Yei Mama Ponnu
From Ethir Veetu Jannal · 1980
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Ethir Veetu Jannal1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Yaei mama ponnu | Hey cousin girl! |
| Rosa poove vaamma kannu | Come here, my rose flower dear! |
| Saamanthi thottaththil neeroottra vaannu | Come to water the chrysanthemum garden. |
| Needhandi nettraikku sonnae | You were the one who said this yesterday, |
| Ippo naanaththil nee yaendi ninnae | Why are you standing shyly now? |
| Female | |
| Naan aalaana ponnu | I am a grown-up girl, |
| Raasa unga chella kannu | My king, your darling girl! |
| Thaalamthaan illaatha paattenna paatta | What kind of song is a song without a beat? |
| Naanmthaan illaatha ponnaa | Am I a girl who is incomplete? |
| Konjam nallaaththaan nee yosi kannaa | Think about it carefully, my darling! |
| Female | |
| Oru puramaa kannadichchu paarppathu ennaiyyaa | Are you winking at me from one side? |
| Oli maraivaa edhai edhaiyo ketpathu ennaiyyaa | Are you asking for secret things under cover? |
| Oru puramaa kannadichchu paarppathu ennaiyyaa | Are you winking at me from one side? |
| Oli maraivaa edhai edhaiyo ketpathu ennaiyyaa | Are you asking for secret things under cover? |
| Male | |
| Kolaththula sevvaala kudhikkuthu ammaalae | The red banana fish is jumping in the pond, oh dear! |
| Kolaththula sevvaala kudhikkuthu ammaalae | The red banana fish is jumping in the pond, oh dear! |
| Paaththathumae en manasu payuthae un melae | The moment I saw you, my heart leapt towards you! |
| Female | |
| Aa….naan aalaana ponnu | Ah... I am a grown-up girl, |
| Raasa unga chella kannu | My king, your darling girl! |
| Thaalamthaan illaatha paattenna paatta | What kind of song is a song without a beat? |
| Naanmthaan illaatha ponnaa | Am I a girl who is incomplete? |
| Konjam nallaaththaan nee yosi kannaa | Think about it carefully, my darling! |
| Female | |
| Muththu muththaa ingae pachcha nellu | Like pearls upon pearls, here is the fresh paddy, |
| Muththu muththaa ingae pachcha nellu | Like pearls upon pearls, here is the fresh paddy, |
| Vayalilae irukku aruvadai unakku | It is in the field, ready for your harvest. |
| Avasaram edhukku ippothu | Why the rush right now? |
| Male | |
| Velanja nellu valainjirukku | The ripened crop has bent down, |
| Vevaram ellaam purinjirukku | I have understood all the details! |
| Velanja nellu valainjirukku | The ripened crop has bent down, |
| Vevaram ellaam purinjirukku | I have understood all the details! |
| Ippothae…ae….thottaa thappaethu ae…. | If you touch me right now, what is wrong with that? |
| Male | |
| Yaei mama ponnu | Hey cousin girl! |
| Rosa poove vaamma kannu | Come here, my rose flower dear! |
| Saamanthi thottaththil neeroottra vaannu | Come to water the chrysanthemum garden. |
| Needhandi nettraikku sonnae | You were the one who said this yesterday, |
| Ippo naanaththil nee yaendi ninnae | Why are you standing shyly now? |
| Male | |
| Kalakalannu kai valaiyal padikkuthu sangeetham | Jingling merrily, my bangles play music, |
| Kadhakadhappaa anaichchikkinnu thudikkuthu en thaegam | Yearning to be held warmly, my body throbs! |
