Poraale Ponnuthayi (Sad)
From Karuththamma · 1994
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Swarnalatha
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Karuththamma1994
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Ooo….ooooo……oooo…ooo | Ooo....ooooo......oooo...ooo |
| Oooo…oooo…oooo…oooo | Oooo…oooo…oooo…oooo |
| Female | |
| Poraalae ponnuthaiyi | Ponnuthayi is leaving |
| Pola pola vendru kaneer vittu | Shedding tears that drop continuously |
| Thaneerum sorum thantha | Leaving behind the land that gave her |
| Manna vittu | Water and food |
| Female | |
| Paalpeechum maata vittu | Leaving behind the milk-giving cow |
| Panjaarathu kozhiya vittu | Leaving behind the chicken in its coop |
| Poraalae potta pulla oora vittu | The young girl is leaving her village behind |
| Female | |
| Saamanthi poova | Is she a Marigold flower? |
| Oomatham poova | Is she a Datura flower? |
| Karuthamma entha poovamma…aaa | Karuthamma, what kind of flower is she? |
| Anjaaru seema ulloril yenga | Where among the surrounding regions can she be found? |
| Podhimaatu vandi mela | Loaded on top of the pack-bullock cart |
| Pottu vecha moota pola | Like a tied-up bundle placed upon it |
| Female | |
| Poraalae ponnuthaiyi | Ponnuthayi is leaving |
| Pola pola vendru kaneer vittu | Shedding tears that drop continuously |
| Thaneerum sorum thantha | Leaving behind the land that gave her |
| Manna vittu | Water and food |
| Female | |
| Nee vecha paasam | The affection you harbored |
| Nee sonna nesam | The love you expressed |
| Kadaisiyil oomaiyum oomaiyum | In the end, it was like a language spoken |
| Pesiya baashayadi | Between two mute souls |
| Female | |
| Thekkathi kaathu | The southern wind |
| Thesamaari veesa | Changes direction and blows |
| Onnana megam oduthadi oduthadi | The unified cloud is drifting away, drifting away |
| Usurulla naathu onnu | A living sapling |
| Vaaduthadi vaaduthadi…eee.. | Is wilting away, wilting away... |
| Kadaisiyil saamikki nernthathu | In the end, what was meant for God |
| Saathikku aanathadi | Became sacrificed to caste |
| Female | |
| Poraalae ponnuthaiyi | Ponnuthayi is leaving |
| Pola polavendru kaneer vittu | Shedding tears that drop continuously |
| Thaneerum sorum thantha | Leaving behind the land that gave her |
| Manna vittu | Water and food |
| Female | |
| Paalpeechum maata vittu | Leaving behind the milk-giving cow |
| Panjaarathu kozhiya vittu | Leaving behind the chicken in its coop |
| Poraalae potta pulla oora vittu | The young girl is leaving her village behind |
| Female | |
| Ooo….ooooo……oooo…ooo | Ooo....ooooo......oooo...ooo |
| Oooo…oooo…oooo…oooo | Oooo…oooo…oooo…oooo |
| Female | |
| Nenju kuzhi kaanju | The pit of the chest has gone dry |
| Nedungaalam aachu | It has been a very long time |
| Oru uyir veetukkum kaatukkum | A life is dragged back and forth |
| Kootukkul izhukuthamma | Into a nest between home and the wilderness |
| Female | |
| Semicha kaasu sellama pochu | Hard-saved money has become worthless |
| Sollatha sollae | Unspoken words |
| Baaramamma baaramamma | Are a heavy burden, a heavy burden |
| Sothukkum sonathathukkum | Distance has grown between life's wealth |
| Thuramamma thuramamma | And blood relations |
| Female | |
| Poru poru yezhaikkum vaazhaikkum | Be patient, even for the poor and the plantain tree |
| Naalaikkum nanmaiamma | Goodness will arrive tomorrow |
| Female | |
| Poraalae ponnuthaiyi | Ponnuthayi is leaving |
| Pola polavendru kaneer vittu | Shedding tears that drop continuously |
| Thaneerum sorum thantha | Leaving behind the land that gave her |
| Manna vittu | Water and food |
| Female | |
| Paalpeechum maata vittu | Leaving behind the milk-giving cow |
| Panjaarathu kozhiya vittu | Leaving behind the chicken in its coop |
| Poraalae potta pulla oora vittu | The young girl is leaving her village behind |
ஓஓஓஓ .....ஓஓஓ ....ஓஓஓஓ
ஓஓஓஓ .....ஓஓஓ ....ஓஓஓஓ
Ooo....ooooo......oooo...ooo
Oooo…oooo…oooo…oooo
போறாளே பொன்னுத்தாயி
பொல பொலவென்று கண்ணீர் விட்டு
தண்ணீரும் சோரும் தந்த
மண்ணை விட்டு
Ponnuthayi is leaving
Shedding tears that drop continuously
Leaving behind the land that gave her
Water and food
பால் பீச்சும் மாட்ட விட்டு
பஞ்சாரத்துக் கோழியை விட்டு
போறாளே பொட்டப் புள்ள
ஊரை விட்டு
Leaving behind the milk-giving cow
Leaving behind the chicken in its coop
The young girl is leaving her village behind
சாமந்திப் பூவா
ஊமத்தம் பூவா
கருத்தம்மா எந்தப் பூவம்மா
அஞ்சாறு சீம
உள்ளூரில் ஏங்க
பொதி மாட்டு வண்டி மேலே
போட்டு வச்ச மூட்டை போல
Is she a Marigold flower?
