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Isaimozhi
Selva album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Potta Pulla Manasu

From Selva · 1996

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, Sujatha
Music director
Sirpy
Movie name
Selva
Movie release year
1996
Lyrics added on
5 May 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
………………..
Pottapulla manasu
Adhil enna irukku
Male :Poththi poththi vachchaa
Oru achcham irukku
Pottapulla manasu
Adhil enna irukku
Male :Poththi poththi vachchaa
Oru achcham irukku
Ull manasu muzhuthum
Unna otti vachchen
Un ninaippa kozhaichchu neththi
Pottu vachchenae pottu vachchenae
Pottapulla manasu
Adhil enna irukku
Male :Poththi poththi vachchaa
Oru achcham irukku
Othth pinnal pinni
Adha maar melaethaan pottu
Unna paththu poo vachchaa
Unakkathu purigirathaa
Enna paaththu vachcha
Antha gundu mallithaan
Unna konjam
Killi paarkka sollaathaa
Kannaala kaduthaasi
Naan yaen pottaen
Female :Ammaadi naanumthaan
Vizhi vazhi bathil ezhutha
Bathilaithaan edhirpaarththu
Paathi vayasaatchche
Pottapulla manasu
Adhil enna irukku
Female :Poththi poththi vachchaa
Oru achcham irukku
……………….
Manja veyil mela
Nitham mekkaalathaan saayum
Anthi neram yaen
Intha udhadugal vedikkuthaiyyaa
Oththadangal vachchaa
Antha veppam koraiyum
Adi oththaiyaaga
Neeyum ninnaa vegaathaa
Eppothum thaagamthaan
Yaaenyaa yaenyaa
Male :Undaachchu mogamthaan
Chinna vayasula varuvathuthaan
Female :Vanthaachchu adhukaaga mm mm mm…
Pottapulla manasu
Adhil enna irukku
Female :Poththi poththi vachchaa
Oru achcham irukku
Ull manasu muzhuthum
Unna ottivachchen
Un ninaippa kozhaichchu neththi
Pottu vachchenae pottu vachchenae
...
A young girl's heart,
what lies within it?
Male: When kept hidden away,
there is a fear inside.
A young girl's heart,
what lies within it?
Male: When kept hidden away,
there is a fear inside.
In the depths of my heart,
I have bound myself to you.
Blending your memories, on my forehead
I placed a pottu, yes, I placed a pottu!
A young girl's heart,
what lies within it?
Male: When kept hidden away,
there is a fear inside.
Braiding a single plait,
and placing it over my chest,
when I wear ten flowers for you,
do you understand what it means?
Looking at me,
that round jasmine flower,
doesn't it ask you
to pinch me just a little?
Why did I send
a letter with my eyes?
Female: Oh my, I too,
to reply through my eyes,
waiting for an answer,
half my age has gone by!
A young girl's heart,
what lies within it?
Female: When kept hidden away,
there is a fear inside.
...
Upon the golden sunlight,
the evening twilight leans every day.
At dusk, why do
these lips dry and crack, my love?
If a gentle compress is applied,
that heat will subside.
Oh girl, standing all alone,
won't you burn with heat?
There is always a thirst,
why is that, why?
Male: Desire has blossomed,
it is what comes in youth.
Female: It has come, and for that... mm mm mm...
A young girl's heart,
what lies within it?
Female: When kept hidden away,
there is a fear inside.
In the depths of my heart,
I have bound myself to you.
Blending your memories, on my forehead
I placed a pottu, yes, I placed a pottu!
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Chorus
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Potta Pulla Manasu' from Selva (1996) is a romantic duet between two lovers expressing their budding love, desires, and shyness. The heroine sings about how she carries her lover's thoughts deeply within her heart and wears his memory like a bindi on her forehead. The hero responds playfully, addressing her hesitations and the sweet fear inherent in youthful romance. Through metaphors of twilight, flowers, and gaze, they express their mutual longing and passion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Pottapulla manasu / Unna otti vachchen”

Repetition of the second consonant in consecutive lines (e.g., 'Pottapulla' and 'Otti').

Metaphor

“Un ninaippa kozhaichchu neththi pottu vachchenae”

Comparing memories of the lover to vermilion/bindi applied on the forehead ('Un ninaippa kozhaichchu neththi pottu vachchenae').

Personification

“Antha gundu mallithaan unna konjam killi paarkka sollaathaa”

Personifying the jasmine flower as if it speaks and prompts the lover to pinch/touch ('Antha gundu mallithaan unna konjam killi paarkka sollaathaa').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Sirpy for the 1996 Vijay-starrer 'Selva', this track features veteran lyricist Vaali's playful folk-infused poetry, performed by Mano and Sujatha Rangarajan.

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