Potta Sevakkum Namma Vethala
From Maman Machan · 1984
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Sailaja
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Maman Machan1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Pottaa sevakkum namma veththala | Our betel leaf turns bright red when chewed |
| Kozhunthaa irukku innum muththala | It is still tender and hasn't aged or matured |
| Kaampoda podaatheenga | Don't put it in with the stalk intact |
| Adhai medhuvaa killanunga | Pinch off that stalk gently |
| Hae kaampoda podaatheenga | Hey, don't put it in with the stalk intact |
| Adhai medhuvaa killanunga…aahaan | Pinch off that stalk gently... aha |
| Female | |
| Pottaa sevakkum namma veththala | Our betel leaf turns bright red when chewed |
| Kozhunthaa irukku innum muththala | It is still tender and hasn't aged or matured |
| Kaampoda podaatheenga | Don't put it in with the stalk intact |
| Adhai medhuvaa killanunga | Pinch off that stalk gently |
| Hae kaampoda podaatheenga | Hey, don't put it in with the stalk intact |
| Adhai medhuvaa killanunga… | Pinch off that stalk gently... |
| Female | |
| Vaadaama thanni thelichchi en mama | Sprinkle water so it doesn't wither, my uncle |
| Vachchikka enna nenachchi | Keep it safely thinking of me |
| Naanaaga thottu thadavi thanthida | I will personally touch, gently caress, and hand it to you |
| Thaarenyaa notta kodu nee | I shall give it, hand over the money note first |
| Female | |
| Market-la kettukkaiyyaa haang | Check the rate in the market, sir, ah |
| Market-la Kettukkaiyyaa | Check the rate in the market, sir |
| Bodhai yaerum pottukkaiyyaa | An intoxication will rise, take it sir |
| Female | |
| Haang pottaa sevakkum namma veththala | Ah, our betel leaf turns bright red when chewed |
| Kozhunthaa irukku innum muththala | It is still tender and hasn't aged or matured |
| Kaampoda podaatheenga | Don't put it in with the stalk intact |
| Adhai medhuvaa killanunga | Pinch off that stalk gently |
| Hae kaampoda podaatheenga | Hey, don't put it in with the stalk intact |
| Adhai medhuvaa killanunga… | Pinch off that stalk gently... |
| Female | |
| Saamaththil kannu muzhichchaa | When waking up in the middle of the night |
| Ammaadi thoongaama nenju thavichcha | Oh my, the heart yearned without any sleep |
| Poththuttu mella paduththaa | When covering up and lying down softly |
| Aaththaadi thoongaatha kannu edhuiyyaa | Oh gosh, why are those eyes awake without sleep, sir? |
| Female | |
| Rasaavukku santhegamaa | Does my king have a doubt? |
| En rasaavukku santhegamaa | Does my king have a doubt? |
| Pottu paaru santhoshamaa | Try it out with joy |
| Female | |
| Ada pottaa sevakkum namma veththala | Ah, our betel leaf turns bright red when chewed |
| Kozhunthaa irukku innum muththala | It is still tender and hasn't aged or matured |
| Kaampoda podaatheenga | Don't put it in with the stalk intact |
| Adhai medhuvaa killanunga | Pinch off that stalk gently |
| Hae kaampoda podaatheenga | Hey, don't put it in with the stalk intact |
| Adhai medhuvaa killanunga… | Pinch off that stalk gently... |
போட்டா செவக்கும் நம்ம வெத்தல
கொழுந்தா இருக்கு இன்னும் முத்தல
காம்போட போடாதீங்க
அதை மெதுவா கிள்ளணுங்க.....
ஹே காம்போட போடாதீங்க
அதை மெதுவா கிள்ளணுங்க.....ஆஹான்....
Our betel leaf turns bright red when chewed
It is still tender and hasn't aged or matured
Don't put it in with the stalk intact
Pinch off that stalk gently
Hey, don't put it in with the stalk intact
Pinch off that stalk gently... aha
போட்டா செவக்கும் நம்ம வெத்தல
கொழுந்தா இருக்கு இன்னும் முத்தல
காம்போட போடாதீங்க
அதை மெதுவா கிள்ளணுங்க.....
ஹே காம்போட போடாதீங்க
அதை மெதுவா கிள்ளணுங்க.....
Our betel leaf turns bright red when chewed
It is still tender and hasn't aged or matured
Don't put it in with the stalk intact
Pinch off that stalk gently
Hey, don't put it in with the stalk intact
Pinch off that stalk gently...
வாடாம தண்ணி தெளிச்சி என் மாமா
வச்சிக்க என்ன நெனச்சி
நானாக தொட்டு தடவி தந்திட
தாரேன்யா நோட்ட கொடு நீ
Sprinkle water so it doesn't wither, my uncle
Keep it safely thinking of me
I will personally touch, gently caress, and hand it to you
I shall give it, hand over the money note first
மார்க்கெட்டுல கேட்டுக்கய்யா ஹாங்...
மார்க்கெட்டுல கேட்டுக்கய்யா
போதை ஏறும் போட்டுகய்யா....
Check the rate in the market, sir, ah
Check the rate in the market, sir
An intoxication will rise, take it sir
ஹாங் போட்டா செவக்கும் நம்ம வெத்தல
கொழுந்தா இருக்கு இன்னும் முத்தல
காம்போட போடாதீங்க
அதை மெதுவா கிள்ளணுங்க.....
ஹே காம்போட போடாதீங்க
அதை மெதுவா கிள்ளணுங்க.....
Ah, our betel leaf turns bright red when chewed
It is still tender and hasn't aged or matured
Don't put it in with the stalk intact
Pinch off that stalk gently
Hey, don't put it in with the stalk intact
Pinch off that stalk gently...
