- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, B. Vasantha
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Sumathi En Sundari
- Movie release year
- 1971
- Lyrics added on
- 14 Jan 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Pottu Vaitha Mugamo is an iconic romantic song from the 1971 Tamil film Sumathi En Sundari. In this song, the protagonist passionately praises the radiant beauty of his beloved. He expresses his wonder through lyrical questions, comparing her facial features, hair, skin tone, and gentle smile to mesmerising natural phenomena like the golden evening sky, bright turmeric hues, and fine jewelry. The lyrics progressively build a vivid romantic atmosphere filled with imagery of sunset, wedding altars, and ethereal presence. Written by master lyricist Kannadasan, the song encapsulates playful romance, visual elegance, and emotional warmth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Simile)
“Sevvaanam polae punnagai purindhaal”
Comparing her radiant smile to the red evening twilight sky using the word 'polae'.
Etukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Tharaiyodu vaanam... / Idaiyodu paarthaen...”
Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'rai' and 'dai' across consecutive lines.
Metaphor & Visual Imagery
“Oliyaaga thondri nizhal pol maraindhaal”
Describing the heroine's movement as light appearing and then fading into a shadow.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Pottu vaitha mugamo / Katti vaitha kuzhalo / Pon mani charamo”
Repeated end sounds creating a musical rhythm in descriptive questions.
Did you know?
Trivia
Sumathi En Sundari (1971) features Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa in the lead roles. The film's music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, and this classic duet was rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, becoming one of the most beloved romantic tracks in Tamil cinema history.
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