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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Hei Potta Pulla

From Neruppu Nila · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Ramesh, Manjula
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Neruppu Nila1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Hoi ho hoiHoi ho hoi
Hoi ho hoiHoi ho hoi
Rappa paa rappap paa rappap paa….aa….Rappa paa rappap paa rappap paa...aa...
……………………..
Male
Haei potta pullaHey, girl!
Nee podi ullaeGo inside!
Haei potta pullaHey, girl!
Nee podi ullaeGo inside!
Male
Aattamellam unakedhukkuWhy do you need all these antics?
Neengalellaam samaippatharkkuAll of you are meant only for cooking!
Raaththiri neraththil illaatha aattangalAt night time, these unnecessary antics,
Pollaatha nottangal yaenmaaAnd evil critiques, why girl?
Female
Yaar pottappulla nee paarththathillaHaven't you seen who this girl is?
Yaar pottappulla nee paarththathillaHaven't you seen who this girl is?
Female
Nenachchathellaam mudippaval naanI am the one who achieves whatever I set my mind to!
Pokkiriyai odippaval naanI am the one who drives away rogues!
Raaththiri neraththil illaatha aattangalAt night time, these unnecessary antics,
Pollaatha nottangal yaenyaaAnd evil critiques, why mister?
Male
……………..
Male
Ponnu azhagu kannuA girl has beautiful eyes,
Pillai poochchiiyum neeyum onnu heiYou and a harmless insect are one and the same, hey!
Veedu unakku kooduThe house is your cage,
Vetti pechchugal venaam oduStop your useless talk and run away!
Female
Ha haah jaansi raani naanthaanHa haah, I am Jhansi Rani!
Vaa nee meesai mannoduthaanCome on, your mustache will bite the dirt!
Needhi nermai veeram theeram yaavum pennoduthaanJustice, honesty, valor, and courage all reside with women!
Male :Machchakkaala kombu irukkuMale: A bull with marked horns is here!
Female :HaanFemale: Haan
Male :Thottu paarththaa vambu unakkuMale: If you touch it, trouble awaits you!
Female
Yaar pottappulla nee paarththathillaHaven't you seen who this girl is?
Yaar pottappulla nee paarththathillaHaven't you seen who this girl is?
Male
Aattamellam unakedhukkuWhy do you need all these antics?
Female :HaanFemale: Haan
Male :Neengalellaam samaippatharkkuMale: All of you are meant for cooking!
Female
Hahaa raaththiri neraththilaHahaa, at night time,
Illaatha aattangalUnnecessary antics,
Pollaatha nottangal yaenyaaAnd evil critiques, why mister?
Male
Haei pottapullaHey, girl!
Nee podi ullaeGo inside!
Female
Haang soodu soranai yaedhuHaang, where is self-respect or shame,
Unga sariththiram paakkumpothu hahaa….When looking at your history, hahaa...
Naayum nariyum peyum ungalDogs, foxes, and ghosts roam this town,
Vadivaththil ooril meyum hahaa….In your very shape, hahaa...
Male
Maanae pesu vaarththai veesuOh deer, speak up, throw your words around,
Pinnaal thinnadaattamthaanLater you will stumble and regret!
Paavam needhaan poopolPoor you, soft like a flower,
Aala vanthaen vandaattaamthaanI came to rule over you like a bee!
Female :Haang mangammaathaan enga inamthaanFemale: Haang, Rani Mangammal is of our lineage!
Anjidaathu enga manamthaanOur hearts know no fear!
Male
Haei pottapullaHey, girl!
Nee podi ullaeGo inside!
Female :Nenachchathellaam mudippaval naanFemale: I am the one who achieves whatever I set my mind to!
Pokkiriyai odippaval naanI am the one who drives away rogues!
Male :Raaththiri neraththil illaatha aattangalMale: At night time, these unnecessary antics,
Pollaatha nottangal yaenmaa….And evil critiques, why girl?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a lively verbal duel between male chauvinism and female empowerment. The male singer patronizingly tells the female character to stay indoors and keep to domestic duties like cooking, dismissing women's strength and comparing them to harmless insects. He warns her not to cross paths with male bravado. In response, the female character forcefully rejects these patriarchal constraints. She invokes iconic, courageous female historic figures such as Jhansi Rani and Rani Mangammal to assert that true valor, justice, and resilience belong to women. She fearlessly mocks the male ego, standing her ground and proving that modern women cannot be silenced or contained within domestic boundaries.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (First Letter Alliteration)

Ponnu azhagu kannu / Pillai poochchiiyum neeyum onnu hei

The initial sound 'P' is repeated across consecutive lines ('Ponnu' and 'Pillai').

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Veedu unakku koodu / Vetti pechchugal venaam odu

The second consonant sound is matched ('Veedu' and 'Vetti' sharing subtle rhyme structures).

Historical Allusion (Uvamaani / Ani)

Ha haah jaansi raani naanthaan / Mangammaathaan enga inamthaan

The female singer invokes historic female warriors Jhansi Rani and Rani Mangammal to symbolize courage and women's rights.

Metaphor

Paavam needhaan poopol / Aala vanthaen vandaattaamthaan

The male character compares the female to a flower ('poopol') and himself to a bee ('vandaattaam') coming to rule over her.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by lyricist Vaali for the 1988 film 'Neruppu Nila', the song employs a playful debate format ('Pattimandram' style) popular in Tamil cinema during the 1980s to address themes of women empowerment vs male chauvinism through satirical and catchy verses.

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