Thottal Poo Malarum Old
From Padagotti · 1964
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Padagotti1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| …………………………… | ... |
| Female | |
| ………………………… | ... |
| Male | |
| { Thottal poo malarum | If touched, a flower blossoms, |
| Female | |
| Thodaamal naan malarndhen | Without even touching, I blossomed. |
| Male | |
| Suttaal pon sivakum | If heated, gold glows red, |
| Female | |
| Sudaamal kan sivandhen } (2) | Without being heated, my eyes turned red. |
| Male | |
| Kangal padaamal | Without eyes meeting, |
| Kaigal thodaamal | Without hands touching, |
| Kaadhal varuvadhillai | Love does not blossom. |
| Female | |
| Neril varaamal | Without coming in person, |
| Nenjai tharaamal | Without giving one's heart, |
| Aasai viduvadhillai | Desire does not leave. |
| Hoi aasai viduvadhillai | Oh, desire does not leave. |
| Male | |
| Thottal poo malarum | If touched, a flower blossoms, |
| Female | |
| Thodaamal naan malarndhen | Without even touching, I blossomed. |
| Male | |
| Suttaal pon sivakum | If heated, gold glows red, |
| Female | |
| Sudaamal kan sivandhen | Without being heated, my eyes turned red. |
| Male | |
| Iruvar ondranaal | When two souls become one, |
| Oruvar endranaal | When they are spoken of as one, |
| Ilamai mudivadhillai | Youth never comes to an end. |
| Ho oo ilamai mudivadhillai | Oh, youth never comes to an end. |
| Female | |
| Eduthu kondaalum | Even if one takes, |
| Koduthu sendraalum | Even if one gives and leaves, |
| Pozhudhum vidivadhillai | The day does not break. |
| Hoi pozhudhum vidivadhillai | Oh, the day does not break. |
| Female | |
| Thottal poo malarum | If touched, a flower blossoms, |
| Thodaamal naan malarndhen | Without even touching, I blossomed. |
| Suttaal pon sivakum | If heated, gold glows red, |
| Sudaamal kan sivandhen | Without being heated, my eyes turned red. |
| Female | |
| Aaaa aaaa aaa aaaaa | Aaaa aaaa aaa aaaaa |
| Male | |
| Pakkam nillaamal | Without standing nearby, |
| Paarthu sellaamal | Without looking before going, |
| Pitham thelivadhillai | This romantic obsession does not clear. |
| Ho oo pitham thelivadhillai | Oh, this romantic obsession does not clear. |
| Female | |
| Vetkam illaamal | Without shedding shyness, |
| Vazhangi chellaamal | Without bestowing love and leaving, |
| Varutham therivadhillai | The heartache does not heal. |
| Hoi varutham therivadhillai | Oh, the heartache does not heal. |
| Male | |
| Thottal poo malarum | If touched, a flower blossoms, |
| Female | |
| Thodaamal naan malarndhen | Without even touching, I blossomed. |
| Male | |
| Suttaal pon sivakum | If heated, gold glows red, |
| Female | |
| Sudaamal kan sivandhen | Without being heated, my eyes turned red. |
| Male | |
| Pazharasa thottam | A orchard of sweet fruit juice, |
| Panimalar kootam | A cluster of dew-kissed flowers, |
| Paavai mugamallavaa | Is that not a maiden's face? |
| Ho oo paavai mugamallava | Oh, is that not a maiden's face? |
| Female | |
| Azhagiya tholgal | Beautiful shoulders, |
| Pazhagiya naatkal | Cherished days spent together, |
| Aayiram sugamallava | Are they not a thousand delights? |
| Hoi aayiram sugamallava | Oh, are they not a thousand delights? |
| Male | |
| Thottal poo malarum | If touched, a flower blossoms, |
| Female | |
| Thodaamal naan malarndhen | Without even touching, I blossomed. |
| Male | |
| Suttaal pon sivakum | If heated, gold glows red, |
| Female | |
| Sudaamal kan sivandhen | Without being heated, my eyes turned red. |
| Male | |
| Aahaaa aaaa | Aahaaa aaaa |
| Female | |
| Ahaahahahaha | Ahaahahahaha |
| Male | |
| Ohh ooooo | Ohh ooooo |
| Female | |
| Ahaahahahaha | Ahaahahahaha |
...............................
...
...............................
...
