Punnakaiyil Minsaram
From Bharathan · 1992
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Punnagaiyil minsaaram | Electricity in the smile |
| Ponga varum muthaaram | An overflowing pearl necklace |
| Alli edukka | To gather and take |
| Female | |
| Kannam ennum thaambaalam | The cheek is a brass platter |
| Kondu varum thaamboolam | Bringing betel leaves and nuts |
| Killi edukka | To pinch and pluck away |
| Male | |
| Aahaa kannan thunai raadhae raadhae | Ah, Krishna is your companion, Radhae, Radhae |
| Katti kollum maadhae maadhae nenjellaam | Oh woman who embraces, the entire heart is... |
| Jigujigu jamjam | Jigujigu jamjam (rhythmic beats) |
| Male | |
| Punnagaiyil minsaaram | Electricity in the smile |
| Ponga varum muthaaram | An overflowing pearl necklace |
| Alli edukka | To gather and take |
| Male | |
| Mandhirathai naan paada | As I chant the incantation |
| Andharathil nee aada | As you dance in mid-air |
| Sorgam thaan miga pakkam thaan | Heaven is very near indeed |
| Female | |
| Muthalandhu naan poda | As I invest the initial capital |
| Mukkaniyai nee thaeda | As you search for the three sacred fruits |
| Mella thaan idai thulla thaan | Slowly, for the waist to leap with joy |
| Male | |
| Veppangalum thaalaamal | Unable to bear the heat |
| Theppa kulam neendha | Swimming in the temple tank |
| Sengamalam thaanaaga ennai nerunga | The red lotus approaches me automatically |
| Female | |
| Sengamalam nogaamal | Without hurting the red lotus |
| Anbu karam yendha | Holding out loving hands |
| Sangamangal thaenaaga thithikka | For unions to be sweet like honey |
| Male | |
| Inbakkarai nee paadhi naan paadhi | Half the shore of bliss is you, half is me |
| Naal thorum solla thaan | To express every single day |
| Female | |
| Iru ullangalum poonthaerin melaeri | Both hearts mounting a flower chariot |
| Oorgolam sella thaan jigujigu jamjam | To go on a procession, jigujigu jamjam |
| Male | |
| Parappappa | Parappappa (vocal scatting) |
| Punnagaiyil minsaaram | Electricity in the smile |
| Ponga varum muthaaram | An overflowing pearl necklace |
| Alli edukka | To gather and take |
| Female | |
| Kannam ennum thaambaalam | The cheek is a brass platter |
| Kondu varum thaamboolam | Bringing betel leaves and nuts |
| Killi edukka | To pinch and pluck away |
| Male | |
| Aahaa kannan thunai raadhae raadhae | Ah, Krishna is your companion, Radhae, Radhae |
| Katti kollum maadhae maadhae nenjellaam | Oh woman who embraces, the entire heart is... |
| Jigujigu jamjam | Jigujigu jamjam (rhythmic beats) |
| Male | |
| Punnagaiyil minsaaram | Electricity in the smile |
| Ponga varum muthaaram | An overflowing pearl necklace |
| Alli edukka | To gather and take |
| Female | |
| Solliyadhu maalaadhu | What is spoken will not diminish |
| Solli solli theeraadhu | Talking endlessly will not exhaust it |
| Nitham thaan oru pitham thaan | Every day is a state of madness |
| Male | |
| Porkalasam melaada | As the golden pot sways above |
| Paingodiyum poraada | As the green creeper struggles |
| Ammammaa thuyar yennammaa | Oh my, what sorrow is this! |
| Female | |
| Vennilavu pol indha | Like the full moon |
| Pennilavu thaeya | As this woman-moon wanes |
| Vetkangalai paakkaamal | Disregarding shyness |
| Katti thazhuvu | Hold tight and embrace |
| Male | |
| Haa palliyarai raajaangam | Ah, the kingdom of the bedchamber |
| Ennavendru thaanae | What it truly is |
| Nalliravil neeyaaga cholli thaa | You yourself teach me in the dead of night |
| Female | |
| Solli thara nee kaettu paai pottu | Asking to teach, laying the mat |
| Thaen paattu ketka thaan | To listen to the honeyed song |
| Male | |
