Potta Potti Potta Pulla
From Aagaya Thamaraigal · 1985
- Lyricist
- Kamakodiyan
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Aagaya Thamaraigal1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Pottaa potti | Competition and rivalry |
| Potta pulla poduvathenna | Why are you starting a challenge, young girl? |
| En paatta kettu vanthavazhi oduvathenna | Why run back the way you came after hearing my song? |
| Aambala nenaichchaa un chinda pudippaan | If a man decides, he will grab your hair lock |
| Pombala kadhaiya vambula mudippaan | He will end the woman's story in trouble |
| Female | |
| Pottaa potti | Competition and rivalry |
| Engitta nee poduvathenna | Why do you challenge me? |
| En paatta kettu vanthavazhi oduvathenna | Why run back the way you came after hearing my song? |
| Pombala nenaichchaa | If a woman decides |
| Male :Haei | Male: Hey! |
| Female :Un chinda pudippaa | Female: She will grab your hair lock! |
| Male :Haan | Male: Ha! |
| Female :Aambala kadhaiya vambula mudippaa | Female: She will end the man's story in trouble! |
| Male | |
| Pottaa potti | Competition and rivalry |
| Potta pulla poduvathenna | Why are you starting a challenge, young girl? |
| Female :En paatta kettu vanthavazhi oduvathenna…ae….hae…. | Female: Why run back the way you came after hearing my song... ae... hae... |
| Male | |
| Adangaathirukkum pasu maadu | A cow that remains unruly |
| Thozhuvaththil thangaathu | Will not stay inside the shed |
| Female :Adha adakkura kaala kedaiyaath | Female: A bull that can tame her doesn't exist |
| Iva kitta nadakkaathu | That trick won't work with this girl |
| Male | |
| Annakkiliyae Chinnakkiliyae | Oh swan-like bird, oh little bird |
| Intha thimir aagumaa haei | Is this arrogance appropriate for you? Hey! |
| Meesa molachcha aambalakitta | With a man who has grown a mustache |
| Sandaiyida venumaa | Do you really need to fight? |
| Morachchu paaraiyyaa kedaikkum paaraiyyaa | Stare and see, sir, you will get it, sir |
| Onakkum kooda virunthu | Even for you, there will be a grand feast of a lesson |
| Male | |
| Pottaa potti | Competition and rivalry |
| Potta pulla poduvathenna | Why are you starting a challenge, young girl? |
| En paatta kettu vanthavazhi oduvathenna… | Why run back the way you came after hearing my song... |
| Female | |
| Pombala nenaichchaa | If a woman decides |
| Un chinda pudippaa | She will grab your hair lock |
| Aambala kadhaiya vambula mudippaa | She will end the man's story in trouble |
| Male | |
| Pottaa potti | Competition and rivalry |
| Potta pulla poduvathenna | Why are you starting a challenge, young girl? |
| Female :En paatta kettu vanthavazhi oduvathenna…ae….hae…. | Female: Why run back the way you came after hearing my song... ae... hae... |
| Female | |
| Veenaa vegam kaattaathae adhu inga koodaathae | Don't show unnecessary aggression, that won't work here |
| Male :Adi neeyaa naanaa paapomadi naduvula odaathae | Male: Hey girl, let's see whether it's you or me, don't run away midway |
| Female | |
| Ponnu nenaichchaa indhiranaiyum | If a woman decides, even Lord Indra |
| Pottikkulla poottuvaa | She will lock him up inside a tiny box |
| Chinna ponnu naan enna edhirththaa | I am a young girl, but if you oppose me |
| En palaththa kaattavaa | Shall I show you my true strength? |
| Male | |
| Vazhiya vanthatha vidura aalilla | I am not the type to let go of what comes my way |
| Vazhiya paaththu nadammaa adadaa | Watch your path and tread carefully, oh my! |
| Female | |
| Pottaa potti | Competition and rivalry |
| Engitta nee poduvathenna | Why do you challenge me? |
| En paatta kettu vanthavazhi oduvathenna | Why run back the way you came after hearing my song? |
| Male | |
| Aambala nenaichchaa | If a man decides |
| Un chinda pudippaan | He will grab your hair lock |
| Female :Haan | Female: Ha! |
| Male :Pombala kadhaiya vambula mudippaan | Male: He will end the woman's story in trouble |
| Female :Haan | Female: Ha! |
| Female | |
| Pottaa potti | Competition and rivalry |
| Engitta nee poduvathenna | Why do you challenge me? |
| En paatta kettu vanthavazhi oduvathenna | Why run back the way you came after hearing my song? |
போட்டாப் போட்டி
பொட்டப் புள்ள போடுவதென்ன
என் பாட்டக் கேட்டு வந்தவழி ஓடுவதென்ன
ஆம்பள நெனச்சா உன் சிண்ட புடிப்பான்
பொம்பள கதைய வம்புல முடிப்பான்
Competition and rivalry
Why are you starting a challenge, young girl?
