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Vasanthakala Paravai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pothi Vacha Rathiname

From Vasanthakala Paravai · 1991

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Deva
Movie name
Vasanthakala Paravai
Movie release year
1991
Lyrics added on
27 Sept 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naethu vacha meen kulambhae
Ae…ae….ae…ae…
Mamudhanin kai karumbae
Kaathadikkum karukalilae
Vedichaadum poo arumbhae
Un jaadhi naanthan enakku ponjaadhi nee thaan
…………………….
Pothi vacha rathinamae
Pottu vacha chithiramae
Mukkulichu naan edutha
Thoothukudi muthinamae
Pakkam vandhu thottaal enna
Pathu viral pattaal enna
Nathu bullackku sollikkum muthu pallaakku
Thottu thinaakka inikkum thenga punnakku
Nathu bullackku sollikkum muthu pallaakku
Male :Podu
Chorus :Thottu thinaakka inikkum thenga punnakku
Male :Thinthanakkida
………………………
Ohoo sunnanbhu ingirukku dindukallu vethalaiyae
Onnaaga sernthukittaa vachidalaam muthiraiyae
Female :Ennaalum kaeni thanni aathodathaan povaadhu
Male :Aahaa
Female :Ponaana naeram varum ippo adhu aagadhu
Thattaama thavikudhu mathaalam
Kottama irukkuma kuthaalam
Adi ammadi aathaadi parisam podu munnadi
Raamaiyaa osthavaiyaa
Raamaiyaa osthavaiyaa
Male :Haah
Chorus :Raamaiyaa osthavaiyaa
Raamaiyaa osthavaiyaa
Male :Haan
Chorus :Mere dil thujko diya
Male :Haan
Chorus :Mere dil thujko diya
Raamaiyaa osthavaiyaa
Raamaiyaa osthavaiyaa
Pinnala poo vaikka pozhuthu paathu vanthirukken
Female :Haan
Male :Kannala jaada solli kalachu poyi ninnu irukken
Female :Kannaalam kattum munnae silmisham thaan pannadhae
Machaanae kannagiya maadhaviya ennadhae
Summalum alapaadha nippaattu
Kummunnu kelambudhu en paattu
Female :Oru poo maala nee maathu
Valachu podu appodhu
Hoi pothi vacha rathinamae
Pottu vacha chithiramae
Mukkulichu naan edutha
Thoothukudi muthinamae
Pakkam vandhu thottaal enna
Pathu viral pattaal enna
Nathu bullackku sollikkum muthu pallaakku
Thottu thinaakka inikkum thenga punnakku
Nathu bullackku sollikkum muthu pallaakku
Male :Hahaan
Chorus :Thottu thinaakka inikkum thenga punnakku
Haei pothi vacha rathinamae
Pottu vacha chithiramae
Mukkulichu naan edutha
Thoothukudi muthinamae
Pakkam vandhu thottaal enna
Pathu viral pattaal enna
Nathu bullackku sollikkum muthu pallaakku haan
Thottu thinaakka inikkum thenga punnakku aama
Nathu bullackku sollikkum muthu pallaakku
Male :Adidaa
Chorus :Thottu thinaakka inikkum thenga punnakku
Male :Burrrrr…ahh
You are delicious like yesterday's fish curry,
Ye... ye... ye... ye...
sugarcane in your lover's hands!
In the windy darkness of dusk,
a flower bud bursting to bloom!
I am your match, and you are my wife!
...
My treasured gem kept safe and close,
painted portrait wearing a bindi,
diving deep into the sea, I fetched you,
my precious Tuticorin pearl!
What is wrong if I come near and touch you?
What is wrong if my ten fingers brush you?
The nose ring and nose stud call for a pearl palanquin!
Touch and taste it, it is sweet like coconut cake!
The nose ring and nose stud call for a pearl palanquin!
Male: Play the beat!
Chorus: Touch and taste it, it is sweet like coconut cake!
Male: Dhin-thanakkida!
...
Oh, the lime is right here, you Dindigul betel leaf!
If we come together, we can seal our bond!
Female: Well water never washes away with the river!
Male: Aha!
Female: The time will come for that, but not right now!
The drum longs to be played,
can the Courtallam waterfall stop cascading down?
Oh dear girl, give the engagement gift first!
Ramaiya Vastavaiya (Ramaiya, will you come?)
Ramaiya Vastavaiya
Male: Haa!
Chorus: Ramaiya Vastavaiya
Ramaiya Vastavaiya
Male: Haan!
