Thanga Ponnu Inge Onnu
From Ellorum Nallavare · 1975
- Lyricist
- Udumalai Narayanakavi
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Ellorum Nallavare1975
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Thanga ponnu ingae onnu | Here is one golden girl, |
| Thaamara poo pola | Just like a lotus flower. |
| Oru piththala pola maappila dhaan | The groom is like cheap brass, |
| Paarungadi aala paarungadi aala | Look at this guy, look at this guy! |
| Chorus | |
| Paarungadi aala | Look at this guy! |
| Female | |
| Singa kutti pola iruppaar | He looks like a lion cub, |
| Maappilla dhaan joru | The groom is stylish and energetic. |
| Oru solakolla bommaiya pola | Like a scarecrow in a cornfield, |
| Asattu ponna paaru | Look at this foolish bride! |
| Asattu ponna paaru | Look at this foolish bride! |
| Chorus :Asattu ponna paaru | Chorus: Look at this foolish bride! |
| Female | |
| Pattam pettra medhai ivar | He is a scholar who holds a degree, |
| Paarungadi nallaa | Look closely at him, girls! |
| Adhu kaaththadichaa parakkum pattam | That is just a kite flying in the wind, |
| Padicha pattam illa | Not an academic degree! |
| Chorus :Padicha pattam illa | Chorus: Not an academic degree! |
| Female | |
| Aanaa aavannaa theriyumaa unakku | Do you even know the basic Tamil alphabets? |
| Adhukku melae sonnaa dhaan puriyumaa | Will she understand if spoken anything beyond that? |
| Vaaippaadu endraalae saapaadu ennaalum | To him, multiplication tables just mean eating food every day! |
| Adiyae ivar dhaan padippil saraswathiyaa | Oh girl, is he Goddess Saraswati herself in studies? |
| Chorus :Adiyae ivar dhaan padippil saraswathiyaa | Chorus: Oh girl, is he Goddess Saraswati herself in studies? |
| Female | |
| Aah thanga ponnu ingae onnu | Aah, here is one golden girl, |
| Thaamara poo pola | Just like a lotus flower. |
| Oru piththala pola maappila dhaan | The groom is like cheap brass, |
| Paarungadi aala paarungadi aala | Look at this guy, look at this guy! |
| Chorus :Paarungadi aala | Chorus: Look at this guy! |
| Female | |
| Sikkanaththa kada pidichchi | Following strict frugality, |
| Selavu pannuvaaraam | He supposedly spends money! |
| Dhinam sela ravikka adhu idhunnu | Asking daily for sarees, blouses, this and that, |
| Tholla pannuvaaraa | Will she keep bothering him? |
| Chorus :Tholla pannuvaaraa | Chorus: Will she keep bothering him? |
| Female | |
| Paduththaa kumbhakarnan thookkam | When he lies down, he sleeps like Kumbhakarna, |
| Koratta paththu veedu thaandi vandhu kekkum | His snoring can be heard ten houses away! |
| Naalellaam thookkaththilae veenaaga pokkaama | Instead of wasting whole days in deep sleep, |
| Odambha valachchi olaikka solladi kannae | Tell him to bend his body and work hard, my dear! |
| Chorus :Odambha valachchi olaikka solladi kannae | Chorus: Tell him to bend his body and work hard, my dear! |
| Female | |
| Singa kutti pola iruppaar | He looks like a lion cub, |
| Maappilla dhaan joru | The groom is stylish and energetic. |
| Oru solakolla bommaiya pola | Like a scarecrow in a cornfield, |
| Asattu ponna paaru | Look at this foolish bride! |
| Asattu ponna paaru | Look at this foolish bride! |
| Chorus :Asattu ponna paaru | Chorus: Look at this foolish bride! |
| Female | |
| {Innum enna pesuradhu | {What more is there to talk about? |
| Rendu manasum onnu | Both their hearts have united as one. |
| Mudhal iravukkaaga yenguradha | They are longing for their wedding night, |
| Kaaththudadi kannu} (2) | Watch over them lovingly, my dear!} (2) |
| Ada azhagaa panjanaiya podu | Hey, lay out a beautiful comfortable bed, |
| Adhilae andhi malli poova konjam thoovu | And sprinkle some evening jasmine flowers on it. |
| Chorus | |
| Ada azhagaa panjanaiya podu | Hey, lay out a beautiful comfortable bed, |
| Adhilae andhi malli poova konjam thoovu | And sprinkle some evening jasmine flowers on it. |
| Female | |
| Munnooru naal pona | Once three hundred days pass, |
| Pinnaala veedellaam | Throughout the whole house, |
| Kuvaa kuvaa saththam ketkkattumae | Let the crying sound of a newborn baby be heard! |
| Chorus :Kuvaa kuvaa saththam ketkkattumae | Chorus: Let the crying sound of a newborn baby be heard! |
தங்க பொண்ணு இங்கே ஒன்னு
தாமர பூ போல
ஒரு பித்தல போல மாப்பிள்ளைதான்
பாருங்கடி ஆள பாருங்கடி ஆள
Here is one golden girl,
Just like a lotus flower.
