Pothigaimalai Santhaname
From Akkarai Pachchai · 1974
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Akkarai Pachchai1974
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aaaaaaa….aaa…..aaa….aa….. | Aaaaaaa….aaa…..aaa….aa….. |
| Haa……aaa….aaa…. | Haa……aaa….aaa…. |
| Female | |
| Podhigai malai santhanamae | O sandalwood of the Podhigai hills! |
| Poojai seiyum manthiramae | O sacred chant recited during worship! |
| Podhigai malai santhanamae | O sandalwood of the Podhigai hills! |
| Poojai seiyum manthiramae | O sacred chant recited during worship! |
| Madhurai nagar veedhiyilae | On the streets of the city of Madurai, |
| Valaiya varum ilangkaatrae | O gentle southern breeze wandering around! |
| Madhurai nagar veedhiyilae | On the streets of the city of Madurai, |
| Valaiya varum ilangkaatrae | O gentle southern breeze wandering around! |
| Female | |
| Podhigai malai santhanamae | O sandalwood of the Podhigai hills! |
| Poojai seiyum manthiramae | O sacred chant recited during worship! |
| Female | |
| Maalaiyil aadidum malargal irandu | Among the two flowers swaying in the evening garland, |
| Oru malar naanaavaen | I shall become one of those flowers. |
| Maalaiyil aadidum malargal irandu | Among the two flowers swaying in the evening garland, |
| Oru malar naanaavaen | I shall become one of those flowers. |
| Mangala sangkoli pongidum isaiyil | To the auspicious music of overflowing conch shells, |
| Manamagal naanaavaen | I shall become the bride. |
| Mangala sangkoli pongidum isaiyil | To the auspicious music of overflowing conch shells, |
| Manamagal naanaavaen | I shall become the bride. |
| Panjnaiyil unai konjugaiyil | When fondling you on the soft bed, |
| Pasum paalinil pazhamaavaen | I shall blend like sweet fruit in fresh milk. |
| Isai pannoli kaakka nee menmozhiyil | As you speak soft words to cherish the musical melody, |
| Thamizh vinaiyai polaavaen | I shall become like a classic Tamil epic. |
| Female | |
| Podhigai malai santhanamae | O sandalwood of the Podhigai hills! |
| Poojai seiyum manthiramae | O sacred chant recited during worship! |
| Female | |
| Gangaiyai poloru punniya nadhiyil | In a holy river sacred as the Ganges, |
| Kaadhalil nee aada | As you bathe in love, |
| Gangaiyai poloru punniya nadhiyil | In a holy river sacred as the Ganges, |
| Kaadhalil nee aada | As you bathe in love, |
| Kannanin aalaya kalasamirandum | Like the twin golden finials atop Lord Krishna's temple, |
| Kaaviya kavi paada | Singing classic poetry, |
| Kannanin aalaya kalasamirandum | Like the twin golden finials atop Lord Krishna's temple, |
| Kaaviya kavi paada | Singing classic poetry, |
| Kai valaiyum iru mai vizhiyil | With jingling bangles and kohl-lined eyes, |
| Andha kalaiyinil arangkaera | To perform on the stage of that fine art, |
| Ilam kanni magal ival ponnazhagu | May the golden beauty of this young maiden |
| Vilaiyaadattum medhuvaaga | Gently play and blossom. |
| Female | |
| Podhigai malai santhanamae | O sandalwood of the Podhigai hills! |
| Poojai seiyum manthiramae | O sacred chant recited during worship! |
| Madhurai nagar veedhiyilae | On the streets of the city of Madurai, |
| Valaiya varum ilangkaatrae | O gentle southern breeze wandering around! |
| Female | |
| Podhigai malai santhanamae | O sandalwood of the Podhigai hills! |
| Poojai seiyum manthiramae | O sacred chant recited during worship! |
ஆஆஆ.......ஆஅ......ஆஅ.....ஆ.....
ஹா......ஆஆ......ஆஅ......
Aaaaaaa….aaa…..aaa….aa…..
Haa……aaa….aaa….