| Kalakalannu kai valaiyal padikkuthu sangeetham | Jingling merrily, my bangles play music, |
| Kadhakadhappaa anaichchikkinnu thudikkuthu en thaegam | Yearning to be held warmly, my body throbs! |
| Female | |
| Payaththula en maeni nadunguthu ammaadi | My body trembles in fear, oh my goodness! |
| Payaththula en maeni nadunguthu ammaadi | My body trembles in fear, oh my goodness! |
| Manasukkullae kanakku vachchu valaikkirae machchaanae | Keeping calculations in your mind, you bend me over, my dear cousin! |
| Male | |
| Yaei mama ponnu | Hey cousin girl! |
| Rosa poove vaamma kannu | Come here, my rose flower dear! |
| Female :Thaalamthaan illaatha paattenna paatta | Female: What kind of song is a song without a beat? |
| Naanmthaan illaatha ponnaa | Am I a girl who is incomplete? |
| Konjam nallaaththaan nee yosi kannaa | Think about it carefully, my darling! |
| Male | |
| Yaei mama ponnu | Hey cousin girl! |
| Female :Aa raasa unga chella kannu | Female: Ah king, your darling girl! |
| Male :Yaei mama ponnu | Male: Hey cousin girl! |
| Female :Aa raasa unga chella kannu | Female: Ah king, your darling girl! |
ஏய் மாமா பொண்ணு
ரோசாப்பூவே வாம்மா கண்ணு
சாமந்தி தோட்டத்தில் நீரூற்ற வான்னு
நீதான்டி நேற்றைக்கு சொன்னே
இப்போ நாணத்தில் நீ ஏன்டி நின்னே...
Hey cousin girl!
Come here, my rose flower dear!
Come to water the chrysanthemum garden.
You were the one who said this yesterday,
Why are you standing shyly now?
நான் ஆளான பொண்ணு
ராசா உங்க செல்லக் கண்ணு
தாளம்தான் இல்லாத பாட்டென்ன பாட்டா
நாணம்தான் இல்லாத பொண்ணா
கொஞ்சம் நல்லாத்தான் நீ யோசி கண்ணா....
I am a grown-up girl,
My king, your darling girl!
What kind of song is a song without a beat?
Am I a girl who is incomplete?
Think about it carefully, my darling!
ஒரு புறமா கண்ணடிச்சு பார்ப்பது என்னய்யா
ஒளிமறைவா எதை எதையோ கேட்பது என்னய்யா
ஒரு புறமா கண்ணடிச்சு பார்ப்பது என்னய்யா
ஒளிமறைவா எதை எதையோ கேட்பது என்னய்யா
Are you winking at me from one side?
Are you asking for secret things under cover?
Are you winking at me from one side?
Are you asking for secret things under cover?
கொளத்துல செவ்வாள குதிக்குது அம்மாளே
கொளத்துல செவ்வாள குதிக்குது அம்மாளே
பாத்ததுமே என் மனசு பாயுதே உன் மேலே
The red banana fish is jumping in the pond, oh dear!
The red banana fish is jumping in the pond, oh dear!
The moment I saw you, my heart leapt towards you!
ஆ....நான் ஆளான பொண்ணு
ராசா உங்க செல்லக் கண்ணு
தாளம்தான் இல்லாத பாட்டென்ன பாட்டா
நாணம்தான் இல்லாத பொண்ணா
கொஞ்சம் நல்லாத்தான் நீ யோசி கண்ணா....
Ah... I am a grown-up girl,
My king, your darling girl!
What kind of song is a song without a beat?
Am I a girl who is incomplete?
Think about it carefully, my darling!
முத்து முத்தா இங்கே பச்ச நெல்லு
முத்து முத்தா இங்கே பச்ச நெல்லு
வயலிலே இருக்கு அறுவடை உனக்கு
அவசரம் எதுக்கு இப்போது
Like pearls upon pearls, here is the fresh paddy,
Like pearls upon pearls, here is the fresh paddy,
It is in the field, ready for your harvest.
Why the rush right now?
வெளஞ்ச நெல்லு வளைஞ்சிருக்கு
வெவரம் எல்லாம் புரிஞ்சிருக்கு
வெளஞ்ச நெல்லு வளைஞ்சிருக்கு
வெவரம் எல்லாம் புரிஞ்சிருக்கு
இப்போதே...ஏ...தொட்டா தப்பேது ஏ.....
The ripened crop has bent down,
I have understood all the details!
