Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pottathalem

From Bharathan · 1992

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Bharathan
Movie release year
1992
Lyrics added on
21 Aug 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Rappapaaraa rap rappapaaraa rappap
Rappapaaraa rap rappapaaraa rappap
Rarararaa rarararaa
Pottadhellaam vetri kallu
Ketpadhellaam vaazhthu chollu thamizhanae
Ahaa potti enna yetti nillu
Thootruvorai vittu thallu thamizhanae
Kottu kottu murasu kotti paadu
Ettu thikkum kaigal ettum etti paaru
Thunivudan ini
Pottadhellaam vetri kallu
Ketpadhellaam vaazhthu chollu thamizhanae
Ahaa potti enna yetti nillu
Thootruvorai vittu thallu thamizhanae
Pattu thaegam thaekku pola
Katti kaakka thittam podu
Noigal thaanaaga odum
Vattillaadha sittu pola
Mettu paadi vattam podu
Kaatrum poo maalai podum
Achamenna achamenna ettu podu
Unmaiyulla nenjukkaedhu kattuppaadu
Gangai pola ullam kondu
Vellam pola engum sendru karaigal kadakkalaam
Pottadhellaam vetri kallu
Ketpadhellaam vaazhthu chollu thamizhanae
Ahaa potti enna yetti nillu
Thootruvorai vittu thallu thamizhanae
Kottu kottu murasu kotti paadu
Ettu thikkum kaigal ettum etti paaru
Thunivudan ini
Pottadhellaam vetri kallu
Ketpadhellaam vaazhthu chollu thamizhanae
Ahaa potti enna yetti nillu
Thootruvorai vittu thallu thamizhanae
Cricket aadu battai thookki
Wicket vaangu pandhai veesi
Vaadaa neeyum thaan billgates
Pop song paadu beattu pottu
Michale jackson aattam pottu
Odu P T ushaa pol
Endha naalum endha yaedum unnai potrum
Indha naattin mannan endru maalai soottum
Sattam pottum thittam pottu
Kozhai thannai veeran endru aakka mudiyumaa
Pottadhellaam vetri kallu
Ketpadhellaam vaazhthu chollu thamizhanae
Ahaa potti enna yetti nillu
Thootruvorai vittu thallu thamizhanae
Kottu kottu murasu kotti paadu
Ettu thikkum kaigal ettum etti paaru
Thunivudan ini
Pottadhellaam vetri kallu
Ketpadhellaam vaazhthu chollu thamizhanae
Ahaa potti enna yetti nillu
Thootruvorai vittu thallu thamizhanae
Rappappaara rap rappappaara rappap
Rappappaara rap rappappaara rappap
Rarararaa rarararaa
Every stone you set is a milestone of victory,
All you hear are words of praise, O Tamilian!
Aha, what is competition? Stand out tall!
Brush aside those who speak ill of you, O Tamilian!
Beat the drum, beat the drum and sing!
Reach out and see, your hands can touch all eight directions!
With courage from now on,
Every stone you set is a milestone of victory,
All you hear are words of praise, O Tamilian!
Aha, what is competition? Stand out tall!
Brush aside those who speak ill of you, O Tamilian!
Make your body as sturdy as solid teakwood,
Make a plan to protect and keep it fit.
All illnesses will run away on their own!
Like a carefree little bird,
Sing a tune and whirl around in joy!
Even the breeze will garland you with flowers!
Why have any fear? March ahead boldly!
What boundaries can ever restrict an honest heart?
Carrying a heart as pure as the Ganges,
We can surge like a flood and cross every shore!
Every stone you set is a milestone of victory,
All you hear are words of praise, O Tamilian!
Aha, what is competition? Stand out tall!
Brush aside those who speak ill of you, O Tamilian!
Beat the drum, beat the drum and sing!
Reach out and see, your hands can touch all eight directions!
With courage from now on,
Every stone you set is a milestone of victory,
All you hear are words of praise, O Tamilian!
Aha, what is competition? Stand out tall!
Brush aside those who speak ill of you, O Tamilian!
Play cricket, lift your bat high,
Bowl the ball and take the wicket!
Come on, you can be like Bill Gates too!
Sing a pop song to the beat,
Dance away like Michael Jackson,
And sprint fast like P. T. Usha!
Every single day and every newspaper will sing your praise,
Garlanding you as the king of this land!
Just by making rules and hatching plans,
Can a coward ever be turned into a brave hero?
Every stone you set is a milestone of victory,
All you hear are words of praise, O Tamilian!
Aha, what is competition? Stand out tall!
Brush aside those who speak ill of you, O Tamilian!
Beat the drum, beat the drum and sing!
Reach out and see, your hands can touch all eight directions!
With courage from now on,
Every stone you set is a milestone of victory,
All you hear are words of praise, O Tamilian!
Aha, what is competition? Stand out tall!
Brush aside those who speak ill of you, O Tamilian!
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Pottadhellaam Vetri Kallu' from the movie Bharathan (1992) is a high-energy motivational song that urges the youth—specifically Tamilian youth—to overcome fear, build physical and mental strength, and achieve global success. Lyricist Vaali weaves contemporary pop-culture references alongside traditional metaphors to inspire self-confidence and perseverance. The song encourages breaking boundaries in sports, business, arts, and athletics, referencing figures like Bill Gates, Michael Jackson, and P. T. Usha. It emphasizes that true victory stems from courage, honesty, and inner determination rather than mere rules or external schemes.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uwamai)

“Pattu thaegam thaekku pola”

Compares physical strength to teak wood ('thaekku pola') and mental purity/flow to the Ganges river ('Gangai pola').

Alliteration & Rhyme (Emoni / Ethirai)

“Pottadhellaam vetri kallu / Ketpadhellaam vaazhthu chollu”

Use of 'Pottadhellaam' and 'Ketpadhellaam' to maintain rhythm and flow across stanzas.

Allusion

“Vaadaa neeyum thaan billgates”

Direct references to real-world global personalities (Bill Gates, Michael Jackson, P.T. Usha) to serve as benchmarks of success.

Rhetorical Question

“Kozhai thannai veeran endru aakka mudiyumaa”

Asks whether laws and schemes alone can make a coward into a hero, highlighting that true courage comes from within.

Did you know?

Trivia

Bharathan (1992) starred Vijayakanth and Bhanupriya, with music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. Sung dynamically by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, this song stood out for its unique blend of traditional Tamil motivational lyrics by Vaali with modern pop-culture imagery, referencing contemporary 90s icons like Bill Gates, Michael Jackson, and Indian athlete P. T. Usha.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Mudhal Idam2011
Mudhal IdamResilienceAmbition
Singapenney2019
BigilCourageResilience
Life Is The Game1999
VaaliAmbitionEnergetic
Ezhu Ezhu2018
EzhuminResilienceCourage
Kasu PottachuKasu Pottachu1992
Mouna MozhiAmbitionIdentity
Roar-a Yethu2024
Coke Studio TamilAmbitionEnergetic

From the same album

More songs from Bharathan

View album
Azhage Amuthe1992
BharathanTender
Nalveenai Naatham1992
BharathanMelancholic
Vaa Vaathiyare1992
BharathanPlayful
Punnakaiyil Minsaram1992
BharathanPlayful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.