Potta Pulla Manasu
From Selva · 1996
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| ……………….. | |
| Female | |
| Pottapulla manasu | In the heart of a young girl, |
| Adhil enna irukku | what is hidden inside? |
| Male :Poththi poththi vachchaa | Male: If kept safely concealed, |
| Oru achcham irukku | there is a sense of fear. |
| Female | |
| Pottapulla manasu | In the heart of a young girl, |
| Adhil enna irukku | what is hidden inside? |
| Male :Poththi poththi vachchaa | Male: If kept safely concealed, |
| Oru achcham irukku | there is a sense of fear. |
| Female | |
| Ull manasu muzhuthum | In the depth of my entire inner heart, |
| Unna otti vachchen | I have attached only you. |
| Un ninaippa kozhaichchu neththi | Blending your memories together, |
| Pottu vachchenae pottu vachchenae | I placed it as a bindi on my forehead, yes I placed it. |
| Female | |
| Pottapulla manasu | In the heart of a young girl, |
| Adhil enna irukku | what is hidden inside? |
| Male :Poththi poththi vachchaa | Male: If kept safely concealed, |
| Oru achcham irukku | there is a sense of fear. |
| Female | |
| Othth pinnal pinni | Braiding a single braid, |
| Adha maar melaethaan pottu | and letting it rest across my chest, |
| Unna paththu poo vachchaa | adorning my hair with flowers, |
| Unakkathu purigirathaa | do you understand what it means? |
| Male | |
| Enna paaththu vachcha | Looking at me, |
| Antha gundu mallithaan | doesn't that round jasmine flower |
| Unna konjam | tell you to pinch |
| Killi paarkka sollaathaa | and touch me a little bit? |
| Female | |
| Kannaala kaduthaasi | A letter written with eyes, |
| Naan yaen pottaen | why did I send it? |
| Female :Ammaadi naanumthaan | Female: Oh my, I too, |
| Vizhi vazhi bathil ezhutha | to write a response through my eyes, |
| Female | |
| Bathilaithaan edhirpaarththu | and awaiting your reply, |
| Paathi vayasaatchche | half my youth has passed! |
| Male | |
| Pottapulla manasu | In the heart of a young girl, |
| Adhil enna irukku | what is hidden inside? |
| Female :Poththi poththi vachchaa | Female: If kept safely concealed, |
| Oru achcham irukku | there is a sense of fear. |
| Chorus | |
| ………………. | |
| Female | |
| Manja veyil mela | Upon the golden sunlight, |
| Nitham mekkaalathaan saayum | dusk leans in every day. |
| Anthi neram yaen | Why during this twilight hour, |
| Intha udhadugal vedikkuthaiyyaa | do these lips dry up and crack, my dear? |
| Male | |
| Oththadangal vachchaa | If a soothing touch is applied, |
| Antha veppam koraiyum | that heat will subside. |
| Adi oththaiyaaga | Hey, standing all alone, |
| Neeyum ninnaa vegaathaa | won't you burn up inside? |
| Female | |
| Eppothum thaagamthaan | There is always a thirst, |
| Yaaenyaa yaenyaa | why is that, why? |
| Male :Undaachchu mogamthaan | Male: Passion has arisen, |
| Chinna vayasula varuvathuthaan | which naturally arrives at a young age. |
| Female :Vanthaachchu adhukaaga mm mm mm… | Female: It has arrived, and for that reason... mm mm mm... |
| Male | |
| Pottapulla manasu | In the heart of a young girl, |
| Adhil enna irukku | what is hidden inside? |
| Female :Poththi poththi vachchaa | Female: If kept safely concealed, |
| Oru achcham irukku | there is a sense of fear. |
| Male | |
| Ull manasu muzhuthum | In the depth of my entire inner heart, |
| Unna ottivachchen | I have attached only you. |
| Female | |
| Un ninaippa kozhaichchu neththi | Blending your memories together, |
| Pottu vachchenae pottu vachchenae | I placed it as a bindi on my forehead, yes I placed it. |
...............................
பொட்டப்புள்ள மனசு அதில் என்ன இருக்கு
பொத்தி பொத்தி வச்சா ஒரு அச்சம் இருக்கு
In the heart of a young girl,
what is hidden inside?
Male: If kept safely concealed,
there is a sense of fear.
பொட்டப்புள்ள மனசு
அதில் என்ன இருக்கு
பொத்தி பொத்தி வச்சா
ஒரு அச்சம் இருக்கு
In the heart of a young girl,
what is hidden inside?
Male: If kept safely concealed,
there is a sense of fear.
உள் மனசு முழுதும்
உன்ன ஒட்டிவச்சேன்
உன் நினைப்ப கொழைச்சு நெத்தி
பொட்டு வச்சேனே பொட்டு வச்சேனே
In the depth of my entire inner heart,
I have attached only you.
Blending your memories together,
I placed it as a bindi on my forehead, yes I placed it.
பொட்டப்புள்ள மனசு
அதில் என்ன இருக்கு
பொத்தி பொத்தி வச்சா
ஒரு அச்சம் இருக்கு
In the heart of a young girl,
what is hidden inside?
Male: If kept safely concealed,
there is a sense of fear.
ஒத்த பின்னல் பின்னி
அத மார்மேலேதான் போட்டு
உன்ன பாத்து பூ வச்சா
உனக்கது புரிகிறதா
Braiding a single braid,
and letting it rest across my chest,
adorning my hair with flowers,
do you understand what it means?
என்ன பாத்து வச்ச
அந்த குண்டு மல்லிதான்
உன்ன கொஞ்சம்
கிள்ளி பார்க்க சொல்லாதா
Looking at me,
doesn't that round jasmine flower
tell you to pinch
and touch me a little bit?