Why run back the way you came after hearing my song?
If a man decides, he will grab your hair lock
He will end the woman's story in trouble
போட்டா போட்டி
எங்கிட்ட நீ போடுவதென்ன
என் பாட்டக் கேட்டு வந்தவழி ஓடுவதென்ன
பொம்பள நெனச்சா
ஹேய்
உன் சிண்ட புடிப்பா
ஹான்
ஆம்பள கதைய வம்புல முடிப்பா.....
Competition and rivalry
Why do you challenge me?
Why run back the way you came after hearing my song?
If a woman decides
Male: Hey!
Female: She will grab your hair lock!
Male: Ha!
Female: She will end the man's story in trouble!
போட்டாப் போட்டி
பொட்டப் புள்ள போடுவதென்ன
என் பாட்டக் கேட்டு வந்தவழி ஓடுவதென்ன...ஏ...ஹே...
Competition and rivalry
Why are you starting a challenge, young girl?
Female: Why run back the way you came after hearing my song... ae... hae...
அடங்காதிருக்கும் பசு மாடு
தொழுவத்தில் தங்காது
அத அடக்குற காள கெடையாது
இவ கிட்ட நடக்காது
A cow that remains unruly
Will not stay inside the shed
Female: A bull that can tame her doesn't exist
That trick won't work with this girl
அன்னக்கிளியே சின்னக்கிளியே
இந்த திமிர் ஆகுமா ஹேய்....
மீச மொளச்ச ஆம்பளகிட்ட
சண்டையிட வேணுமா
மொறச்சு பாரய்யா கெடைக்கும் பாரய்யா
ஒனக்கும் கூட விருந்து
Oh swan-like bird, oh little bird
Is this arrogance appropriate for you? Hey!
With a man who has grown a mustache
Do you really need to fight?
Stare and see, sir, you will get it, sir
Even for you, there will be a grand feast of a lesson
போட்டாப் போட்டி
பொட்டப் புள்ள போடுவதென்ன
என் பாட்டக் கேட்டு வந்தவழி ஓடுவதென்ன...
Competition and rivalry
Why are you starting a challenge, young girl?
Why run back the way you came after hearing my song...
பொம்பள நெனச்சா
உன் சிண்ட புடிப்பா
ஆம்பள கதைய வம்புல முடிப்பா.....
If a woman decides
She will grab your hair lock
She will end the man's story in trouble
போட்டாப் போட்டி
பொட்டப் புள்ள போடுவதென்ன
என் பாட்டக் கேட்டு வந்தவழி ஓடுவதென்ன...ஏ...ஹே...
Competition and rivalry
Why are you starting a challenge, young girl?
Female: Why run back the way you came after hearing my song... ae... hae...
வீணா வேகம் காட்டாதே அது இங்க கூடாதே
அடி நீயா நானா பாப்போமடி நடுவுல ஓடாதே
Don't show unnecessary aggression, that won't work here
Male: Hey girl, let's see whether it's you or me, don't run away midway
பொண்ணு நெனச்சா இந்திரனையும்
பொட்டிக்குள்ள பூட்டுவா
சின்னப் பொண்ணு நான் என்ன எதிர்த்தா
என் பலத்த காட்டவா
If a woman decides, even Lord Indra
She will lock him up inside a tiny box
I am a young girl, but if you oppose me
Shall I show you my true strength?
வழிய வந்தத விடுற ஆளில்ல
வழியப் பாத்து நடம்மா அடடா
I am not the type to let go of what comes my way
Watch your path and tread carefully, oh my!
போட்டா போட்டி
எங்கிட்ட நீ போடுவதென்ன
என் பாட்டக் கேட்டு வந்தவழி ஓடுவதென்ன
Competition and rivalry
Why do you challenge me?
Why run back the way you came after hearing my song?
ஆம்பள நெனச்சா
உன் சிண்ட புடிப்பான்
ஹான்
பொம்பள கதைய வம்புல முடிப்பான்
ஹான்
If a man decides
He will grab your hair lock
Female: Ha!
