- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Swarnalatha
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Movie name
- Karuththamma
- Movie release year
- 1994
- Lyrics added on
- 29 Oct 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
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.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Karuththamma
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.