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Ponmana Selvan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nee Pottu Vacha

From Ponmana Selvan · 1989

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Mano, Malaysia Vasudevan, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ponmana Selvan
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
4 Apr 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nee pottu vacha thanga kudam
Oorukku nee magudam
Naanga thottu thottu izhuthu varum
Jooraaana thanga ratham
Ada nee thanga katti singa kutti
Thnatha thanatha thanatha thanatha
Ini om pera sollum patti thotti
Thanatha thanatha thanatha thanatha
Nee pottu vacha thanga kudam
Oorukku nee magudam
Naanga thottu thottu izhuthu varum
Jooraaana thanga ratham
Aa pethavanga senja punniyam thaan
Pillaigala vandhu serum aiyaa
Uthamaru romba usanthavaru
Enna pethavaru indha periyavaru
Avara pola ingaarum illa
Alasi paaru nee olagathula
Annanunaa annan aiyaa
Chorus :Hooi hooi
Male :Anbu ulla mannanaiyaa
Chorus :Hooi hooi
Annanunaa annan aiyaa
Chorus :Hooi hooi
Female :Anbu ulla mannanaiyaa
Chorus :Hooi hooi
Oorellaam kondaadum un peraiyaa
Chorus :Ada nee thanga katti singa kutti
Male :Thanatha thanatha thanatha thanatha
Nee pottu vacha thanga kudam
Oorukku nee magudam
Naanga thottu thottu izhuthu varum
Jooraaana thanga ratham hei
Vetri ellam un kooda varum
Neenga pora edam nalla peruma perum
Sathiyatha dhenam kaathu varum
Andha saami tharum pala nooru varam
Manasu ellaamae koyil aiyaa
Adhula nee thaanae saami aiyaa
Nallavan ivan vallavan thaan
Chorus :Hooi hooi
Nallathellam ingae solla vandhaan
Chorus :Hooi hooi
Nallavan ivan vallavan thaan
Chorus :Hooi hooi
Nallathellam ingae solla vandhaan
Chorus :Hooi hooi
Naadellaam naadelllaam vella vandhaan
Chorus :Ada nee thanga katti singa kutti
Male :Thanatha thanatha thanatha thanatha
Nee pottu vacha thanga kudam
Oorukku nee magudam
Naanga thottu thottu izhuthu varum
Jooraaana thanga ratham
Ada nee thanga katti singa kutti
Thnatha thanatha thanatha thanatha
Ini om pera sollum patti thotti
Thanatha thanatha thanatha thanatha
…………………………………
You are a golden pot adorned with a tilak,
You are the crown to this town.
A splendid golden chariot that we pull along,
Gently touching it as we draw it forward.
Oh, you are a golden ingot, a lion cub!
Thanatha thanatha thanatha thanatha
From now on, every village and hamlet will chant your name!
Thanatha thanatha thanatha thanatha
You are a golden pot adorned with a tilak,
You are the crown to this town.
A splendid golden chariot that we pull along,
Gently touching it as we draw it forward.
Ah, it is indeed the virtue earned by parents
That comes back to bless their children, sir.
He is righteous, a truly noble man,
This great elder who raised me like a parent.
There is no one like him around here,
Search far and wide across the world and see.
If there ever is a brother, he is the true brother, sir!
Chorus: Hooi hooi!
Male: He is a king filled with love, sir!
Chorus: Hooi hooi!
If there ever is a brother, he is the true brother, sir!
Chorus: Hooi hooi!
Female: He is a king filled with love, sir!
Chorus: Hooi hooi!
The entire town celebrates your name, sir!
Chorus: Oh, you are a golden ingot, a lion cub!
Male: Thanatha thanatha thanatha thanatha
You are a golden pot adorned with a tilak,
You are the crown to this town.
A splendid golden chariot that we pull along,
Gently touching it as we draw it forward, hey!
All victories will accompany you,
Every place you go will gain great renown.
To the one who protects truth every single day,
That God above will grant hundreds of blessings.
His whole heart is a temple, sir,
And you alone are the deity within it, sir!
He is a good man, and a capable one indeed!
Chorus: Hooi hooi!
He has come here to spread all good things!
Chorus: Hooi hooi!
He is a good man, and a capable one indeed!
Chorus: Hooi hooi!
He has come here to spread all good things!
Chorus: Hooi hooi!
He has come to conquer land after land!
Chorus: Oh, you are a golden ingot, a lion cub!
Male: Thanatha thanatha thanatha thanatha
You are a golden pot adorned with a tilak,
You are the crown to this town.
A splendid golden chariot that we pull along,
Gently touching it as we draw it forward.
Oh, you are a golden ingot, a lion cub!
Thanatha thanatha thanatha thanatha
From now on, every village and hamlet will chant your name!
Thanatha thanatha thanatha thanatha
…………………………………
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This upbeat, celebratory song serves as a joyous hymn of praise for a beloved elder brother and leader figure in the village. The villagers and family members shower him with deep respect and affection, comparing him to a crown upon the town, a golden chariot, and a living deity residing in the temple of his own pure heart. They praise his righteousness, strength, and noble lineage, asserting that his good deeds bring blessings to all. Throughout the track, the lyrics emphasize unity, respect, and triumph. The protagonist's virtue and unwavering commitment to truth are predicted to bring glory, success, and prosperity to the entire community, ensuring his name will be celebrated across every hamlet and village for generations to come.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Nee pottu vacha thanga kudam / Oorukku nee magudam”

Directly equates the hero to precious and royal objects ('Thanga kudam' - pot of gold, 'Magudam' - crown, 'Thanga ratham' - golden chariot).

Rhyme and Assonance (Edhukai / Maothai)

“Ada nee thanga katti singa kutti... Ini om pera sollum patti thotti”

Use of matching rhythmic sounds and internal rhyming pairs such as 'Thanga katti' / 'Singa kutti' and 'Patti' / 'Thotti'.

Repetition / Rhythm (Adukkuthodar)

“Naanga thottu thottu izhuthu varum / Thanatha thanatha thanatha thanatha”

Repetition of words ('thottu thottu', 'naadellaam naadellaam') and rhythmic beat-syllables ('thanatha thanatha') to create infectious momentum.

Did you know?

Trivia

The 1989 Tamil film 'Ponmana Selvan' starred Vijayakanth and Shobana in lead roles, directed by P. Vasu. The music for the film was composed by maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with popular folk-infused lyrics penned by Gangai Amaran.

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