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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chittu Pola

From Tenali Raman · 1956

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
A. P. Komala
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Tenali Raman1956

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Sittu pola mullaiLike a little bird, like a jasmine
Mottupolaebud,
Indha singara pennai paarulook at this beautiful girl,
Pottu polaelike a round bindi!
Indha singara pennai paaruLook at this beautiful girl,
Pottu polaelike a round bindi!
Female
Sittu pola mullaiLike a little bird, like a jasmine
Mottupolaebud,
Indha singara pennai paarulook at this beautiful girl,
Pottu polaelike a round bindi!
Indha singara pennai paaruLook at this beautiful girl,
Pottu polaelike a round bindi!
Female
Vattam podum kangl vettu paaruLook at her circling eyes sharp as a blade,
Thittam podum nenjai thottupaarutouch the heart that formulates plans!
Istam pola thaali katti vaazha nenjamWishing to tie the sacred wedding thread and live together,
Konjuthae kenjuthae minjuthaethe heart coaxingly pleads, begs, and surges!
Singara pennai paaru pottu polaeLook at the beautiful girl, like a bindi,
Indha singara pennai paarulook at this beautiful girl,
Pottu polaelike a round bindi!
Female
Sittu pola mullaiLike a little bird, like a jasmine
Mottupolaebud,
Indha singara pennai paarulook at this beautiful girl,
Pottu polaelike a round bindi!
Indha singara pennai paaruLook at this beautiful girl,
Pottu polaelike a round bindi!
Female
Kannai paarthu paarthu sokkuraaruGazing endlessly at her eyes, he gets entranced,
Kaiyil kaasi alli vaikkuraaruhe scoops up coins and places them in her hands,
Vetkam maanam konjam micham meedhi KondaWith whatever modest pride and bashfulness remains,
Nenjamae konjavae anjuthaethis heart fears to indulge!
Vetkam maanam konjam micham meedhi KondaWith whatever modest pride and bashfulness remains,
Nenjamae konjavae anjuthaethis heart fears to indulge!
Singara pennai paaru pottu polaeLook at the beautiful girl, like a bindi,
Indha singara pennai paarulook at this beautiful girl,
Pottu polaelike a round bindi!
Female
Sittu pola mullaiLike a little bird, like a jasmine
Mottupolaebud,
Indha singara pennai paarulook at this beautiful girl,
Pottu polaelike a round bindi!
Indha singara pennai paaruLook at this beautiful girl,
Pottu polaelike a round bindi!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This lighthearted dance track from Tenali Raman (1956) playfully admires a youthful, charming woman, comparing her grace and beauty to a delicate jasmine bud, a nimble sparrow, and a perfectly rounded bindi. The song captures her enchanting dance, sharp darting glances, and the magnetic effect she has on her audience.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uwamai)

Sittu pola mullai Mottupolae

Compares the girl's delicate beauty to a sparrow ('sittu pola'), a jasmine bud ('mollai mottupolae'), and a bindi ('pottu polae') using the comparison word 'pola'.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Konjuthae kenjuthae minjuthae

Uses matching rhyming suffixes ('-uthae') in quick succession to generate a lively rhythmic pulse.

Second-letter Rhyme (Edhukai)

Vattam podum kangl vettu paaru / Thittam podum nenjai thottupaaru

Matching second consonants ('-tta-') between 'Vattam' and 'Thittam' creates Tamil poetic rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Tenali Raman (1956) was a popular bilingual historical comedy film directed by B. S. Ranga, starring Sivaji Ganesan as Tenali Raman and N. T. Rama Rao as King Krishnadevaraya. The music composed by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy helped make the soundtrack iconic in early South Indian cinema.

Keep listening

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