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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pozhuthukku Munne

From Komatha En Kulamatha · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Komatha En Kulamatha1973

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Female
Yaei….ramu thambi…somu thambiHey... brother Ramu... brother Somu
Poda thambi….vegama poda thambi…yaei durrrGo brother... go fast brother... hey durrr
Chorus
Thanthana thanthaananaa thaana thanthanaanaaThanthana thanthaananaa thaana thanthanaanaa
Thanthana thanthaananaa thaana thanthanaanaaThanthana thanthaananaa thaana thanthanaanaa
Hoi….durrrrrrrr….Hoi.... durrrrrrrr....
Female
Pozhuthukku munnae oorukku povomWe will reach the village before sunset
Poda thambi po haei poda thambi poGo brother go, hey go brother go
Ponnaa poranthava thaniyaa poromBorn as a woman, I am traveling alone
Poda thambi po vegamaa poda thambi poGo brother go, go fast brother go
Female
Pozhuthukku munnae oorukku povomWe will reach the village before sunset
Poda thambi po haei poda thambi poGo brother go, hey go brother go
Ponnaa poranthava thaniyaa poromBorn as a woman, I am traveling alone
Poda thambi po vegamaa poda thambi poGo brother go, go fast brother go
Female
Oru kattu pulluA bundle of grass
Ongitta pottaa ozhaippaai neeyappaaIf thrown to you, you will toil diligently, my dear
Onakkoru manasai kanakkaa eduthuTaking precise measure of a noble heart for you
Padaichaan avanappaaThe Almighty created you, my dear
Female
Oru kattu pulluA bundle of grass
Ongitta pottaa ozhaippaai neeyappaaIf thrown to you, you will toil diligently, my dear
Onakkoru manasai kanakkaa eduthuTaking precise measure of a noble heart for you
Padaichaan avanappaaThe Almighty created you, my dear
Female
Oru jodi kaalai…hae…hae…hae…yae…A pair of bulls... hae... hae... hae... yae...
Oru jodi kaalai nambidum veeduA house that trusts a pair of bulls
Valarththaalae pothum urupadum naduIf nurtured, the nation itself will prosper
Chorus
Trriyo….trriyo….trriyo….trriyoTrriyo....trriyo....trriyo....trriyo
Ramu thambi….po….Brother Ramu.... go....
Trriyo….trriyo….trriyo….trriyoTrriyo....trriyo....trriyo....trriyo
Somu thambi….Brother Somu....
Chorus
Trriyo….trriyo….trriyo….trriyoTrriyo....trriyo....trriyo....trriyo
Ramu thambi….po….Brother Ramu.... go....
Trriyo….trriyo….trriyo….trriyoTrriyo....trriyo....trriyo....trriyo
Somu thambi….Brother Somu....
Female
Pozhuthukku munnae oorukku povomWe will reach the village before sunset
Poda thambi po haei poda thambi poGo brother go, hey go brother go
Ponnaa poranthava thaniyaa poromBorn as a woman, I am traveling alone
Poda thambi po vegamaa poda thambi poGo brother go, go fast brother go
Female
Aruvadaiyaana pudhu nellaiyellaamAll the newly harvested paddy
Adaivaan mudhalaaliThe landlord claims it for himself
Anjukku rendu pangu eduthuTaking two shares out of five
Vaazhvaan thozhilaaliThe working class laborer survives
Female
Nadamaadum kaalam aa…aa…aa…aa… hae…The era we walk through... aa... aa... aa... aa... hae...
Nadamaadum kaalam kalikaalam thambiThe era we live in is Kali Yuga, brother
Namai kakka venum nam kaiyai nambiTo protect ourselves, we must rely on our own hands
Chorus
Trriyo….trriyo….trriyo….trriyoTrriyo....trriyo....trriyo....trriyo
Ramu thambi….po….Brother Ramu.... go....
Trriyo….trriyo….trriyo….trriyoTrriyo....trriyo....trriyo....trriyo
Somu thambi….Brother Somu....
Chorus
Trriyo….trriyo….trriyo….trriyoTrriyo....trriyo....trriyo....trriyo
Ramu thambi….po….Brother Ramu.... go....
Trriyo….trriyo….trriyo….trriyoTrriyo....trriyo....trriyo....trriyo
Somu thambi….Brother Somu....
Female
Pozhuthukku munnae oorukku povomWe will reach the village before sunset
Poda thambi po haei poda thambi poGo brother go, hey go brother go
Ponnaa poranthava thaniyaa poromBorn as a woman, I am traveling alone
Poda thambi po vegamaa poda thambi poGo brother go, go fast brother go
Chorus
Thanthana thanthaananaa thaana thanthanaanaaThanthana thanthaananaa thaana thanthanaanaa
Thanthana thanthaananaa thaana thanthanaanaaThanthana thanthaananaa thaana thanthanaanaa
Hoi….durrrrrrrr….Hoi.... durrrrrrrr....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the film 'Komatha En Kulamatha' (1973) is a rustic rural bullock-cart song sung by a woman addressing her two bulls, affectionately named Ramu and Somu. She urges them to speed up so they can reach the destination before nightfall, expressing her vulnerability as a woman traveling alone in rural surroundings. She praises the loyalty and hard work of the bulls, who ask for nothing more than a bundle of grass, highlighting how fundamental agricultural cattle are to the prosperity of the entire nation. The lyricist Kannadasan weaves social commentary into the song, lamenting the plight of agricultural laborers who work hard to harvest grain only for the majority share to go to the landlord. He touches upon the reality of the present times (Kali Yuga), advising self-reliance and unity while navigating social inequalities. Shankar-Ganesh's composition utilizes authentic rural cart-driver sounds, and P. Susheela delivers an expressive rendering full of rural warmth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edukku (Second letter rhyming)

“Pozhuthukku munnae oorukku povom / Poda thambi po haei poda thambi po”

The second letter 'da' rhymes between 'Poda' and 'Ponnaa' (or 'Pozhuthukku' and 'Poda'), creating rhythmic harmony suited for a bullock cart ride.

Personification

“Yaei….ramu thambi…somu thambi”

The singer treats her two bulls (Ramu and Somu) as human brothers ('thambi') and attributes a conscious heart ('manasu') to them.

Onomatopoeia

“Trriyo….trriyo….trriyo….trriyo”

Use of sound words traditional to cart drivers in Tamil Nadu, such as 'durrrrrrrr' and 'trriyo', mimicking bullock driving calls.

Social Metaphor / Critique

“Aruvadaiyaana pudhu nellaiyellaam / Adaivaan mudhalaali / Anjukku rendu pangu eduthu / Vaazhvaan thozhilaali”

Kannadasan highlights agrarian exploitation where the landlord takes the lion's share while the laborer gets only two shares out of five.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Komatha En Kulamatha' (1973) was a Tamil movie centered around rural life, cattle reverence, and agricultural traditions. The music duo Shankar-Ganesh composed the soundtrack, and lyricist Kannadasan wrote simple yet deeply reflective folk-style verses. P. Susheela's lively vocal performance perfectly captured the authentic voice of a rural Tamil woman driving a bullock cart.

Keep listening

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