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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Potta Pilla

From Kozhi Koovuthu (1982 Film) · 1982

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kozhi Koovuthu (1982 Film)1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Potta pulla ellaarukkumFor all the young girls,
Unna kandaa pullaarikkumSeeing you gives goosebumps.
Potta pulla ellaarukkumFor all the young girls,
Unna kandaa pullaarikkumSeeing you gives goosebumps.
Aaththi adi aaththi nee yaarukuOh my goodness! For whom are you
Podura maalaiya maaththiExchanging and putting the garland?
Female
Unna solli kuththamillaThere is no fault in blaming you,
Enthan nenjam SuththmillaMy heart itself is not pure.
Unna solli kuththamillaThere is no fault in blaming you,
Enthan nenjam SuththmillaMy heart itself is not pure.
Female
Potta pulla ellaarukkumFor all the young girls,
Unna kandaa pullaarikkumSeeing you gives goosebumps.
Female
Yaen ippadiWhy like this?
Komanaththudan kandukonduSeeing you clad in a loincloth,
Inbuttru oor aandi aanaai…ii….You enjoyed and became a town mendicant...
En appanaeOh my father!
Female
Pandaaramae needhaanaeAre you the ascetic mendicant?
Thundodathaan naan paaththaenaeI saw you with just a cloth wrap,
Thandaayutha perumaanaeOh Lord Lord Dandayudhapani!
Nynaana pazham naan paadavaShould I sing of the fruit of wisdom?
Female
Pandaaramae needhaanaeAre you the ascetic mendicant?
Thundodathaan naan paaththaenaeI saw you with just a cloth wrap,
Thandaayutha perumaanaeOh Lord Lord Dandayudhapani!
Nynaana pazham naan paadavaShould I sing of the fruit of wisdom?
Female
Neththiyila neerumillaThere are no holy ashes on the forehead,
Bakthi seiya yaarumillaeThere is no one to perform devotion.
Neththiyila neerumillaThere are no holy ashes on the forehead,
Bakthi seiya yaarumillaeThere is no one to perform devotion.
Saami…..ada saamiGod... oh God!
Female
Unna solli kuththamillaThere is no fault in blaming you,
Enthan naenjam SuththmillaMy heart itself is not pure.
Female
Potta pulla ellaarukkumFor all the young girls,
Unna kandaa pullaarikkumSeeing you gives goosebumps.
Aaththi adi aaththi nee yaarukuOh my goodness! For whom are you
Podura maalaiya maaththiExchanging and putting the garland?
Female
Unna solli kuththamillaThere is no fault in blaming you,
Enthan naenjam SuththmillaMy heart itself is not pure.
Male
Vaikkaathadi peraasaiDo not harbour great desire, girl,
Sikaathadi en meesaiMy moustache will not get trapped,
Vegaathadi un dosaiYour dosa will not cook here,
Ammaadi naan kilaadithaanOh my, I am a clever guy!
Male
Vaikkaathadi peraasaiDo not harbour great desire, girl,
Sikaathadi en meesaiMy moustache will not get trapped,
Vegaathadi un dosaiYour dosa will not cook here,
Ammaadi naan kilaadithaanOh my, I am a clever guy!
Male
Kaththu vachcha viththaikalaeI came to display
Kaattditavae vantha pullaAll the arts I have learned, girl.
Yaendi ada yaendi enna yaarunnuWhy, oh why, thinking who I am,
Nenaichchu inga podura thoondiAre you casting a fishing hook here?
Male
Unna solli kuththamillaThere is no fault in blaming you,
Enthan nenjam SuththmillaMy heart itself is not pure.
Male
Potta pulla ellaarukkumFor all the young girls,
Puththi kettaa pullaarikkumWhen they lose their mind, they get goosebumps.
Potta pulla ellaarukkumFor all the young girls,
Puththi kettaa pullaarikkumWhen they lose their mind, they get goosebumps.
Aaththi adi aaththi neeOh my goodness, oh girl, you,
Paakkurathaenadi bodhaiyai yaeththiWhy are you looking, intoxicant rising?
Male
Unna solli kuththamillaThere is no fault in blaming you,
Enthan nenjam SuththmillaMy heart itself is not pure.
Unna solli kuththamillaThere is no fault in blaming you,
Enthan nenjam SuththmillaMy heart itself is not pure.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song features playful and sarcastic banter blended with mythological allusions to Lord Murugan (Thandayuthapani / Andaandi). The speaker teases a young girl while addressing a mendicant-like figure, lightheartedly mocking romantic advances and deceptive devotion. Using colloquial humor and folk rhetoric, the singer declares his own cleverness and warns the girl not to try tricking him with affection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Vaikkaathadi peraasai / Sikaathadi en meesai / Vegaathadi un dosai

Matching second consonants in adjacent lines, as seen in 'Potta' and 'Unna', or 'Vaikkaathadi', 'Sikaathadi', 'Vegaathadi'.

Monaai (Alliteration / Initial Rhyme)

Potta pulla ellaarukkum

Matching opening letters or sounds across words within a line, such as 'Potta' and 'Pulla'.

Metaphor / Mythological Allusion

Thandaayutha perumaane / Nynaana pazham naan paadava

Comparing the subject to Lord Murugan as 'Thandaayutha perumaan' and referencing 'Gnana Pazham' (the fruit of wisdom).

Did you know?

Trivia

Kozhi Koovuthu (1982) is a classic Tamil film directed by Gangai Amaran. The music for the film was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by Vaali. The soundtrack became popular for its authentic rural folk flavor and catchy lyrical wordplay.

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