Male: He will end the woman's story in trouble
Female: Ha!
போட்டா போட்டி
எங்கிட்ட நீ போடுவதென்ன
என் பாட்டக் கேட்டு வந்தவழி ஓடுவதென்ன
Competition and rivalry
Why do you challenge me?
Why run back the way you came after hearing my song?
Pottaa potti
Competition and rivalry
Potta pulla poduvathenna
Why are you starting a challenge, young girl?
En paatta kettu vanthavazhi oduvathenna
Why run back the way you came after hearing my song?
Aambala nenaichchaa un chinda pudippaan
If a man decides, he will grab your hair lock
Pombala kadhaiya vambula mudippaan
He will end the woman's story in trouble
Pottaa potti
Competition and rivalry
Engitta nee poduvathenna
Why do you challenge me?
En paatta kettu vanthavazhi oduvathenna
Why run back the way you came after hearing my song?
Pombala nenaichchaa
If a woman decides
Male :Haei
Male: Hey!
Female :Un chinda pudippaa
Female: She will grab your hair lock!
Male :Haan
Male: Ha!
Female :Aambala kadhaiya vambula mudippaa
Female: She will end the man's story in trouble!
Pottaa potti
Competition and rivalry
Potta pulla poduvathenna
Why are you starting a challenge, young girl?
Female :En paatta kettu vanthavazhi oduvathenna…ae….hae….
Female: Why run back the way you came after hearing my song... ae... hae...
Adangaathirukkum pasu maadu
A cow that remains unruly
Thozhuvaththil thangaathu
Will not stay inside the shed
Female :Adha adakkura kaala kedaiyaath
Female: A bull that can tame her doesn't exist
Iva kitta nadakkaathu
That trick won't work with this girl
Annakkiliyae Chinnakkiliyae
Oh swan-like bird, oh little bird
Intha thimir aagumaa haei
Is this arrogance appropriate for you? Hey!
Meesa molachcha aambalakitta
With a man who has grown a mustache
Sandaiyida venumaa
Do you really need to fight?
Morachchu paaraiyyaa kedaikkum paaraiyyaa
Stare and see, sir, you will get it, sir
Onakkum kooda virunthu
Even for you, there will be a grand feast of a lesson
Pottaa potti
Competition and rivalry
Potta pulla poduvathenna
Why are you starting a challenge, young girl?
En paatta kettu vanthavazhi oduvathenna…
Why run back the way you came after hearing my song...
Pombala nenaichchaa
If a woman decides
Un chinda pudippaa
She will grab your hair lock
Aambala kadhaiya vambula mudippaa
She will end the man's story in trouble
Pottaa potti
Competition and rivalry
Potta pulla poduvathenna
Why are you starting a challenge, young girl?
Female :En paatta kettu vanthavazhi oduvathenna…ae….hae….
Female: Why run back the way you came after hearing my song... ae... hae...
Veenaa vegam kaattaathae adhu inga koodaathae
Don't show unnecessary aggression, that won't work here
Male :Adi neeyaa naanaa paapomadi naduvula odaathae
Male: Hey girl, let's see whether it's you or me, don't run away midway
Ponnu nenaichchaa indhiranaiyum
If a woman decides, even Lord Indra
Pottikkulla poottuvaa
She will lock him up inside a tiny box
Chinna ponnu naan enna edhirththaa
I am a young girl, but if you oppose me
En palaththa kaattavaa
Shall I show you my true strength?
Vazhiya vanthatha vidura aalilla
I am not the type to let go of what comes my way
Vazhiya paaththu nadammaa adadaa
Watch your path and tread carefully, oh my!
Pottaa potti
Competition and rivalry
Engitta nee poduvathenna
Why do you challenge me?
En paatta kettu vanthavazhi oduvathenna
Why run back the way you came after hearing my song?
Aambala nenaichchaa
If a man decides
Un chinda pudippaan
He will grab your hair lock
Female :Haan
Female: Ha!
Male :Pombala kadhaiya vambula mudippaan
Male: He will end the woman's story in trouble
Female :Haan
Female: Ha!
Pottaa potti
Competition and rivalry
Engitta nee poduvathenna
Why do you challenge me?
En paatta kettu vanthavazhi oduvathenna
Why run back the way you came after hearing my song?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
Keep listening
More from Aagaya Thamaraigal
Aagaya Thamaraigal
Aagaya Thamaraigal
Aagaya Thamaraigal
Aagaya Thamaraigal