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Lyrics & meaning

Thottathu Pole Kanavu

From Gowri Kalyanam · 1966

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Gowri Kalyanam
Movie release year
1966
Lyrics added on
27 Jul 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thottadhu polae kanavu kanden
Thooka kalakama
En tholai thazhuvum kaalaiyai kanden
Thunaivan mayakkama
Thottadhu polae kanavu kanden
Thooka kalakama
En tholai thazhuvum kaalaiyai kanden
Thunaivan mayakkama
Kattiya poovil vandu vilundhu
Aadida kandenae
Kattiya poovil vandu vilundhu
Aadida kandenae
Kaanniyin nenjam mangaiyin idhazhil
Odida kandenae
Thottadhu polae kanavu kanden
Thooka kalakama
En tholai thazhuvum kaalaiyai kanden
Thunaivan mayakkama
…………………
Maaman magalae manikiliyae
Mannar kulathu ilangodiyae
Maaman magalae manikiliyae
Mannar kulathu ilangodiyae
Yaarena ennai arivaaiyoo
Arindha pinnavadhu arulvaayoo
Yaarena ennai arivaaiyoo
Arindha pinnavadhu arulvaayoo
Kallanai pola theriyuthaiyaa
Kaamugam polavum thonuthaiyaa
Male :Aahaa enna vaarthai koorinaai
Female :Kallanai pola theriyuthaiyaa
Kaamugam polavum thonuthaiyaa
Palli araikkul mella nuzhaindhu
Paarthu rasikindra kaariyamenna
Aiyaiya kaariyam enna
Aiyaiya kaariyam enna
Aindhu pergal paandavaraam
Avaril oruvar paarthibanaam
Kaadhal mannan paarthibanin
Kaadhal mannan paarthibanin
Kaalaiyadiyo naanadiyoo
Arjunan magam needhaana
Avan artha rathiriyil varuvaana
Arjunan magam needhaana
Avan artha rathiriyil varuvaana
Ennai mana muditha mannan pulandhiran
Kalvanai pola vandhu thoduvaana
Kalvanai pola vandhu thoduvaana
Uravinan pol ennai theriyavillaiyoo
Indha uruvathil yaarendru puriyavillaiyoo
Ammaa
Uravinan pol ennai theriyavillaiyoo
Indha uruvathil yaarendru puriyavillaiyoo
Ennai kattupudi sattapadi katukodi muthukiliyae
Mangaiyae
Ennai kattupudi sattapadi katukodi muthukiliyae
Mangaiyae
Unnai andharathil kondu sellum
Mandharathai kandu kollum ennaiyae
Unnai andharathil kondu sellum
Mandharathai kandu kollum ennaiyae
Undhan manam ethanai
Gunamethanai vayathenthanai
Thunaiethanai sollalaiyaaa
Undhan manam ethanai
Gunamethanai vayathenthanai
Thunaiethanai sollalaiyaaa
Andha arjunanukku pilliyendu
Archanaigal seiya vandhedhennayaa
Andha arjunanukku pilliyendu
Archanaigal seiya vandhedhennayaa
Dharma thirumagan thaan
Thaarar karum kuyilae
Koodi maruvidungal
Deviyarum devanumaai
Haaaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa…aaa…
I dreamed that someone touched me,
or was it just the haze of sleep?
I saw a young man holding my shoulders,
or was it the sweet trance of my beloved?
I dreamed that someone touched me,
or was it just the haze of sleep?
I saw a young man holding my shoulders,
or was it the sweet trance of my beloved?
A beetle landing on a strung garland,
dancing upon it, I saw...
A beetle landing on a strung garland,
dancing upon it, I saw...
A maiden's heart leaping up to her lips,
racing with joy, I saw...
I dreamed that someone touched me,
or was it just the haze of sleep?
I saw a young man holding my shoulders,
or was it the sweet trance of my beloved?
...
My uncle's daughter, my precious parrot,
slender vine of the royal clan!
My uncle's daughter, my precious parrot,
slender vine of the royal clan!
Do you know who I am?
Once you know, will you shower your love on me?
Do you know who I am?
Once you know, will you shower your love on me?
You look like a thief to me, sir,
you seem like a lustful rogue!
Male: Aha, what words did you just say!
Female: You look like a thief to me, sir,
you seem like a lustful rogue!
Creeping softly into my bedchamber,
what right do you have to gaze and admire me?
Oh goodness, what is your intention?
Oh goodness, what is your intention?
Five brothers are the Pandavas,
and one among them is Parthiban (Arjuna),
Of that king of love, Parthiban,
Of that king of love, Parthiban,
the brave son am I, my lady!
Are you truly Arjuna's son?
Would he ever come in the dead of night?
Are you truly Arjuna's son?
Would he ever come in the dead of night?
King Pulandhiran, who married me,
would he come like a thief to touch me?
Would he come like a thief to touch me?
Don't you recognize me as your own kin?
Can't you tell who I am in this form?
Oh, my lady!
Don't you recognize me as your own kin?
Can't you tell who I am in this form?
Embrace me lawfully, wild flowering vine, my precious pearl!
My lady!
Embrace me lawfully, wild flowering vine, my precious pearl!
My lady!
That can lift you high into the air,
learn that magical spell from me!
That can lift you high into the air,
learn that magical spell from me!
How many minds do you have?
How many habits, what is your age,
and how many wives do you have, tell me, sir!
How many minds do you have?
How many habits, what is your age,
and how many wives do you have, tell me, sir!
Saying you are that Arjuna's son,
why have you come offering praises to me, sir?
Saying you are that Arjuna's son,
why have you come offering praises to me, sir?
He is indeed the noble prince of Dharma,
my garland-adorned dark cuckoo!
Come together and embrace,
like a goddess and her divine lord!
Ha... ah... ah... ah... ah... ah...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful romantic duet from Gowri Kalyanam (1966) features a teasing dialogue between lovers disguised in theatrical and mythological imagery. The song opens with the heroine recounting a surreal dream where she feels the embrace of her beloved, questioning if it was real or a sleepy hallucination. When her lover sneaks into her bedchamber in secret, she playfully accuses him of behaving like a thief and an intruder while teasingly questioning his identity, lineage, and motives. In response, he affectionately claims his rightful love for her, invoking romanticized comparisons to mythological figures like Arjuna and Pulandhiran. He urges her to embrace him legitimately as his rightful wife, leading to a joyful resolution where they unite like a divine couple.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Thottadhu polae kanavu kanden / Thooka kalakama

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Th' in consecutive words.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Kattiya poovil vandu vilundhu / Aadida kandenae

Comparing a lover's romantic arrival and interaction to a bee alighting and dancing upon a blooming flower.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Maaman magalae manikiliyae / Mannar kulathu ilangodiyae

Matching end sounds across consecutive lines ('manikiliyae' and 'ilangodiyae').

Edhukai (Second Letter Agreement)

Kallanai pola theriyuthaiyaa ... Palli araikkul mella nuzhaindhu

Matching second letter 'll' in adjacent lines ('Kallanai' and 'Palli').

Did you know?

Trivia

Gowri Kalyanam (1966) features music composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics penned by the legendary Kannadasan. The song cleverly weaves classical Tamil theatre tropes and Mahabharata mythology (referencing Arjuna/Parthiban and Pulandhiran) into a lighthearted contemporary romantic dialogue.

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