Pottu Mele Pottu Vachu
From Panchavarnam · 1982
- Lyricist
- Na. Kamarasan
- Singer
- P. Jayachandran
- Music director
- Raghuraj Chakravarthy
- Details
- Panchavarnam1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Pottu melae pottu vachchu | Wearing bindi upon bindi, |
| Pottalilae pora pullae | Oh girl walking through the open barren land! |
| Pottu melae pottu vachchu | Wearing bindi upon bindi, |
| Pottalilae pora pullae | Oh girl walking through the open barren land! |
| Male | |
| Pottalilae penja mazhai | The rain that poured in the open barren field, |
| Un pottakkooda nanaikkalaiyae | Didn't even wet your bindi! |
| Pottalilae penja mazhai | The rain that poured in the open barren field, |
| Un pottakkooda nanaikkalaiyae | Didn't even wet your bindi! |
| Male | |
| Pottu melae pottu vachchu | Wearing bindi upon bindi, |
| Pottalilae pora pullae | Oh girl walking through the open barren land! |
| Male | |
| Ullaan uzhavalikka oorkkuruvi naaththarikka | The snipe bird plows, the house sparrow harvests the seedlings, |
| Ullaan uzhavalikka oorkkuruvi naaththarikka | The snipe bird plows, the house sparrow harvests the seedlings, |
| Naarai paramadikka nattuvaadi kattapullae | The stork levels the field, bring it on, sturdy young girl! |
| Naarai paramadikka nattuvaadi kattapullae | The stork levels the field, bring it on, sturdy young girl! |
| Male | |
| Irutta iruttadikka indhirana thedikka | As darkness strikes, go search for Lord Indra, |
| Irutta iruttadikka indhirana thedikka | As darkness strikes, go search for Lord Indra, |
| Paara idangalilae paarththaenae kanmaniya | In unseen places, I saw you, my dear beloved! |
| Paara idangalilae paarththaenae kanmaniya | In unseen places, I saw you, my dear beloved! |
| Male | |
| Pottu melae pottu vachchu | Wearing bindi upon bindi, |
| Pottalilae pora pullae | Oh girl walking through the open barren land! |
| Pottu melae pottu vachchu | Wearing bindi upon bindi, |
| Pottalilae pora pullae | Oh girl walking through the open barren land! |
| Male | |
| Vella vella selakkaari | Girl in the bright white saree, |
| Vellarikkaai koodaikkaari | Girl carrying a basket of cucumbers! |
| Vella vella selakkaari | Girl in the bright white saree, |
| Vellarikkaai koodaikkaari | Girl carrying a basket of cucumbers! |
| Male | |
| Konal maanal vellarikkaai | Bring those crooked and curved cucumbers, |
| Kondu vaadi thinnu paappom | Bring them, girl, let us eat and see! |
| Konal maanal vellarikkaai | Bring those crooked and curved cucumbers, |
| Kondu vaadi thinnu paappom | Bring them, girl, let us eat and see! |
| Male | |
| Angu puliyamaram adhaiyaduththu cholakkaadu | Over there is the tamarind tree, and next to it, the cornfield, |
| Angu puliyamaram adhaiyaduththu cholakkaadu | Over there is the tamarind tree, and next to it, the cornfield, |
| Nenju karaiyiranae en kanakku puriyalaiyo | My heart is melting, don't you understand my intention? |
| Nenju karaiyiranae en kanakku puriyalaiyo | My heart is melting, don't you understand my intention? |
| Ooo….ooo….ooo….ooo…oo….. | Ooo....ooo....ooo....ooo...oo..... |
பொட்டு மேலே பொட்டு வச்சு
பொட்டலிலே போற புள்ளே
பொட்டு மேலே பொட்டு வச்சு
பொட்டலிலே போற புள்ளே
Wearing bindi upon bindi,
Oh girl walking through the open barren land!
Wearing bindi upon bindi,
Oh girl walking through the open barren land!
பொட்டலிலே பேஞ்ச மழை
உன் பொட்டக்கூட நனைக்கலையே..