பொதிகை மலை சந்தனமே
பூஜை செய்யும் மந்திரமே
பொதிகை மலை சந்தனமே
பூஜை செய்யும் மந்திரமே
மதுரை நகர் வீதியிலே
வளைய வரும் இளங்காற்றே
மதுரை நகர் வீதியிலே
வளைய வரும் இளங்காற்றே
O sandalwood of the Podhigai hills!
O sacred chant recited during worship!
O sandalwood of the Podhigai hills!
O sacred chant recited during worship!
On the streets of the city of Madurai,
O gentle southern breeze wandering around!
On the streets of the city of Madurai,
O gentle southern breeze wandering around!
பொதிகை மலை சந்தனமே
பூஜை செய்யும் மந்திரமே
O sandalwood of the Podhigai hills!
O sacred chant recited during worship!
மாலையில் ஆடிடும் மலர்கள் இரண்டு
ஒரு மலர் நானாவேன்
மாலையில் ஆடிடும் மலர்கள் இரண்டு
ஒரு மலர் நானாவேன்
மங்கல சங்கொலி பொங்கிடும் இசையில்
மணமகள் நானாவேன்
மங்கல சங்கொலி பொங்கிடும் இசையில்
மணமகள் நானாவேன்
பஞ்சணையில் உனைக் கொஞ்சுகையில்
பசும் பாலினில் பழமாவேன்
இசை பண்ணொலி காக்க நீ மென்மொழியில்
தமிழ் வீணையைப் போலாவேன்
Among the two flowers swaying in the evening garland,
I shall become one of those flowers.
Among the two flowers swaying in the evening garland,
I shall become one of those flowers.
To the auspicious music of overflowing conch shells,
I shall become the bride.
To the auspicious music of overflowing conch shells,
I shall become the bride.
When fondling you on the soft bed,
I shall blend like sweet fruit in fresh milk.
As you speak soft words to cherish the musical melody,
I shall become like a classic Tamil epic.
பொதிகை மலை சந்தனமே
பூஜை செய்யும் மந்திரமே
O sandalwood of the Podhigai hills!
O sacred chant recited during worship!
கங்கையைப் போலொரு புண்ணிய நதியில்
காதலில் நீ ஆட
கங்கையைப் போலொரு புண்ணிய நதியில்
காதலில் நீ ஆட
கண்ணனின் ஆலயக் கலசமிரண்டும்
காவியக் கவி பாட
கண்ணனின் ஆலயக் கலசமிரண்டும்
காவியக் கவி பாட
கை வளையும் இரு மை விழியில்
அந்தக் கலையினில் அரங்கேற
இளம் கன்னி மகள் இவள் பொன்னழகு
விளையாடட்டும் மெதுவாக
In a holy river sacred as the Ganges,
As you bathe in love,
In a holy river sacred as the Ganges,
As you bathe in love,
Like the twin golden finials atop Lord Krishna's temple,
Singing classic poetry,
Like the twin golden finials atop Lord Krishna's temple,
Singing classic poetry,
With jingling bangles and kohl-lined eyes,
To perform on the stage of that fine art,
May the golden beauty of this young maiden
Gently play and blossom.
பொதிகை மலை சந்தனமே
பூஜை செய்யும் மந்திரமே
மதுரை நகர் வீதியிலே
வளைய வரும் இளங்காற்றே
O sandalwood of the Podhigai hills!
O sacred chant recited during worship!
On the streets of the city of Madurai,
O gentle southern breeze wandering around!
பொதிகை மலை சந்தனமே
பூஜை செய்யும் மந்திரமே
O sandalwood of the Podhigai hills!
O sacred chant recited during worship!
Aaaaaaa….aaa…..aaa….aa…..
Aaaaaaa….aaa…..aaa….aa…..
Haa……aaa….aaa….
Haa……aaa….aaa….
Podhigai malai santhanamae
O sandalwood of the Podhigai hills!
Poojai seiyum manthiramae
O sacred chant recited during worship!
Podhigai malai santhanamae
O sandalwood of the Podhigai hills!
Poojai seiyum manthiramae
O sacred chant recited during worship!
Madhurai nagar veedhiyilae
On the streets of the city of Madurai,
Valaiya varum ilangkaatrae
O gentle southern breeze wandering around!
Madhurai nagar veedhiyilae
On the streets of the city of Madurai,
Valaiya varum ilangkaatrae
O gentle southern breeze wandering around!
