Vetta Veli Pottalile
From Nalla Naal · 1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aaa…..aaaa…. | Aaa…..aaaa…. |
| Aaa….aaa….. | Aaa….aaa….. |
| Female | |
| Vetta veli pottalilae | In the vast open field, |
| Natta nadu raavinilae | In the dead of the night, |
| Thottavana thedugiraa | She searches for the one who touched her heart, |
| Pottu vecha poonguyilae | The sweet songbird wearing a bindi. |
| Ponavana kaanaliyae | The one who left is nowhere to be seen, |
| Ponnu manam aaraliyae | The girl's heart finds no peace. |
| Ponavana kaanaliyae | The one who left is nowhere to be seen, |
| Ponnu manam aaraliyae | The girl's heart finds no peace. |
| Female | |
| Vetta veli pottalilae | In the vast open field, |
| Natta nadu raavinilae | In the dead of the night, |
| Raavinilae raavinilae | In the night, in the night... |
| Female | |
| Nesamellaam kadhaiyaa pochae | All love turned into just a story, |
| Nenappellaam sumaiyaa aachae | All memories became a heavy burden. |
| Vaaduren vadhanguren | I wither and I fade away, |
| Vaadaiyae nee thaan poi chollu | O north wind, go tell him a message! |
| Female | |
| Nesamellaam kadhaiyaa pochae | All love turned into just a story, |
| Nenappellaam sumaiyaa aachae | All memories became a heavy burden. |
| Vaaduren vadhanguren | I wither and I fade away, |
| Vaadaiyae nee thaan poi chollu | O north wind, go tell him a message! |
| Female | |
| Vaarennu sonna machaan | The cousin who promised to come, |
| Vana vaasam panna vachaan | Forced me into a life of exile. |
| Thaan sonna pechai ellaam | All the words he ever promised, |
| Thanniyilae ezhudhi vechaan | He wrote them on flowing water. |
| Thaviyaaga thavichen ingae naan…aaaa | I yearned and suffered here alone... aaaa |
| Female | |
| Vetta veli pottalilae | In the vast open field, |
| Natta nadu raavinilae | In the dead of the night, |
| Ponavana kaanaliyae | The one who left is nowhere to be seen. |
| Female | |
| Oorellaam orangum pozhuthu | When the whole town is asleep, |
| Oruthi naan irukken azhuthu | I am here alone, weeping. |
| Maruguren uruguren | I grieve and I melt inside, |
| Megamae nee thaan poi chollu | O cloud, go tell him a message! |
| Female | |
| Oorellaam orangum pozhuthu | When the whole town is asleep, |
| Oruthi naan irukken azhuthu | I am here alone, weeping. |
| Maruguren uruguren | I grieve and I melt inside, |
| Megamae nee thaan poi chollu | O cloud, go tell him a message! |
| Female | |
| Aathodu naanal konjum | Reeds cuddle with the river, |
| Kaathodu pookkal konjum | Flowers whisper sweet talk with the wind. |
| Yaarodu naanthaan konja | With whom am I to share such tenderness? |
| Adangaatha kanneer minjaa | Only unstoppable tears remain. |
| Velukaadha kizhakkaa inage naan ..aaa | I stay here like a dawn that never brightens... aaa |
| Female | |
| Vetta veli pottalilae | In the vast open field, |
| Natta nadu raavinilae | In the dead of the night, |
| Thottavana thedugiraa | She searches for the one who touched her heart, |
| Pottu vecha poonguyilae | The sweet songbird wearing a bindi. |
| Ponavana kaanaliyae | The one who left is nowhere to be seen, |
| Ponnu manam aaraliyae | The girl's heart finds no peace. |
| Ponavana kaanaliyae | The one who left is nowhere to be seen, |
| Ponnu manam aaraliyae | The girl's heart finds no peace. |
| Aaraliyae aaraliyae | Finds no peace, finds no peace. |
வெட்ட வெளி பொட்டலிலே
நட்ட நடு இராவினிலே
தொட்டவன தேடுகிறா
பொட்டு வச்ச பூங்குயிலே
{போனவன காணலியே
பொண்ணு மனம் ஆறலியே} (2)
Aaa…..aaaa….
