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Aagaya Thamaraigal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Potta Potti Potta Pulla

From Aagaya Thamaraigal · 1985

Lyricist
Kamakodiyan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Vani Jairam
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Movie name
Aagaya Thamaraigal
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
15 Nov 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pottaa potti
Potta pulla poduvathenna
En paatta kettu vanthavazhi oduvathenna
Aambala nenaichchaa un chinda pudippaan
Pombala kadhaiya vambula mudippaan
Pottaa potti
Engitta nee poduvathenna
En paatta kettu vanthavazhi oduvathenna
Pombala nenaichchaa
Male :Haei
Female :Un chinda pudippaa
Male :Haan
Female :Aambala kadhaiya vambula mudippaa
Pottaa potti
Potta pulla poduvathenna
Female :En paatta kettu vanthavazhi oduvathenna…ae….hae….
Adangaathirukkum pasu maadu
Thozhuvaththil thangaathu
Female :Adha adakkura kaala kedaiyaath
Iva kitta nadakkaathu
Annakkiliyae Chinnakkiliyae
Intha thimir aagumaa haei
Meesa molachcha aambalakitta
Sandaiyida venumaa
Morachchu paaraiyyaa kedaikkum paaraiyyaa
Onakkum kooda virunthu
Pottaa potti
Potta pulla poduvathenna
En paatta kettu vanthavazhi oduvathenna…
Pombala nenaichchaa
Un chinda pudippaa
Aambala kadhaiya vambula mudippaa
Pottaa potti
Potta pulla poduvathenna
Female :En paatta kettu vanthavazhi oduvathenna…ae….hae….
Veenaa vegam kaattaathae adhu inga koodaathae
Male :Adi neeyaa naanaa paapomadi naduvula odaathae
Ponnu nenaichchaa indhiranaiyum
Pottikkulla poottuvaa
Chinna ponnu naan enna edhirththaa
En palaththa kaattavaa
Vazhiya vanthatha vidura aalilla
Vazhiya paaththu nadammaa adadaa
Pottaa potti
Engitta nee poduvathenna
En paatta kettu vanthavazhi oduvathenna
Aambala nenaichchaa
Un chinda pudippaan
Female :Haan
Male :Pombala kadhaiya vambula mudippaan
Female :Haan
Pottaa potti
Engitta nee poduvathenna
En paatta kettu vanthavazhi oduvathenna
A competition—
Why is a young girl picking a fight?
Why run back the way you came once you hear my song?
If a man decides, he will grab you by the hair,
And put an end to a woman's story in trouble!
A competition—
Why are you competing with me?
Why run back the way you came once you hear my song?
If a woman decides,
Hey!
She will grab you by the hair,
Haan!
And put an end to a man's story in trouble!
A competition—
Why is a young girl competing?
Why run back the way you came once you hear my song... hey... ha...
A wild cow that refuses to be tamed
Will never stay inside the shed!
There is no bull that can tame her,
That won't work with this girl!
My little swan, my little parrot,
Is this arrogance good for you? Hey!
With a man who has grown a mustache,
Do you really need to pick a fight?
Just glare at me, mister, and see what you get,
A proper treat is waiting for you too!
A competition—
Why is a young girl competing?
Why run back the way you came once you hear my song...
If a woman decides,
She will grab you by the hair,
And put an end to a man's story in trouble!
A competition—
Why is a young girl competing?
Why run back the way you came once you hear my song... hey... ha...
Don't show reckless temper, that won't work here!
Let's see who wins, you or me—don't run away in the middle!
If a woman sets her mind to it, even king Indra,
She will lock him inside a box!
Though I am a young girl, if you cross me,
Shall I show you my real strength?
I'm not one to back down from a challenge,
Mind your own path and keep walking, girl!
A competition—
Why are you competing with me?
Why run back the way you came once you hear my song?
If a man decides,
He will grab you by the hair,
Haan!
And put an end to a woman's story in trouble!
Haan!
A competition—
Why are you competing with me?
Why run back the way you came once you hear my song?
Male
Female
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Male
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Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
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Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful song is structured as a traditional Tamil folk musical duel (Sora katchi or Paattu Mandram) between the male and female leads. The male lead attempts to assert male dominance and warns the woman not to challenge him, while the female lead fiercely counters every claim, asserting that women possess the intelligence, power, and resilience to tame even the most arrogant men.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second letter rhyming)

Pottaa potti / Potta pulla poduvathenna

Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Pottaa' and 'Potta' or 'Adangaathirukkum' and 'Thozhuvaththil'.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Adangaathirukkum pasu maadu / Thozhuvaththil thangaathu

Comparing an untameable woman to an unruly cow ('Pasu maadu') that refuses to stay restrained in a shed.

Hyperbole (Uvarchi Aani)

Ponnu nenaichchaa indhiranaiyum / Pottikkulla poottuvaa

Exaggerating a woman's cunning and power by stating she could lock even the king of gods, Indra, inside a tiny box.

Did you know?

Trivia

The track comes from the 1985 Tamil film 'Aagaya Thamaraigal' directed by V. Gopalakrishnan, featuring music composed by Gangai Amaran with lyrics penned by Kamakodiyan.

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