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Periya Idathu Pillai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Unnai Potri Ezhudha

From Periya Idathu Pillai · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Shailaja
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Periya Idathu Pillai
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
11 Jan 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Unnai potri ezhutha
Pulavan indru arugil illai
Female :Paravaayillai
Male :Unnai vaazhththu ezhutha
Kavingan ingu arugil illai
Female :Paravaayillai
Male :Unthan kaavalukku yaarumillai
Female :Paravaayillai
Male :Ullam saervatharkku vaedhamillai
Paravaayillai
Unnai potri ezhutha
Pulavan indru arugil illai
Female :Paravaayillai
Male :Unnai vaazhththu ezhutha
Kavingan ingu arugil illai
Female :Paravaayillai….ho
Poongaattruthaa
Female :Neyalla
Male :Pullaanguzhal
Female :Nanalla
Male :En kadhali en kannmani
Yaen mouna geedham
Pon maegamae
Female :Pugazhaathae
Male :Un mogamae….
Female :Alaiyaathae
Male :Vaer vaaduthu neer thaeduthu
Vaa intha naeram
Udal kodhikkum
Female :Paravaayillai
Male :Uyir thudikkum
Female :Paravaayillai
Male :Thanga maangani thaangum poongodi
Tholil aadaathaa
Oo….unnai potri ezhutha
Pulavan indru arugil illai
Female :Paravaayillai
Male :Hoho…..unnai vaazhththu ezhutha
Kavingan ingu arugil illai
Female :Paravaayillai….haa….
Penn piththanaa
Male :Aamaammaa
Female :En pakthanaa
Male :Aamaammaa
Female :Un poojaiai en kovilil
Naan yaerkkavillai
Veen valaithaan
Male :Vidamattaen
Female :En veembuthaan
Male :Varam kaetten
Female :Penn kovamthan
Pollaathathu nee paaththathillai
Odhai vizhalaam
Male :Paravaayillai
Female :Pudipadalaam
Male :Paravaayillai
Female :Kaanal neerilae meen pidikkaththaan
Unnaal aagaathae
Male :Aha haa….
Unnai maalai soodum
Mayakkam intha manathil illai
Male :Paravaayillai
Female :Haa….unthan kadhal kanavu
Edhuvum intha kannil illai
Male :No problem haan
Female :Un mael aasai vaiththa paavai illai
Male :Paravayillai paravayillai
Female :Un pol aal enakku thevai illai
Male :Paravaayillai
………………
Male :……………………
Female :………………
To praise you in writing,
no poet is near today.
Female: It doesn't matter!
Male: To write verses honoring you,
no poet is here nearby.
Female: It doesn't matter!
Male: There is no guard watching over you.
Female: It doesn't matter!
Male: Hearts need no sacred rules to unite.
It doesn't matter!
To praise you in writing,
no poet is near today.
Female: It doesn't matter!
Male: To write verses honoring you,
no poet is here nearby.
Female: It doesn't matter... oh!
Are you a gentle breeze?
Female: You are not!
Male: A bamboo flute?
Female: I am not!
Male: My beloved, my dearest jewel,
why this silent melody?
O golden cloud...
Female: Don't flatter me!
Male: The desire for you...
Female: Don't let your mind wander!
Male: The roots wither, thirsting for water,
come to me at this hour.
The body will burn with passion,
Female: It doesn't matter!
Male: The soul will throb with longing,
Female: It doesn't matter!
Male: The flowering vine bearing golden mangoes,
won't it sway upon my shoulders?
Oh... to praise you in writing,
no poet is near today.
Female: It doesn't matter!
Male: Ho ho... to write verses honoring you,
no poet is here nearby.
Female: It doesn't matter... ha...
Crazy for women?
Male: Yes, indeed!
Female: Devoted to me?
Male: Yes, indeed!
Female: The worship you offer at my temple,
I do not accept!
It's a pointless net you cast!
Male: I won't give up!
Female: I will stay stubborn!
Male: I asked for a blessing!
Female: A woman's rage
is dangerous—you haven't faced it yet!
You might get a beating!
Male: It doesn't matter!
Female: You might get caught!
Male: It doesn't matter!
Female: Trying to catch fish in a mirage,
you will never succeed!
Male: Aha ha...
To garland you in marriage,
this heart has no such craze!
Male: It doesn't matter!
Female: Ha... your romantic dreams,
there are none in these eyes!
Male: No problem, yeah!
Female: I'm not a girl who longs for you!
Male: It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter!
Female: I don't need a guy like you!
Male: It doesn't matter!
...
Male: ...
Female: ...
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Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Unnai Potri Ezhutha' from the 1990 Tamil film 'Periya Idathu Pillai' is a lively, conversational romantic duet characterized by humorous banter between the lead couple. The male protagonist relentlessly pursues the heroine with poetic adoration, comparing her to a flowering vine and a golden cloud. No matter how sternly she rebuffs his claims, he responds nonchalantly with the catchy refrain 'Paravaayillai' (It doesn't matter / No problem). In response, the female lead highlights her indifference, warning him that attempting to win her heart is as futile as trying to catch fish in a mirage. Vaali's witty lyricism combined with the dynamic call-and-response format makes the song an entertaining musical clash between passionate persistence and playful rejection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Refrain (Edupadaithal)

Female :Paravaayillai

The word 'Paravaayillai' (It doesn't matter) is repeatedly used as a conversational refrain throughout the song to maintain a rhythmic, comedic rhythm.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Male :Thanga maangani thaangum poongodi

Comparing the female lead's beauty to a flowering vine bearing a golden fruit ('Thanga maangani thaangum poongodi').

Metaphor / Idiom (Uruvagam)

Female :Kaanal neerilae meen pidikkaththaan

'Kaanal neerilae meen pidikkaththaan' uses the imagery of catching fish in a mirage to symbolize an impossible task.

Internal Rhyme (Emonai / Ethirai)

Male :Vaer vaaduthu neer thaeduthu

Rhythmic rhyming of 'Vaer' and 'Neer' within the same line structure.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features music composed by Chandrabose with lyrics by Vaali for the movie 'Periya Idathu Pillai' (1990). The unique structure relies entirely on rhythmic dialogue where the male singer brushes off every argument, rejection, and threat from the female lead using variations of 'Paravaayillai' and 'No problem'.

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