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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thanga Ponnu Inge Onnu

From Ellorum Nallavare · 1975

Lyricist
Udumalai Narayanakavi
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ellorum Nallavare
Movie release year
1975
Lyrics added on
2 Nov 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thanga ponnu ingae onnu
Thaamara poo pola
Oru piththala pola maappila dhaan
Paarungadi aala paarungadi aala
Paarungadi aala
Singa kutti pola iruppaar
Maappilla dhaan joru
Oru solakolla bommaiya pola
Asattu ponna paaru
Asattu ponna paaru
Chorus :Asattu ponna paaru
Pattam pettra medhai ivar
Paarungadi nallaa
Adhu kaaththadichaa parakkum pattam
Padicha pattam illa
Chorus :Padicha pattam illa
Aanaa aavannaa theriyumaa unakku
Adhukku melae sonnaa dhaan puriyumaa
Vaaippaadu endraalae saapaadu ennaalum
Adiyae ivar dhaan padippil saraswathiyaa
Chorus :Adiyae ivar dhaan padippil saraswathiyaa
Aah thanga ponnu ingae onnu
Thaamara poo pola
Oru piththala pola maappila dhaan
Paarungadi aala paarungadi aala
Chorus :Paarungadi aala
Sikkanaththa kada pidichchi
Selavu pannuvaaraam
Dhinam sela ravikka adhu idhunnu
Tholla pannuvaaraa
Chorus :Tholla pannuvaaraa
Paduththaa kumbhakarnan thookkam
Koratta paththu veedu thaandi vandhu kekkum
Naalellaam thookkaththilae veenaaga pokkaama
Odambha valachchi olaikka solladi kannae
Chorus :Odambha valachchi olaikka solladi kannae
Singa kutti pola iruppaar
Maappilla dhaan joru
Oru solakolla bommaiya pola
Asattu ponna paaru
Asattu ponna paaru
Chorus :Asattu ponna paaru
{Innum enna pesuradhu
Rendu manasum onnu
Mudhal iravukkaaga yenguradha
Kaaththudadi kannu} (2)
Ada azhagaa panjanaiya podu
Adhilae andhi malli poova konjam thoovu
Ada azhagaa panjanaiya podu
Adhilae andhi malli poova konjam thoovu
Munnooru naal pona
Pinnaala veedellaam
Kuvaa kuvaa saththam ketkkattumae
Chorus :Kuvaa kuvaa saththam ketkkattumae
Here is a girl like pure gold,
blooming like a lotus flower,
but the groom is just like cheap brass!
Look at this fellow, girls, look at this fellow!
Look at this fellow!
He looks just like a lion cub,
this groom is truly dashing!
Standing like a scarecrow in a field,
look at this silly bride!
Look at this silly bride!
Chorus: Look at this silly bride!
He is a genius with a degree,
look at him closely, girls!
That is just a kite that flies in the wind,
not a degree from study!
Chorus: Not a degree from study!
Do you even know the basic alphabet?
Would you even understand if told anything more?
Mention multiplication tables, and all he hears is mealtime!
Oh girl, is he supposed to be Saraswati (goddess of learning) in studies?
Chorus: Oh girl, is he supposed to be Saraswati (goddess of learning) in studies?
Ah, here is a girl like pure gold,
blooming like a lotus flower,
but the groom is just like cheap brass!
Look at this fellow, girls, look at this fellow!
Chorus: Look at this fellow!
He practices strict thrift
and spends very carefully, they say!
Every day, asking for sarees, blouses, and this and that,
will she keep troubling him?
Chorus: Will she keep troubling him?
Once he lies down, he sleeps like Kumbhakarna (the legendary deep sleeper),
and his snoring can be heard ten houses away!
Instead of wasting all day asleep,
tell him to bend his back and work hard, my dear!
Chorus: Tell him to bend his back and work hard, my dear!
He looks just like a lion cub,
this groom is truly dashing!
Standing like a scarecrow in a field,
look at this silly bride!
Look at this silly bride!
Chorus: Look at this silly bride!
What more is there to say?
Both their hearts are already one!
How they long for their wedding night,
their eyes clearly show it, my dear!
Hey, make a lovely soft bed,
and sprinkle some evening jasmine flowers on it!
Hey, make a lovely soft bed,
and sprinkle some evening jasmine flowers on it!
Once three hundred days pass,
later, all through the house,
let the sweet cries of a newborn baby ring out!
Chorus: Let the sweet cries of a newborn baby ring out!
Female
Chorus
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Female
Female
Female
Female
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Chorus
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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