Pottu Vaitha Oru Vatta Nila
From Idhayam · 1991
- Lyricist
- Piraisoodan
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Idhayam1991
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila | A round moon adorned with a bindi |
| Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila | A moon that touched me with a cool smile |
| Male | |
| Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila | A round moon adorned with a bindi |
| Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila | A moon that touched me with a cool smile |
| En manadhil ambu vitta nila | A moon that shot an arrow into my heart |
| Ithu etta nindru ennai sutta nila | This moon stands out of reach and burns me |
| Male | |
| Vaazh naal thorum | Every single day of my life |
| Thinamthaan kaadhoram | Daily beside my ears |
| Paadal koorum… | It sings a song... |
| Male | |
| Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila | A round moon adorned with a bindi |
| Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila | A moon that touched me with a cool smile |
| En manadhil ambu vitta nila | A moon that shot an arrow into my heart |
| Ithu etta nindru ennai sutta nila | This moon stands out of reach and burns beach |
| Male | |
| Aaraatha aasaigal thondrum | Unquenchable desires arise |
| Ennai thoondum | They incite me |
| Aanaalum vaai pesa | Even so, to speak out loud |
| Anjum intha nenjam | This heart fears |
| Male | |
| Aval perai naalum | Her name every day |
| Asai podum ullam | My mind keeps reminiscing |
| Aval pogum paathai | Along the path she walks |
| Nizhal pola sellum | It follows like a shadow |
| Mounam paathi mogam paathi | Half silence, half passion |
| Ennai kollum ennaalum… | Kills me every day... |
| Male | |
| Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila | A round moon adorned with a bindi |
| Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila | A moon that touched me with a cool smile |
| En manadhil ambu vitta nila | A moon that shot an arrow into my heart |
| Ithu etta nindru ennai sutta nila | This moon stands out of reach and burns me |
| Male | |
| Vaazh naal thorum | Every single day of my life |
| Thinamthaan kaadhoram | Daily beside my ears |
| Paadal koorum… | It sings a song... |
| Male | |
| Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila | A round moon adorned with a bindi |
| Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila | A moon that touched me with a cool smile |
| En manadhil ambu vitta nila | A moon that shot an arrow into my heart |
| Ithu etta nindru ennai sutta nila | This moon stands out of reach and burns me |
| Male | |
| Yaappodu seraatho paattu | Will the song not join the rhythm? |
| Thamizh paattu | A sweet Tamil song |
| Thoppodu seraatho kaatru | Will the wind not blend with the grove? |
| Pani kaatru | A chilly breeze |
| Male | |
| Vinaa thaal pol ingae | Like a question paper here |
| Kanaa kaanum kaalai | The young man dreaming |
| Vidai polae angae | Like an answer over there |
| Nadai podum paavai | The maiden walking along |
| Ondraai koodum ondraai paadum | When will that golden day arrive |
| Ponnaal ingu ennaalo… | When they join together and sing as one? |
| Male | |
| Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila | A round moon adorned with a bindi |
| Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila | A moon that touched me with a cool smile |
| En manadhil ambu vitta nila | A moon that shot an arrow into my heart |
| Ithu etta nindru ennai sutta nila | This moon stands out of reach and burns me |
| Male | |
| Vaazh naal thorum | Every single day of my life |
| Thinamthaan kaadhoram | Daily beside my ears |
| Paadal koorum… | It sings a song... |
| Male | |
| Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila | A round moon adorned with a bindi |
| Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila | A moon that touched me with a cool smile |
| En manadhil ambu vitta nila | A moon that shot an arrow into my heart |
| Ithu etta nindru ennai sutta nila | This moon stands out of reach and burns me |
பொட்டு வைத்த
ஒரு வட்ட நிலா குளிர்
புன்னகையில் என்னை
தொட்ட நிலா
A round moon adorned with a bindi
A moon that touched me with a cool smile
பொட்டு வைத்த
ஒரு வட்ட நிலா குளிர்
புன்னகையில் என்னை
தொட்ட நிலா என் மனதில்
அம்பு விட்ட நிலா இது எட்ட
நின்று என்னை சுட்ட நிலா
A round moon adorned with a bindi
A moon that touched me with a cool smile
A moon that shot an arrow into my heart
This moon stands out of reach and burns me
வாழ்நாள் தோறும்
தினம்தான் காதோரம்
பாடல் கூறும்
Every single day of my life
Daily beside my ears
It sings a song...
பொட்டு வைத்த
ஒரு வட்ட நிலா குளிர்
புன்னகையில் என்னை
தொட்ட நிலா என் மனதில்
அம்பு விட்ட நிலா இது எட்ட
நின்று என்னை சுட்ட நிலா
A round moon adorned with a bindi
A moon that touched me with a cool smile
A moon that shot an arrow into my heart
This moon stands out of reach and burns beach
ஆறாத ஆசைகள்
தோன்றும் என்னைத்
தூண்டும் ஆனாலும்
வாய் பேச அஞ்சும்
இந்த நெஞ்சம்
Unquenchable desires arise
They incite me
Even so, to speak out loud
This heart fears
அவள் பேரை
நாளும் அசை போடும்
உள்ளம் அவள் போகும்
பாதை நிழல் போல
செல்லும் மௌனம்
பாதி மோகம் பாதி
என்னை கொல்லும்
எந்நாளும்
Her name every day
My mind keeps reminiscing
Along the path she walks
It follows like a shadow
Half silence, half passion
Kills me every day...
