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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Podu Kulla Podu

From Vallavan Varukiran · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
B. S. Sasirekha
Music director
R. Rajesh
Details
Vallavan Varukiran1979

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Podu kullaa podu pogum vazhiyai thaeduPut on your cap, put it on, and find the way out!
Singaththai vellum aanpillaiyaiOver a manly man who subdues a lion,
Selai kattum ponnu jeyichaalaamThey say a saree-clad girl has emerged victorious!
Female
MachaanDear cousin!
Podu kullaa podu pogum vazhiyai thaeduPut on your cap, put it on, and find the way out!
Singaththai vellum aanpillaiyaiOver a manly man who subdues a lion,
Selai kattum ponnu jeyichaalaamThey say a saree-clad girl has emerged victorious!
Female
Kullaavai potteenga keezheYou dropped your cap down to the ground,
Koodavae vitteenga aalaeAnd along with it, you surrendered your dignity!
Engaethaan padichcheenga sir-reWhere on earth did you study, sir?
Yaenthaano keduththeenga peraiWhy did you ruin your reputation so carelessly?
Kullaavai thaedi tharaiyai thottuSearching for your cap and touching the dirt,
Nallaa nallaa nallaa parantheengaYou flew away so very nicely!
Female
MachaanDear cousin!
Podu kullaa podu pogum vazhiyai thaeduPut on your cap, put it on, and find the way out!
Singaththai vellum aanpillaiyaiOver a manly man who subdues a lion,
Selai kattum ponnu jeyichaalaamThey say a saree-clad girl has emerged victorious!
Female
Puli vettai povaanga andruIn those days, men went tiger hunting,
Eli vettai poneenga indruToday, you went out hunting for mice!
Yaarukku maappillai neengaWhose bridegroom are you supposed to be?
Appaavi ponnu avathaangaThat girl over there is simple and innocent.
Appaavi paarvai paarkkaatheengaDon't give me that innocent look!
Raja vesham pottu paarungaTry donning the attire of a king and see!
Female
MachaanDear cousin!
Podu kullaa podu pogum vazhiyai thaeduPut on your cap, put it on, and find the way out!
Singaththai vellum aanpillaiyaiOver a manly man who subdues a lion,
Selai kattum ponnu jeyichaalaamThey say a saree-clad girl has emerged victorious!
Female
Thuppaakki naan eduththu suttaaIf I pick up a gun and shoot,
Suda sudave naan koduppaen laddaahI will serve you piping hot laddus!
Kaattilae ennai kondu vittaaIf you leave me alone in the jungle,
Aah karasi puli singamellaam byttaaaAh, even the bears, tigers, and lions will bid goodbye and flee!
Janciyilae rani poranthaalaamThey say the Queen of Jhansi was born back then,
Ippo ingae vanthu valarnthaalammaaNow she has grown up right here!
Female
MachaanDear cousin!
Podu kullaa podu pogum vazhiyai thaeduPut on your cap, put it on, and find the way out!
Singaththai vellum aanpillaiyaiOver a manly man who subdues a lion,
Selai kattum ponnu jeyichaalaamThey say a saree-clad girl has emerged victorious!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and teasing track features a bold, confident female protagonist mocking a male adversary or lover who boasted of his valor but ended up humbled. She sarcastically points out his cowardice and failure, contrasting high pretensions of taming lions with his reality of hunting mice. Throughout the song, she celebrates womanhood and female strength, invoking the legendary bravery of Rani of Jhansi to declare that a 'saree-clad girl' can easily outsmart and defeat boastful men.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Puli vettai povaanga andru / Eli vettai poneenga indru

The second letters of 'Puli' (tiger) and 'Eli' (mouse) match in consonant structure, creating a rhythmic and semantic contrast between tiger hunting and mouse hunting.

Moonaai (First-letter Alliteration)

Podu kullaa podu pogum vazhiyai thaedu

The repetition of the 'Pu' sound in 'Podu' and 'pogum' establishes the lively cadence at the start of the refrain.

Irony and Satire

Singaththai vellum aanpillaiyai / Selai kattum ponnu jeyichaalaam

The lyricist contrasts majestic lion-taming claims with the reality of a girl winning, mocking the grand masculine ego.

Hyperbole

Aah karasi puli singamellaam byttaaa

Exaggerating female strength by asserting that wild jungle beasts like bears, tigers, and lions would run away in fear of her.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1979 Tamil action-drama 'Vallavan Varukiran' featuring music composed by R. Rajesh. Written by the iconic lyricist Kannadasan, the track relies heavily on sharp, witty colloquial Tamil phrasing and is performed with energetic playback vocals by B. S. Sasireka.

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