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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Santhu Pottu

From Village Folk Songs · 2023

Lyricist
Ilankavi
Singers
Anthakudi Ilayaraja, Rajalakshmi
Music director
Henry
Movie name
Village Folk Songs
Movie release year
2023
Lyrics added on
28 Oct 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Saanthu pottu
Sarasarama malli vechi
Saayankaalathula
Saada solli pora pulla
Saanthu pottu
Sarasarama malli vechi
Saayankaalathula
Saada solli pora pulla
Vaadi konjikalam
Vaazha thoppukulla
Jodi senthukilam
Ethuvum thappilla
Vaadi konjikalam
Vaazha thoppukulla
Jodi senthukilam
Ethuvum thappilla
Adiyae sandaali
Sarasam pannadha
Aruva kannala
Muzhusa thinnadha
Adiyae sandaali
Sarasam pannadha
Aruva kannala
Muzhusa thinnadha
Saanthu pottu
Sarasarama malli vechi
Saayankaalathula
Saada solli pora pulla
Koovdha kozhi rendu
Koondukulla irukku
Nogaama nongu thinga
Aasa thaandi enakku
Pogatha oorukku
Nee kooti pora edhukku
Ooyaama killadha
Un maela thaanae kirukku
Kattaaru enna
Nee kattu paduthu
Un muthaana saelaikulla
Enna uduthu
Pannadha saettai ellaam
Panna paakkura
Ada pallaakku illama
Enna thookkura
Ada vellarikka maeniyadi
Seththu pona seeni vedi
Adiyae sandaali
Sarasam pannadha
Aruva kannala
Muzhusa thinnadha
Adiyae sandaali
Sarasam pannadha
Aruva kannala
Muzhusa thinnadha
Saanthu pottu
Sarasarama malli vechi
Saayankaalathula
Saada solli pora pulla
Yemma
Female :Yeppa
Male :Yemma yemma
Female :Yeppa
Male :Yemma
Female :Yeppa
Vadatha poo unakku
Vakkapattu varava
Thaenaaga nee enna
Thottu thinnu badava
Kandaale bodha tharum
Kallukada paanai
Solladha jaadaiyila
Mayakura machana
Soodhaana pechellam
Innum edhukku
Ada soosdatha malligaiyae
Thottu kasaku
Yeraalam vitha
Innum micham irukku
Ada thaaralam sollitharen
Neram odhukku
Ada mallakattum maamanukku
Macham inga thaan irukku
En machanae
Pidichaen kaiyoda
Ini on ponjadhi
Thaduthen kaiyoda
Ada en machanae
Pidichaen kaiyoda
Ini on ponjadhi
Thaduthen kaiyoda
Saanthu pottu
Sarasarama malli vechi
Saayankaalathula
Saada solli pora pulla
Saanthu pottu
Sarasarama malli vechi
Saayankaalathula
Saada solli pora pulla
Vaaya konjikalam
Vaazha thoppukulla
Jodi senthukilam
Ethuvum thappilla
Vaaya konjikalam
Vaazha thoppukulla
Jodi senthukilam
Ethuvum thappilla
Adiyae sandaali
Sarasam pannadha
Aruva kannala
Muzhusa thinnadha
Ada en machanae
Pidichaen kaiyoda
Ini on ponjadhi
Thaduthen kaiyoda
Wearing a sandal paste bindi,
With strings of jasmine in your hair,
In the cool of the evening,
You give teasing hints and walk past, girl!
Wearing a sandal paste bindi,
With strings of jasmine in your hair,
In the cool of the evening,
You give teasing hints and walk past, girl!
Come, let's share sweet cuddles,
Inside the banana grove!
Let's pair up together,
There's nothing wrong with it!
Come, let's share sweet cuddles,
Inside the banana grove!
Let's pair up together,
There's nothing wrong with it!
Hey, you wicked girl,
Don't flirt with me like this!
With your sickle-sharp eyes,
Don't eat me up alive!
Hey, you wicked girl,
Don't flirt with me like this!
With your sickle-sharp eyes,
Don't eat me up alive!
Wearing a sandal paste bindi,
With strings of jasmine in your hair,
In the cool of the evening,
You give teasing hints and walk past, girl!
Two roosters are crowing,
Locked inside their coop.
To taste the sweet palm fruit effortlessly,
I have such a deep desire, girl!
To an unfamiliar place,
Why are you leading me away?
Don't keep pinching me endlessly,
I'm already crazy for you!
Like a roaring wild river,
Bring me under your control!
Inside your lovely saree,
Wrap me up and wear me!
All the playful mischief you've never tried,
You're trying to do with me now!
Even without a palanquin,
You carry my heart away!
With a tender cucumber-like body,
You burst like a fiery little cracker!