பொட்டலிலே பேஞ்ச மழை
உன் பொட்டக்கூட நனைக்கலையே.....
The rain that poured in the open barren field,
Didn't even wet your bindi!
The rain that poured in the open barren field,
Didn't even wet your bindi!
பொட்டு மேலே பொட்டு வச்சு
பொட்டலிலே போற புள்ளே
Wearing bindi upon bindi,
Oh girl walking through the open barren land!
உள்ளான் உழவளிக்க ஊர்க்குருவி நாத்தரிக்க
உள்ளான் உழவளிக்க ஊர்க்குருவி நாத்தரிக்க
நாரை பரமடிக்க நட்டுவாடி கட்டப்புள்ளே
நாரை பரமடிக்க நட்டுவாடி கட்டப்புள்ளே
The snipe bird plows, the house sparrow harvests the seedlings,
The snipe bird plows, the house sparrow harvests the seedlings,
The stork levels the field, bring it on, sturdy young girl!
The stork levels the field, bring it on, sturdy young girl!
இருட்ட இருட்டடிக்க இந்திரன தேடிக்க
இருட்ட இருட்டடிக்க இந்திரன தேடிக்க
பாற இடங்களிலே பார்த்தேனே கண்மணிய
பாற இடங்களிலே பார்த்தேனே கண்மணிய
As darkness strikes, go search for Lord Indra,
As darkness strikes, go search for Lord Indra,
In unseen places, I saw you, my dear beloved!
In unseen places, I saw you, my dear beloved!
பொட்டு மேலே பொட்டு வச்சு
பொட்டலிலே போற புள்ளே
பொட்டு மேலே பொட்டு வச்சு
பொட்டலிலே போற புள்ளே
Wearing bindi upon bindi,
Oh girl walking through the open barren land!
Wearing bindi upon bindi,
Oh girl walking through the open barren land!
வெள்ள வெள்ள சேலக்காரி
வெள்ளரிக்காய் கூடைக்காரி
வெள்ள வெள்ள சேலக்காரி
வெள்ளரிக்காய் கூடைக்காரி
Girl in the bright white saree,
Girl carrying a basket of cucumbers!
Girl in the bright white saree,
Girl carrying a basket of cucumbers!
கோணல் மாணல் வெள்ளரிக்காய்
கொண்டு வாடி தின்னு பாப்போம்
கோணல் மாணல் வெள்ளரிக்காய்
கொண்டு வாடி தின்னு பாப்போம்
Bring those crooked and curved cucumbers,
Bring them, girl, let us eat and see!
Bring those crooked and curved cucumbers,
Bring them, girl, let us eat and see!
அங்கு புளியமரம் அதையடுத்து சோளக்காடு
அங்கு புளியமரம் அதையடுத்து சோளக்காடு
நெஞ்சு கரையிறேனே என் கணக்கு புரியலையோ
நெஞ்சு கரையிறேனே என் கணக்கு புரியலையோ
ஓஒ....ஓஒ.....ஓஒ....ஓஒ.....ஓ......
Over there is the tamarind tree, and next to it, the cornfield,
Over there is the tamarind tree, and next to it, the cornfield,
My heart is melting, don't you understand my intention?
My heart is melting, don't you understand my intention?
Ooo....ooo....ooo....ooo...oo.....
Pottu melae pottu vachchu
Wearing bindi upon bindi,
Pottalilae pora pullae
Oh girl walking through the open barren land!
Pottu melae pottu vachchu
Wearing bindi upon bindi,
Pottalilae pora pullae
Oh girl walking through the open barren land!
Pottalilae penja mazhai
The rain that poured in the open barren field,
Un pottakkooda nanaikkalaiyae
Didn't even wet your bindi!
Pottalilae penja mazhai
The rain that poured in the open barren field,
Un pottakkooda nanaikkalaiyae
Didn't even wet your bindi!
Pottu melae pottu vachchu
Wearing bindi upon bindi,
Pottalilae pora pullae
Oh girl walking through the open barren land!
