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My Dear Marthandan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Paakku Vethala Pottean

From My Dear Marthandan · 1990

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
My Dear Marthandan
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
21 Dec 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Paakku veththala pottaen paththala
Ponnu paarththaalae
Chorus :Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Male :Oru paakku veththala pottaen paththala
Parisham pottathaalae
Chorus :Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Aaththaadi raasaaththi adichchaalae soodaeththi
Pudichchen oru kombu adhu puliyam poongombu
Chorus :Pudichchaan oru kombu adhu puliyam poongombu
Paakku veththala pottaen paththala
Ponnu paarththaalae
Chorus :Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Male :Oru paakku veththala pottaen paththala
Parisham pottathaalae
Chorus :Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Paadhi kannaalae saethi sonnaalae
Piththa naadi sathamaachchu
Chorus :Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Male :Mogam thaangaama thegam thoongaama
Motta maadi kettupochchu
Chorus :Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Soodum undaachchu moodum vanthachchu
Jodi naan searththaan
Soodum undaachchu moodum vanthachchu
Jodi naan searththaan
Kadhal sangathi
Chorus :Dugudu dagudu dugudu dagudu
Male :Koorum sundhari
Chorus :Dugudu dagudu dugudu dagudu
Male :Maalai sooda velai kooda
Bodhai yaera aasai theera hoi
Paakku veththala pottaen paththala
Ponnu paarththaalae
Chorus :Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Male :Oru paakku veththala pottaen paththala
Parisham pottathaalae
Chorus :Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Aaththaadi rasaaththi adichchaalae soodaeththi
Pudichchen oru kombu adhu puliyam poongombu
Chorus :Pudichchaan oru kombu adhu puliyam poongombu
Paakku veththala pottaen paththala
Ponnu paarththaalae
Chorus :Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Male :Oru paakku veththala pottaen paththala
Parisham pottathaalae
Chorus :Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Naadu poorAavum thedi paarththaalum
Nammaalu pola yaedhu
Chorus :Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Male :Maman naanaaga paavam thaanaaga
Vaasal thaedi vantha maadhu
Aala paarththaachchu maalai pottaachchu
Jodi saernthaachchu
Aala paarththaachchu maalai pottaachchu
Jodi saernthaachchu
Paalai kaachchudaa
Chorus :Dugudu dagudu dugudu dagudu
Male :Payai podudaa
Chorus :Dugudu dagudu dugudu dagudu
Male :Vaasam veesum rosa poovai
Vaangi vanthu thoovu thoovu hoi
Aaththaadi raasaaththi adichchaalae soodaeththi
Pudichchen oru kombu adhu puliyam poongombu
Chorus :Pudichchaan oru kombu
Male :Haan
Chorus :Adhu puliyam poongombu
Male :Adattadadaa
Paakku veththala pottaen paththala
Ponnu paarththaalae
Chorus :Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Male :Oru paakku veththala pottaen paththala
Parisham pottathaalae
Chorus :Dugudu dagudu dugudu
I chewed betel leaf and areca nut, but it was not enough,
Ever since the girl gave me that look!
Chorus: Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Male: I chewed betel leaf and areca nut, but it was not enough,
Ever since the betrothal gift was given!
Chorus: Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Oh my, my princess fired me up with excitement!
I caught hold of a strong branch, a blooming tamarind branch!
Chorus: He caught hold of a strong branch, a blooming tamarind branch!
I chewed betel leaf and areca nut, but it was not enough,
Ever since the girl gave me that look!
Chorus: Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Male: I chewed betel leaf and areca nut, but it was not enough,
Ever since the betrothal gift was given!
Chorus: Dugudu dagudu dugudu
With a glance from half-closed eyes, she sent me a message,
And my racing pulse began to pound out loud!
Chorus: Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Male: Unable to bear the longing, with my body sleepless,
The open rooftop lost all its peace!
Chorus: Dugudu dagudu dugudu
The warmth built up, and the mood took over,
Now that I have found my match!
The warmth built up, and the mood took over,
Now that I have found my match!
The sweet stories of love,
Chorus: Dugudu dagudu dugudu dagudu
Male: Are being whispered by my beauty!
Chorus: Dugudu dagudu dugudu dagudu
Male: As the time arrives to wear wedding garlands,
To get swept away and fulfill our desires, hoy!
I chewed betel leaf and areca nut, but it was not enough,
Ever since the girl gave me that look!
Chorus: Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Male: I chewed betel leaf and areca nut, but it was not enough,
Ever since the betrothal gift was given!
Chorus: Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Oh my, my princess fired me up with excitement!
I caught hold of a strong branch, a blooming tamarind branch!
Chorus: He caught hold of a strong branch, a blooming tamarind branch!
I chewed betel leaf and areca nut, but it was not enough,
Ever since the girl gave me that look!
Chorus: Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Male: I chewed betel leaf and areca nut, but it was not enough,
Ever since the betrothal gift was given!
Chorus: Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Even if you search across the entire country,
Where could you find anyone like my girl?
Chorus: Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Male: With me as her rightful groom and her pure charm,
The lovely maiden came seeking my doorstep!
The bride is found, the garland is worn,
We have become a pair!
The bride is found, the garland is worn,
We have become a pair!
Boil the wedding milk, friend!
Chorus: Dugudu dagudu dugudu dagudu
Male: Spread out the mat, friend!
Chorus: Dugudu dagudu dugudu dagudu
Male: Bring fragrant roses,
And shower them all over, hoy!
Oh my, my princess fired me up with excitement!
I caught hold of a strong branch, a blooming tamarind branch!
Chorus: He caught hold of a strong branch,
Male: Haan!
Chorus: A blooming tamarind branch!
Male: Oh yes!
I chewed betel leaf and areca nut, but it was not enough,
Ever since the girl gave me that look!
Chorus: Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Male: I chewed betel leaf and areca nut, but it was not enough,
Ever since the betrothal gift was given!
Chorus: Dugudu dagudu dugudu
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This upbeat Tamil folk song expresses the protagonist's thrill and overwhelming excitement after securing his formal engagement (parisham) to his beloved. He sings about how a single romantic glance from her makes his pulse race and keeps him restless at night. Celebrating his good fortune in securing a prize match, he looks forward eagerly to the wedding rituals and the upcoming nuptial night, instructing everyone to prepare the boiled milk, lay out the mat, and shower rose petals.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (உவமை/உருவகம்)

Pudichchen oru kombu adhu puliyam poongombu

The phrase 'puliyam poongombu' (tamarind flower branch) is a traditional Tamil metaphor referring to securing a wealthy, stable, or highly desirable alliance or support.

Monai / Alliteration (மோனை)

Paakku veththala pottaen paththala

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'P' across consecutive words ('Paakku', 'pottaen', 'paththala', 'Ponnu', 'paarththaalae').

Edhugai / Rhyme (எதுகை)

Male :Mogam thaangaama thegam thoongaama

Rhyming second letter sound '-gaa-' in 'thaangaama' and 'thoongaama'.

Onomatopoeia (ஒலிக்குறிப்பு)

Chorus :Dugudu dagudu dugudu

Rhythmic folk vocalization ('Dugudu dagudu') mimicking traditional percussion beat rhythms.

Did you know?

Trivia

'My Dear Marthandan' (1990) was directed by Prathap K. Pothan and stars Prabhu and Kushboo in the lead roles. The film's music was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Gangai Amaran. The song relies heavily on native Tamil wedding idioms and lively folk rhythm structures.

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