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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Velli Mani Pottu

From Pournami Nilavil · 1980

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
Pournami Nilavil1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
………….(Chorus vocalizing)
Chorus :…………..
Female
Velli mani pottuWearing a bindi like a silver bell,
Thulli vilaiyadum nammooru rasaththiOur village princess plays around playfully.
Chorus :Velli mani pottuChorus: Wearing a bindi like a silver bell,
Thulli vilaiyadum nammooru rasaththiOur village princess plays around playfully.
Female
Oorukkulla vaaraa oorkolamaaShe comes into the village like a grand procession,
Iva peru sonnaa oorum vaai moodumaaIf her name is spoken, the whole village will stay silent in awe.
Chorus :Kannukuttithaan chinnaponnuthaanChorus: She is like a calf, just a young girl,
Vaadiyamma vaa nammooru rasaththiCome along, dear princess of our village!
Female
Velli mani pottuWearing a bindi like a silver bell,
Thulli vilaiyadum nammooru rasaththiOur village princess plays around playfully.
Female
Gramaththu magaraniI am the queen of this village,
Naan killaatha maruthaaniUnblemished henna that remains untouched.
Gramaththu magaraniI am the queen of this village,
Naan killaatha maruthaaniUnblemished henna that remains untouched.
Ketkkurathaaru ennai paarththuWho is there to look at me and question?
Ena kelvigal yaedhum kidaiyaathuThere are no such questions for me.
Female
Kannapoo ponna ponnaanaThe eye-flower turned golden,
Meenum ponnaachchuEven the fish became golden,
Poovum pottum kaayum kaniyaFor the flower, the bindi, and the raw fruit to ripen into fruit,
Neram kaalam vanthaachchuThe time and moment have finally arrived.
Chorus
Velli mani pottuWearing a bindi like a silver bell,
Thulli vilaiyadum nammooru rasaththiOur village princess plays around playfully.
Female
Oorukkulla vaaraa oorkolamaaShe comes into the village like a grand procession,
Iva peru sonnaa oorum vaai moodumaaIf her name is spoken, the whole village will stay silent in awe.
Chorus :KannukuttithaanChorus: She is like a calf,
Female :ChinnaponnuthaanFemale: She is just a young girl,
Chorus :Vaadiyamma vaa nammooru rasaththiChorus: Come along, dear princess of our village!
Chorus
……………..Female: (Vocalizing)
Female :……………..
Female
Aasaiyai paadi vachenI sang my desires as a song,
Adha nenjoda moodi vachenAnd kept them locked inside my heart.
Aasaiyai paadi vachenI sang my desires as a song,
Adha nenjoda moodi vachenAnd kept them locked inside my heart.
Nenakkaiyil yaedho sugamirukkuWhen I think of it, there is a sweet pleasure,
Antha nenappilum yaedho mogamirukkuEven in that thought, there is a sense of infatuation.
Female
Yaaro antha rasa solluTell us who that kingly man is,
Saerpom unna onnaagaWe will join you both together as one.
Maalai pottu sarum neramWhen the time comes to exchange garlands,
Vaazhththum solvom kannaagaWe will bless you like our own eyes.
Chorus
Velli mani pottuWearing a bindi like a silver bell,
Thulli vilaiyadum nammooru rasaththiOur village princess plays around playfully.
Female
Ho ho oo….Ho ho oo....
Oorukkulla vaaraa oorkolamaaShe comes into the village like a grand procession,
Iva peru sonnaa oorum vaai moodumaaIf her name is spoken, the whole village will stay silent in awe.
Chorus :Kannukuttithaan chinnaponnuthaanChorus: She is like a calf, just a young girl,
Vaadiyamma vaa nammooru rasaththiCome along, dear princess of our village!
Female
Velli mani pottuWearing a bindi like a silver bell,
Thulli vilaiyadum nammooru rasaththiOur village princess plays around playfully.
Chorus :Ha ha haa….aa….Chorus: Ha ha haa....aa....
Iva nammooru rasaththiShe is our village princess,
Nammooru rasaththiOur village princess!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Velli Mani Pottu' from the 1980 Tamil film 'Pournami Nilavil' is a joyful, folk-flavored village song celebrating the innocence, beauty, and spirited youth of a local girl referred to as the village princess ('rasaththi'). The village folk admire her lively nature and regal presence, comparing her to an innocent calf and untouched henna, expressing how the entire village falls silent in admiration of her. As the song progresses, the protagonist reflects on her hidden romantic desires and dreams of her future groom. The village elders and friends join in with affection, encouraging her to reveal her beloved's identity so they can arrange her wedding and bless the union with all their heart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Gramaththu magarani

The lead girl is referred to as 'Gramaththu magarani' (queen of the village) and 'Kannukutti' (a young calf), poetically highlighting her royal stature in the village as well as her child-like innocence.

Rhyme / Assonance (Edhukai)

Velli mani pottu / Thulli vilaiyadum nammooru rasaththi

The second letter matching creates a rhythmic Tamil poetic beat between 'Velli' and 'Thulli' across consecutive lines.

Alliteration (Monaai)

Poovum pottum kaayum kaniya

Repetition of the initial 'P' sound in 'Poovum', 'pottum' creates musicality in the phrasing.

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Trivia

'Pournami Nilavil' (1980) features music composed by Gangai Amaran, who also penned the lyrics for this track. Sung brilliantly by S. P. Sailaja, the song showcases a rich blend of traditional Tamil folk rhythm with light-classical arrangements, typical of the rural film music style popular in Tamil cinema during the early 1980s.

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