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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pottu Mela Pottu

From Janakiraman · 1997

Lyricist
Pazhani Bharathi
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Anuradha Sriram
Music director
Sirpy
Details
Janakiraman1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pottu mela pottu vachuWearing a bindi over a bindi,
Pottalila pora pullaO girl walking across the open field,
Nee thottu vacha kungumamaaWas I not born on this earth,
Naan mannil vandhu porakaliyaeAs the vermilion touch of your finger?
Chorus
…………………………….
Male
Pottu mela pottu vachuWearing a bindi over a bindi,
Pottalila pora pullaO girl walking across the open field,
Pottu mela pottu vachuWearing a bindi over a bindi,
Pottalila pora pullaO girl walking across the open field,
Nee thottu vacha kungumamaaWas I not born on this earth,
Naan mannil vandhu porakaliyaeAs the vermilion touch of your finger?
Mannil vandhu porakaliyaeWas I not born on this earth?
Pottu mela pottu vachuWearing a bindi over a bindi,
Pottalila pora pullaO girl walking across the open field,
Chorus
………………………………….
Female
Kattipudichchaa puyal adikkudhaiyaaIf I embrace you, a storm blows!
En uchi mudhal paadham varaikkumFrom the top of my head to my feet,
Patti mandram dhaan onnu nadakkudhaiyaA lively debate is taking place,
En kattilukkum thalai anaikkumBetween my bed and my pillow!
Male
Pothi vachu pothi vachuHiding and nurturing it within,
Aasa romba muthi pochuMy desire has grown so intense,
Unnai kanda pinbu thaanaeOnly after beholding you,
Motcham vandhuchuDid I attain salvation!
Female
Penmaikku vetkam thollaiyaIs shyness a burden for womanhood?
Ad aasaikingu eppodhum ellai illayaa …Oh, is there never a limit to desire here?
Male
Idhu katti kaaval vittu thaandumIsn't this the age that breaks free,
Vayasillayaa….From all strict restraints?
Male
Pottu mela pottu vachuWearing a bindi over a bindi,
Pottalila pora pullaO girl walking across the open field,
Chorus
…………………………
Male
Kaavi kattadhaan manam nenachadhadiMy mind once thought of wearing saffron robes,
Unnai paartha pinnae maari pochuBut after seeing you, everything changed!
Aadi asanju nee nadakaiyilaeWhen you walk swaying gracefully,
Thavam athanaiyum aadi pochuAll my ascetic penance got shaken up!
Female
Kayil pattu kaalil pattuTouching the hands and touching the feet,
Pattu sela kettu pochuThe silk saree got rumpled!
Sikkikittu chinna ponnu sevandhiruchuGetting caught in love, the young girl blushed deep red!
Male
Pollaadha aasai vidumaa ..Will this wicked desire ever let go?
Unnai vittu vaikka naan enna gnyaana pazhamaAm I the fruit of divine wisdom to spare you?
Female
Un bhakthi ippo muthi pochuYour devotion to me has grown so intense,
Romba mosamaAnd very mischievous!
Male
Pottu mela pottu vachuWearing a bindi over a bindi,
Pottalila pora pullaO girl walking across the open field,
Pottu mela pottu vachuWearing a bindi over a bindi,
Pottalila pora pullaO girl walking across the open field,
Nee thottu vacha kungumamaaWas I not born on this earth,
Naan mannil vandhu porakaliyaeAs the vermilion touch of your finger?
Mannil vandhu porakaliyaeWas I not born on this earth?
Chorus
……………………

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

Keep listening

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