration and deeply soulful melodies.
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