Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Thirudan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kottai Mathil Mele

From Thirudan · 1969

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Thirudan
Movie release year
1969
Lyrics added on
25 Feb 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
La la la la
Kottai madhil melae oru vellai poonai
Veettin madhil melae oru pettai poonai
Kottai madhil melae oru vellai poonai
Veettin madhil melae oru pettai poonai
Vellai poonai sirithathu pettai poonai azhaithathu
Vellai poonai sirithathu pettai poonai azhaithathu
Aadal paadal kaadhal kondaattam
Vannam poopondrathu
Ennam paal pondrathu
Vannam poopondrathu
Ennam paal pondrathu
Kangal rendum kaadhal paayum vel pondrathu
Kangal rendum kaadhal paayum vel pondrathu
Kanni thaen enbathu inghu yen vandhadhu
Kanni thaen enbathu inghu yen vandhadhu
Kaadhal sandhosam kondaattamkaalm vandhadhu
Chinna raani vann amaeni
Indruthaan nee inba thaeni
Aadal paadal kaadhal kondaattam
Kottai madhil melae oru vellai poonai
Veettin madhil melae oru pettai poonai
Vellai poonai sirithathu pettai poonai azhaithathu
Aadal paadal kaadhal kondaattam
Ennai pen theduthu unnai kann theduthu
Ennai pen theduthu unnai kann theduthu
Neram ponaal aasai ullam ennavadhu
Neram ponaal aasai ullam ennavadhu
Aasai neeradudhu acham poraadudhu
Aasai neeradudhu acham poraadudhu
Enna aanaalum thalaamal ennam oodudhu
Enna raasa chinna raaja
Indha rojaa enna lesaa
Aadal paadal kaadhal kondaattam
Kottai madhil melae oru vellai poonai
Veettin madhil melae oru pettai poonai
Both :Vellai poonai sirithathu pettai poonai azhaithathu
Aadal paadal kaadhal kondaattam
La la la la
A white cat on the fort wall,
A female cat on the house wall!
A white cat on the fort wall,
A female cat on the house wall!
The white cat smiled, and the female cat called out!
The white cat smiled, and the female cat called out!
Dancing, singing, love, and celebration!
Your beauty is like a flower,
Your heart is pure like milk!
Your beauty is like a flower,
Your heart is pure like milk!
Both your eyes are like spears striking with love!
Both your eyes are like spears striking with love!
Why did this sweet young girl come here?
Why did this sweet young girl come here?
The joyful season of love and celebration has arrived!
My little queen with a radiant form,
Today, you are a honeybee of joy!
Dancing, singing, love, and celebration!
A white cat on the fort wall,
A female cat on the house wall!
The white cat smiled, and the female cat called out!
Dancing, singing, love, and celebration!
The woman in me longs for you, my eyes search for you!
The woman in me longs for you, my eyes search for you!
If time slips away, what will happen to this longing heart?
If time slips away, what will happen to this longing heart?
Desire bathes in joy, while fear struggles within!
Desire bathes in joy, while fear struggles within!
Come what may, my thoughts race ahead without wavering!
What is it, my prince? My little king,
is this rose something to be taken lightly?
Dancing, singing, love, and celebration!
A white cat on the fort wall,
A female cat on the house wall!
The white cat smiled, and the female cat called out!
Dancing, singing, love, and celebration!
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kottai Madhil Melae from the 1969 film Thirudan is a lively, flirtatious duet sung by T. M. Soundararajan and L. R. Eswari. The song uses a playful metaphor of two cats perched on walls exchanging smiles and calls to depict the dynamic romantic attraction between the leads. The energetic rhythm composed by M. S. Vishwanathan highlights the joy of romance, dancing, and celebrating love without hesitation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allegory / Extended Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Kottai madhil melae oru vellai poonai

The lyrics use a white cat ('vellai poonai') and a female cat ('pettai poonai') atop walls as an allegory for two lovers flirting from a distance.

Simile (Uvamai Ani)

Vannam poopondrathu / Ennam paal pondrathu

Comparing complexion to a flower ('poopondrathu'), pure thoughts to milk ('paal pondrathu'), and love-filled eyes to striking spears ('vel pondrathu').

Second Letter Rhyme (Edhukai)

Vannam poopondrathu / Ennam paal pondrathu

Matching second consonants across lines to create rhythmic lyricism, such as 'Vannam' and 'Ennam', or 'Aasai' and 'Neram'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Vishwanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan, this playful duet showcases L. R. Eswari's signature high-energy playback style alongside T. M. Soundararajan's rich vocals in the classic caper film Thirudan (1969).

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Thirudan

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.