Pottirunthum
From Poompuhar · 1964
- Lyricist
- Aalangudi Somu
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- R. Sudharsanam
- Details
- Poompuhar1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Pottirundhum poo irundhum | Though wearing a vermilion mark and flowers in my hair, |
| Punnagai illai | there is no smile upon my face. |
| Indha pootti vaitha kottaiyilae | Inside this locked palace, |
| Mannavan illai mannavan illai | my king is absent, my king is not here. |
| Female | |
| Kan irundhum paarppadharkku | Though I have eyes to look, |
| Kaatchi illai | there is no grand sight to behold. |
| Kan irundhum paarppadharkku | Though I have eyes to look, |
| Kaatchi illai | there is no grand sight to behold. |
| Kai irundhum saevai seiya | Though I have hands to serve, |
| Kadavul illai..en kadavul illai | my lord is not here... my divine husband is not here. |
| Female | |
| Pottirundhum poo irundhum | Though wearing a vermilion mark and flowers in my hair, |
| Punnagai illai | there is no smile upon my face. |
| Indha pootti vaitha kottaiyilae | Inside this locked palace, |
| Mannavan illai mannavan illai | my king is absent, my king is not here. |
| Female | |
| Kolam ittaen vaasalilae | I drew a decorative rangoli pattern at the threshold, |
| Azhiyavillai | yet it remains completely undisturbed. |
| Adhil kondavarin thiruvadigal | Upon it, my husband's sacred feet |
| Padhiyavillai padhiyavillai | have not stepped, have not stepped. |
| Female | |
| Kolam ittaen vaasalilae | I drew a decorative rangoli pattern at the threshold, |
| Azhiyavillai | yet it remains completely undisturbed. |
| Adhil kondavarin thiruvadigal | Upon it, my husband's sacred feet |
| Padhiyavillai padhiyavillai | have not stepped, have not stepped. |
| Female | |
| Thendralinai thoodhu vittaen | I dispatched the gentle breeze as my messenger, |
| Thirumbavillai | yet it has not returned back to me. |
| Thendralinai thoodhu vittaen | I dispatched the gentle breeze as my messenger, |
| Thirumbavillai | yet it has not returned back to me. |
| Nenjil thee moottum thanimaikken mel | Upon this painful solitude that ignites a fire inside my heart, |
| Irakkam illai irakkam illai | there is no compassion shown, no compassion shown. |
| Female | |
| Pottirundhum poo irundhum | Though wearing a vermilion mark and flowers in my hair, |
| Punnagai illai | there is no smile upon my face. |
| Indha pootti vaitha kottaiyilae | Inside this locked palace, |
| Mannavan illai mannavan illai | my king is absent, my king is not here. |
| Female | |
| Pottirundhum poo irundhum | Though wearing a vermilion mark and flowers in my hair, |
| Punnagai illai | there is no smile upon my face. |
| Indha pootti vaitha kottaiyilae | Inside this locked palace, |
| Mannavan illai mannavan illai | my king is absent, my king is not here. |
பொட்டிருந்தும் பூ இருந்தும்
புன்னகை இல்லை
இந்த பூட்டி வைத்த கோட்டையிலே
மன்னவன் இல்லை மன்னவன் இல்லை
Though wearing a vermilion mark and flowers in my hair,
there is no smile upon my face.
Inside this locked palace,
my king is absent, my king is not here.
கண் இருந்தும் பார்ப்பதற்கு
காட்சி இல்லை
கண் இருந்தும் பார்ப்பதற்கு காட்சி இல்லை
கை இருந்தும் சேவை செய்ய கடவுள் இல்லை
என் கடவுள் இல்லை
Though I have eyes to look,
there is no grand sight to behold.
Though I have eyes to look,
there is no grand sight to behold.
Though I have hands to serve,
my lord is not here... my divine husband is not here.
பொட்டிருந்தும் பூ இருந்தும்
புன்னகை இல்லை
இந்த பூட்டி வைத்த கோட்டையிலே
மன்னவன் இல்லை மன்னவன் இல்லை
Though wearing a vermilion mark and flowers in my hair,
there is no smile upon my face.
Inside this locked palace,
my king is absent, my king is not here.
கோலம் இட்டேன் வாசலிலே
அழியவில்லை
அதில் கொண்டவரின் திருவடிகள்
பதியவில்லை பதியவில்லை
I drew a decorative rangoli pattern at the threshold,
yet it remains completely undisturbed.
Upon it, my husband's sacred feet
have not stepped, have not stepped.
கோலம் இட்டேன் வாசலிலே
அழியவில்லை
அதில் கொண்டவரின் திருவடிகள்
பதியவில்லை பதியவில்லை
I drew a decorative rangoli pattern at the threshold,
yet it remains completely undisturbed.
Upon it, my husband's sacred feet
have not stepped, have not stepped.
