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Chatriyan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pootukkal Pottalum

From Chatriyan · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Chatriyan
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
24 Apr 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Poottukkal pottaalum
Veettukkul nirkaadhu kaatru
Thottathu malligai
Koottathil paadadho paattu
Paatteduppom vaa vaa
Poothiruppom poovaa
Kattu kaaval vittu poga
Pattu poochi vattam podum naaldhaan
Poottukkal pottaalum
Veettukkul nirkaadhu kaatru
Thottathu malligai
Koottathil paadadho paattu
Paadaththai thallivaippom
Paattukkal allivaippom
Aanandha kolathukku
Aaramba pullivaippom
Paravai pola
Parandhu parandhu
Padippai konjam
Marandhu marandhu
Aanaiyittu aadavaithaal
Thaamarai poongodi aadidumaa
Poottukkal pottaalum
Veettukkul nirkaadhu kaatru
Thottathu malligai
Koottathil paadadho paattu
Paatteduppom vaa vaa
Poothiruppom poovaa
Kattu kaaval vittu poga
Pattu poochi vattam podum naaldhaan
Poottukkal pottaalum
Veettukkul nirkaadhu kaatru
Thottathu malligai
Koottathil paadadho paattu
Maamara chittukkalae
Maadhulai mottukkalae
Kaalangal ullavarai
Naan ungal pakkathilae
Arivai naalum
Valara valara
Dhinamum naanum
Kadhaigal koora
Poonguruvi thaenaruvi
Aadida vandhadhen kai thazhuvi
Poottukkal pottaalum
Veettukkul nirkaadhu kaatru
Thottathu malligai
Koottathil paadadho paattu
Paatteduppom vaa vaa
Poothiruppom poovaa
Kattu kaaval vittu poga
Pattu poochi vattam podum naaldhaan
Even if you lock the doors,
the breeze will never stay trapped inside the house.
Won't the jasmine in the garden
sing a song in the gathering?
Come on, let's start a song!
Let's bloom like flowers!
Leaving all rules and restrictions behind,
today is the day the butterfly circles freely!
Even if you lock the doors,
the breeze will never stay trapped inside the house.
Won't the jasmine in the garden
sing a song in the gathering?
Let's put our lessons aside,
let's gather songs to our heart's content!
For a kolam (traditional floor pattern) of pure joy,
let's place the very first dot!
Just like birds,
soaring and flying,
our studies for a while,
forgetting completely...
If forced to dance by a command,
will the tender lotus vine ever sway?
Even if you lock the doors,
the breeze will never stay trapped inside the house.
Won't the jasmine in the garden
sing a song in the gathering?
Come on, let's start a song!
Let's bloom like flowers!
Leaving all rules and restrictions behind,
today is the day the butterfly circles freely!
Even if you lock the doors,
the breeze will never stay trapped inside the house.
Won't the jasmine in the garden
sing a song in the gathering?
Little birds of the mango tree!
Tender buds of the pomegranate!
As long as time exists,
I will always be by your side.
To help your wisdom
grow day by day,
every single day,
as I tell you stories,
like little songbirds and sweet streams,
you came dancing into my embrace!
Even if you lock the doors,
the breeze will never stay trapped inside the house.
Won't the jasmine in the garden
sing a song in the gathering?
Come on, let's start a song!
Let's bloom like flowers!
Leaving all rules and restrictions behind,
today is the day the butterfly circles freely!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Poottukkal Pottaalum' is a heartwarming and joyful song from the 1990 Tamil film Chatriyan. Written by Vaali and composed by Ilaiyaraaja, the track captures the free-spirited nature of children and celebrates innocent joy. Through vivid metaphors comparing children to wind, birds, and blooming flowers, the lyrics convey that true spirit and creativity cannot be confined or restricted by strict boundaries.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Poottukkal pottaalum / Veettukkul nirkaadhu kaatru

Compares the unrestricted freedom of children to wind that cannot be trapped inside a home by locks.

Alliteration (Monai)

Paravai pola / Parandhu parandhu

Repetition of the initial sound 'Pa' in consecutive words or lines creating musical harmony.

Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

Parandhu parandhu / Marandhu marandhu

Repeating words to emphasize continuous motion and spirit.

Rhyme (Edhugai)

Paadaththai thallivaippom / Paattukkal allivaippom

Matching secondary consonants between lines to give a poetic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Chatriyan (1990), written and produced by Mani Ratnam and directed by K. Subash, features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. The track 'Poottukkal Pottaalum' was sung by S. Janaki and K. S. Chithra, serving as an iconic lighthearted melody amidst the film's gritty action-drama narrative.

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