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Lyrics & meaning

Poranthaalum Aambalayaa

From Policekaran Magal · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
J. P. Chandrababu, L. R. Eswari
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Policekaran Magal1962

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Poranthaalum ambalaiya porakkakoodathuEven if born, one shouldn't be born as a man,
Aiyya porandhu vita pombalaiya ninaikka koodathuAnd sir, once born, one shouldn't think about a woman.
Male
Poranthaalum ambalaiya porakkakoodathuEven if born, one shouldn't be born as a man,
Aiyya porandhu vita pombalaiya ninaikka koodathuAnd sir, once born, one shouldn't think about a woman.
Female
Poranthaalum pombalaiya porakkakoodathuEven if born, one shouldn't be born as a woman,
Aiyya porandhu vita aambalaiya ninaikka koodathuAnd sir, once born, one shouldn't think about a man.
Male
Aambillai ellaam pombillai polaeMen shouldn't transform themselves
Maaravum koodathuTo become just like women,
Pen aadum aattaththai kanduNor should they wither away watching
Nottaththai kondu vaadavum koodathuThe games and antics that women play.
Male
Poranthaalum ambalaiya porakkakoodathuEven if born, one shouldn't be born as a man,
Aiyya porandhu vita pombalaiya ninaikka koodathuAnd sir, once born, one shouldn't think about a woman.
Female
Aayiram aayiram aangalilaeAmong thousands and thousands of men,
Aiyaa unnai ninaichenaeOh sir, I thought of you;
Arjunan polae azhagirukkaThough handsome as Arjuna,
Anumaar jaadhi pidichenaeYou act like the monkey god Hanuman's breed!
Female
Aayiram aayiram aangalilaeAmong thousands and thousands of men,
Aiyaa unnai ninaichenaeOh sir, I thought of you;
Arjunan polae azhagirukkaThough handsome as Arjuna,
Anumaar jaadhi pidichenaeYou act like the monkey god Hanuman's breed!
Male
Parambarai gnyabagam pogalaiyaeHas ancestral memory not gone away?
Female :HahaaFemale : Hahaa
Male :Pazhaiyadha innum marakkalaiyaeMale : Haven't you forgotten the ancient times yet?
Female :Ho hooFemale : Ho hoo
Male :Maraththukku melae thaavuriyaeMale : You jump up on top of trees,
Female :HahaaFemale : Hahaa
Male :Manusanai kuranga ninaikkiriyaeMale : And you treat a human being like a monkey!
Male
Parambarai gnyabagam pogalaiyaeHas ancestral memory not gone away?
Female :HahaaFemale : Hahaa
Male :Pazhaiyadha innum marakkalaiyaeMale : Haven't you forgotten the ancient times yet?
Female :Ho hooFemale : Ho hoo
Male :Maraththukku melae thaavuriyaeMale : You jump up on top of trees,
Female :HahaaFemale : Hahaa
Male :Manusanai kuranga ninaikkiriyaeMale : And you treat a human being like a monkey!
Female
Poranthaalum pombalaiya porakkakoodathuEven if born, one shouldn't be born as a woman,
Aiyya porandhu vita aambalaiya ninaikka koodathuAnd sir, once born, one shouldn't think about a man.
Male
Kaadhala kavingar paadi vechaanPoets wrote songs about love,
Kadavul adhukkoru jodi vechaanGod created a pair for it,
Unnai enakkunnu ezhuthi vechaanHe destiny-bound you for me,
Uravai nenaichi azhuga vechaanBut made me cry thinking about our bond.
Female
Sirikkira kaadhal murindhu vidumA love that laughs easily breaks apart,
Male :Ahaa…Male : Ahaa…
Female :Azhugura kaadhal urudhi padumFemale : A love that tears up grows strong and firm,
Male :Ahaa…Male : Ahaa…
Female :Mudikira varaikkum azhudhu viduFemale : Cry as much as you want until it finishes,
Male :Hoo hooMale : Hoo hoo
Female :Mudinthadhum ennai mananthu viduFemale : Once it's over, marry me!
Male
Poranthaalum ambalaiya porakkakoodathuEven if born, one shouldn't be born as a man,
Aiyya porandhu vita pombalaiya ninaikka koodathuAnd sir, once born, one shouldn't think about a woman.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Poranthaalum ambalaiya porakkakoodathu is a delightfully witty duet from the 1962 Tamil film Policekaran Magal, composed by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy and penned by Kannadasan. Sung energetically by J. P. Chandrababu and L. R. Eswari, the track takes the form of a playful, back-and-forth banter between two lovers lamenting the troubles that love brings to both men and women. Through clever banter and mythological references, the lovers tease each other about gender roles, foolish pride, and emotional volatility. Despite their mock complaints and teary dramas, the song underlyingly reaffirms that true love withstands lighthearted quarrels and ultimately leads to union.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Arjunan polae azhagirukka

Compares the man's attractive appearance to Arjuna ('Arjunan polae azhagirukka').

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kaadhala kavingar paadi vechaan

The second consonant sound matches across consecutive lines ('Kaadhala', 'Kadavul').

Antithesis / Contrast

Sirikkira kaadhal murindhu vidum

Contrasting 'Sirikkira kaadhal' (smiling love that snaps) with 'Azhugura kaadhal' (crying love that stays strong).

Did you know?

Trivia

J. P. Chandrababu was famous for infusing Yodeling and scat-singing styles into Tamil film music. His distinctive laughters and vocal improvisations in this track alongside L. R. Eswari made it a memorable comedy duet of the 1960s.

Keep listening

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