சாமத்தில் கண்ணு முழிச்சா
அம்மாடி தூங்காம நெஞ்சு தவிச்சா
போத்துட்டு மெல்லப் படுத்தா
ஆத்தாடி தூங்காத கண்ணு எதுய்யா
When waking up in the middle of the night
Oh my, the heart yearned without any sleep
When covering up and lying down softly
Oh gosh, why are those eyes awake without sleep, sir?
ராசாவுக்கு சந்தேகமா
என் ராசாவுக்கு சந்தேகமா
போட்டு பாரு சந்தோஷமா
Does my king have a doubt?
Does my king have a doubt?
Try it out with joy
அட போட்டா செவக்கும் நம்ம வெத்தல
கொழுந்தா இருக்கு இன்னும் முத்தல
காம்போட போடாதீங்க
அதை மெதுவா கிள்ளணுங்க.....
அடடடா காம்போட போடாதீங்க
அதை மெதுவா கிள்ளணுங்க.....
Ah, our betel leaf turns bright red when chewed
It is still tender and hasn't aged or matured
Don't put it in with the stalk intact
Pinch off that stalk gently
Hey, don't put it in with the stalk intact
Pinch off that stalk gently...
Pottaa sevakkum namma veththala
Our betel leaf turns bright red when chewed
Kozhunthaa irukku innum muththala
It is still tender and hasn't aged or matured
Kaampoda podaatheenga
Don't put it in with the stalk intact
Adhai medhuvaa killanunga
Pinch off that stalk gently
Hae kaampoda podaatheenga
Hey, don't put it in with the stalk intact
Adhai medhuvaa killanunga…aahaan
Pinch off that stalk gently... aha
Pottaa sevakkum namma veththala
Our betel leaf turns bright red when chewed
Kozhunthaa irukku innum muththala
It is still tender and hasn't aged or matured
Kaampoda podaatheenga
Don't put it in with the stalk intact
Adhai medhuvaa killanunga
Pinch off that stalk gently
Hae kaampoda podaatheenga
Hey, don't put it in with the stalk intact
Adhai medhuvaa killanunga…
Pinch off that stalk gently...
Vaadaama thanni thelichchi en mama
Sprinkle water so it doesn't wither, my uncle
Vachchikka enna nenachchi
Keep it safely thinking of me
Naanaaga thottu thadavi thanthida
I will personally touch, gently caress, and hand it to you
Thaarenyaa notta kodu nee
I shall give it, hand over the money note first
Market-la kettukkaiyyaa haang
Check the rate in the market, sir, ah
Market-la Kettukkaiyyaa
Check the rate in the market, sir
Bodhai yaerum pottukkaiyyaa
An intoxication will rise, take it sir
Haang pottaa sevakkum namma veththala
Ah, our betel leaf turns bright red when chewed
Kozhunthaa irukku innum muththala
It is still tender and hasn't aged or matured
Kaampoda podaatheenga
Don't put it in with the stalk intact
Adhai medhuvaa killanunga
Pinch off that stalk gently
Hae kaampoda podaatheenga
Hey, don't put it in with the stalk intact
Adhai medhuvaa killanunga…
Pinch off that stalk gently...
Saamaththil kannu muzhichchaa
When waking up in the middle of the night
Ammaadi thoongaama nenju thavichcha
Oh my, the heart yearned without any sleep
Poththuttu mella paduththaa
When covering up and lying down softly
Aaththaadi thoongaatha kannu edhuiyyaa
Oh gosh, why are those eyes awake without sleep, sir?
Rasaavukku santhegamaa
Does my king have a doubt?
En rasaavukku santhegamaa
Does my king have a doubt?
Pottu paaru santhoshamaa
Try it out with joy
Ada pottaa sevakkum namma veththala
Ah, our betel leaf turns bright red when chewed
Kozhunthaa irukku innum muththala
It is still tender and hasn't aged or matured
Kaampoda podaatheenga
Don't put it in with the stalk intact
Adhai medhuvaa killanunga
Pinch off that stalk gently
Hae kaampoda podaatheenga
Hey, don't put it in with the stalk intact
Adhai medhuvaa killanunga…
Pinch off that stalk gently...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Pottaa Sevakkum Namma Veththala' from the 1984 movie 'Maman Machan' is a playful and sultry Tamil folk song. On the surface, the singer takes the persona of a street vendor hawking fresh, tender betel leaves, explaining how to properly trim and chew them. Underneath the surface, master lyricist Vaali uses clever double entendre (Irettai Arththam) to metaphorically describe youthful romance, physical attraction, and intimate flirtation between lovers. The vibrant rhythm by Shankar Ganesh and dynamic vocal delivery by S.P. Sailaja give the track its energetic, seductive folk charm.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Double Entendre / Metaphor (Irettai Arththam)
“Pottaa sevakkum namma veththala / Kozhunthaa irukku innum muththala”
The act of handling, trimming, and chewing tender betel leaf ('veththala') is used as an extended metaphor for intimate romantic courtship and youthful feminine charm.
Rhyme / Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Market-la kettukkaiyyaa ... Bodhai yaerum pottukkaiyyaa”
Matching ending sound pattern across consecutive lines to add rhythmic folk cadence.
Alliteration / Ethirai (Second Letter Agreement)
“Pottaa / Kaampoda / Adhai”
Assonance/Ethirai with matching second consonant sounds 'tt' across words.
Did you know?
Trivia
Lyricist Vaali was renowned in Tamil cinema for his skill in writing harmlessly suggestive trade-based metaphor songs (selling flowers, betel leaves, or fruit) that appealed widely to rural folk audiences while carrying clever romantic double meanings. Music director duo Shankar-Ganesh frequently used S.P. Sailaja for such high-pitched, expressive folk numbers.
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