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Lyrics & meaning

Thottatha Thodathatha

From Ninaivil Nindraval · 1967

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Ninaivil Nindraval
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
1 Apr 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thottadha thodaadhadha
Thendralae padathatha
Enna thaan kannamoo
Minnalaai minnumoo
Ondru thandha pinbum
Innum ondru ketkkumoo
Sonnadha sollaadhadha
Kangalae polladhadha
Enna thaan mogamoo
Endrumae dhaagamoo
Chinna pennai kandu
Nenjukullae vegamoo
Paadhi mel aadai kaatrodu poraada
Paarthathum paarkaadha kann enna kannoo
Paadhi mel aadai kaatrodu poraada
Paarthathum paarkaadha kann enna kannoo
Kaadhal thaenootril poo maeni aada
Kaadhal thaenootril poo maeni aada
Neendhi karai sera thunai vendumoo
Neendhi karai sera thunai vendumoo
Thottadha thodaadhadha
Thendralae padathatha
Kaaval illadha pen endra ninaippodu
Konji paarkkindra manam enna manamoo
Kaaval illadha pen endra ninaippodu
Konji paarkkindra manam enna manamoo
Azhagu oru kodi pudhupaadal ezhudha
Azhagu oru kodi pudhupaadal ezhudha
Aasai mudiyaadha kadhaiyaanadho
Aasai mudiyaadha kadhaiyaanadho
Sonnadha sollaadhadha
Kangalae polladhadha
Enna thaan mogamoo
Endrumae dhaagamoo
Chinna pennai kandu
Nenjukullae vegamoo
Thottadha thodaadhadha
Female :Mmmmmm…
Has it been touched, or is it untouched?
Has even the gentle breeze not brushed against it?
What kind of cheek is this?
Does it flash like lightning?
Even after giving one kiss,
does it ask for another?
Was it spoken, or left unsaid?
Are these eyes mischievous?
What kind of passion is this?
Is this thirst everlasting?
At the sight of this young girl,
does the heart race with excitement?
As her dress flutters and wrestles in the wind,
what kind of eyes look and yet pretend not to see?
As her dress flutters and wrestles in the wind,
what kind of eyes look and yet pretend not to see?
As this flower-soft body sways in the sweet stream of love,
As this flower-soft body sways in the sweet stream of love,
does it need a partner to swim across to the shore?
does it need a partner to swim across to the shore?
Has it been touched, or is it untouched?
Has even the gentle breeze not brushed against it?
Thinking she is an unprotected girl,
what kind of heart tries to flirt with her?
Thinking she is an unprotected girl,
what kind of heart tries to flirt with her?
As endless beauty writes countless new songs,
As endless beauty writes countless new songs,
has desire become a story that never ends?
has desire become a story that never ends?
Was it spoken, or left unsaid?
Are these eyes mischievous?
What kind of passion is this?
Is this thirst everlasting?
At the sight of this young girl,
does the heart race with excitement?
Has it been touched, or is it untouched?
Mmm...
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Thottadha Thodaadhadha from Ninaivil Nindraval (1967) is a romantic duet between lovers exchanging playful banters filled with passion and desire. The lovers tease each other about the subtlety of touch, the gaze of the eyes, and the restless beating of their hearts upon seeing one another. Using vivid metaphors of nature—the wind, lightning, and a fountain of honey—the lyricist Vaali captures the eternal thirst of youthful love and the sweet tension of intimacy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Thottadha thodaadhadha / Thendralae padathatha

The second consonant 'tt' rhymes across consecutive lines (Thottadha / Thendralae with soft alveolar/dental sound match, and Ondru / Innum with 'n' consonants).

Simile (Upamai)

Minnalaai minnumoo

Comparing the glow or flash of cheeks/eyes directly to lightning using the suffix 'aai' (Minnalaai minnumoo).

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kaadhal thaenootril poo maeni aada

Describing the feeling of love as a honey spring/fountain (Kaadhal thaenootril) and the delicate female body as a flower (poo maeni).

Anaphora / Rhetorical Questioning

Paarthathum paarkaadha kann enna kannoo

Repeated questioning ('enna thaan', 'vendumoo', 'kannoo') creates a playful rhetorical style expressing romantic bewilderment.

Did you know?

Trivia

Ninaivil Nindraval (1967) featured music composed by V. Kumar, who was known for his melodious compositions during the golden era of Tamil cinema. The song stands out for the vocal chemistry between T. M. Soundarajan and P. Susheela, written by legendary lyricist Vaali.

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