தென்றலினை தூது விட்டேன்
திரும்பவில்லை
தென்றலினை தூது விட்டேன்
திரும்பவில்லை
நெஞ்சில் தீ மூட்டும் தனிமைக்கென் மேல்
இரக்கம் இல்லை இரக்கம் இல்லை
I dispatched the gentle breeze as my messenger,
yet it has not returned back to me.
I dispatched the gentle breeze as my messenger,
yet it has not returned back to me.
Upon this painful solitude that ignites a fire inside my heart,
there is no compassion shown, no compassion shown.
பொட்டிருந்தும் பூ இருந்தும்
புன்னகை இல்லை
இந்த பூட்டி வைத்த கோட்டையிலே
மன்னவன் இல்லை மன்னவன் இல்லை
Though wearing a vermilion mark and flowers in my hair,
there is no smile upon my face.
Inside this locked palace,
my king is absent, my king is not here.
பொட்டிருந்தும் பூ இருந்தும்
புன்னகை இல்லை
இந்த பூட்டி வைத்த கோட்டையிலே
மன்னவன் இல்லை மன்னவன் இல்லை
Though wearing a vermilion mark and flowers in my hair,
there is no smile upon my face.
Inside this locked palace,
my king is absent, my king is not here.
Pottirundhum poo irundhum
Though wearing a vermilion mark and flowers in my hair,
Punnagai illai
there is no smile upon my face.
Indha pootti vaitha kottaiyilae
Inside this locked palace,
Mannavan illai mannavan illai
my king is absent, my king is not here.
Kan irundhum paarppadharkku
Though I have eyes to look,
Kaatchi illai
there is no grand sight to behold.
Kan irundhum paarppadharkku
Though I have eyes to look,
Kaatchi illai
there is no grand sight to behold.
Kai irundhum saevai seiya
Though I have hands to serve,
Kadavul illai..en kadavul illai
my lord is not here... my divine husband is not here.
Pottirundhum poo irundhum
Though wearing a vermilion mark and flowers in my hair,
Punnagai illai
there is no smile upon my face.
Indha pootti vaitha kottaiyilae
Inside this locked palace,
Mannavan illai mannavan illai
my king is absent, my king is not here.
Kolam ittaen vaasalilae
I drew a decorative rangoli pattern at the threshold,
Azhiyavillai
yet it remains completely undisturbed.
Adhil kondavarin thiruvadigal
Upon it, my husband's sacred feet
Padhiyavillai padhiyavillai
have not stepped, have not stepped.
Kolam ittaen vaasalilae
I drew a decorative rangoli pattern at the threshold,
Azhiyavillai
yet it remains completely undisturbed.
Adhil kondavarin thiruvadigal
Upon it, my husband's sacred feet
Padhiyavillai padhiyavillai
have not stepped, have not stepped.
Thendralinai thoodhu vittaen
I dispatched the gentle breeze as my messenger,
Thirumbavillai
yet it has not returned back to me.
Thendralinai thoodhu vittaen
I dispatched the gentle breeze as my messenger,
Thirumbavillai
yet it has not returned back to me.
Nenjil thee moottum thanimaikken mel
Upon this painful solitude that ignites a fire inside my heart,
Irakkam illai irakkam illai
there is no compassion shown, no compassion shown.
Pottirundhum poo irundhum
Though wearing a vermilion mark and flowers in my hair,
Punnagai illai
there is no smile upon my face.
Indha pootti vaitha kottaiyilae
Inside this locked palace,
Mannavan illai mannavan illai
my king is absent, my king is not here.
Pottirundhum poo irundhum
Though wearing a vermilion mark and flowers in my hair,
Punnagai illai
there is no smile upon my face.
Indha pootti vaitha kottaiyilae
Inside this locked palace,
Mannavan illai mannavan illai
my king is absent, my king is not here.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song expresses the deep agony of separation experienced by Kannagi while waiting for her missing husband Kovalan in the Tamil classic epic Silappatikaram. Despite having all the auspicious adornments of a married woman—such as vermilion on her forehead and flowers in her hair—her heart remains utterly joyless without her beloved present.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Mona (Alliteration)
“Pottirundhum poo irundhum / Punnagai illai”
Repetition of initial consonants or vowels across words, such as 'Pottirundhum' and 'Punnagai' in the opening line.
Edukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Indha pootti vaitha kottaiyilae”
Matching of second consonants across lines, seen in 'Pottirundhum' (tt) and 'Kottaiyilae' (tt).
Metaphor & Imagery
“Nenjil thee moottum thanimaikken mel”
'Nenjil thee moottum thanimai' metaphorically compares painful loneliness to a burning flame ignited in the heart.
Personification
“Thendralinai thoodhu vittaen”
Treating the gentle southern wind ('Thendral') as a living messenger capable of carrying news and returning.
Did you know?
Trivia
Poompuhar (1964) is a iconic Tamil historical drama film based on the classical epic Silappatikaram written by Ilango Adigal. The film's screenplay was penned by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, and the music for this song was composed by R. Sudarsanam and sung by legendary playback singer P. Susheela.
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