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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Santhana Pottazhagan

From Ponnu Pudichirukku · 1984

Lyricist
Muthu Bharathi
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, L. R. Anjali
Music director
Chandrabose
Details
Ponnu Pudichirukku1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Santhana pottazhagan saanja saanja nadaiyazhaganThe handsome groom with a sandalwood mark, walking with a stylish swagger,
Koora sela kondukittu kudhirai yaeri vanthaandiHe came riding a horse, bringing the traditional wedding silk saree.
Vanthaandi vanthaandu varisai kondu vanthaandiHe arrived, bringing all the auspicious ritual offerings with him.
Paakki eduththukittu parisham poda vanthaandiBringing the remaining money, he came to pay the bride price.
Female
Kannaalamaam kannaalamaam ponnuThey say it is wedding time for the young bride,
Kattra pudavai chinnaalamDraping the fine silk saree is a sign of grand celebration.
Kannaalamaam kannaalamaam ponnuThey say it is wedding time for the young bride,
Kattra pudavai chinnaalamDraping the fine silk saree is a sign of grand celebration.
Silukkaattam irrukkuraa mama ponjaathiLook at how uncle's wife is glowing like Silk Smitha!
Avala varaveththu paadaatti enna maruvaathiIf we welcome and praise her, what will she offer us in return?
Male
Moiyyo moi moi moi moiiiiMaking the sound of collecting the wedding gift funds (Moi)!
Ingae koodiyirukkira aambalamaarukkuTo all the men who have gathered here,
Oru saranam saranamA respectful bow and salutation!
Chorus :AahaanChorus: Aahaan!
Male :Pombalamaarkalukku oru saranam saranamMale: To all the women who have gathered here, a respectful bow!
Chorus :AahaanChorus: Aahaan!
Male :Thanni kondu vantha thalaivarukkuMale: To the respected leader who brought us drinking water,
Oru saranam saranamA respectful bow and salutation!
Moi koduththavarukkum kodukka poravarukkumTo those who contributed gift money and to those who are about to,
Oru saranam saranamA respectful bow and salutation!
Male
Neththaikku samanja ponnuThe girl who came of age just yesterday,
Nelam paaththu nadantha ponnuThe modest girl who walked while looking down at the ground,
Male
Neththaikku samanja ponnuThe girl who came of age just yesterday,
Male
Neththaikku samanja ponnuThe girl who came of age just yesterday,
Nelam paaththu nadantha ponnuThe modest girl who walked while looking down at the ground,
Aa….neththaikku samanja ponnuAh... the girl who came of age just yesterday,
Nelam paaththu nadantha ponnuThe modest girl who walked while looking down at the ground,
Kannaththula kerupezhuthiDecorating her cheeks with delicate marks,
Kannukkullae mai ezhuthiApplying kohl neatly inside her eyes,
Kaaththituntha pon mayilaThe golden peacock of a girl who waited patiently,
Intha machchaan maalaiyittaanThis maternal cousin/groom placed the wedding garland around her neck.
Chorus
Neththaikku samanja ponnuThe girl who came of age just yesterday,
Nelam paaththu nadantha ponnuThe modest girl who walked while looking down at the ground,
Neththaikku samanja ponnuThe girl who came of age just yesterday,
Nelam paaththu nadantha ponnuThe modest girl who walked while looking down at the ground,
Male
Maappilla paaya virichchaan poovai thelichchanThe groom spread out the mat and sprinkled sweet flowers,
Nelinju nelinju kaaththu kedanthaanTwisting and turning impatiently, he lay waiting.
Anju aaru kuttingellaam saernthuFive or six young kids gathered together,
Ponna pudichchcu ulla thalliputtaanCaught hold of the bride and pushed her inside the room.
Male
Paala kudichchaan pazhaththa thinnaanHe drank the milk and ate the fruit,
Pakkuvamaaga katti anaichchaanAnd lovingly and gently embraced her tight.
Kambula paanja kaanja maadaattamLike a starved bull charging towards a pole,
Ponnu madiyila saanjiputtaanHe collapsed onto the young bride's lap.
Female
Aanaalum avan senjathu akkuramam akkuramamYet, what he did was utter injustice, total injustice!