{ தொட்டால் பூ மலரும்
தொடாமல் நான்
மலர்ந்தேன்
சுட்டால் பொன்
சிவக்கும்
சுடாமல் கண்
சிவந்தேன் } (2)
If touched, a flower blossoms,
கண்கள் படாமல்
கைகள் தொடாமல்
காதல் வருவதில்லை
Without even touching, I blossomed.
நேரில் வராமல்
நெஞ்சைத் தராமல் ஆசை
விடுவதில்லை ஹோய்
ஆசை விடுவதில்லை
If heated, gold glows red,
தொட்டால் பூ மலரும்
தொடாமல் நான்
மலர்ந்தேன்
சுட்டால் பொன்
சிவக்கும்
சுடாமல் கண்
சிவந்தேன்
Without being heated, my eyes turned red.
இருவர்
ஒன்றானால் ஒருவர்
என்றானால் இளமை
முடிவதில்லை ஹோ
ஓ இளமை முடிவதில்லை
Without eyes meeting,
Without hands touching,
Love does not blossom.
எடுத்துக்கொண்டாலும்
கொடுத்துச் சென்றாலும்
பொழுதும் விடிவதில்லை
ஹோய் பொழுதும்
விடிவதில்லை
Without coming in person,
Without giving one's heart,
Desire does not leave.
Oh, desire does not leave.
தொட்டால் பூ
மலரும் தொடாமல்
நான் மலர்ந்தேன்
சுட்டால் பொன் சிவக்கும்
சுடாமல் கண் சிவந்தேன்
If touched, a flower blossoms,
ஆஆஆ ஆஆஆ
ஆஆஆ ஆஆஆ
Without even touching, I blossomed.
பக்கம் நில்லாமல்
பார்த்து செல்லாமல்
பித்தம் தெளிவதில்லை
ஹோ ஓஓ பித்தம்
தெளிவதில்லை
If heated, gold glows red,
வெட்கமில்லாமல்
வழங்கி செல்லாமல்
வருத்தம் தெரிவதில்லை
ஹோய் வருத்தம்
தெரிவதில்லை
Without being heated, my eyes turned red.
தொட்டால் பூ மலரும்
தொடாமல் நான்
மலர்ந்தேன்
சுட்டால் பொன்
சிவக்கும்
சுடாமல் கண்
சிவந்தேன்
When two souls become one,
When they are spoken of as one,
Youth never comes to an end.
Oh, youth never comes to an end.
பழரசத் தோட்டம்
பனிமலர்க் கூட்டம் பாவை
முகமல்லவா ஹோ ஓஓ
பாவை முகமல்லவா
Even if one takes,
Even if one gives and leaves,
The day does not break.
Oh, the day does not break.
அழகிய
தோள்கள் பழகிய
நாட்கள் ஆயிரம்
சுகமல்லவா ஹோய்
ஆயிரம் சுகமல்லவா
If touched, a flower blossoms,
Without even touching, I blossomed.
If heated, gold glows red,
Without being heated, my eyes turned red.
தொட்டால் பூ மலரும்
தொடாமல் நான்
மலர்ந்தேன்
சுட்டால் பொன்
சிவக்கும்
சுடாமல் கண்
சிவந்தேன்
Aaaa aaaa aaa aaaaa
ஆஹாஆஆ
ஆஹா ஹா
ஹாஹாஹா
ஓஓஓஓஓஓ
ஆஹா ஹா
ஹாஹாஹா
Without standing nearby,
Without looking before going,
This romantic obsession does not clear.
Oh, this romantic obsession does not clear.
Without shedding shyness,
Without bestowing love and leaving,
The heartache does not heal.
Oh, the heartache does not heal.
If touched, a flower blossoms,
Without even touching, I blossomed.
If heated, gold glows red,
Without being heated, my eyes turned red.
A orchard of sweet fruit juice,
A cluster of dew-kissed flowers,
Is that not a maiden's face?
Oh, is that not a maiden's face?
Beautiful shoulders,
Cherished days spent together,
Are they not a thousand delights?
Oh, are they not a thousand delights?
If touched, a flower blossoms,
Without even touching, I blossomed.
If heated, gold glows red,
Without being heated, my eyes turned red.
Aahaaa aaaa
Ahaahahahaha
Ohh ooooo
Ahaahahahaha
……………………………
...
…………………………
...
{ Thottal poo malarum
If touched, a flower blossoms,
Thodaamal naan malarndhen
Without even touching, I blossomed.
Suttaal pon sivakum
If heated, gold glows red,
Sudaamal kan sivandhen } (2)
Without being heated, my eyes turned red.