The groom is like cheap brass,
Look at this guy, look at this guy!
பாருங்கடி ஆள
Look at this guy!
சிங்க குட்டி போல இருப்பார்
மாப்பிள்ளைதான் ஜோரு
ஒரு சோளகொள்ள பொம்மைய போல
அசட்டு பொண்ண பாரு
அசட்டு பொண்ண பாரு
குழு :
அசட்டு பொண்ண பாரு
He looks like a lion cub,
The groom is stylish and energetic.
Like a scarecrow in a cornfield,
Look at this foolish bride!
Look at this foolish bride!
Chorus: Look at this foolish bride!
பட்டம் பெற்ற மேதை இவர்
பாருங்கடி நல்லா
அது காத்தடிச்சா பறக்கும் பட்டம்
படிச்ச பட்டம் இல்ல
குழு :
படிச்ச பட்டம் இல்ல
He is a scholar who holds a degree,
Look closely at him, girls!
That is just a kite flying in the wind,
Not an academic degree!
Chorus: Not an academic degree!
ஆனா ஆவன்னா தெரியுமா உனக்கு
அதுக்கு மேலே சொன்னதான் புரியுமா
வாய்ப்பாடு என்றாலே சாப்பாடு எந்நாளும்
அடியே இவர்தான் படிப்பில் சரஸ்வதியா
குழு :
அடியே இவர்தான் படிப்பில் சரஸ்வதியா
Do you even know the basic Tamil alphabets?
Will she understand if spoken anything beyond that?
To him, multiplication tables just mean eating food every day!
Oh girl, is he Goddess Saraswati herself in studies?
Chorus: Oh girl, is he Goddess Saraswati herself in studies?
ஆ தங்க பொண்ணு இங்கே ஒன்னு
தாமர பூ போல
ஒரு பித்தல போல மாப்பிள்ளைதான்
பாருங்கடி ஆள பாருங்கடி ஆள
குழு :
பாருங்கடி ஆள
Aah, here is one golden girl,
Just like a lotus flower.
The groom is like cheap brass,
Look at this guy, look at this guy!
Chorus: Look at this guy!
சிக்கனத்த கட பிடிச்சி
செலவு பண்ணுவாராம்
தினம் சேல ரவிக்க அது இதுன்னு
தொல்ல பண்ணுவாரா
குழு :
தொல்ல பண்ணுவாரா
Following strict frugality,
He supposedly spends money!
Asking daily for sarees, blouses, this and that,
Will she keep bothering him?
Chorus: Will she keep bothering him?
படுத்தா கும்பகரணன் தூக்கம்
கொரட்ட பத்து வீடு தாண்டி வந்து கேக்கும்
நாளெல்லாம் தூக்கத்திலே வீணாக போகாம
ஒடம்ப வளச்சி ஓலைக்க சொல்லடி கண்ணே
குழு :
ஒடம்ப வளச்சி ஓலைக்க சொல்லடி கண்ணே
When he lies down, he sleeps like Kumbhakarna,
His snoring can be heard ten houses away!