Hey, you wicked girl,
Don't flirt with me like this!
With your sickle-sharp eyes,
Don't eat me up alive!
Hey, you wicked girl,
Don't flirt with me like this!
With your sickle-sharp eyes,
Don't eat me up alive!
Wearing a sandal paste bindi,
With strings of jasmine in your hair,
In the cool of the evening,
You give teasing hints and walk past, girl!
Oh girl!
Female: Oh boy!
Male: Oh girl, oh girl!
Female: Oh boy!
Male: Oh girl!
Female: Oh boy!
Like a fresh flower that never fades,
Shall I marry you and come along?
Just like sweet honey,
Taste me and enjoy, you rascal!
A single glance makes one drunk,
Like a pot of fresh country toddy!
With your unspoken secret gestures,
You charm me so, my man!
Why keep trading words so heated,
Any longer?
Touch this fresh untouched jasmine,
And crush it gently in your hands!
Countless playful arts of love,
Are still left in store!
I'll gladly teach you everything,
Just make some time for me!
For my handsome man ready to wrestle in love,
The lucky beauty mark is right here!
Oh, my darling,
I caught you by the hand!
From now on, I'm your wife,
I won you over on the spot!
Oh, my darling,
I caught you by the hand!
From now on, I'm your wife,
I won you over on the spot!
Wearing a sandal paste bindi,
With strings of jasmine in your hair,
In the cool of the evening,
You give teasing hints and walk past, girl!
Wearing a sandal paste bindi,
With strings of jasmine in your hair,
In the cool of the evening,
You give teasing hints and walk past, girl!
Come, mister, let's share sweet cuddles,
Inside the banana grove!
Let's pair up together,
There's nothing wrong with it!
Come, mister, let's share sweet cuddles,
Inside the banana grove!
Let's pair up together,
There's nothing wrong with it!
Hey, you wicked girl,
Don't flirt with me like this!
With your sickle-sharp eyes,
Don't eat me up alive!
Oh, my darling,
I caught you by the hand!
From now on, I'm your wife,
I won you over on the spot!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Saanthu Pottu is a playful Tamil village folk song depicting romantic banter between a young man and woman. The male protagonist expresses his fascination with the woman's rural elegance, adorned with sandalwood paste and jasmine garlands. He invites her into a banana grove to share moments of affection while playfully pleading with her not to overpower him with her sharp, captivating gaze. The female protagonist responds with witty flirtation and bold affection, expressing her desire to become his wedded wife. Filled with classic village metaphors—like wild rivers, toddy pots, and fresh blossoms—the song captures the joyful, uninhibited spirit of rural Tamil romance set to energetic folk rhythms.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monae (Initial Alliteration)

Saanthu pottu / Sarasarama malli vechi

Repetition of the initial 'S' consonant across consecutive lines to create a rhythmic flow.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Aruva kannala

Comparing the female protagonist's sharp and striking eyes to a sickle ('aruva').

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Kandaale bodha tharum Kallukada paanai

Comparing the woman's captivating presence to an intoxicating toddy shop pot ('kallukada paanai').

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Kattaaru enna / Nee kattu paduthu

Rhyming of the second letter 'tti' / 'tti' in adjacent lines ('kat-taaru' and 'kat-tu').

Did you know?

Trivia

Anthakudi Ilayaraja and Rajalakshmi are celebrated folk singers in Tamil Nadu, known for popularizing authentic rural 'Gramiya Paatuggal'. This song uses classic imagery native to Southern Tamil Nadu culture, such as banana plantations, jasmine strands, and sandalwood paste.

Keep listening

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