| Sugam alli thara innaalum vandhaalae | Since this day too arrived to offer pleasure |
| Kannae en kannammaa jigujigu jamjam | My dear, my Kannamma, jigujigu jamjam |
| Female | |
| Kannam yennum thaambaalam | The cheek is a brass platter |
| Kondu varum thaamboolam | Bringing betel leaves and nuts |
| Killi edukka | To pinch and pluck away |
| Male | |
| Thara rarat thatthattha thatthat thatthaa | Thara rarat thatthattha thatthat thatthaa (rhythmic syllables) |
| Punnagaiyil minsaaram | Electricity in the smile |
| Ponga varum mutthaaram | An overflowing pearl necklace |
| Alli edukka | To gather and take |
| Male | |
| Kannan thunai raadhae raadhae | Krishna is companion, Radhae, Radhae |
| Katti kollum maadhae maadhae nenjellaam | Oh woman who embraces, the entire heart is... |
| Jigujigu jamjam | Jigujigu jamjam (rhythmic beats) |
| Female | |
| Kannam ennum thaambaalam | The cheek is a brass platter |
| Kondu varum thaamboolam | Bringing betel leaves and nuts |
| Killi edukka | To pinch and pluck away |
| Male | |
| Thaguthaguttha thatthat thaguttha | Thaguthaguttha thatthat thaguttha (rhythmic syllables) |
| Thaarat thatthat thagathathaa | Thaarat thatthat thagathathaa (rhythmic syllables) |
| Thaguthat thattha thaguthat thatthattha thaguthatthaa | Thaguthat thattha thaguthat thatthattha thaguthatthaa (rhythmic syllables) |
| Thaathugu thuguthugu thatthat thuguthuguthaka thaa | Thaathugu thuguthugu thatthat thuguthuguthaka thaa (rhythmic syllables) |
புன்னகையில் மின்சாரம்
பொங்க வரும் முத்தாரம்
அள்ளியெடுக்க
Electricity in the smile
An overflowing pearl necklace
To gather and take
கன்னம் என்னும் தாம்பாளம்
கொண்டு வரும் தாம்பூலம்
கிள்ளியெடுக்க
The cheek is a brass platter
Bringing betel leaves and nuts
To pinch and pluck away
ஆஹா......கண்ணன் துணை ராதே ராதே
கட்டிக் கொள்ளும் மாதே மாதே நெஞ்செல்லாம்
ஜிகுஜிகு ஜம்ஜம்
Ah, Krishna is your companion, Radhae, Radhae
Oh woman who embraces, the entire heart is...
Jigujigu jamjam (rhythmic beats)
புன்னகையில் மின்சாரம்
பொங்க வரும் முத்தாரம்
அள்ளியெடுக்க
Electricity in the smile
An overflowing pearl necklace
To gather and take
மந்திரத்தை நான் பாட
அந்தரத்தில் நீயாட
சொர்க்கந்தான் மிகப் பக்கந்தான்
As I chant the incantation
As you dance in mid-air
Heaven is very near indeed
முத்தளந்து நான் போட
முக்கனியை நீ தேட
மெல்லத்தான் இடை துள்ளத்தான்
As I invest the initial capital
As you search for the three sacred fruits
Slowly, for the waist to leap with joy
வெப்பங்களும் தாளாமல்
தெப்பக்குளம் நீந்த
செங்கமலம் தானாக என்னை நெருங்க
Unable to bear the heat
Swimming in the temple tank
The red lotus approaches me automatically
செங்கமலம் நோகாமல்
அன்புக்கரம் ஏந்த
சங்கமங்கள் தேனாகத் தித்திக்க
Without hurting the red lotus
Holding out loving hands
For unions to be sweet like honey
இன்பக் கதை நீ பாதி நான் பாதி
நாள்தோறும் சொல்லத்தான்
Half the shore of bliss is you, half is me
To express every single day
இரு உள்ளங்களும் பூந்தேரின் மேலேறி
ஊர்கோலம் செல்லத்தான்
ஜிகுஜிகு ஜம்ஜம்........
Both hearts mounting a flower chariot
To go on a procession, jigujigu jamjam
பரப்பப்ப
புன்னகையில் மின்சாரம்
பொங்க வரும் முத்தாரம்
அள்ளியெடுக்க
Parappappa (vocal scatting)
Electricity in the smile
An overflowing pearl necklace
To gather and take
கன்னம் என்னும் தாம்பாளம்
கொண்டு வரும் தாம்பூலம்
கிள்ளியெடுக்க
The cheek is a brass platter
Bringing betel leaves and nuts
To pinch and pluck away
ஆஹா......கண்ணன் துணை ராதே ராதே
கட்டிக் கொள்ளும் மாதே மாதே நெஞ்செல்லாம்
ஜிகுஜிகு ஜம்ஜம்
Ah, Krishna is your companion, Radhae, Radhae
Oh woman who embraces, the entire heart is...
Jigujigu jamjam (rhythmic beats)
புன்னகையில் மின்சாரம்
பொங்க வரும் முத்தாரம்
அள்ளியெடுக்க
Electricity in the smile
An overflowing pearl necklace
To gather and take
சொல்லியது மாளாது......
