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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Podu Kulla Podu

From Vallavan Varukiran · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
B. S. Sasirekha
Music director
R. Rajesh
Movie name
Vallavan Varukiran
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
23 Jul 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Podu kullaa podu pogum vazhiyai thaedu
Singaththai vellum aanpillaiyai
Selai kattum ponnu jeyichaalaam
Machaan
Podu kullaa podu pogum vazhiyai thaedu
Singaththai vellum aanpillaiyai
Selai kattum ponnu jeyichaalaam
Kullaavai potteenga keezhe
Koodavae vitteenga aalae
Engaethaan padichcheenga sir-re
Yaenthaano keduththeenga perai
Kullaavai thaedi tharaiyai thottu
Nallaa nallaa nallaa parantheenga
Machaan
Podu kullaa podu pogum vazhiyai thaedu
Singaththai vellum aanpillaiyai
Selai kattum ponnu jeyichaalaam
Puli vettai povaanga andru
Eli vettai poneenga indru
Yaarukku maappillai neenga
Appaavi ponnu avathaanga
Appaavi paarvai paarkkaatheenga
Raja vesham pottu paarunga
Machaan
Podu kullaa podu pogum vazhiyai thaedu
Singaththai vellum aanpillaiyai
Selai kattum ponnu jeyichaalaam
Thuppaakki naan eduththu suttaa
Suda sudave naan koduppaen laddaah
Kaattilae ennai kondu vittaa
Aah karasi puli singamellaam byttaaa
Janciyilae rani poranthaalaam
Ippo ingae vanthu valarnthaalammaa
Machaan
Podu kullaa podu pogum vazhiyai thaedu
Singaththai vellum aanpillaiyai
Selai kattum ponnu jeyichaalaam
Put on your cap, put it on, and look for a way out!
A man who could conquer a lion—
They say a saree-wearing girl defeated him!
Machan...
Put on your cap, put it on, and look for a way out!
A man who could conquer a lion—
They say a saree-wearing girl defeated him!
You dropped your cap to the ground,
And completely lost your dignity too!
Where on earth did you study, sir?
Why on earth did you ruin your good name?
Groping the floor searching for your cap,
You went flying in the air so nicely!
Machan...
Put on your cap, put it on, and look for a way out!
A man who could conquer a lion—
They say a saree-wearing girl defeated him!
In those days, men went on tiger hunts,
Today, you went hunting for mice!
Whose bridegroom are you supposed to be?
She is just an innocent girl!
Don't give me that innocent look,
Try playing the role of a king instead!
Machan...
Put on your cap, put it on, and look for a way out!
A man who could conquer a lion—
They say a saree-wearing girl defeated him!
If I take a gun and shoot,
I will serve bullets piping hot like sweets!
If you leave me alone in the jungle,
Ah, I'll fight off bears, tigers, and lions!
They say the brave Queen was born in Jhansi,
Now she has grown up right here!
Machan...
Put on your cap, put it on, and look for a way out!
A man who could conquer a lion—
They say a saree-wearing girl defeated him!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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