Instead of wasting whole days in deep sleep,
Tell him to bend his body and work hard, my dear!
Chorus: Tell him to bend his body and work hard, my dear!
சிங்க குட்டி போல இருப்பார்
மாப்பிள்ளைதான் ஜோரு
ஒரு சோளகொள்ள பொம்மைய போல
அசட்டு பொண்ண பாரு
அசட்டு பொண்ண பாரு
குழு :
அசட்டு பொண்ண பாரு
He looks like a lion cub,
The groom is stylish and energetic.
Like a scarecrow in a cornfield,
Look at this foolish bride!
Look at this foolish bride!
Chorus: Look at this foolish bride!
{இன்னும் என்ன பேசுறது
ரெண்டு மனசும் ஒன்னு
முதல் இரவுக்காக ஏங்குறத
காட்டுதடி கண்ணு} (2)
அட அழகா பஞ்சணைய போடு
அதிலே அந்தி மல்லி பூவா கொஞ்சம் தூவு
{What more is there to talk about?
Both their hearts have united as one.
They are longing for their wedding night,
Watch over them lovingly, my dear!} (2)
Hey, lay out a beautiful comfortable bed,
And sprinkle some evening jasmine flowers on it.
அட அழகா பஞ்சணைய போடு
அதிலே அந்தி மல்லி பூவா கொஞ்சம் தூவு
Hey, lay out a beautiful comfortable bed,
And sprinkle some evening jasmine flowers on it.
முன்னூறு நாள் போன
பின்னால வீடெல்லாம்
குவா குவா சத்தம் கேட்கட்டுமே
குழு :
குவா குவா சத்தம் கேட்கட்டுமே
Once three hundred days pass,
Throughout the whole house,
Let the crying sound of a newborn baby be heard!
Chorus: Let the crying sound of a newborn baby be heard!
Thanga ponnu ingae onnu
Here is one golden girl,
Thaamara poo pola
Just like a lotus flower.
Oru piththala pola maappila dhaan
The groom is like cheap brass,
Paarungadi aala paarungadi aala
Look at this guy, look at this guy!
Paarungadi aala
Look at this guy!
Singa kutti pola iruppaar
He looks like a lion cub,
Maappilla dhaan joru
The groom is stylish and energetic.
Oru solakolla bommaiya pola
Like a scarecrow in a cornfield,
Asattu ponna paaru
Look at this foolish bride!
Asattu ponna paaru
Look at this foolish bride!
Chorus :Asattu ponna paaru
Chorus: Look at this foolish bride!
Pattam pettra medhai ivar
He is a scholar who holds a degree,
Paarungadi nallaa
Look closely at him, girls!
Adhu kaaththadichaa parakkum pattam
That is just a kite flying in the wind,
Padicha pattam illa
Not an academic degree!
Chorus :Padicha pattam illa
Chorus: Not an academic degree!
Aanaa aavannaa theriyumaa unakku
Do you even know the basic Tamil alphabets?
Adhukku melae sonnaa dhaan puriyumaa
Will she understand if spoken anything beyond that?
Vaaippaadu endraalae saapaadu ennaalum
To him, multiplication tables just mean eating food every day!
Adiyae ivar dhaan padippil saraswathiyaa
Oh girl, is he Goddess Saraswati herself in studies?
Chorus :Adiyae ivar dhaan padippil saraswathiyaa
Chorus: Oh girl, is he Goddess Saraswati herself in studies?
Aah thanga ponnu ingae onnu
Aah, here is one golden girl,
Thaamara poo pola
Just like a lotus flower.
Oru piththala pola maappila dhaan
The groom is like cheap brass,
Paarungadi aala paarungadi aala
Look at this guy, look at this guy!
Chorus :Paarungadi aala
Chorus: Look at this guy!
Sikkanaththa kada pidichchi
Following strict frugality,
Selavu pannuvaaraam
He supposedly spends money!
Dhinam sela ravikka adhu idhunnu
Asking daily for sarees, blouses, this and that,
Tholla pannuvaaraa
Will she keep bothering him?