Ullaan uzhavalikka oorkkuruvi naaththarikka
The snipe bird plows, the house sparrow harvests the seedlings,
Ullaan uzhavalikka oorkkuruvi naaththarikka
The snipe bird plows, the house sparrow harvests the seedlings,
Naarai paramadikka nattuvaadi kattapullae
The stork levels the field, bring it on, sturdy young girl!
Naarai paramadikka nattuvaadi kattapullae
The stork levels the field, bring it on, sturdy young girl!
Irutta iruttadikka indhirana thedikka
As darkness strikes, go search for Lord Indra,
Irutta iruttadikka indhirana thedikka
As darkness strikes, go search for Lord Indra,
Paara idangalilae paarththaenae kanmaniya
In unseen places, I saw you, my dear beloved!
Paara idangalilae paarththaenae kanmaniya
In unseen places, I saw you, my dear beloved!
Pottu melae pottu vachchu
Wearing bindi upon bindi,
Pottalilae pora pullae
Oh girl walking through the open barren land!
Pottu melae pottu vachchu
Wearing bindi upon bindi,
Pottalilae pora pullae
Oh girl walking through the open barren land!
Vella vella selakkaari
Girl in the bright white saree,
Vellarikkaai koodaikkaari
Girl carrying a basket of cucumbers!
Vella vella selakkaari
Girl in the bright white saree,
Vellarikkaai koodaikkaari
Girl carrying a basket of cucumbers!
Konal maanal vellarikkaai
Bring those crooked and curved cucumbers,
Kondu vaadi thinnu paappom
Bring them, girl, let us eat and see!
Konal maanal vellarikkaai
Bring those crooked and curved cucumbers,
Kondu vaadi thinnu paappom
Bring them, girl, let us eat and see!
Angu puliyamaram adhaiyaduththu cholakkaadu
Over there is the tamarind tree, and next to it, the cornfield,
Angu puliyamaram adhaiyaduththu cholakkaadu
Over there is the tamarind tree, and next to it, the cornfield,
Nenju karaiyiranae en kanakku puriyalaiyo
My heart is melting, don't you understand my intention?
Nenju karaiyiranae en kanakku puriyalaiyo
My heart is melting, don't you understand my intention?
Ooo….ooo….ooo….ooo…oo…..
Ooo....ooo....ooo....ooo...oo.....
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Pottu Melae Pottu Vachchu' is a lively rural folk song from the 1982 Tamil film Panchavarnam. In the song, the protagonist affectionately teases a village girl walking across a open barren field with a basket of cucumbers. Through playful folk idioms and rustic imagery, he admires her beauty, her distinct bindi, and her bright attire while expressing his growing affection for her. The lyrics use vivid agrarian surrealism, imagining birds engaging in farming activities like plowing and leveling fields. The protagonist invites her to share her cucumbers and meet near the nearby tamarind tree and cornfield, pouring out his romantic intent as his heart melts for her.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Pottu melae pottu vachchu / Pottalilae pora pullae”
Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'P' across consecutive words and lines creating rhythm.
Personification / Imagery
“Ullaan uzhavalikka oorkkuruvi naaththarikka”
Attributing agricultural human tasks like plowing and planting seedlings to birds (Ullaan and Oorkkuruvi).
Eydhai / End Rhyme
“Vella vella selakkaari / Vellarikkaai koodaikkaari”
Matching end rhymes using the suffix '-kaari' across back-to-back lines.
Anaphora
“Pottu melae pottu vachchu”
Repetition of phrases at the beginning of adjacent lines for poetic emphasis and musical cadence.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Raghuraj Chakravarthy with lyrics by Na. Kamarasan, this song stands out for its authentic usage of Tamil rural folklore motifs. Lyricist Na. Kamarasan was well-known for introducing modern surrealism and deep-rooted native imagery into Tamil film lyricism.
Keep listening
More from Panchavarnam
Panchavarnam
Panchavarnam
Panchavarnam