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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Poovukkenna Poottu

From Bombay · 1995

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Neol James, Malgudi Subha, Anupama, A. R. Rahman, G. V. Prakash Kumar
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Bombay1995

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Poovukenna pootu kaatrukenna rootuWhy put a lock on a flower, why set a fixed route for the wind?
Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaaGulla gulla halla gulla!
Vaanum mannum yaaruku neeyum naanum yaarukuWhom do the sky and earth belong to, whom do you and I belong to?
Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaaGulla gulla halla gulla!
Female
{Nee sirichaa deewanaa kaikodutha masthanaIf you smile I become crazy, if you shake hands I become carefree!
Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaaGulla gulla halla gulla!
Neeyum naanum onnaanaa roopu theraa masthanaIf you and I become one, your beauty becomes intoxicating!
Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaa} (2)Gulla gulla halla gulla!
Female
Solai kili enna oru kavalaiOh parrot of the grove, why do you worry?
Eppodhum paravaigal azhuvadhillaiBirds never shed tears.
Sooriyanil endrum iravu illaiThere is never night on the sun.
Eppodhum sorgathuku thadaiyillaiThere is never any barrier to reaching heaven.
Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaa…Gulla gulla halla gulla...
Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaa…Gulla gulla halla gulla...
Female
Kaanathaanae kangal kaneer sindha illaiEyes are meant for seeing, not for shedding tears.
Meghangal manvizhundhu kaayangal aanadhillaiClouds do not fall to the ground and get injured.
Male
Kaanathaanae kangal kaneer sindha illaiEyes are meant for seeing, not for shedding tears.
Female :Meghangal manvizhundhu kaayangal aanadhillaiClouds do not fall to the ground and get injured.
Vaazhathanae vaazhkai veezhvadharku illaiLife is meant for living, not for falling down.
Pollaadha jaadhi madham iraivanum sollavillaiEven God never created cruel caste and religion.
Female
{Paadathanae nenjam mounam enna ennaThe heart is meant for singing, why this silence?
Aasaikku rekkaikatti kattavizhthu aadavidu } (2)Tie wings to your desires, untie them and let them dance!
Male
Vellathanae veeram kolvadharku illaiValor is meant for winning, not for killing.
Kaiyodu kaiserthu vaanathaiyae thottuviduJoin hands together and touch the sky itself!
Chorus
………………………………………....
Chorus
{Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaa…Gulla gulla halla gulla...
Gullaa gullaa hallaa gullaa} (2)Gulla gulla halla gulla!
Chorus
Kaanathaanae kangal kaneer sindha illaiEyes are meant for seeing, not for shedding tears.
Vaazhathanae vaazhkai veezhvadharku illaiLife is meant for living, not for falling down.
Paadathanae nenjam mounam enna ennaThe heart is meant for singing, why this silence?
Vellathanae veeram kolvadharku illaiValor is meant for winning, not for killing.
Chorus
{Nee sirichaa deewanaa kaikodutha masthanaIf you smile I become crazy, if you shake hands I become carefree!
Neeyum naanum onnaanaa roopu theraa masthana} (2)If you and I become one, your beauty becomes intoxicating!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Poovukenna Pootu (Halla Gulla) is an energetic and uplifting anthem from the 1995 film Bombay, directed by Mani Ratnam with music composed by A. R. Rahman and lyrics by Vaali. The song celebrates human brotherhood, freedom, and joy, drawing rich parallels from nature where wind flows without boundaries and clouds suffer no wounds. It delivers a powerful socio-political message reminding listeners that division based on caste and religion is man-made, not divine. Emphasizing that true valor lies in conquering through love rather than taking lives, the track serves as a hopeful call for unity and togetherness amid conflict.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Poovukenna pootu kaatrukenna rootu

Comparing human freedom to natural elements like wind having no fixed route and the sun having no night.

Morphological Parallelism / Ethugai

Kaanathaanae kangal kaneer sindha illai

Repetition of the root infinitive pattern ending with '-adhaanae' across consecutive lines (Kaanathaanae, Vaazhathanae, Paadathanae, Vellathanae).

Linguistic Code-Mixing

Nee sirichaa deewanaa kaikodutha masthana

Blending Hindi/Urdu slang words like 'deewana', 'masthana', and 'roopu theraa' into Tamil syntax to reflect the cosmopolitan Bombay setting.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A. R. Rahman for Mani Ratnam's acclaimed drama Bombay (1995), the song incorporates Hindi/Urdu celebratory phrases into Tamil lyrics to capture the multicultural atmosphere of Mumbai.

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