சொல்லிச் சொல்லித் தீராது
நித்தந்தான் ஒரு பித்தந்தான்
What is spoken will not diminish
Talking endlessly will not exhaust it
Every day is a state of madness
பொற்கலசம் மேலாட
பைங்கொடியும் போராட
அம்மம்மா......துயர் என்னம்மா
As the golden pot sways above
As the green creeper struggles
Oh my, what sorrow is this!
வெண்ணிலவு போல் இந்தப்
பெண்ணிலவு தேய
வெட்கங்களைப் பார்க்காமல்
கட்டித் தழுவு
Like the full moon
As this woman-moon wanes
Disregarding shyness
Hold tight and embrace
ஹா......பள்ளியறை ராஜாங்கம்
என்னவென்றுதானே
நள்ளிரவில் நீயாகச் சொல்லித் தா
Ah, the kingdom of the bedchamber
What it truly is
You yourself teach me in the dead of night
சொல்லித் தர நீ கேட்டுப் பாய் போட்டுத்
தேன் பாட்டுக் கேட்கத்தான்
Asking to teach, laying the mat
To listen to the honeyed song
சுகம் அள்ளித் தர எந்நாளும் வந்தாளே
கண்ணே என் கண்ணம்மா
ஜிகுஜிகு ஜம்ஜம்
Since this day too arrived to offer pleasure
My dear, my Kannamma, jigujigu jamjam
கன்னம் என்னும் தாம்பாளம்
கொண்டு வரும் தாம்பூலம்
கிள்ளியெடுக்க
The cheek is a brass platter
Bringing betel leaves and nuts
To pinch and pluck away
தர ரத் ததத்தா தத்தத் தத்தா
புன்னகையில் மின்சாரம்
பொங்க வரும் முத்தாரம்
அள்ளியெடுக்க
Thara rarat thatthattha thatthat thatthaa (rhythmic syllables)
Electricity in the smile
An overflowing pearl necklace
To gather and take
கண்ணன் துணை ராதே ராதே
கட்டிக் கொள்ளும் மாதே மாதே நெஞ்செல்லாம்
ஜிகுஜிகு ஜம்ஜம்
Krishna is companion, Radhae, Radhae
Oh woman who embraces, the entire heart is...
Jigujigu jamjam (rhythmic beats)
கன்னம் என்னும் தாம்பாளம்
கொண்டு வரும் தாம்பூலம்
கிள்ளியெடுக்க
The cheek is a brass platter
Bringing betel leaves and nuts
To pinch and pluck away
............................................
Thaguthaguttha thatthat thaguttha (rhythmic syllables)
Thaarat thatthat thagathathaa (rhythmic syllables)
Thaguthat thattha thaguthat thatthattha thaguthatthaa (rhythmic syllables)
Thaathugu thuguthugu thatthat thuguthuguthaka thaa (rhythmic syllables)
Punnagaiyil minsaaram
Electricity in the smile
Ponga varum muthaaram
An overflowing pearl necklace
Alli edukka
To gather and take
Kannam ennum thaambaalam
The cheek is a brass platter
Kondu varum thaamboolam
Bringing betel leaves and nuts
Killi edukka
To pinch and pluck away
Aahaa kannan thunai raadhae raadhae
Ah, Krishna is your companion, Radhae, Radhae
Katti kollum maadhae maadhae nenjellaam
Oh woman who embraces, the entire heart is...
Jigujigu jamjam
Jigujigu jamjam (rhythmic beats)
Punnagaiyil minsaaram
Electricity in the smile
Ponga varum muthaaram
An overflowing pearl necklace
Alli edukka
To gather and take
Mandhirathai naan paada
As I chant the incantation
Andharathil nee aada
As you dance in mid-air
Sorgam thaan miga pakkam thaan
Heaven is very near indeed
Muthalandhu naan poda
As I invest the initial capital
Mukkaniyai nee thaeda
As you search for the three sacred fruits
Mella thaan idai thulla thaan
Slowly, for the waist to leap with joy
Veppangalum thaalaamal
Unable to bear the heat
Theppa kulam neendha
Swimming in the temple tank
Sengamalam thaanaaga ennai nerunga
The red lotus approaches me automatically
Sengamalam nogaamal
Without hurting the red lotus
Anbu karam yendha
Holding out loving hands
Sangamangal thaenaaga thithikka
For unions to be sweet like honey
Inbakkarai nee paadhi naan paadhi
Half the shore of bliss is you, half is me
Naal thorum solla thaan
To express every single day
Iru ullangalum poonthaerin melaeri
Both hearts mounting a flower chariot
Oorgolam sella thaan jigujigu jamjam
To go on a procession, jigujigu jamjam
Parappappa
Parappappa (vocal scatting)
Punnagaiyil minsaaram
Electricity in the smile
Ponga varum muthaaram
An overflowing pearl necklace
Alli edukka
To gather and take
Kannam ennum thaambaalam
The cheek is a brass platter
Kondu varum thaamboolam
Bringing betel leaves and nuts
Killi edukka
To pinch and pluck away
Aahaa kannan thunai raadhae raadhae
Ah, Krishna is your companion, Radhae, Radhae
Katti kollum maadhae maadhae nenjellaam
Oh woman who embraces, the entire heart is...
