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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pottu Vaitha Oru Vatta Nila

From Idhayam · 1991

Lyricist
Piraisoodan
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Idhayam
Movie release year
1991
Lyrics added on
21 Jul 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila
Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila
Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila
Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila
En manadhil ambu vitta nila
Ithu etta nindru ennai sutta nila
Vaazh naal thorum
Thinamthaan kaadhoram
Paadal koorum…
Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila
Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila
En manadhil ambu vitta nila
Ithu etta nindru ennai sutta nila
Aaraatha aasaigal thondrum
Ennai thoondum
Aanaalum vaai pesa
Anjum intha nenjam
Aval perai naalum
Asai podum ullam
Aval pogum paathai
Nizhal pola sellum
Mounam paathi mogam paathi
Ennai kollum ennaalum…
Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila
Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila
En manadhil ambu vitta nila
Ithu etta nindru ennai sutta nila
Vaazh naal thorum
Thinamthaan kaadhoram
Paadal koorum…
Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila
Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila
En manadhil ambu vitta nila
Ithu etta nindru ennai sutta nila
Yaappodu seraatho paattu
Thamizh paattu
Thoppodu seraatho kaatru
Pani kaatru
Vinaa thaal pol ingae
Kanaa kaanum kaalai
Vidai polae angae
Nadai podum paavai
Ondraai koodum ondraai paadum
Ponnaal ingu ennaalo…
Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila
Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila
En manadhil ambu vitta nila
Ithu etta nindru ennai sutta nila
Vaazh naal thorum
Thinamthaan kaadhoram
Paadal koorum…
Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila
Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila
En manadhil ambu vitta nila
Ithu etta nindru ennai sutta nila
A round moon wearing a bindi,
A moon that touched me with her cool smile.
A round moon wearing a bindi,
A moon that touched me with her cool smile.
The moon that shot an arrow into my heart,
This is the moon that burned me from afar.
All through my life,
Every day, softly in my ear,
It sings a song...
A round moon wearing a bindi,
A moon that touched me with her cool smile.
The moon that shot an arrow into my heart,
This is the moon that burned me from afar.
Endless desires arise,
Urging me forward,
Yet, to speak its mind,
This heart is afraid.
Her name, every single day,
My heart keeps replaying.
Along the path she walks,
It follows like a shadow.
Half silence and half longing,
Kills me every single day...
A round moon wearing a bindi,
A moon that touched me with her cool smile.
The moon that shot an arrow into my heart,
This is the moon that burned me from afar.
All through my life,
Every day, softly in my ear,
It sings a song...
A round moon wearing a bindi,
A moon that touched me with her cool smile.
The moon that shot an arrow into my heart,
This is the moon that burned me from afar.
Won't a song blend with poetic rhythm,
A sweet Tamil song?
Won't the breeze join the grove,
This chilly breeze?
Like a question paper here,
A morning lost in dreams,
Like the answer over there,
The girl walks gracefully.
To unite as one, to sing as one—
When will that golden day arrive?
A round moon wearing a bindi,
A moon that touched me with her cool smile.
The moon that shot an arrow into my heart,
This is the moon that burned me from afar.
All through my life,
Every day, softly in my ear,
It sings a song...
A round moon wearing a bindi,
A moon that touched me with her cool smile.
The moon that shot an arrow into my heart,
This is the moon that burned me from afar.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The iconic song 'Pottu Vaitha Oru Vatta Nila' from the film Idhayam expresses the deep, unspoken love and angst of a young lover. The protagonist compares his beloved to a beautiful round moon adorning a bindi, whose cool smile captivates him yet pierces his heart like an arrow. He struggles with hesitation, unable to confess his feelings, living in a realm where half-silence and half-passion torment his soul every day. In the second verse, he poeticizes their longing by comparing himself to a question looking for its answer, hoping that like music merging with prosody or cool breeze blending with trees, they too will unite one day. The song masterfully captures the essence of unexpressed romance, yearning, and sweet agony.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani (Metaphor / Simile)

“Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila”

Compares the beloved's face adorned with a bindi to a round moon ('vatta nila') and compares the youth and maiden to a question paper ('vinaa thaal') and an answer ('vidai').

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila / Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila”

Rhyming of the second letter 'tta' in 'vatta', 'thotta', and 'etta'.

Monaai (First Letter Alliteration)

“Mounam paathi mogam paathi”

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across words like 'Mounam' and 'Mogam'.

Oxymoron / Contrast

“Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila ... Ithu etta nindru ennai sutta nila”

Juxtaposing 'kulir' (coolness/soothing smile) with 'sutta nila' (burning moon standing far away), representing the bittersweet pain of love.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Piraisoodan and sung masterfully by K. J. Yesudas, this song became an enduring anthem for unexpressed love across Tamil Nadu. The movie Idhayam (1991) stars Murali as a shy medical student unable to open up about his love, making this track the absolute thematic backbone of the film.

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