Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaadiyamma Malligai Poo

From Ponvandu · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari, K. Swarna
Music director
V. Kumar
Details
Ponvandu1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ponvandu……ponvandu……ponvandu…..Golden beetle... golden beetle... golden beetle...
Male
VaadiyammaCome, my girl!
Vaadiyamma malligaippoo neeCome, my girl, you are a jasmine flower!
Vaadi vizhatha vaasanaippooA fragrant flower that never wilts!
Un vaadikkaikkaaran naanthaanI am your regular customer!
Vanthidunga thanthidugaPlease come and bestow upon me
Inbam pongum thaenthaanThe honey overflowing with pleasure!
Female
Thevai thevaiyendru poovai edhirpaarththuSeeking a flower out of desire,
Vandu paranthaadumoWill the beetle fly and dance around?
Kovai idhazh meedhu kothu kilipolaUpon lips red as the ivy gourd, like a flock of parrots,
Kolam varainthaadumoWill it draw designs and dance?
Male
Vaan thodum megaththai polaeLike the clouds that touch the sky,
Unai naan thodum mogaththinaalaeOut of my yearning to touch you,
Panimalar konda kani idhazh konjamWill your fruit-like lips carrying dew-fresh flowers
Sivanthathuthaan pogumoTurn a little red?
Female :Mani vizhi mella mayangiyae thannaiFemale: Will her gem-like eyes softly swoon and
Maranthuthaan pogumo…..Forget themselves?
Male
HaehaehaeHae hae hae
Female :Ponvandu……ponvandu……ponvandu…..Female: Golden beetle... golden beetle... golden beetle...
Male
Vaadiyamma thamaraippooCome, my girl, lotus flower!
Vasanthamammaa un sirippuYour smile is springtime!
Un vaadikkaikkaaran naanthaanI am your regular customer!
Vanthidunga thanthidugaPlease come and bestow upon me
Inbam pongum thaenthaanThe honey overflowing with pleasure!
Female
Ilaiyuthirkaalam netruYesterday was autumn;
Thalir vidum kaalma indruIs today the season of blooming sprouts?
Ilaiyuthirkaalam netruYesterday was autumn;
Thalir vidum kaalma indruIs today the season of blooming sprouts?
Male
Pooviriththa kodi kaaiAs the vine bears its blossomed fruit,
Sumanthapadi vaa vaa vaaCarrying it, come, come, come!
Naan ninaiththapadiJust as I wished,
Poo parikka idam thaa thaa thaaGive me room to pluck flowers, give, give, give!
Female
Malarthottam engengaeWherever the flower garden is,
Male :Varum vandu angaengaeMale: That is where the arriving beetle goes!
Female :Malarthottam engengaeFemale: Wherever the flower garden is,
Male :Varum vandu angaengaeMale: That is where the arriving beetle goes!
Female :Ondralla inbangal oraayiramFemale: Pleasures are not one, but a thousand fold!
Male
HaehaehaeHae hae hae
Female :Ponvandu……ponvandu……ponvandu…..Female: Golden beetle... golden beetle... golden beetle...
Male
Vaadiyamma shenpagappoo dhinamCome, my girl, champak flower; daily
Valarumamma nam santhippuOur meetings will grow!
Un vaadikkaikkaaran naanthaanI am your regular customer!
Un vaadikkaikkaaran naanthaanI am your regular customer!
Vanthiduga thanthidugaPlease come and bestow upon me
Inbam pongum thaenthaanThe honey overflowing with pleasure!
Male
Vaadiyamma…….Come, my girl...
Female
Chittukkal thottuththaanTouching each other, the little sparrows
Ondraiyondru konjuthuCuddle one another!
Chittukkal thottuththaanTouching each other, the little sparrows
Ondraiyondru konjuthuCuddle one another!
Thennaiyum thendralumThe coconut tree and the gentle breeze
Onnukkonnu pinnuthuEntwine with one another!
Male
Unnodu ennullamAlong with you, my heart
Pinnodu varuthuFollows right behind!
Ennenna undoWhatever desires exist,
Nee kannodu ezhuthuWrite them with your eyes!
Female
Poovaattam ennai eduththuPick me up gently like a flower,
Oru vellottam mella nadaththuAnd softly conduct a trial run!
Poovaattam ennai eduththuPick me up gently like a flower,