கண்ணால கடுதாசி
நான் ஏன் போட்டேன்
அம்மாடி நானும்தான்
விழி வழி பதில் எழுத
A letter written with eyes,
why did I send it?
Female: Oh my, I too,
to write a response through my eyes,
பதிலைத்தான் எதிர்பார்த்து
பாதி வயசாச்சே
and awaiting your reply,
half my youth has passed!
பொட்டப்புள்ள மனசு
அதில் என்ன இருக்கு
பொத்தி பொத்தி வச்சா
ஒரு அச்சம் இருக்கு
In the heart of a young girl,
what is hidden inside?
Female: If kept safely concealed,
there is a sense of fear.
.............................
மஞ்ச வெயில் மேல
நிதம் மேக்காலதான் சாயும்
அந்தி நேரம் ஏன் இந்த
உதடுகள் வெடிக்குதய்யா
Upon the golden sunlight,
dusk leans in every day.
Why during this twilight hour,
do these lips dry up and crack, my dear?
ஒத்தடங்கள் வச்சா
அந்த வெப்பம் கொறையும்
அடி ஒத்தையாக
நீயும் நின்னா வேகாதா
If a soothing touch is applied,
that heat will subside.
Hey, standing all alone,
won't you burn up inside?
எப்போதும் தாகம் தான்
ஏன்யா ஏன்யா
உண்டாச்சு மோகம்தான்
சின்ன வயசுல வருவது தான்
வந்தாச்சு அதுக்காக ம் ம் ம் ம் ….
There is always a thirst,
why is that, why?
Male: Passion has arisen,
which naturally arrives at a young age.
Female: It has arrived, and for that reason... mm mm mm...
பொட்டப்புள்ள மனசு
அதில் என்ன இருக்கு
பொத்தி பொத்தி வச்சா
ஒரு அச்சம் இருக்கு
In the heart of a young girl,
what is hidden inside?
Female: If kept safely concealed,
there is a sense of fear.
உள் மனசு முழுதும்
உன்ன ஒட்டிவச்சேன்
In the depth of my entire inner heart,
I have attached only you.
உன் நினைப்ப கொழைச்சு
நெத்தி பொட்டு வச்சேனே பொட்டு வச்சேனே
Blending your memories together,
I placed it as a bindi on my forehead, yes I placed it.
………………..
Pottapulla manasu
In the heart of a young girl,
Adhil enna irukku
what is hidden inside?
Male :Poththi poththi vachchaa
Male: If kept safely concealed,
Oru achcham irukku
there is a sense of fear.
Pottapulla manasu
In the heart of a young girl,
Adhil enna irukku
what is hidden inside?
Male :Poththi poththi vachchaa
Male: If kept safely concealed,
Oru achcham irukku
there is a sense of fear.
Ull manasu muzhuthum
In the depth of my entire inner heart,
Unna otti vachchen
I have attached only you.
Un ninaippa kozhaichchu neththi
Blending your memories together,
Pottu vachchenae pottu vachchenae
I placed it as a bindi on my forehead, yes I placed it.
Pottapulla manasu
In the heart of a young girl,
Adhil enna irukku
what is hidden inside?
Male :Poththi poththi vachchaa
Male: If kept safely concealed,
Oru achcham irukku
there is a sense of fear.
Othth pinnal pinni
Braiding a single braid,
Adha maar melaethaan pottu
and letting it rest across my chest,
Unna paththu poo vachchaa
adorning my hair with flowers,
Unakkathu purigirathaa
do you understand what it means?
Enna paaththu vachcha
Looking at me,
Antha gundu mallithaan
doesn't that round jasmine flower
Unna konjam
tell you to pinch
Killi paarkka sollaathaa
and touch me a little bit?
Kannaala kaduthaasi
A letter written with eyes,
Naan yaen pottaen
why did I send it?
Female :Ammaadi naanumthaan
Female: Oh my, I too,
Vizhi vazhi bathil ezhutha
to write a response through my eyes,
Bathilaithaan edhirpaarththu
and awaiting your reply,
Paathi vayasaatchche
half my youth has passed!
Pottapulla manasu
In the heart of a young girl,
Adhil enna irukku
what is hidden inside?
Female :Poththi poththi vachchaa
Female: If kept safely concealed,
Oru achcham irukku
there is a sense of fear.
……………….
Manja veyil mela
Upon the golden sunlight,
Nitham mekkaalathaan saayum
dusk leans in every day.
Anthi neram yaen
Why during this twilight hour,
Intha udhadugal vedikkuthaiyyaa
do these lips dry up and crack, my dear?
Oththadangal vachchaa
If a soothing touch is applied,
Antha veppam koraiyum
that heat will subside.
Adi oththaiyaaga
Hey, standing all alone,
Neeyum ninnaa vegaathaa
won't you burn up inside?
Eppothum thaagamthaan
There is always a thirst,
Yaaenyaa yaenyaa
why is that, why?
Male :Undaachchu mogamthaan
Male: Passion has arisen,
Chinna vayasula varuvathuthaan
which naturally arrives at a young age.
Female :Vanthaachchu adhukaaga mm mm mm…
Female: It has arrived, and for that reason... mm mm mm...
Pottapulla manasu
In the heart of a young girl,
Adhil enna irukku
what is hidden inside?
Female :Poththi poththi vachchaa
Female: If kept safely concealed,
Oru achcham irukku
there is a sense of fear.
Ull manasu muzhuthum
In the depth of my entire inner heart,
Unna ottivachchen
I have attached only you.
Un ninaippa kozhaichchu neththi
Blending your memories together,
Pottu vachchenae pottu vachchenae
I placed it as a bindi on my forehead, yes I placed it.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
Keep listening
More from Selva
Selva
Selva
Selva
Selva