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Poovilangu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pottene Poovilangu

From Poovilangu · 1984

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Poovilangu
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
27 Jun 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{Pottenae poo vilangu
Anbaalae nee adangu} (2)
Penmaiyin
Aanaiyai meeradhae
Kangalai kadanthu pogadhae
Intha penmaiyin aanaiyai meeradhae
Enthan kangalai kadanthu pogadhae
Pogadhae…
Pottenae poo vilangu
Anbaalae nee adangu
Malaiyai pizhiyum
Aanmai thaan
Marukkavillai unmai thaan
Thaanda mudinthaal thaandu idhu
Un seedhai kizhiththa koduthaan
Indrodu maarividu
En kaadhal mannavaa
En nenjin aasaigali
Un kaadhil sollavaa
Kai serthaal antha kobam
Aari pogum vaa
Pottenae poo vilangu
Anbaalae nee adangu
Penmaiyin aanaiyai meeradhae
Enthan kangalai kadanthu pogadhae
Pogadhae…
Pottenae poo vilangu
Anbaalae nee adangu
Aalai kollum thimingilam
Noolil thanae agappadum
Anbu ennum pidiyin ullae
Malaiyum kooda vasappadum
Kannoram kaadhal isai
Inneram paaduven
Kaiyodu poo vilangu
Ennaalum poduven
Kannalae unnai aalum
Thaali naan seidhen
Pottenae poo vilangu
Anbaalae nee adangu
Penmaiyin aanaiyai meeradhae
Enthan kangalai kadanthu pogadhae
Pogadhae…
Pottenae poo vilangu
Anbaalae nee adangu
I have bound you in handcuffs of flowers,
Surrender softly to my love!
A woman's
command, do not disobey!
Do not move out of my sight!
Do not disobey this woman's command,
Do not move out of my sight!
Do not go...
I have bound you in handcuffs of flowers,
Surrender softly to my love!
Strong enough to crush a mountain
is your manliness,
I do not deny it, it is the truth!
Cross it if you can—
this is the line drawn by your Sita!
Change from this day on,
my king of love!
The desires inside my heart,
shall I whisper in your ear?
If I hold your hands, your anger
will cool away, come to me!
I have bound you in handcuffs of flowers,
Surrender softly to my love!
Do not disobey a woman's command,
Do not move out of my sight!
Do not go...
I have bound you in handcuffs of flowers,
Surrender softly to my love!
Even a deadly whale
gets caught in a simple thread!
Within the tender hold of love,
even a mountain will yield.
From the corner of my eyes, love's song
I will sing right now,
Handcuffs of flowers on your wrists
I will place forever!
To rule over you with my eyes,
I have made a thali (sacred marital thread)!
I have bound you in handcuffs of flowers,
Surrender softly to my love!
Do not disobey a woman's command,
Do not move out of my sight!
Do not go...
I have bound you in handcuffs of flowers,
Surrender softly to my love!
Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

In 'Pottenae Poo Vilangu' from the 1984 film Poovilangu, the heroine playfully asserts her romantic hold over her lover, describing love as a gentle fetter made of flowers ('poovilangu'). She commands him affectionately not to cross the boundary of her gaze, balancing playful authority with deep surrender.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Ruupakam)

Pottenae poo vilangu

The term 'Poo vilangu' (flower handcuff) metaphorically represents the soft, sweet restraint of love.

Mythological Allusion

Un seedhai kizhiththa koduthaan

Refers to the protective line drawn for Sita (Lakshmana Rekha), asking her lover not to cross the boundaries of love.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Aalai kollum thimingilam noolil thanae agappadum

Exaggerates the power of love by stating a deadly whale can be caught in a simple thread and mountains can be tamed by affection.

Assonance / Rhyme (Monai and Ethirai)

Pottenae / Anbaalae

Syllabic rhyming and matching sounds across line beginnings enhance the musical rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song belongs to the 1984 Tamil film Poovilangu, which served as the breakthrough debut for actor Murali, earning him the popular title 'Poovilangu Murali'. The music was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Vairamuthu.

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