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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nethiyile Pottu

From Pudhiya Bhoomi · 1968

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Pudhiya Bhoomi
Movie release year
1968
Lyrics added on
17 Dec 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ohooo hooo hooo hooo hooo ooo …(4)
Nethiyilae pottu vaichaen
Nenjai adhil thottu vaichaen
Nethiyilae pottu vaichaen
Nenjai adhil thottu vaichaen
Sevvandhi poo chendu saerthu mudichaen
Thenpaangu paattondru thaedi padichaen
Sevvandhi poo chendu saerthu mudichaen
Thenpaangu paattondru thaedi padichaen
Nethiyilae pottu vaichaen
Nenjai adhil thottu vaichaen
Ghumghumaajam ghumghumaajam
Ghumghumaajam ghumghumaajam
Ghumghumaajam ghumghumaajam
Ghumghumaajam ghumghumaajam
Ohooo hooo hooo hooo hooo ooo …
Hooo hoo ooo hoo hoo ooo oo oo
Kattaadha poo pandhu thallaadudhu
Karuvandu maelaaga nindraadudhu
Kattaadha poo pandhu thallaadudhu
Karuvandu maelaaga nindraadudhu
Vanna paavaadai kaalodu vilaiyaadudhu
Velli paalaadai pol udal padam podudhu
Adhai paarthu paarthu kannum nenjum
Thadai podudhu yedhu thadai podudhu
Nethiyilae pottu vaichaen
Nenjai adhil thottu vaichaen
Lalaala laalaalaala lalaala laalaalaala
Lalaala laalaalaala laalaalaalaalaa
Thitthikkum thaenaaru undaagudhu
Jillendru kaattrodu karaiyaerudhu
Thitthikkum thaenaaru undaagudhu
Jillendru kaattrodu karaiyaerudhu
Neeraadum maelaadai thaalaattudhu
Adhu naer vandhu nenjai thottu thaenoottudhu
Adhai paarthu paarthu kannum nenjum
Thadai podudhu yedhu thadai podudhu
Nethiyilae pottu vaichaen
Nenjai adhil thottu vaichaen
Sevvandhi poo chendu saerthu mudichaen
Thenpaangu paattondru thaedi padichaen
Nethiyilae pottu vaichaen
Nenjai adhil thottu vaichaen
Ghumghumaajam ghumghumaajam
Ghumghumaajam ghumghumaajam
Ghumghumaajam ghumghumaajam
Ghumghumaajam ghumghumaajam
Ohoho ho ho ho ho oh...
I placed a bindi (forehead mark) on my forehead,
and touched my heart to it.
I placed a bindi (forehead mark) on my forehead,
and touched my heart to it.
I gathered a bunch of chrysanthemums and tucked them in my hair,
and sought out a sweet southern folk song to sing.
I gathered a bunch of chrysanthemums and tucked them in my hair,
and sought out a sweet southern folk song to sing.
I placed a bindi (forehead mark) on my forehead,
and touched my heart to it.
Kumkumajam kumkumajam
Kumkumajam kumkumajam
Kumkumajam kumkumajam
Kumkumajam kumkumajam
Ohoho ho ho ho ho oh...
Hoho ho oh ho ho oh o o
An untied ball of flowers sways gently,
and a black beetle dances above it.
An untied ball of flowers sways gently,
and a black beetle dances above it.
A colorful skirt plays around the feet,
and her body shines like silver cream on milk.
Watching this again and again, the eyes and heart
try to hold back—why should they hold back?
I placed a bindi (forehead mark) on my forehead,
and touched my heart to it.
Lalala laalalala lalala laalalala
Lalala laalalala laalalalaalaa
A sweet river of honey is born,
and reaches the shore with the cool breeze.
A sweet river of honey is born,
and reaches the shore with the cool breeze.
The wet garment sways like a lullaby,
coming close to touch the heart and feed it honey.
Watching this again and again, the eyes and heart
try to hold back—why should they hold back?
I placed a bindi (forehead mark) on my forehead,
and touched my heart to it.
I gathered a bunch of chrysanthemums and tucked them in my hair,
and sought out a sweet southern folk song to sing.
I placed a bindi (forehead mark) on my forehead,
and touched my heart to it.
Kumkumajam kumkumajam
Kumkumajam kumkumajam
Kumkumajam kumkumajam
Kumkumajam kumkumajam
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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