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Rathinapuri Ilavarasi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Porumai Orunaal Pongi

From Rathinapuri Ilavarasi · 1960

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singer
T. R. Mahalingam
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Rathinapuri Ilavarasi
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
28 Apr 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Yen endru ketkavae
aal illai enbathaalae
Thaan endra agangaaram
thalai virithu aaduthada
Oonuruga ezhaigalin
ullam ellaam punaaga
Uyirodu kolbavanai kaalam
uyarvaai madhikuthada…aa..aa..
Porumai orunaal pongi ezhundhaal
boomi nadungumada
Kodumai puriyum paadhaganai
avan kuraigal vizhungamada
Kodumai puriyum paadhaganai
avan kuraigal vizhungamada
Porumai orunaal pongi ezhundhaal
boomi nadungumada
Kaalaiyaagi madhiyamaagi maalaiyaanadhu pala poludhu
Maalaiyaagi pagalum mudinthu
Irulum ponadhu pala iravu
Gnyaalam muluvadhumae
aalgindra kadhiron
Vaazhvellam oru naal vaazhvadhendraal
Dhinam theeradha veriyodu
Poraadum manidhan
Per aasai nilaithanai enendru solven
Porumai orunaal pongi ezhundhaal
boomi nadungumada
Maanam endrae mangai azhudhaal
Inbamendrae nagaippaanae
Vazhavayadhil seidha vinaiyai
Vaazhvu mudivil ninaipaanae
Thaanaaga sirippaan thaanaaga aluvaan
Kaanadha kanavum kaanbaanae
Avan aanaandha vaazhvendru eenangal thedi
Koonaagi oonaagi koodaagi poovaan
Porumai orunaal pongi ezhundhaal
boomi nadungumada
Kodumai puriyum paadhaganai
avan kuraigal vizhungamada
Just because there is no one
to question and ask "Why?",
the arrogance of "I"
runs wildly out of control!
Melting their flesh and
deeply wounding the hearts of the poor,
the one who slowly kills them alive—time
still holds him in high regard! Ah...
If patience erupts one day,
the earth will tremble!
The villain who commits cruel deeds,
his own evil will swallow him whole!
The villain who commits cruel deeds,
his own evil will swallow him whole!
If patience erupts one day,
the earth will tremble!
Many a day turned from morning to noon to evening;
after evening, the daylight ended,
and darkness passed through many a night.
Even for the sun that rules
over the entire world,
if its life is lived just one day at a time,
then man, who struggles daily
with an unquenchable frenzy—
how can I describe the depths of his greed?
If patience erupts one day,
the earth will tremble!
When a woman weeps for her honour,
he laughs, taking it as pleasure!
The sins he committed in the prime of youth,
he will remember at the end of his life!
He will laugh to himself, he will weep by himself,
and he will see nightmares he never imagined!
Chasing vile acts thinking it is a joyful life,
he will end up bent, crippled, and a hollow shell!
If patience erupts one day,
the earth will tremble!
The villain who commits cruel deeds,
his own evil will swallow him whole!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic philosophical Tamil song composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and penned by Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram serves as a stern warning against tyranny, greed, and arrogance. It depicts how oppressors act ruthlessly when there is no opposition, causing severe suffering to the poor and disrespecting the dignity of women. However, the song reminds us that justice and time are relentless; when the tolerance of the oppressed finally breaks, it creates a powerful upheaval that brings down tyrants. Ultimately, men who act with unchecked greed and commit sins in their youth face psychological ruin, physical decay, and retribution in their old age, consumed by their own misdeeds.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Porumai orunaal pongi ezhundhaal / Kodumai puriyum paadhaganai”

Matching of second consonants across lines ('Porumai' and 'Kodumai') creates a rhythmic cadence in the chorus.

Monai (Alliteration)

“Porumai orunaal pongi ezhundhaal”

Repetition of the initial letter 'P' in 'Porumai' and 'pongi' adds oral resonance.

Personification

“Kodumai puriyum paadhaganai avan kuraigal vizhungamada”

Attributes the human action of 'swallowing' to abstract faults/sins ('kuraigal vizhungamada').

Visual Imagery & Gradation

“Koonaagi oonaagi koodaagi poovaan”

Describes physical aging and decay progressively using vivid imagery ('Koonaagi' - hunchbacked, 'oonaagi' - emaciated, 'koodaagi' - reduced to a shell).

Did you know?

Trivia

Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, popularly known as 'Makkal Kavignar' (People's Poet), was famous for embedding leftist and egalitarian philosophy into mainstream film songs. Delivered in T. R. Mahalingam's powerful high-pitched voice, 'Porumai Orunaal' remains one of the most celebrated moral and social critique songs in Tamil cinema.

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