The ripened crop has bent down,
I have understood all the details!
If you touch me right now, what is wrong with that?
ஏய் மாமா பொண்ணு
ரோசாப்பூவே வாம்மா கண்ணு
சாமந்தி தோட்டத்தில் நீரூற்ற வான்னு
நீதான்டி நேற்றைக்கு சொன்னே
இப்போ நாணத்தில் நீ ஏன்டி நின்னே...
Hey cousin girl!
Come here, my rose flower dear!
Come to water the chrysanthemum garden.
You were the one who said this yesterday,
Why are you standing shyly now?
கலகலன்னு கை வளையல் படிக்குது சங்கீதம்
கதகதப்பா அணைச்சிக்கன்னு துடிக்குது என் தேகம்
கலகலன்னு கை வளையல் படிக்குது சங்கீதம்
கதகதப்பா அணைச்சிக்கன்னு துடிக்குது என் தேகம்
Jingling merrily, my bangles play music,
Yearning to be held warmly, my body throbs!
Jingling merrily, my bangles play music,
Yearning to be held warmly, my body throbs!
பயத்துல என் மேனி நடுங்குது அம்மாடி
பயத்துல என் மேனி நடுங்குது அம்மாடி
மனசுக்குள்ளே கணக்கு வச்சு வளைக்கிறே மச்சானே
My body trembles in fear, oh my goodness!
My body trembles in fear, oh my goodness!
Keeping calculations in your mind, you bend me over, my dear cousin!
ஏய் மாமா பொண்ணு
ஆ ரோசாப்பூவே வாம்மா கண்ணு
தாளம்தான் இல்லாத பாட்டென்ன பாட்டா
நாணம்தான் இல்லாத பொண்ணா
கொஞ்சம் நல்லாத்தான் நீ யோசி கண்ணா....
Hey cousin girl!
Come here, my rose flower dear!
Female: What kind of song is a song without a beat?
Am I a girl who is incomplete?
Think about it carefully, my darling!
ஏய் மாமா பொண்ணு
ஆ ராசா உங்க செல்லக் கண்ணு
ஏய் மாமா பொண்ணு
ஆ ராசா உங்க செல்லக் கண்ணு
Hey cousin girl!
Female: Ah king, your darling girl!
Male: Hey cousin girl!
Female: Ah king, your darling girl!
Yaei mama ponnu
Hey cousin girl!
Rosa poove vaamma kannu
Come here, my rose flower dear!
Saamanthi thottaththil neeroottra vaannu
Come to water the chrysanthemum garden.
Needhandi nettraikku sonnae
You were the one who said this yesterday,
Ippo naanaththil nee yaendi ninnae
Why are you standing shyly now?
Naan aalaana ponnu
I am a grown-up girl,
Raasa unga chella kannu
My king, your darling girl!
Thaalamthaan illaatha paattenna paatta
What kind of song is a song without a beat?
Naanmthaan illaatha ponnaa
Am I a girl who is incomplete?
Konjam nallaaththaan nee yosi kannaa
Think about it carefully, my darling!
Oru puramaa kannadichchu paarppathu ennaiyyaa
Are you winking at me from one side?
Oli maraivaa edhai edhaiyo ketpathu ennaiyyaa
Are you asking for secret things under cover?
Oru puramaa kannadichchu paarppathu ennaiyyaa
Are you winking at me from one side?
Oli maraivaa edhai edhaiyo ketpathu ennaiyyaa
Are you asking for secret things under cover?
Kolaththula sevvaala kudhikkuthu ammaalae
The red banana fish is jumping in the pond, oh dear!
Kolaththula sevvaala kudhikkuthu ammaalae
The red banana fish is jumping in the pond, oh dear!
Paaththathumae en manasu payuthae un melae
The moment I saw you, my heart leapt towards you!
Aa….naan aalaana ponnu
Ah... I am a grown-up girl,
Raasa unga chella kannu
My king, your darling girl!
Thaalamthaan illaatha paattenna paatta
What kind of song is a song without a beat?