Podhigai malai santhanamae
O sandalwood of the Podhigai hills!
Poojai seiyum manthiramae
O sacred chant recited during worship!
Maalaiyil aadidum malargal irandu
Among the two flowers swaying in the evening garland,
Oru malar naanaavaen
I shall become one of those flowers.
Maalaiyil aadidum malargal irandu
Among the two flowers swaying in the evening garland,
Oru malar naanaavaen
I shall become one of those flowers.
Mangala sangkoli pongidum isaiyil
To the auspicious music of overflowing conch shells,
Manamagal naanaavaen
I shall become the bride.
Mangala sangkoli pongidum isaiyil
To the auspicious music of overflowing conch shells,
Manamagal naanaavaen
I shall become the bride.
Panjnaiyil unai konjugaiyil
When fondling you on the soft bed,
Pasum paalinil pazhamaavaen
I shall blend like sweet fruit in fresh milk.
Isai pannoli kaakka nee menmozhiyil
As you speak soft words to cherish the musical melody,
Thamizh vinaiyai polaavaen
I shall become like a classic Tamil epic.
Podhigai malai santhanamae
O sandalwood of the Podhigai hills!
Poojai seiyum manthiramae
O sacred chant recited during worship!
Gangaiyai poloru punniya nadhiyil
In a holy river sacred as the Ganges,
Kaadhalil nee aada
As you bathe in love,
Gangaiyai poloru punniya nadhiyil
In a holy river sacred as the Ganges,
Kaadhalil nee aada
As you bathe in love,
Kannanin aalaya kalasamirandum
Like the twin golden finials atop Lord Krishna's temple,
Kaaviya kavi paada
Singing classic poetry,
Kannanin aalaya kalasamirandum
Like the twin golden finials atop Lord Krishna's temple,
Kaaviya kavi paada
Singing classic poetry,
Kai valaiyum iru mai vizhiyil
With jingling bangles and kohl-lined eyes,
Andha kalaiyinil arangkaera
To perform on the stage of that fine art,
Ilam kanni magal ival ponnazhagu
May the golden beauty of this young maiden
Vilaiyaadattum medhuvaaga
Gently play and blossom.
Podhigai malai santhanamae
O sandalwood of the Podhigai hills!
Poojai seiyum manthiramae
O sacred chant recited during worship!
Madhurai nagar veedhiyilae
On the streets of the city of Madurai,
Valaiya varum ilangkaatrae
O gentle southern breeze wandering around!
Podhigai malai santhanamae
O sandalwood of the Podhigai hills!
Poojai seiyum manthiramae
O sacred chant recited during worship!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a classical Tamil romantic piece from the movie Akkarai Pachchai (1974), where the heroine glorifies her lover and expresses her profound devotion to him. She compares her beloved to the revered sandalwood of the Podhigai mountains—the legendary birthplace of the Tamil language—and to the gentle breeze that strolls through the historic city of Madurai. Through poetic imagery, she visualizes becoming his bride under auspicious wedding chants and merging with him like sweet fruit dissolves in fresh milk. The lyrics sacredly equate their romantic unity to a holy bath in the Ganges and the majestic architecture of divine temples, capturing the purity and literary grandeur of traditional Tamil romance.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Podhigai malai santhanamae / Poojai seiyum manthiramae”
Directly equating the lover to the fragrant sandalwood of the Podhigai hills and a holy prayer chant.
Personification
“Madhurai nagar veedhiyilae / Valaiya varum ilangkaatrae”
Attributing human actions to the gentle breeze, depicting it as wandering through the streets of Madurai.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Pasum paalinil pazhamaavaen”
Comparing the intimacy of lovers blending together to fruit mixing into fresh milk.
Second-Letter Rhyme (Etai / Edugai)
“Podhigai malai santhanamae / Madhurai nagar veedhiyilae”
The second consonant sound 'dhi' matches in consecutive lines (Podhigai / Madhurai).
Did you know?
Trivia
The Podhigai mountain range mentioned in the song holds immense significance in Tamil heritage as it is revered as the home of Sage Agastya and the traditional birthplace of the Tamil language. The music for Akkarai Pachchai (1974) was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, with lyrics written by the celebrated poet Kannadasan.
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