Is she a Datura flower?
Karuthamma, what kind of flower is she?
Where among the surrounding regions can she be found?
Loaded on top of the pack-bullock cart
Like a tied-up bundle placed upon it
போறாளே பொன்னுத்தாயி
பொல பொலவென்று கண்ணீர் விட்டு
தண்ணீரும் சோரும் தந்த
மண்ணை விட்டு
Ponnuthayi is leaving
Shedding tears that drop continuously
Leaving behind the land that gave her
Water and food
நீ வச்ச பாசம்
நீ சொன்ன நேசம்
கடைசியில் ஊமையும் ஊமையும்
பேசிய பாஷையடி
The affection you harbored
The love you expressed
In the end, it was like a language spoken
Between two mute souls
தெக்கத்தி காத்து
திசை மாறி வீச
ஒன்னொன்னா மேகம்
ஓடுதடி ஓடுதடி
உசுருள்ள நாத்து ஒன்னு
வாடுதடி வாடுதடி
கடைசியில் சாமிக்கு நேர்ந்தது
சாதிக்கு ஆனதடி
The southern wind
Changes direction and blows
The unified cloud is drifting away, drifting away
A living sapling
Is wilting away, wilting away...
In the end, what was meant for God
Became sacrificed to caste
போறாளே பொன்னுத்தாயி
பொல பொலவென்று கண்ணீர் விட்டு
தண்ணீரும் சோரும் தந்த
மண்ணை விட்டு
Ponnuthayi is leaving
Shedding tears that drop continuously
Leaving behind the land that gave her
Water and food
பால் பீச்சும் மாட்ட விட்டு
பஞ்சாரத்துக் கோழியை விட்டு
போறாளே பொட்டப் புள்ள
ஊரை விட்டு
Leaving behind the milk-giving cow
Leaving behind the chicken in its coop
The young girl is leaving her village behind
ஓஓஓஓ .....ஓஓஓ ....ஓஓஓஓ
ஓஓஓஓ .....ஓஓஓ ....ஓஓஓஓ
Ooo....ooooo......oooo...ooo
Oooo…oooo…oooo…oooo
நெஞ்சுக்குழி காஞ்சு
நெடுங்காலம் ஆச்சு
ஒரு உயிர் வீட்டுக்கும் காட்டுக்கும்
கூட்டுக்குள் இழுக்குதும்மா
The pit of the chest has gone dry
It has been a very long time
A life is dragged back and forth
Into a nest between home and the wilderness
சேமித்த காசு
செல்லாமப் போச்சு
சொல்லாத சொல்லு
பாரம் அம்மா பாரம் அம்மா
சோத்துக்கும் சொந்தத்துக்கும்
தூரமம்மா தூரமம்மா
Hard-saved money has become worthless
Unspoken words
Are a heavy burden, a heavy burden
Distance has grown between life's wealth
And blood relations
பொறு பொறு ஏழைக்கும் வாழைக்கும்
நாளைக்கு நன்மையம்மா
Be patient, even for the poor and the plantain tree
Goodness will arrive tomorrow
போறாளே பொன்னுத்தாயி
பொல பொலவென்று கண்ணீர் விட்டு
தண்ணீரும் சோரும் தந்த
மண்ணை விட்டு
Ponnuthayi is leaving
Shedding tears that drop continuously
Leaving behind the land that gave her
Water and food
பால் பீச்சும் மாட்ட விட்டு
பஞ்சாரத்துக் கோழியை விட்டு
போறாளே பொட்டப் புள்ள
ஊரை விட்டு
Leaving behind the milk-giving cow
Leaving behind the chicken in its coop
The young girl is leaving her village behind
Ooo….ooooo……oooo…ooo
Ooo....ooooo......oooo...ooo
Oooo…oooo…oooo…oooo
Oooo…oooo…oooo…oooo
Poraalae ponnuthaiyi
Ponnuthayi is leaving
Pola pola vendru kaneer vittu
Shedding tears that drop continuously
Thaneerum sorum thantha
Leaving behind the land that gave her
Manna vittu
Water and food
Paalpeechum maata vittu
Leaving behind the milk-giving cow
Panjaarathu kozhiya vittu
Leaving behind the chicken in its coop
Poraalae potta pulla oora vittu
The young girl is leaving her village behind
Saamanthi poova
Is she a Marigold flower?