Kangal padaamal
Without eyes meeting,
Kaigal thodaamal
Without hands touching,
Kaadhal varuvadhillai
Love does not blossom.
Neril varaamal
Without coming in person,
Nenjai tharaamal
Without giving one's heart,
Aasai viduvadhillai
Desire does not leave.
Hoi aasai viduvadhillai
Oh, desire does not leave.
Thottal poo malarum
If touched, a flower blossoms,
Thodaamal naan malarndhen
Without even touching, I blossomed.
Suttaal pon sivakum
If heated, gold glows red,
Sudaamal kan sivandhen
Without being heated, my eyes turned red.
Iruvar ondranaal
When two souls become one,
Oruvar endranaal
When they are spoken of as one,
Ilamai mudivadhillai
Youth never comes to an end.
Ho oo ilamai mudivadhillai
Oh, youth never comes to an end.
Eduthu kondaalum
Even if one takes,
Koduthu sendraalum
Even if one gives and leaves,
Pozhudhum vidivadhillai
The day does not break.
Hoi pozhudhum vidivadhillai
Oh, the day does not break.
Thottal poo malarum
If touched, a flower blossoms,
Thodaamal naan malarndhen
Without even touching, I blossomed.
Suttaal pon sivakum
If heated, gold glows red,
Sudaamal kan sivandhen
Without being heated, my eyes turned red.
Aaaa aaaa aaa aaaaa
Aaaa aaaa aaa aaaaa
Pakkam nillaamal
Without standing nearby,
Paarthu sellaamal
Without looking before going,
Pitham thelivadhillai
This romantic obsession does not clear.
Ho oo pitham thelivadhillai
Oh, this romantic obsession does not clear.
Vetkam illaamal
Without shedding shyness,
Vazhangi chellaamal
Without bestowing love and leaving,
Varutham therivadhillai
The heartache does not heal.
Hoi varutham therivadhillai
Oh, the heartache does not heal.
Thottal poo malarum
If touched, a flower blossoms,
Thodaamal naan malarndhen
Without even touching, I blossomed.
Suttaal pon sivakum
If heated, gold glows red,
Sudaamal kan sivandhen
Without being heated, my eyes turned red.
Pazharasa thottam
A orchard of sweet fruit juice,
Panimalar kootam
A cluster of dew-kissed flowers,
Paavai mugamallavaa
Is that not a maiden's face?
Ho oo paavai mugamallava
Oh, is that not a maiden's face?
Azhagiya tholgal
Beautiful shoulders,
Pazhagiya naatkal
Cherished days spent together,
Aayiram sugamallava
Are they not a thousand delights?
Hoi aayiram sugamallava
Oh, are they not a thousand delights?
Thottal poo malarum
If touched, a flower blossoms,
Thodaamal naan malarndhen
Without even touching, I blossomed.
Suttaal pon sivakum
If heated, gold glows red,
Sudaamal kan sivandhen
Without being heated, my eyes turned red.
Aahaaa aaaa
Aahaaa aaaa
Ahaahahahaha
Ahaahahahaha
Ohh ooooo
Ohh ooooo
Ahaahahahaha
Ahaahahahaha
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This iconic duet expresses deep, poetic romance between two lovers who describe how intimacy, presence, and affection transform their world. The opening refrain sets a mood of hyperbole and sensory delight: while flowers bloom upon touch and gold turns red when fired, the lovers experience those intense reactions purely through the magical influence of love itself. They emphasize that true love requires physical proximity, mutual devotion, and emotional surrender, without which desire and obsession persist without relief.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Thottal poo malarum / Suttaal pon sivakum”
The second consonant sound 'tt' rhymes across consecutive lines, creating a rhythmic harmony in Tamil poetry.
Anaaphora / Parallelism
“Kangal padaamal / Kaigal thodaamal / Neril varaamal”
Repeated structural phrasing using negative participle clauses ending in '-aal' and '-amal' creates symmetry and poetic rhythm.
Hyperbole & Metaphor
“Thodaamal naan malarndhen / Sudaamal kan sivandhen”
The lyricist compares the physical sensation of blushing and blooming to nature and metallurgy, exaggerating love's power to induce these states without physical contact.
Did you know?
Trivia
This romantic classic from the 1964 MGR starer 'Padagotti' features music composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, lyrics written by Vaali, and vocals by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela. The song was picturized on M. G. Ramachandran and B. Saroja Devi set against sea waves and boats, becoming one of the most celebrated duets in Tamil cinema history.
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