Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thottathu Poovai

From Aayiram Kalathu Payir · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Aayiram Kalathu Payir1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aa….aaa…..aaa….aa….aa….aaah….Vocalizing melodic notes
Aa….aaa…..aaa….aa….aa….aaah….Vocalizing melodic notes
Aa….aaa…..aaa….aa….aa….aaah….haa….Vocalizing melodic notes
Female
Thottaththu poovai innumThe flower in the garden has not yet
Thodavae illaiBeen touched by anyone
Tholkalil aangal kaigalOn her shoulders, men's hands
Vizhavea illaiHave never rested
Thottaththu poovai innumThe flower in the garden has not yet
Thodavae illaiBeen touched by anyone
Tholkalil aangal kaigalOn her shoulders, men's hands
Vizhavea illaiHave never rested
Female
Pattukku raagaminnum varavum illaiA melody for the song is yet to arrive
Pattukku raagaminnum varavum illaiA melody for the song is yet to arrive
Enthan paarvaiyil unnaiyindriIn my eyes, except for you
Evarum illaiThere is no one else
Female
Thottaththu poovai innumThe flower in the garden has not yet
Thodavae illaiBeen touched by anyone
Tholkalil aangal kaigalOn her shoulders, men's hands
Vizhavea illaiHave never rested
Female
Melliya aadaikatti naan varaaaShall I come wearing fine, soft attire?
Melliya aadaikatti naan varaaaShall I come wearing fine, soft attire?
Intha velli nilaa mugaththil thaen tharavaaShall I offer sweet honey from this silver-moon face?
Velli nilaa mugaththil thaen tharavaaShall I offer sweet honey from this silver-moon face?
Female
Thulliya poovai pola manam tharavaaShall I offer a heart fragrant like a fresh, blossoming flower?
Thulliya poovai pola manam tharavaaShall I offer a heart fragrant like a fresh, blossoming flower?
Unnai suttri valaiththu nindruShall I stand encircling you close
Thunai tharavaa…aa…And offer my companionship?
Female
Thottaththu poovai innumThe flower in the garden has not yet
Thodavae illaiBeen touched by anyone
Tholkalil aangal kaigalOn her shoulders, men's hands
Vizhavea illaiHave never rested
Female
Paruvam valarntha ellam unakallavaaIsn't everything that grew with youth meant for you?
Intha paavai manamum unthan kanakkalavaaIsn't this maiden's heart accounted for in your ledger?
Iravendru vanthathellam namakallavaaIsn't everything that comes with the night meant for us?
Iravendru vanthathellam namakallavaaIsn't everything that comes with the night meant for us?
Un ennaththil ullathellam…aa…..aaa…Whatever resides within your thoughts...
EnakkallavaaDoesn't it belong to me?
Female
Thottaththu poovai innumThe flower in the garden has not yet
Thodavae illaiBeen touched by anyone
Tholkalil aangal kaigalOn her shoulders, men's hands
Vizhavea illaiHave never rested
Female
Eththanaiyo ulagam paarththu vanthaaiYou have traversed seeing so many worlds
Nee evvalavo vayathai thaandi vanthaaiYou have lived crossing through so much time
Eththanaiyo ulagam paarththu vanthaaiYou have traversed seeing so many worlds
Nee evvalavo vayathai thaandi vanthaaiYou have lived crossing through so much time
Iththanai kattazhagu paarthathundaaHave you ever witnessed such flawless beauty?
Iththanai kattazhagu paarthathundaaHave you ever witnessed such flawless beauty?
Ival imaikku eedu engumAn equal to her delicate eyelids anywhere,
Kettathunnaa….aa….Have you ever heard of?
Female
{Thottaththu poovai innum{The flower in the garden has not yet
Thodavae illaiBeen touched by anyone
Tholkalil aangal kaigalOn her shoulders, men's hands
Vizhavea illai} (2)Have never rested} (Repeated twice)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Thottaththu Poovai Innum' is a classic romantic song expressed from a maiden's point of view, celebrating purity, youthful desire, and absolute devotion to her beloved. The heroine uses metaphors of an untouched garden flower and an unscripted song melody to emphasize her maidenhood and purity, asserting that she has reserved her affection solely for her partner.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Metaphor / Simile)

Thottaththu poovai innum

Comparing the heroine's untouched maidenhood to a garden flower that hasn't been plucked ('Thottaththu poovai').

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Intha velli nilaa mugaththil thaen tharavaa

Comparing her face to a silver moon ('velli nilaa mugaththil') that offers sweet nectar/honey.

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Thottaththu poovai innum / Pattukku raagaminnum

Rhyming of the second consonant 'tt' in 'Thottaththu' and 'Pattukku'.

Anaphora / Repetition

Paruvam valarntha ellam unakallavaa

Repetition of question forms ending in '-allavaa' to create rhetorical emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Aayiram Kalathu Payir' (1963) features lyrics by the legendary poet Kannadasan. The title translates to 'A crop that lasts a thousand years', a popular Tamil idiom symbolizing marriage and lifelong bond.

Keep listening

More from Aayiram Kalathu Payir