Oomatham poova
Is she a Datura flower?
Karuthamma entha poovamma…aaa
Karuthamma, what kind of flower is she?
Anjaaru seema ulloril yenga
Where among the surrounding regions can she be found?
Podhimaatu vandi mela
Loaded on top of the pack-bullock cart
Pottu vecha moota pola
Like a tied-up bundle placed upon it
Poraalae ponnuthaiyi
Ponnuthayi is leaving
Pola pola vendru kaneer vittu
Shedding tears that drop continuously
Thaneerum sorum thantha
Leaving behind the land that gave her
Manna vittu
Water and food
Nee vecha paasam
The affection you harbored
Nee sonna nesam
The love you expressed
Kadaisiyil oomaiyum oomaiyum
In the end, it was like a language spoken
Pesiya baashayadi
Between two mute souls
Thekkathi kaathu
The southern wind
Thesamaari veesa
Changes direction and blows
Onnana megam oduthadi oduthadi
The unified cloud is drifting away, drifting away
Usurulla naathu onnu
A living sapling
Vaaduthadi vaaduthadi…eee..
Is wilting away, wilting away...
Kadaisiyil saamikki nernthathu
In the end, what was meant for God
Saathikku aanathadi
Became sacrificed to caste
Poraalae ponnuthaiyi
Ponnuthayi is leaving
Pola polavendru kaneer vittu
Shedding tears that drop continuously
Thaneerum sorum thantha
Leaving behind the land that gave her
Manna vittu
Water and food
Paalpeechum maata vittu
Leaving behind the milk-giving cow
Panjaarathu kozhiya vittu
Leaving behind the chicken in its coop
Poraalae potta pulla oora vittu
The young girl is leaving her village behind
Ooo….ooooo……oooo…ooo
Ooo....ooooo......oooo...ooo
Oooo…oooo…oooo…oooo
Oooo…oooo…oooo…oooo
Nenju kuzhi kaanju
The pit of the chest has gone dry
Nedungaalam aachu
It has been a very long time
Oru uyir veetukkum kaatukkum
A life is dragged back and forth
Kootukkul izhukuthamma
Into a nest between home and the wilderness
Semicha kaasu sellama pochu
Hard-saved money has become worthless
Sollatha sollae
Unspoken words
Baaramamma baaramamma
Are a heavy burden, a heavy burden
Sothukkum sonathathukkum
Distance has grown between life's wealth
Thuramamma thuramamma
And blood relations
Poru poru yezhaikkum vaazhaikkum
Be patient, even for the poor and the plantain tree
Naalaikkum nanmaiamma
Goodness will arrive tomorrow
Poraalae ponnuthaiyi
Ponnuthayi is leaving
Pola polavendru kaneer vittu
Shedding tears that drop continuously
Thaneerum sorum thantha
Leaving behind the land that gave her
Manna vittu
Water and food
Paalpeechum maata vittu
Leaving behind the milk-giving cow
Panjaarathu kozhiya vittu
Leaving behind the chicken in its coop
Poraalae potta pulla oora vittu
The young girl is leaving her village behind
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Porale Ponnuthayi is a deeply moving lament from the 1994 film Karuththamma. The song portrays the tragic departure of a young woman forced to leave her ancestral village, her livestock, and her home due to prevailing social and caste pressures. Through rural metaphors of cows, coops, bullock carts, and wilting saplings, Vairamuthu illustrates her intense grief, loss of identity, and helplessness under oppressive societal structures. Composed by A.R. Rahman, the song balances deep sorrow with a subtle tone of resilience, reminding the listener that despite hardship and systemic injustice, patience and hope for a better tomorrow remain necessary for survival.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Onomatopoeia (Erattai Kural)
“Pola pola vendru kaneer vittu”
The phrase 'Pola pola' mimics the sound and continuous flow of falling tears.
Simile (Upamai)
“Pottu vecha moota pola”
The young woman is compared to an unfeeling bundle loaded onto a bullock cart, signifying her loss of autonomy.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Usurulla naathu onnu vaaduthadi vaaduthadi”
The girl is metaphorically referred to as a living sapling that is wilting away due to emotional trauma.
Initial Rhyme (Monai)
“Nenju kuzhi kaanju / Nedungaalam aachu”
Repetition of the initial letter 'N' across consecutive lines (Nenju / Nedungaalam).
Did you know?
Trivia
This iconic song earned lyricist Vairamuthu the National Film Award for Best Lyrics and singer Swarnalatha the National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer in 1994. The movie 'Karuththamma', directed by Bharathiraja, dealt with the sensitive social issue of female infanticide in rural Tamil Nadu.
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