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Isaimozhi
Janakiraman album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pottu Mela Pottu

From Janakiraman · 1997

Lyricist
Pazhani Bharathi
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Anuradha Sriram
Music director
Sirpy
Movie name
Janakiraman
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
26 Mar 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pottu mela pottu vachu
Pottalila pora pulla
Nee thottu vacha kungumamaa
Naan mannil vandhu porakaliyae
…………………………….
Pottu mela pottu vachu
Pottalila pora pulla
Pottu mela pottu vachu
Pottalila pora pulla
Nee thottu vacha kungumamaa
Naan mannil vandhu porakaliyae
Mannil vandhu porakaliyae
Pottu mela pottu vachu
Pottalila pora pulla
………………………………….
Kattipudichchaa puyal adikkudhaiyaa
En uchi mudhal paadham varaikkum
Patti mandram dhaan onnu nadakkudhaiya
En kattilukkum thalai anaikkum
Pothi vachu pothi vachu
Aasa romba muthi pochu
Unnai kanda pinbu thaanae
Motcham vandhuchu
Penmaikku vetkam thollaiya
Ad aasaikingu eppodhum ellai illayaa …
Idhu katti kaaval vittu thaandum
Vayasillayaa….
Pottu mela pottu vachu
Pottalila pora pulla
…………………………
Kaavi kattadhaan manam nenachadhadi
Unnai paartha pinnae maari pochu
Aadi asanju nee nadakaiyilae
Thavam athanaiyum aadi pochu
Kayil pattu kaalil pattu
Pattu sela kettu pochu
Sikkikittu chinna ponnu sevandhiruchu
Pollaadha aasai vidumaa ..
Unnai vittu vaikka naan enna gnyaana pazhama
Un bhakthi ippo muthi pochu
Romba mosama
Pottu mela pottu vachu
Pottalila pora pulla
Pottu mela pottu vachu
Pottalila pora pulla
Nee thottu vacha kungumamaa
Naan mannil vandhu porakaliyae
Mannil vandhu porakaliyae
……………………
Wearing bindi upon bindi,
Oh girl walking through the open ground,
Was I not born on this earth
As the red kumkum touched by your hand?
...
Wearing bindi upon bindi,
Oh girl walking through the open ground,
Wearing bindi upon bindi,
Oh girl walking through the open ground,
Was I not born on this earth
As the red kumkum touched by your hand?
Was I not born on this earth?
Wearing bindi upon bindi,
Oh girl walking through the open ground,
...
When you embrace me, a storm strikes, sir,
From the crown of my head down to my feet!
Indeed a grand debate is taking place
Between my bed and my pillow!
Kept hidden and guarded deep within,
Desire has grown overwhelmingly strong!
Only after seeing you, indeed,
Did eternal salvation arrive!
Is shyness a nuisance to womanhood?
Ah, is there no limit to desire here?
Is this not the age that breaks past
All strict bounds and protection?
Wearing bindi upon bindi,
Oh girl walking through the open ground,
...
My heart once thought of wearing saffron, girl,
But after seeing you, everything changed!
As you walk with a gentle sway,
All my austere penance was shaken!
Brushed by hands, touched by feet,
The silk saree got all rumpled up!
Getting caught, the young girl turned blush red!
Will this wicked desire ever leave me?
Am I a wise hermit to let you go?
Your devotion has now grown so extreme,
In such an intense way!
Wearing bindi upon bindi,
Oh girl walking through the open ground,
Wearing bindi upon bindi,
Oh girl walking through the open ground,
Was I not born on this earth
As the red kumkum touched by your hand?
Was I not born on this earth?
...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Pottu Mela Pottu Vachu is a playful and passionate romantic duet from the 1997 Tamil film Janakiraman. The song portrays a rustic conversation between two lovers. The male protagonist expresses his deep fascination for the heroine as she walks through the open fields, wishing he could be as close to her as the vermilion mark on her forehead. The couple engages in playful bantering about how their modest restraints and quiet lives dissolved the moment they fell for each other.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Pottu mela pottu vachu / Pottalila pora pulla

Repetition of the initial sound 'P' in words creates a rhythmic flow.

Edugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Kattipudichchaa puyal adikkudhaiyaa / Patti mandram dhaan onnu nadakkudhaiya

The second consonant sound 'tti' matches across adjacent lines.

Hyperbole (Exaggeration)

En uchi mudhal paadham varaikkum / Patti mandram dhaan onnu nadakkudhaiya

Exaggerating the feeling of excitement as a full-fledged debate happening between head and feet.

Refrain

Pottu mela pottu vachu / Pottalila pora pulla

Repetition of the hook phrase emphasizing the central rustic imagery of the song.

Did you know?

Trivia

The music for Janakiraman was composed by Sirpy, starring Sarathkumar and Nagma. The lyrics were penned by Pazhani Bharathi, known for writing memorable, folk-infused romantic tracks in the late 1990s.

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