Aaa….aaa…..
வெட்ட வெளி பொட்டலிலே
நட்ட நடு இராவினிலே இராவினிலே
இராவினிலே
In the vast open field,
In the dead of the night,
She searches for the one who touched her heart,
The sweet songbird wearing a bindi.
The one who left is nowhere to be seen,
The girl's heart finds no peace.
The one who left is nowhere to be seen,
The girl's heart finds no peace.
{நெசமெல்லாம் கதையா போச்சு
நெனப்பெல்லாம் சுமையா ஆச்சு
வாடுறேன் வதங்குறேன்
வாடையே நீ தான் போய்ச்சொல்லு} (2)
In the vast open field,
In the dead of the night,
In the night, in the night...
வாரேன்னு சொன்ன மச்சான்
வனவாசம் பண்ண வச்சான்
தான் சொன்ன பேச்சை எல்லாம்
தண்ணியிலே எழுதி வெச்சான்
தவியாகத் தவிச்சேன் இங்கே நான்.....ஆஆஆ
All love turned into just a story,
All memories became a heavy burden.
I wither and I fade away,
O north wind, go tell him a message!
வெட்ட வெளி பொட்டலிலே
நட்ட நடு இராவினிலே
போனவன காணலியே
All love turned into just a story,
All memories became a heavy burden.
I wither and I fade away,
O north wind, go tell him a message!
{ஊரெல்லாம் உறங்கும் பொழுது
ஒருத்தி நான் இருக்கேன் அழுது
மருகுறேன் உருகுறேன்
மேகமே நீ தான் போய்ச்சொல்லு] (2)
The cousin who promised to come,
Forced me into a life of exile.
All the words he ever promised,
He wrote them on flowing water.
I yearned and suffered here alone... aaaa
ஆத்தோடு நாணல் கொஞ்சும்
காத்தோடு பூக்கள் கொஞ்சும்
யாரோடு நான்தான் கொஞ்ச
அடங்காத கண்ணீர் மிஞ்ச
வெளுக்காத கிழக்கா இங்கே நான்.....ஆஆஆ
In the vast open field,
In the dead of the night,
The one who left is nowhere to be seen.
வெட்ட வெளி பொட்டலிலே
நட்ட நடு இராவினிலே
தொட்டவன தேடுகிறா
பொட்டு வச்ச பூங்குயிலே
{போனவன காணலியே
பொண்ணு மனம் ஆறலியே} (2)
When the whole town is asleep,
I am here alone, weeping.
I grieve and I melt inside,
O cloud, go tell him a message!
ஆறலியே ஆறலியே
When the whole town is asleep,
I am here alone, weeping.
I grieve and I melt inside,
O cloud, go tell him a message!
Reeds cuddle with the river,
Flowers whisper sweet talk with the wind.
With whom am I to share such tenderness?
Only unstoppable tears remain.
I stay here like a dawn that never brightens... aaa
In the vast open field,
In the dead of the night,
She searches for the one who touched her heart,
The sweet songbird wearing a bindi.
The one who left is nowhere to be seen,
The girl's heart finds no peace.
The one who left is nowhere to be seen,
The girl's heart finds no peace.
Finds no peace, finds no peace.
Aaa…..aaaa….
Aaa…..aaaa….
Aaa….aaa…..
Aaa….aaa…..
Vetta veli pottalilae
In the vast open field,
Natta nadu raavinilae
In the dead of the night,
Thottavana thedugiraa
She searches for the one who touched her heart,
Pottu vecha poonguyilae
The sweet songbird wearing a bindi.
Ponavana kaanaliyae
The one who left is nowhere to be seen,
Ponnu manam aaraliyae
The girl's heart finds no peace.
Ponavana kaanaliyae
The one who left is nowhere to be seen,
Ponnu manam aaraliyae
The girl's heart finds no peace.
Vetta veli pottalilae
In the vast open field,
Natta nadu raavinilae
In the dead of the night,
Raavinilae raavinilae
In the night, in the night...
Nesamellaam kadhaiyaa pochae
All love turned into just a story,
Nenappellaam sumaiyaa aachae
All memories became a heavy burden.
