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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nethiyile Pottu

From Pudhiya Bhoomi · 1968

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Pudhiya Bhoomi1968

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ohooo hooo hooo hooo hooo ooo …(4)Ohooo hooo hooo hooo hooo ooo ...
Female
Nethiyilae pottu vaichaenI placed a bindi on my forehead,
Nenjai adhil thottu vaichaenAnd touched my heart along with it.
Nethiyilae pottu vaichaenI placed a bindi on my forehead,
Nenjai adhil thottu vaichaenAnd touched my heart along with it.
Sevvandhi poo chendu saerthu mudichaenI gathered and tied a bouquet of chrysanthemums,
Thenpaangu paattondru thaedi padichaenAnd sought out and sang a sweet folk song.
Sevvandhi poo chendu saerthu mudichaenI gathered and tied a bouquet of chrysanthemums,
Thenpaangu paattondru thaedi padichaenAnd sought out and sang a sweet folk song.
Female
Nethiyilae pottu vaichaenI placed a bindi on my forehead,
Nenjai adhil thottu vaichaenAnd touched my heart along with it.
Female
Ghumghumaajam ghumghumaajamGhumghumaajam ghumghumaajam (rhythmic beat)
Ghumghumaajam ghumghumaajamGhumghumaajam ghumghumaajam (rhythmic beat)
Ghumghumaajam ghumghumaajamGhumghumaajam ghumghumaajam (rhythmic beat)
Ghumghumaajam ghumghumaajamGhumghumaajam ghumghumaajam (rhythmic beat)
Female
Ohooo hooo hooo hooo hooo ooo …Ohooo hooo hooo hooo hooo ooo ...
Hooo hoo ooo hoo hoo ooo oo ooHooo hoo ooo hoo hoo ooo oo oo
Female
Kattaadha poo pandhu thallaadudhuAn untied ball of flowers sways gently,
Karuvandu maelaaga nindraadudhuA black beetle hovers and dances above it.
Female
Kattaadha poo pandhu thallaadudhuAn untied ball of flowers sways gently,
Karuvandu maelaaga nindraadudhuA black beetle hovers and dances above it.
Vanna paavaadai kaalodu vilaiyaadudhuThe colorful skirt plays around her feet,
Velli paalaadai pol udal padam podudhuHer body glistens like a silver cream layer spreading.
Female
Adhai paarthu paarthu kannum nenjumGazing at it endlessly, the eyes and the heart,
Thadai podudhu yedhu thadai podudhuImpose a pause... what is stopping them?
Female
Nethiyilae pottu vaichaenI placed a bindi on my forehead,
Nenjai adhil thottu vaichaenAnd touched my heart along with it.
Female
Lalaala laalaalaala lalaala laalaalaalaLalaala laalaalaala lalaala laalaalaala
Lalaala laalaalaala laalaalaalaalaaLalaala laalaalaala laalaalaalaalaa
Female
Thitthikkum thaenaaru undaagudhuA sweet river of honey originates,
Jillendru kaattrodu karaiyaerudhuAnd flows ashore with the cool breeze.
Female
Thitthikkum thaenaaru undaagudhuA sweet river of honey originates,
Jillendru kaattrodu karaiyaerudhuAnd flows ashore with the cool breeze.
Neeraadum maelaadai thaalaattudhuThe wet upper garment lulls like a cradle,
Adhu naer vandhu nenjai thottu thaenoottudhuComing directly, it touches the heart and feeds honey.
Female
Adhai paarthu paarthu kannum nenjumGazing at it endlessly, the eyes and the heart,
Thadai podudhu yedhu thadai podudhuImpose a pause... what is stopping them?
Female
Nethiyilae pottu vaichaenI placed a bindi on my forehead,
Nenjai adhil thottu vaichaenAnd touched my heart along with it.
Sevvandhi poo chendu saerthu mudichaenI gathered and tied a bouquet of chrysanthemums,
Thenpaangu paattondru thaedi padichaenAnd sought out and sang a sweet folk song.
Female
Nethiyilae pottu vaichaenI placed a bindi on my forehead,
Nenjai adhil thottu vaichaenAnd touched my heart along with it.
Female
Ghumghumaajam ghumghumaajamGhumghumaajam ghumghumaajam (rhythmic beat)
Ghumghumaajam ghumghumaajamGhumghumaajam ghumghumaajam (rhythmic beat)
Ghumghumaajam ghumghumaajamGhumghumaajam ghumghumaajam (rhythmic beat)
Ghumghumaajam ghumghumaajamGhumghumaajam ghumghumaajam (rhythmic beat)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic romantic track from the 1968 movie 'Pudhiya Bhoomi' showcases the youthful romance and joy of a heroine adorning herself. As she places a bindi on her forehead and weaves chrysanthemums into her hair, her inner feelings of love overflow into sweet folk songs. The lyrics use rich nature imagery—comparing delicate beauty to swaying flowers, hovering beetles, and a river of honey carried by cool winds. The emotional core revolves around the overwhelming sensation of love that causes the lover's eyes and heart to pause in awe. Kannadasan's playful verses encapsulate traditional Tamil cultural tropes of adornment, modest longing, and blissful romance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Nethiyilae pottu vaichaen / Nenjai adhil thottu vaichaen

The initial sound 'Ne' is repeated at the start of both consecutive lines.

Simile (Upamai)

Velli paalaadai pol udal padam podudhu

The smooth, radiant skin/body is explicitly compared to a silvery layer of milk cream ('velli paalaadai pol').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Thitthikkum thaenaaru undaagudhu

The overwhelming sweetness of emotion is metaphorically described as a river of honey ('thaenaaru').

Personification

Vanna paavaadai kaalodu vilaiyaadudhu

The colorful skirt is given the human action of 'playing' ('vilaiyaadudhu') around the feet.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Pudhiya Bhoomi' (1968) stars M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Jayalalithaa in the lead roles. The film's music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan (MSV), and this iconic track was sung by playback legend P. Susheela with lyrics penned by Kannadasan. The movie is an official Tamil adaptation of the 1965 Hindi film 'Himalay Ki God Mein'.

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