Chorus :Tholla pannuvaaraa
Chorus: Will she keep bothering him?
Paduththaa kumbhakarnan thookkam
When he lies down, he sleeps like Kumbhakarna,
Koratta paththu veedu thaandi vandhu kekkum
His snoring can be heard ten houses away!
Naalellaam thookkaththilae veenaaga pokkaama
Instead of wasting whole days in deep sleep,
Odambha valachchi olaikka solladi kannae
Tell him to bend his body and work hard, my dear!
Chorus :Odambha valachchi olaikka solladi kannae
Chorus: Tell him to bend his body and work hard, my dear!
Singa kutti pola iruppaar
He looks like a lion cub,
Maappilla dhaan joru
The groom is stylish and energetic.
Oru solakolla bommaiya pola
Like a scarecrow in a cornfield,
Asattu ponna paaru
Look at this foolish bride!
Asattu ponna paaru
Look at this foolish bride!
Chorus :Asattu ponna paaru
Chorus: Look at this foolish bride!
{Innum enna pesuradhu
{What more is there to talk about?
Rendu manasum onnu
Both their hearts have united as one.
Mudhal iravukkaaga yenguradha
They are longing for their wedding night,
Kaaththudadi kannu} (2)
Watch over them lovingly, my dear!} (2)
Ada azhagaa panjanaiya podu
Hey, lay out a beautiful comfortable bed,
Adhilae andhi malli poova konjam thoovu
And sprinkle some evening jasmine flowers on it.
Ada azhagaa panjanaiya podu
Hey, lay out a beautiful comfortable bed,
Adhilae andhi malli poova konjam thoovu
And sprinkle some evening jasmine flowers on it.
Munnooru naal pona
Once three hundred days pass,
Pinnaala veedellaam
Throughout the whole house,
Kuvaa kuvaa saththam ketkkattumae
Let the crying sound of a newborn baby be heard!
Chorus :Kuvaa kuvaa saththam ketkkattumae
Chorus: Let the crying sound of a newborn baby be heard!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful Tamil folk-style wedding song from the 1975 film 'Ellorum Nallavare' features friends and villagers teasing both the bride and the groom. The lyrics lightheartedly contrast the bride's golden lotus-like beauty with the groom's brass-like quality, while simultaneously poking fun at the bride for being simple-minded like a scarecrow. The groom is humorously mocked for his lack of true education—where his 'degree' (pattam) is compared to a flying kite (pattam)—and for his heavy, deep sleeping habits resembling Kumbhakarna. Despite the witty banter and teasing, the song concludes on an affectionate note. The wedding guests celebrate the deep love and unity between the newlyweds, wishing them a romantic wedding night and blessing them with the hope of welcoming a healthy baby ('kuvaa kuvaa' cries) in three hundred days.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Simile / Metaphor)
“Thaamara poo pola”
Compares the bride to a delicate lotus flower ('Thaamara poo pola') and a scarecrow ('solakolla bommaiya pola'), while comparing the groom to brass ('piththala pola').
Shlesha / Siledai (Pun)
“Adhu kaaththadichaa parakkum pattam”
Plays on the double meaning of the Tamil word 'Pattam', which means both an academic degree and a flying kite.
Purana Kurippu (Mythological Allusion)
“Paduththaa kumbhakarnan thookkam”
References Kumbhakarna from the Ramayana to humorously describe the groom's unshakeable, heavy sleep.
Oli Kurippu (Onomatopoeia)
“Kuvaa kuvaa saththam ketkkattumae”
Uses 'Kuvaa kuvaa' to vividly evoke the natural crying sound of a newborn baby.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song's lyrics were penned by Udumalai Narayanakavi, a prominent Tamil poet and lyricist famed for bringing folk traditions, social commentary, and rich humor into Tamil cinema music. His clever wordplay with terms like 'Pattam' (kite vs. degree) showcases his signature witty lyricism.
Keep listening
More from Ellorum Nallavare
Ellorum Nallavare
Ellorum Nallavare
Ellorum Nallavare
Ellorum Nallavare