Vaaduren vadhanguren
I wither and I fade away,
Vaadaiyae nee thaan poi chollu
O north wind, go tell him a message!
Nesamellaam kadhaiyaa pochae
All love turned into just a story,
Nenappellaam sumaiyaa aachae
All memories became a heavy burden.
Vaaduren vadhanguren
I wither and I fade away,
Vaadaiyae nee thaan poi chollu
O north wind, go tell him a message!
Vaarennu sonna machaan
The cousin who promised to come,
Vana vaasam panna vachaan
Forced me into a life of exile.
Thaan sonna pechai ellaam
All the words he ever promised,
Thanniyilae ezhudhi vechaan
He wrote them on flowing water.
Thaviyaaga thavichen ingae naan…aaaa
I yearned and suffered here alone... aaaa
Vetta veli pottalilae
In the vast open field,
Natta nadu raavinilae
In the dead of the night,
Ponavana kaanaliyae
The one who left is nowhere to be seen.
Oorellaam orangum pozhuthu
When the whole town is asleep,
Oruthi naan irukken azhuthu
I am here alone, weeping.
Maruguren uruguren
I grieve and I melt inside,
Megamae nee thaan poi chollu
O cloud, go tell him a message!
Oorellaam orangum pozhuthu
When the whole town is asleep,
Oruthi naan irukken azhuthu
I am here alone, weeping.
Maruguren uruguren
I grieve and I melt inside,
Megamae nee thaan poi chollu
O cloud, go tell him a message!
Aathodu naanal konjum
Reeds cuddle with the river,
Kaathodu pookkal konjum
Flowers whisper sweet talk with the wind.
Yaarodu naanthaan konja
With whom am I to share such tenderness?
Adangaatha kanneer minjaa
Only unstoppable tears remain.
Velukaadha kizhakkaa inage naan ..aaa
I stay here like a dawn that never brightens... aaa
Vetta veli pottalilae
In the vast open field,
Natta nadu raavinilae
In the dead of the night,
Thottavana thedugiraa
She searches for the one who touched her heart,
Pottu vecha poonguyilae
The sweet songbird wearing a bindi.
Ponavana kaanaliyae
The one who left is nowhere to be seen,
Ponnu manam aaraliyae
The girl's heart finds no peace.
Ponavana kaanaliyae
The one who left is nowhere to be seen,
Ponnu manam aaraliyae
The girl's heart finds no peace.
Aaraliyae aaraliyae
Finds no peace, finds no peace.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant folk-style song from the movie Nalla Naal expresses the intense agony of a young woman yearning for her absent lover in the middle of a desolate open field at midnight. She mourns how his promises vanished like writing on water, leaving her trapped in emotional solitude while the rest of the world sleeps peacefully. She implores natural elements like the cold wind (Vaadai) and passing clouds (Megam) to act as messengers to convey her unbearable anguish and waiting heart to her beloved.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Vetta veli pottalilae / Natta nadu raavinilae”
In lines 3 and 4, the second letters ('tt') rhyme between 'Vetta' and 'Natta', establishing rhythmic harmony typical of Tamil folk poetry.
Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)
“Thanniyilae ezhudhi vechaan”
In line 25, 'Thanniyilae ezhudhi vechaan' compares broken promises to writing on water, symbolizing fleeting and untrustworthy commitments.
Personification / Apostrophe
“Vaadaiyae nee thaan poi chollu / Megamae nee thaan poi chollu”
Addressing natural elements like the wind ('Vaadaiyae') and clouds ('Megamae') as messengers to carry her sorrows.
Imagery
“Aathodu naanal konjum / Kaathodu pookkal konjum”
Contrasting romantic imagery in nature ('Aathodu naanal konjum', 'Kaathodu pookkal konjum') with her solitary, tearful state.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Nalla Naal' (1984) featured music by Ilaiyaraaja and starred Vijayakanth and Thiagarajan. Vaali's lyrics capture authentic rural folk metaphors and raw emotion, drawing on Sangam poetry traditions where nature acts as a messenger (Thoodhu) for longing lovers.
Keep listening
More from Nalla Naal
Nalla Naal
Nalla Naal
Nalla Naal
Nalla Naal
Nalla Naal