Aanaalum avan senjathu akkuramam akkuramamYet, what he did was utter injustice, total injustice!
Paayaasam paruppuvadai pakkuvama kedachchaalumEven if delicious payasam and lentil vada are served delicacies,
Alli thinga alaiyalaamaa peraaShould one pounce and devour them so greedily, my friend?
Intha aamalaikkae vevastha illa podaaThese men truly have no self-restraint, go away!
Male
DakkididakkididakkidithaanDakkididakkididakkidithaan (rhythmic folk beat)
DakkididakkididakkidithaanDakkididakkididakkidithaan
Chorus :DakkididakkididakkidithaanChorus: Dakkididakkididakkidithaan
DakkididakkididakkidithaanDakkididakkididakkidithaan
Male
Thaalikku Sonthaminnu oorukku vantha pinnaeOnce she enters the village knowing she belongs to the sacred wedding knot,
Paalukkum sammathamthaan koozhukkum sammathamthaanShe is content with rich milk and content with simple porridge as well.
Paalukkum sammathamthaan koozhukkum sammathamthaanShe is content with rich milk and content with simple porridge as well.
Intha konam kondavanthaanThe young woman who arrived here with such a noble character,
Ingae vantha thangachchiyaamIs the dear sister/bride who joined our family.
Male
Neththaikku samanja ponnuThe girl who came of age just yesterday,
Nelam paaththu nadantha ponnuThe modest girl who walked while looking down at the ground,
Neththaikku neththaikkuJust yesterday, just yesterday.
Male
Aaththula vantha vellam aaththukku sonthamillaThe floodwaters coming down a river do not belong to the river itself,
Veettukku vantha pinnae vera oru paathaiyillaOnce she enters her husband's home, there is no going back.
Onna nambi vantha ponnaThe girl who came to you trusting you completely,
Kannai pola kaakka venumMust be cherished and protected like your own eyes.
Male
Neththaikku samanja ponnuThe girl who came of age just yesterday,
Nelam paaththu nadantha ponnuThe modest girl who walked while looking down at the ground,
Neththaikku samanja ponnuThe girl who came of age just yesterday,
Nelam paaththu nadantha ponnuThe modest girl who walked while looking down at the ground,
Kannaththula kerupezhuthiDecorating her cheeks with delicate marks,
Kannukkullae mai ezhuthiApplying kohl neatly inside her eyes,
Kaaththituntha pon mayilaThe golden peacock of a girl who waited patiently,
Intha machchaan maalaiyittaanThis maternal cousin/groom placed the wedding garland around her neck.
Chorus
……………....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic village wedding folk song from the 1984 movie 'Ponnu Pudichirukku' captures the joy, playful teasing, and traditional rituals of a rural Tamil wedding. It opens with descriptions of the handsome groom arriving on horseback with traditional wedding gifts and bride price, while honoring the guests, elders, and hosts through playful salutations.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uwamai (Simile)

Kambula paanja kaanja maadaattam

Compares the groom's eager behavior in the wedding chamber to a starved bull charging aggressively towards a pole.

Uruvagam / Pazhamozhi (Analogy / Metaphor)

Aaththula vantha vellam aaththukku sonthamilla

Uses the metaphor of river floodwaters passing through to symbolize a bride leaving her parental home and belonging entirely to her marital home.

Iyaibu (Ending Rhyme)

Aambalamaarukku / Pombalamaarkalukku / Thalaivarukku

Rhyming honorific line endings used during the greeting sequence to build rhythmic energy.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Paala kudichchaan pazhaththa thinnaan / Pakkuvamaaga katti anaichchaan

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'P' creating a pleasing musical rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ponnu Pudichirukku' (1984) featured music by Chandrabose, starring Master Sridhar and Y. G. Mahendran. Sung with signature folk energy by Malaysia Vasudevan and L. R. Anjali, the song features traditional village wedding banter ('Moi' gift announcements) popular in rural Tamil Nadu culture.

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