Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pollapaiyya

From Rekka · 2016

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singers
Swetha Mohan, Haricharan
Music director
D. Imman
Details
Rekka2016

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Pollaa paiyya pollaa paiyyaWicked boy, wicked boy,
Yendaa enna paathaa…Why did you look at me...?
Sollaamale sollaamaleWithout even speaking a word,
Neethaan ulla Pootha…You blossomed inside my heart...
Female
Polla paiyya polla paiyyaWicked boy, wicked boy,
Yendaa enna paathaa…Why did you look at me...?
Sollaamale sollaamaleWithout even speaking a word,
Neethaan ulla pootha…You blossomed inside my heart...
Male
Nenjukkulla enna yenni yendiThinking of what inside your heart, girl,
Nitha nitham alladuraWhy do you toss and turn every single day?
Panja vandhu patha vaikum theeyaaLike a fire set upon cotton,
Thattukittu thallaaduraYou stumble and falter around.
Female
Thulla thulla unna allaTo leap and embrace you tight,
Porandhaane nanum serndhu vaazha….I was born to live together with you...
Female
Ye.. Pollaa paiyya pollaa paiyyaHey... Wicked boy, wicked boy,
Yendaa enna paathaa… Male : oooo…Why did you look at me...? Male: Oooo...
Sollaamale sollaamaleWithout even speaking a word,
Neethaan ulla pootha…You blossomed inside my heart...
Male
Onnum puriyaama oru aasaWithout understanding a thing, a desire
Aruvaala thookkudhuLifts up a sickle inside me.
Thannathani aalaa ena naalumMaking me a solitary person every day,
Poli poda paakudhuIt tries to make a sacrificial offering of me.
Female
Motha usurumAs my entire soul
unna vandhu sera yengaYearns to reach and join you,
Sitham kalangiMy mind confused,
Nikurene Moochu vaangaI stand here gasping for breath.
Male
Pakkathula paasam varaWhen affection comes near,
Pallaakku unnala mallaandhu porenBecause of you, I fall flat like a palanquin.
Female : Ullathula naanumFemale: In my heart, I too
Keda vambedhum illama unkooda vaaren….Come with you without any unwanted trouble...
Thaaren….I shall yield...
Female
Pollaa paiyya pollaa paiyyaWicked boy, wicked boy,
Yendaa enna paathaa…Why did you look at me...?
Sollaamale sollaamaleWithout even speaking a word,
Neethaan ulla poothaaa…You blossomed inside my heart...
Female
Unna nenachaale pasi thookamJust thinking of you makes hunger and sleep
Pagaiyaagi pogudhu…Turn into my enemies...
Solla nenachaalum varum vaarthaEven if I want to tell you, the coming words
Kodasaanju ooduthu…Tilt like an umbrella and run away...
Male
Thonda kuzhiyilIn the pit of my throat,
Mulla vechu pogum aasaThis desire leaves thorns behind.
Ulla varaiyilDeep inside,
Mutham vaikka yengum meesaThis mustache longs to place a kiss.
Female
Vekkathula thegam padaAs my body shivers in shyness,
Pollaatha santhosam gummaalam podaA mischievous happiness celebrates with joy.
Male
: Rathathula vegam thodaTouching the speed in my blood,
Unnoda kai rendum ennaatha moodaWhy don't your two hands cover me?
Kooda…Along with me...
Female
Pollaa paiyya pollaa paiyyaWicked boy, wicked boy,
Yendaa enna paathaa…Why did you look at me...?
Sollaamale sollaamaleWithout even speaking a word,
Neethaan ulla pootha…You blossomed inside my heart...
Male
Nenjukkulla enna yenni yendiThinking of what inside your heart, girl,
Nitha nitham alladuraWhy do you toss and turn every single day?
Panja vandhu patha vaikum theeyaaLike a fire set upon cotton,
Thattukittu thallaaduraYou stumble and falter around.
Female
Thulla thulla unna allaTo leap and embrace you tight,
Porandhaane nanum serndhu vaazha….I was born to live together with you...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Pollaa Paiyya' is a romantic duet from the Tamil film Rekka (2016), composed by D. Imman and penned by Yugabharathi. The song expresses the playful yet deep romantic attraction between the lead characters. The female lead affectionately calls her lover a 'pollaa paiyya' (mischievous or wicked boy), describing how a single look from him caused love to blossom inside her heart without any spoken words. In response, the male lead shares his own intensity of love, comparing his restless passion to a fire catching cotton. The lyrics use vivid rural metaphors—such as lifting a sickle, sacrificial offerings, and tilting umbrellas—to describe the overwhelming physical and emotional sensations of falling in love. The lovers exchange playful confessions of how love deprives them of sleep and hunger while driving them closer together, culminating in a celebration of youthful passion and companionship.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Pollaa paiyya... / Sollaamale sollaamale...

Repetition of the second consonant 'l' in 'Pollaa' and 'Sollaamale'.

Simile (Upamai)

Panja vandhu patha vaikum theeyaa

Comparing the sudden flare of love in her to cotton catching fire ('Panja vandhu patha vaikum theeyaa').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Aruvaala thookkudhu / Poli poda paakudhu

Describing overwhelming desire as an urge lifting a sickle ('Aruvaala thookkudhu') and making a sacrifice ('Poli poda paakudhu').

Anaphora / Repetition

Pollaa paiyya pollaa paiyya / Sollaamale sollaamale

Repetition of words like 'Pollaa paiyya' and 'Sollaamale' for rhythmic emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Pollaa Paiyya' from 'Rekka' (2016) features Vijay Sethupathi and Lakshmi Menon. It was composed by D. Imman, known for his rustic folk-pop melodies, with lyrics by long-time collaborator Yugabharathi. The song was sung by Haricharan and Shreya Ghoshal, making it a popular romantic melody in 2016.

Keep listening

More from Rekka