Oru vellottam mella nadaththuAnd softly conduct a trial run!
Male
Pollaatha naanam illaatha neramIn moments without wicked shyness,
Paaraattu ennai anaiththuPraise me and embrace me!
Male
HaehaehaeHae hae hae
Female :Ponvandu……ponvandu……ponvandu…..Female: Golden beetle... golden beetle... golden beetle...
Male
Vaadiyamma rojappooCome, my girl, rose flower!
Enai vaattuthamma un ninaippuYour memory torments me!
Un vaadikkaikkaaran naanthaanI am your regular customer!
Un vaadikkaikkaaran naanthaanI am your regular customer!
Vanthidunga thanthidugaPlease come and bestow upon me
Inbam pongum thaenthaanThe honey overflowing with pleasure!
Male
Vaadiyamma…….Come, my girl...
Female
Vayathu pathinezhu valarga ilamaathuAt seventeen years old, a growing young woman—
Ullam unathallavaaIsn't this heart yours?
Male :Vizhigal naankodum vazhinthu purandodumMale: Where four eyes meet and overflow,
Vellam namathallavaaIsn't that flood ours?
Female
Nooru tharam kettu tharuvathu unduAsking a hundred times and giving is one way,
Male :Ketkaamal eduththu kolvathu indruMale: Taking without asking is what happens today!
Female :Indru thottu naalai mattumFemale: Starting today, until tomorrow,
Alli alli anaiththuGathering and embracing closely,
Male
Michamindri meedhamindriLeaving nothing behind, leaving no remainder,
Solli solli koduththuExpressing and giving everything,
Female :Innum innum pakkam vanthuFemale: Coming closer and closer still,
Ennennavo sollavoShall I whisper all kinds of sweet secrets?
Male
Vaadiyamma…….Come, my girl...
Female: Ponvandu……ponvandu……ponvandu…..Female: Golden beetle... golden beetle... golden beetle...
Male :Vaadiyamma…….Male: Come, my girl...
Female :Ponvandu……ponvandu……ponvandu…..Female: Golden beetle... golden beetle... golden beetle...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Ponvandu' from the 1973 film of the same name is a playful and vibrant romantic duet expressing youthful passion, flirtation, and affection. Lyricist Vaali weaves continuous floral metaphors, addressing the beloved through various symbolic blossoms—jasmine (malligai), lotus (thamarai), champak (shenpagam), and rose (roja). The lover is likened to a golden beetle ('ponvandu') seeking sweet nectar from these blooming flowers, symbolizing the pursuit of romance and shared joys. Composed by V. Kumar, the track features energetic exchanges between multiple leading vocalists—T. M. Soundarajan, P. Suseela, L. R. Eswari, and K. Swarna. Through imagery of cuddling sparrows, entwined breeze and palm trees, and seasonal transitions from autumn to spring, the song captures the innocence, bashfulness, and overwhelming thrill of youthful love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Vaadiyamma malligaippoo nee

Directly equating the beloved to various flowers like 'malligaippoo' (jasmine) and 'thamaraippoo' (lotus).

Simile (Uvamai)

Kovai idhazh meedhu kothu kilipola

Comparing the red lips to ivy gourds and playful lovemaking to a flock of parrots.

Initial Alliteration (Monai)

Vaadiyamma / Vaasanaippoo / Vaadikkaikkaaran

Repetition of the initial sound 'V' across sequential lines for rhythmic harmony.

Second Letter Rhyme (Edhukai)

Ilaiyuthirkaalam netru / Thalir vidum kaalma indru

Matching second consonants across lines ('lai' in Ilaiyuthirkaalam and Thalir).

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ponvandu' (1973) featured music composed by V. Kumar, a prominent composer known for his melodic contributions to Tamil cinema in the late 1960s and 1970s. The song is notable for combining four stellar vocalists—T. M. Soundarajan, P. Suseela, L. R. Eswari, and K. Swarna—creating a rich multi-vocal dynamic rare for romantic duets of that era.

Keep listening

More from Ponvandu