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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Podhum Podhum Poda

From Kavalan Avan Kovalan · 1987

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Vijay Anand
Movie name
Kavalan Avan Kovalan
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
14 Mar 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pothum pothu poda poda
Needhaan yaaro neril vaadaa
Noolinil aadum bommaiyum naanaa
Thoondilil maatti thullidum meenaa
Naadi oru kodi murai thudikkthu
Osai mani nooru murai adikkuthu yaeno
Pothum pothu poda poda
Needhaan yaaro neril vaadaa
Thookam enbathu kannai vittathu
Thunabam enbathu nenjai thottathu
Poorva jenma paavam endru sollalaamo
Paaviyae nee maranthirunthae kollalaamo
Engiruntho yaevi vitta ambu thaano
Vilai koduththu vaangidaatha vambu thaani
Kadavul seitha leelai thaano
Manithan seitha velai thaano
Aaga moththam intha nenjil amaithiyillai yaen
Pothum pothu poda poda
Needhaan yaaro neril vaadaa
Noolinil aadum bommaiyum naanaa
Thoondilil maatti thullidum meenaa
Naadi oru kodi murai thudikkthu
Osai mani nooru murai adikkuthu yaeno
Oor pugazhnthidum kalaingan allavaa
Naan thaviththidum kadhaiyai sollavaa
Karpanaigal sinthanaigal odavillai
Camera-vum sonna pechai ketkkavillai
Nettru varaiyil i ntha nenjil achchamillai
Saerththu vaiththa veeramindru michamillai
Kaalam seitha kolamthaano
Thavari pona thaalam thaano
Kelvi mattum ingirukku
Vidaigalillai yaen yaen….
Pothum pothu poda poda
Needhaan yaaro neril vaadaa
Noolinil aadum bommaiyum naanaa
Thoondilil maatti thullidum meenaa
Naadi oru kodi murai thudikkthu
Osai mani nooru murai adikkuthu yaeno
Pothum pothu poda poda
Needhaan yaaro neril vaadaa
Enough, that's enough, just go away!
Whoever you are, come face me in person!
Am I a puppet dancing on a string?
Or a fish thrashing caught on a hook?
My pulse is racing a million times,
and warning bells are ringing a hundred times, why?
Enough, that's enough, just go away!
Whoever you are, come face me in person!
Sleep has completely left my eyes,
and sorrow has touched my heart.
Could this be the curse of sins from a past life?
You sinner, should you hide in the shadows and kill me?
Is this an arrow shot from nowhere?
Is this trouble that came without me asking for it?
Is this a divine game played by God?
Or the cruel doing of a human being?
In the end, there is no peace in this heart... why?
Enough, that's enough, just go away!
Whoever you are, come face me in person...
Am I a puppet dancing on a string?
Or a fish thrashing caught on a hook?
My pulse is racing a million times,
and warning bells are ringing a hundred times, why?
Am I not an artist praised by this town?
Shall I tell the story of my suffering?
My imagination and thoughts refuse to flow,
and even the camera won't listen to me.
Until yesterday, there was no fear in this heart,
but today, none of my courage is left.
Is this a cruel twist played by time?
Or a rhythm that lost its beat?
Only questions remain here,
with no answers... why? Why?
Enough, that's enough, just go away!
Whoever you are, come face me in person!
Am I a puppet dancing on a string?
Or a fish thrashing caught on a hook?
My pulse is racing a million times,
and warning bells are ringing a hundred times, why?
Enough, that's enough, just go away!
Whoever you are, come face me in person!
Male
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Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Pothum Pothu Poda Poda expresses the intense anguish, anxiety, and existential dread of a protagonist who feels tormented by unseen forces. Expressed through vivid creative imagery—such as a filmmaker losing control of his camera and imagination—the character compares his situation to a puppet dancing on a string or a fish trapped on a hook. He feels his heart racing and sleep slipping away under immense psychological pressure. The lyricist Vaali uses poignant metaphors to illustrate a complete loss of inner peace, courage, and direction. The protagonist questions whether his agony stems from past-life karma, human conspiracy, or divine fate, concluding in frustration as he demands his unseen tormentor show their face.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile/Metaphor)

“Noolinil aadum bommaiyum naanaa / Thoondilil maatti thullidum meenaa”

Compares the protagonist's helpless psychological state to a string-puppet and a hooked fish.

Atishayokthi (Hyperbole)

“Naadi oru kodi murai thudikkthu”

Exaggerates the racing heartbeat to 'ten million times' to express peak panic and dread.

Emonai (Initial Letter Rhyme)

“Thookam enbathu kannai vittathu / Thunabam enbathu nenjai thottathu”

Initial letters 'Thoo' (Thookam) and 'Thu' (Thunabam) rhyme across consecutive lines.

Rhetorical Question

“Kadavul seitha leelai thaano / Manithan seitha velai thaano”

Poses a series of philosophical questions regarding divine intervention versus human scheme, highlighting internal helplessness.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kavalan Avan Kovalan (1987) was directed by Visu and stars Prabhu along with Rekha and Radhika. This song, composed by Vijayanand and sung forcefully by Malaysia Vasudevan, highlights the protagonist's professional and personal mental crisis through film-related metaphors like camera and imagination.

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