பொட்டு வைத்த
ஒரு வட்ட நிலா குளிர்
புன்னகையில் என்னை
தொட்ட நிலா என் மனதில்
அம்பு விட்ட நிலா இது எட்ட
நின்று என்னை சுட்ட நிலா
A round moon adorned with a bindi
A moon that touched me with a cool smile
A moon that shot an arrow into my heart
This moon stands out of reach and burns me
வாழ்நாள் தோறும்
தினம்தான் காதோரம்
பாடல் கூறும்
Every single day of my life
Daily beside my ears
It sings a song...
பொட்டு வைத்த
ஒரு வட்ட நிலா குளிர்
புன்னகையில் என்னை
தொட்ட நிலா என் மனதில்
அம்பு விட்ட நிலா இது எட்ட
நின்று என்னை சுட்ட நிலா
A round moon adorned with a bindi
A moon that touched me with a cool smile
A moon that shot an arrow into my heart
This moon stands out of reach and burns me
யாப்போடு சேராதோ
பாட்டு தமிழ் பாட்டு
தோப்போடு சேராதோ
காற்று பனிக்காற்று
Will the song not join the rhythm?
A sweet Tamil song
Will the wind not blend with the grove?
A chilly breeze
வினா தாள்
போல் இங்கே கனா
காணும் காலை விடை
போலே அங்கே நடை
போடும் பாவை ஒன்றாய்
கூடும் ஒன்றாய் பாடும்
பொன்னாள் இங்கு
எந்நாளோ
Like a question paper here
The young man dreaming
Like an answer over there
The maiden walking along
When will that golden day arrive
When they join together and sing as one?
பொட்டு வைத்த
ஒரு வட்ட நிலா குளிர்
புன்னகையில் என்னை
தொட்ட நிலா என் மனதில்
அம்பு விட்ட நிலா இது எட்ட
நின்று என்னை சுட்ட நிலா
A round moon adorned with a bindi
A moon that touched me with a cool smile
A moon that shot an arrow into my heart
This moon stands out of reach and burns me
வாழ்நாள் தோறும்
தினம்தான் காதோரம்
பாடல் கூறும்
Every single day of my life
Daily beside my ears
It sings a song...
பொட்டு வைத்த
ஒரு வட்ட நிலா குளிர்
புன்னகையில் என்னை
தொட்ட நிலா என் மனதில்
அம்பு விட்ட நிலா இது எட்ட
நின்று என்னை சுட்ட நிலா
A round moon adorned with a bindi
A moon that touched me with a cool smile
A moon that shot an arrow into my heart
This moon stands out of reach and burns me
Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila
A round moon adorned with a bindi
Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila
A moon that touched me with a cool smile
Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila
A round moon adorned with a bindi
Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila
A moon that touched me with a cool smile
En manadhil ambu vitta nila
A moon that shot an arrow into my heart
Ithu etta nindru ennai sutta nila
This moon stands out of reach and burns me
Vaazh naal thorum
Every single day of my life
Thinamthaan kaadhoram
Daily beside my ears
Paadal koorum…
It sings a song...
Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila
A round moon adorned with a bindi
Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila
A moon that touched me with a cool smile
En manadhil ambu vitta nila
A moon that shot an arrow into my heart
Ithu etta nindru ennai sutta nila
This moon stands out of reach and burns beach
Aaraatha aasaigal thondrum
Unquenchable desires arise
Ennai thoondum
They incite me
Aanaalum vaai pesa
Even so, to speak out loud
Anjum intha nenjam
This heart fears
Aval perai naalum
Her name every day
Asai podum ullam
My mind keeps reminiscing
Aval pogum paathai
Along the path she walks
Nizhal pola sellum
It follows like a shadow
Mounam paathi mogam paathi
Half silence, half passion
Ennai kollum ennaalum…
Kills me every day...
Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila
A round moon adorned with a bindi
Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila
A moon that touched me with a cool smile
En manadhil ambu vitta nila
A moon that shot an arrow into my heart
Ithu etta nindru ennai sutta nila
This moon stands out of reach and burns me
Vaazh naal thorum
Every single day of my life
Thinamthaan kaadhoram
Daily beside my ears
Paadal koorum…
It sings a song...
Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila
A round moon adorned with a bindi
Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila
A moon that touched me with a cool smile
En manadhil ambu vitta nila
A moon that shot an arrow into my heart
Ithu etta nindru ennai sutta nila
This moon stands out of reach and burns me
Yaappodu seraatho paattu
Will the song not join the rhythm?
Thamizh paattu
A sweet Tamil song
Thoppodu seraatho kaatru
Will the wind not blend with the grove?
Pani kaatru
A chilly breeze
Vinaa thaal pol ingae
Like a question paper here
Kanaa kaanum kaalai
The young man dreaming
Vidai polae angae
Like an answer over there
Nadai podum paavai
The maiden walking along
Ondraai koodum ondraai paadum
When will that golden day arrive
Ponnaal ingu ennaalo…
When they join together and sing as one?
Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila
A round moon adorned with a bindi
Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila
A moon that touched me with a cool smile
En manadhil ambu vitta nila
A moon that shot an arrow into my heart
Ithu etta nindru ennai sutta nila
This moon stands out of reach and burns me
Vaazh naal thorum
Every single day of my life
Thinamthaan kaadhoram
Daily beside my ears
Paadal koorum…
It sings a song...
Pottu vaitha oru vatta nila
A round moon adorned with a bindi
Kulir punnagaiyil ennai thotta nila
A moon that touched me with a cool smile
En manadhil ambu vitta nila
A moon that shot an arrow into my heart
Ithu etta nindru ennai sutta nila
This moon stands out of reach and burns me
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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