Chorus: I have given my heart to you,
Male: Haan!
Chorus: I have given my heart to you!
Ramaiya Vastavaiya
Ramaiya Vastavaiya
Male: I have waited for the right time to place flowers in your hair!
Female: Haan!
Male: I am worn out from winking and giving hints with my eyes!
Female: Do not play your cheeky tricks before the wedding!
My dear man, do not mistake Kannagi for Madhavi!
Stop bragging for nothing,
my song is rising with full energy!
Female: Exchange a flower garland with me first,
and only then wrap your arms around me!
Hoy, my treasured gem kept safe and close,
painted portrait wearing a bindi,
diving deep into the sea, I fetched you,
my precious Tuticorin pearl!
What is wrong if I come near and touch you?
What is wrong if my ten fingers brush you?
The nose ring and nose stud call for a pearl palanquin!
Touch and taste it, it is sweet like coconut cake!
The nose ring and nose stud call for a pearl palanquin!
Male: Hahaan!
Chorus: Touch and taste it, it is sweet like coconut cake!
Hey, my treasured gem kept safe and close,
painted portrait wearing a bindi,
diving deep into the sea, I fetched you,
my precious Tuticorin pearl!
What is wrong if I come near and touch you?
What is wrong if my ten fingers brush you?
The nose ring and nose stud call for a pearl palanquin, haan!
Touch and taste it, it is sweet like coconut cake, yeah!
The nose ring and nose stud call for a pearl palanquin!
Male: Strike the beat!
Chorus: Touch and taste it, it is sweet like coconut cake!
Male: Brrrrr... aah!
Male
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Male
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Chorus
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Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Naethu Vacha Meen Kulambhae' from the film Vasanthakala Paravai (1991) is a lively, playful folk duet depicting a romantic bantering match between the male and female leads. The male protagonist showers his beloved with inventive, rustic compliments—comparing her beauty to flavorful overnight fish curry, sweet sugarcane, and precious pearls from Thoothukudi—while eagerly coaxing her for affection. In response, the heroine playfully rebuffs his impatience, insisting on traditional norms, betrothal, and marriage before any physical closeness. Expressed through lyricist Vaali's signature earthy phrasing and playful cross-lingual allusions to classic Hindi songs, the duet captures the rural charm, teasing chemistry, and joyful anticipation of young love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uruvagam)

Naethu vacha meen kulambhae

The lyricist compares the girl's allure to overnight fish curry ('Naethu vacha meen kulambhae'), which is culturally celebrated for tasting richer and deeper the next day.

Anaphora / Initial Rhyme (Moona)

Pothi vacha rathinamae / Pottu vacha chithiramae

Repetition of the initial 'Po' sound across consecutive lines creating a melodic rhythmic beat.

Cultural Allusion

Raamaiyaa osthavaiyaa / Machaanae kannagiya maadhaviya ennadhae

The song seamlessly incorporates iconic refrains from the legendary Hindi song 'Ramaiya Vastavaiya' from Shree 420 as well as literary references to Kannagi and Madhavi from Silappatikaram.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Vasanthakala Paravai' (1991) was directed by Pavithran with music composed by Deva. Lyricist Vaali cleverly fused classic Tamil folk metaphors with pop-culture references, including lines from the famous 1955 Hindi song 'Ramaiya Vastavaiya', creating a massive chartbuster that remains popular in Tamil folk music dance numbers.

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