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Deivapiravi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Maarappu Potta Ponnu

From Deivapiravi · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, P. Susheela
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Movie name
Deivapiravi
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
18 Sept 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Haei
Maarappu potta ponnae
Machaan kaiya vechaa enna thosham
Maarappu potta ponnae
Machaan kaiya vechaa enna thosham
Aavaram poo virinju aalolam padurapoo
Pon vandu vandhaalenna
Pollaappu venaam machaan
Kanni ponnu sinna ponnu paavam
Arae rarae rae
Pollaappu venaam machaan
Kanni ponnu sinna ponnu paavam
Hoi hoi yaarachampaathuputta
Yaedhaachum kettuputtu
Ammadi ennavadhu haang
……………………….
{Naayanam oodhanum
Kalyanam kattanum
Maasi maasam …nalla raasi aagum} (2)
Naan adhukku kaathirukken
Raapagala poothirukken
Poovudambu vethirukkaen
Velaiyathaan paathirukken
Male :Vaamma vaamma munnadi
Koththaada koththaaga muthaada
Pollaappu venaam machaan
Kanni ponnu sinna ponnu paavam haan
Male :Aavaram poo virinju
Female :Aaa..
Male :Aalolam padurapoo
Female :Aaa..
Male :Pon vandu vandhaalenna
Female :Haan haan haa
{Poovaiyum ponnaiyum
Novaama killanum
Modhalaama ellai meeralaama} (2)
Moongililae kaathu vandhu
Modhurappoo osa varum
Poongili mel aan kili thaan
Paayurappo aasa varum
Female :Poyaa poyaa kalyanam
Pannama kai neeti pesaadhae
Maarappu potta ponnae
Machaan kaiya vechaa enna thosham
Aavaram poo virinju aalolam padurapoo
Pon vandu vandhaalenna
Haan
Pollaappu venaam machaan
Kanni ponnu sinna ponnu paavam
Ho ho hoi yaarachampaathuputta
Yaedhaachum kettuputtu
Ammadi ennavadhu
Hey!
Hey girl draped in your saree,
what is the harm if your sweetheart touches you?
Hey girl draped in your saree,
what is the harm if your sweetheart touches you?
When the yellow aavaram flower blooms and sings a sweet song,
what is wrong if a golden beetle comes by?
Don't bring trouble, sweetheart,
have pity on this young, innocent girl!
Are rare re!
Don't bring trouble, sweetheart,
have pity on this young, innocent girl!
Hoy hoy, if someone catches sight of us,
and starts asking questions,
oh dear, what will become of me? Haan!
...
The wedding pipes must be played,
we must tie the knot,
the month of Maasi (Feb–Mar) will bring good fortune!
I have been waiting for that day,
blooming night and day!
My flower-like body is sweating with longing,
and I am ready to make my move!
Male: Come forward, my girl, come close,
so we can hold each other and share bunches of kisses!
Don't bring trouble, sweetheart,
have pity on this young, innocent girl, haan!
Male: When the yellow flower blooms,
Female: Ah...
Male: and sings a sweet song,
Female: Ah...
Male: what is wrong if a golden beetle comes by?
Female: Haan haan ha!
Both a flower and gold,
must be handled gently without causing pain,
can you cross the line before we even marry?
When the breeze rushes into the bamboo,
a sweet music rises as it strikes,
and when the male parrot swoops down
onto his sweet female parrot, desire awakens!
Female: Go away, go away! Without marrying me,
don't reach out your hands and flirt!
Hey girl draped in your saree,
what is the harm if your sweetheart touches you?
When the yellow aavaram flower blooms and sings a sweet song,
what is wrong if a golden beetle comes by?
Haan!
Don't bring trouble, sweetheart,
have pity on this young, innocent girl!
Ho ho hoy, if someone catches sight of us,
and starts asking questions,
oh dear, what will become of me?
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful duet features a tease-and-response dynamic between a young man (machaan) and a young woman. The male lover tries to flirt and initiate physical closeness, using metaphors of flowers and golden beetles to justify his advances. On the other hand, the young woman urges caution, expressing her desire for social propriety and marriage (sounding the Nadaswaram in the auspicious month of Maasi) before crossing romantic boundaries.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaatani)

Aavaram poo virinju aalolam padurapoo / Pon vandu vandhaalenna

The song uses the 'Aavaram' flower and 'Pon vandu' (golden beetle) as metaphors for the young woman and her lover.

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Naayanam oodhanum / Kalyanam kattanum

Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'y' in 'Naayanam' and 'Kalyanam'.

Anaphora / Repetition

Pollaappu venaam machaan / Kanni ponnu sinna ponnu paavam

Repeated use of the plea 'Pollaappu venaam machaan' to emphasize hesitation and social fear.

Did you know?

Trivia

Deivapiravi (1985) is a Tamil film starring Mohan and Urvashi. Vaali's lyrics often blend traditional rural metaphors—like bamboo flutes, parrots, and seasonal floral imagery—with catchy, folk-style conversational dialogue.

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