Naanmthaan illaatha ponnaa
Am I a girl who is incomplete?
Konjam nallaaththaan nee yosi kannaa
Think about it carefully, my darling!
Muththu muththaa ingae pachcha nellu
Like pearls upon pearls, here is the fresh paddy,
Muththu muththaa ingae pachcha nellu
Like pearls upon pearls, here is the fresh paddy,
Vayalilae irukku aruvadai unakku
It is in the field, ready for your harvest.
Avasaram edhukku ippothu
Why the rush right now?
Velanja nellu valainjirukku
The ripened crop has bent down,
Vevaram ellaam purinjirukku
I have understood all the details!
Velanja nellu valainjirukku
The ripened crop has bent down,
Vevaram ellaam purinjirukku
I have understood all the details!
Ippothae…ae….thottaa thappaethu ae….
If you touch me right now, what is wrong with that?
Yaei mama ponnu
Hey cousin girl!
Rosa poove vaamma kannu
Come here, my rose flower dear!
Saamanthi thottaththil neeroottra vaannu
Come to water the chrysanthemum garden.
Needhandi nettraikku sonnae
You were the one who said this yesterday,
Ippo naanaththil nee yaendi ninnae
Why are you standing shyly now?
Kalakalannu kai valaiyal padikkuthu sangeetham
Jingling merrily, my bangles play music,
Kadhakadhappaa anaichchikkinnu thudikkuthu en thaegam
Yearning to be held warmly, my body throbs!
Kalakalannu kai valaiyal padikkuthu sangeetham
Jingling merrily, my bangles play music,
Kadhakadhappaa anaichchikkinnu thudikkuthu en thaegam
Yearning to be held warmly, my body throbs!
Payaththula en maeni nadunguthu ammaadi
My body trembles in fear, oh my goodness!
Payaththula en maeni nadunguthu ammaadi
My body trembles in fear, oh my goodness!
Manasukkullae kanakku vachchu valaikkirae machchaanae
Keeping calculations in your mind, you bend me over, my dear cousin!
Yaei mama ponnu
Hey cousin girl!
Rosa poove vaamma kannu
Come here, my rose flower dear!
Female :Thaalamthaan illaatha paattenna paatta
Female: What kind of song is a song without a beat?
Naanmthaan illaatha ponnaa
Am I a girl who is incomplete?
Konjam nallaaththaan nee yosi kannaa
Think about it carefully, my darling!
Yaei mama ponnu
Hey cousin girl!
Female :Aa raasa unga chella kannu
Female: Ah king, your darling girl!
Male :Yaei mama ponnu
Male: Hey cousin girl!
Female :Aa raasa unga chella kannu
Female: Ah king, your darling girl!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful Tamil folk duet captures romantic banter between a young man and his cousin ('mama ponnu'). The male protagonist affectionately coaxes her to set aside her modesty, reminding her of her past sweet words and inviting her into the garden. In response, the female protagonist teasingly asserts her maturity, questioning his haste while subtly acknowledging her own growing romantic feelings and physical attraction toward him.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile / Metaphor
“Muththu muththaa ingae pachcha nellu”
Compares the fresh green paddy grains in the harvest field to shining pearls ('Muththu').
Iyaipu (Rhyming Endings)
“Velanja nellu valainjirukku / Vevaram ellaam purinjirukku”
The lines end with rhyming words ('valainjirukku' and 'purinjirukku') creating a pleasing rhythmic cadence.
Onomatopoeia (Oli Kurippu)
“Kalakalannu kai valaiyal padikkuthu sangeetham”
The word 'Kalakalannu' mimics the metallic jingling sound made by glass or metal bangles.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Needhandi nettraikku sonnae”
Repetition of the initial sound 'N' in 'Needhandi' and 'nettraikku'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by renowned Tamil poet Pulamaipithan for the 1980 film 'Ethir Veetu Jannal', the song uses typical rural village imagery (paddy fields, chrysanthemums, bangles) to depict courtship dynamics popular in 1980s South Indian cinema.
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