Jigujigu jamjam
Jigujigu jamjam (rhythmic beats)
Punnagaiyil minsaaram
Electricity in the smile
Ponga varum muthaaram
An overflowing pearl necklace
Alli edukka
To gather and take
Solliyadhu maalaadhu
What is spoken will not diminish
Solli solli theeraadhu
Talking endlessly will not exhaust it
Nitham thaan oru pitham thaan
Every day is a state of madness
Porkalasam melaada
As the golden pot sways above
Paingodiyum poraada
As the green creeper struggles
Ammammaa thuyar yennammaa
Oh my, what sorrow is this!
Vennilavu pol indha
Like the full moon
Pennilavu thaeya
As this woman-moon wanes
Vetkangalai paakkaamal
Disregarding shyness
Katti thazhuvu
Hold tight and embrace
Haa palliyarai raajaangam
Ah, the kingdom of the bedchamber
Ennavendru thaanae
What it truly is
Nalliravil neeyaaga cholli thaa
You yourself teach me in the dead of night
Solli thara nee kaettu paai pottu
Asking to teach, laying the mat
Thaen paattu ketka thaan
To listen to the honeyed song
Sugam alli thara innaalum vandhaalae
Since this day too arrived to offer pleasure
Kannae en kannammaa jigujigu jamjam
My dear, my Kannamma, jigujigu jamjam
Kannam yennum thaambaalam
The cheek is a brass platter
Kondu varum thaamboolam
Bringing betel leaves and nuts
Killi edukka
To pinch and pluck away
Thara rarat thatthattha thatthat thatthaa
Thara rarat thatthattha thatthat thatthaa (rhythmic syllables)
Punnagaiyil minsaaram
Electricity in the smile
Ponga varum mutthaaram
An overflowing pearl necklace
Alli edukka
To gather and take
Kannan thunai raadhae raadhae
Krishna is companion, Radhae, Radhae
Katti kollum maadhae maadhae nenjellaam
Oh woman who embraces, the entire heart is...
Jigujigu jamjam
Jigujigu jamjam (rhythmic beats)
Kannam ennum thaambaalam
The cheek is a brass platter
Kondu varum thaamboolam
Bringing betel leaves and nuts
Killi edukka
To pinch and pluck away
Thaguthaguttha thatthat thaguttha
Thaguthaguttha thatthat thaguttha (rhythmic syllables)
Thaarat thatthat thagathathaa
Thaarat thatthat thagathathaa (rhythmic syllables)
Thaguthat thattha thaguthat thatthattha thaguthatthaa
Thaguthat thattha thaguthat thatthattha thaguthatthaa (rhythmic syllables)
Thaathugu thuguthugu thatthat thuguthuguthaka thaa
Thaathugu thuguthugu thatthat thuguthuguthaka thaa (rhythmic syllables)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Punnagaiyil Minsaaram from the film Bharathan (1992) is a playful and romantic duet that captures the vibrant chemistry between two lovers. Lyricist Vaali weaves classic romantic imagery with rhythmic folk-style vocables ('jigujigu jamjam'), comparing a lover's smile to electric spark and her cheek to a traditional brass tray bearing betel offerings. The song celebrates intimacy, night-time romance, and the joyful union of souls traveling together on a chariot of flowers.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kannam ennum thaambaalam”
Compares the cheek directly to a 'thaambaalam' (a brass tray/platter) without using explicit comparative conjunctions.
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Punnagaiyil minsaaram / Ponga varum muthaaram”
The second consonant 'n' (ன/ன்) rhymes across consecutive lines, creating a pleasing rhythmic flow.
Mythological Allusion
“Aahaa kannan thunai raadhae raadhae”
Invokes the archetype of divine romantic companions Radha and Krishna to elevate human love.
Anaphora / Repetition
“Solli solli theeraadhu”
Repetition of words like 'solli' for emphasis on non-stop romantic chatter.
Did you know?
Trivia
Bharathan (1992) starred Vijayakanth and Bhanupriya in the lead roles. The album was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, featuring hits that blended classical Tamil romantic tropes with lively rhythmic arrangements.
Keep listening
More from Bharathan
Bharathan
Bharathan
Bharathan
Bharathan