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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poravale Ponnuthayi

From Rayilukku Neramachu · 1988

Lyricist
S. A. Rajkumar
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha
Music director
S. A. Rajkumar
Details
Rayilukku Neramachu1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Poravalae ponnuththaayiOh Ponnuthayi who is leaving,
Naanum vaaraen nillu thaayiI am also coming, wait for me.
Poravalae ponnuththaayiOh Ponnuthayi who is leaving,
Naanum vaaraen nillu thaayiI am also coming, wait for me.
Male
Thedi vantha sodik kiliThe paired parrot that came searching,
Odi vittaal aaaathadiHas run away, oh my goodness!
Male
Poravalae ponnuththaayiOh Ponnuthayi who is leaving,
Naanum vaaraen nillu thaayiI am also coming, wait for me.
Male
Kallodu kadal urasaAs the sea brushes against the rocks,
Kadalu thanniya meenu urasaAs the fish brushes against the sea water,
Unnodu naanurasaWhen I brush against you,
Oorukkellaam theriyumadiThe whole village will know, my girl.
Male
Mookkuththi muththazhagiBeautiful girl adorned with a nose-ring,
Vaakku maranthathennaWhy did you forget your promise?
Poovellaam needhaanaeYou are all the flowers to me,
Pozhuthellaam nenaichchenaeI thought of you all day long.
Thottu pesi vittu ponaaIf you talk intimately and then abandon me,
Ketta peru yaarukkuWho gets the bad reputation?
Male
Poravalae ponnuththaayiOh Ponnuthayi who is leaving,
Naanum vaaraen nillu thaayiI am also coming, wait for me.
Thedi vantha sodik kiliThe paired parrot that came searching,
Odi vittaal aaaathadiHas run away, oh my goodness!
Female
Aaraaro aariraaro kannmaniyaeLullaby, lullaby, my precious darling,
Onn aaththaalum paatteduththaen kannuranguEven your mother sang a song, sleep now my child.
Suruththa puliya maram kannmaniyaeLike a shade-giving dense tamarind tree, my precious darling,
Nee soodhaadum Nanthavana kannmaniyae…ae….You are the flower garden where love plays, my precious darling...
Male
Maiyala thanthuvittu maraiyaathae ponmayilaeDo not disappear after giving me your love, my golden peacock.
Vellariya veyyil pada viduveno kannmaniyaeWould I let the harsh sun scorch you, my tender darling?
Nadhi mela varum odam nadhikku sontham aagaathadiA boat floating on the river does not belong to the river itself, my girl.
Kanneera kandaalumae karaiyaatho en theagamaeEven upon seeing tears, won't my heart and body melt?
Santhegam kollaathae antha saami kaaththidumDo not doubt my love, that Almighty will protect us.
Male
Poravalae ponnuththaayiOh Ponnuthayi who is leaving,
Naanum vaaraen nillu thaayiI am also coming, wait for me.
Poravalae ponnuththaayiOh Ponnuthayi who is leaving,
Naanum vaaraen nillu thaayiI am also coming, wait for me.
Thedi vantha sodik kiliThe paired parrot that came searching,
Odi vittaal aaaathadiHas run away, oh my goodness!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Poravalae Ponnuththaayi' is a soulful, folk-infused romantic track from the 1988 film 'Rayilukku Neramachu'. The song captures the raw emotions of a lover addressing his beloved, Ponnuthayi, as she prepares to depart. Through tender appeals and rural expressions, he implores her to stay or let him accompany her, reminding her of their promises and how deeply embedded she is in his everyday life. The lyrics rely heavily on pastoral metaphors—comparing emotional closeness to waves crashing against rocks and fish moving through sea waters. The singer reassures his beloved of his devotion, promising to protect her from life's hardships while pleading against the pain of separation and misunderstandings.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Poravalae ponnuththaayi / Naanum vaaraen nillu thaayi

The lines end with identical rhyming suffixes 'ponnuththaayi' and 'nillu thaayi', giving the refrain a rhythmic folk cadence.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Thedi vantha sodik kili

The beloved is affectionately compared to a 'sodik kili' (paired companion parrot) that searched for love.

Visual Imagery (Katchi Bimbam)

Kallodu kadal urasa / Kadalu thanniya meenu urasa

Paints vivid natural images of waves rubbing against coastal rocks and fish swimming in sea water to evoke natural intimacy.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Rayilukku Neramachu' (1988) featured lyricist S. A. Rajkumar in his early career phase. Rajkumar later transitioned into a highly successful and award-winning music composer in Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada cinema during the 1990s and 2000s.

Keep listening

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