Thottu Kollava
From Maattukara Velan · 1970
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Maattukara Velan1970
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| { Thottukollava | Shall I touch you? |
| Nenjil thoduthukollava | Shall I string you into my heart? |
| Male | |
| Pattukollava | Shall I hold on to you? |
| Mella pazhagikollava } (2) | Shall I slowly get accustomed to you? |
| Female | |
| Kattikollava | Shall I hug you? |
| Unnai kalanthukollava | Shall I mingle with you? |
| Male | |
| Kattikolla va va | Come, come to embrace, |
| Va mella thazhuvikollava | Come, shall I gently embrace you? |
| Female | |
| Thottukollava | Shall I touch you? |
| Nenjil thoduthukollava | Shall I string you into my heart? |
| Male | |
| Pattukollava va va | Shall I hold on to you, come, come, |
| Mella pazhagikollava | Shall I slowly get accustomed to you? |
| Female | |
| { Manthirathai | The secret mantra, |
| Solla cholli ketkava | Shall I ask you to recite it? |
| Male | |
| Un mounathirku | To your silence, |
| Osainayam serkavaa } (2) | Shall I add musical harmony? |
| Female | |
| { Antharathil | In the mid-air, |
| Panthal ondru podava | Shall I erect a canopy? |
| Male | |
| Naan panthalukul | Inside that canopy, |
| Panthu vilaiyadavaa } (2) | Shall I play with a ball? |
| Male | |
| Aadumbothu | While playing, |
| Sinthukavi paadava | Shall I sing a poetic melody? |
| Female | |
| Naan | Shall I, |
| Ammamma endru | Saying 'Ammamma', |
| Kannai moodava | Close my eyes? |
| Male | |
| Thottukollava | Shall I touch you? |
| Nenjil thoduthukollava | Shall I string you into my heart? |
| Female | |
| Pattukollava | Shall I hold on to you? |
| Mella pazhagikollava | Shall I slowly get accustomed to you? |
| Male | |
| { Thangathinaal | Made of gold, |
| Kalasam vaitha gopuram | A temple tower adorned with a crest, |
| Nadai thavazhumbothu | When you walk, |
| Kulungum isai aayiram } (2) | A thousand musical notes jingle. |
| Female | |
| { Kaadhalennum | The container called love, |
| Then irukum paathiram | That holds sweet honey, |
| Male | |
| Adhu | That is, |
| Kaalanthorum | Through all times, |
| Naan kudika maathiram } (2) | Only for me to drink. |
| Female | |
| Iruvarukum | For both of us, |
| Inbam ennum saathiram | Pleasure is a sacred rule. |
| Kaalam innum undu | There is still plenty of time, |
| Atharkul enna aathiram | Why such haste before then? |
| Female | |
| Thottukollava | Shall I touch you? |
| Nenjil thoduthukollava | Shall I string you into my heart? |
| Male | |
| Pattukollava va va | Shall I hold on to you, come, come, |
| Mella pazhagikollava | Shall I slowly get accustomed to you? |
| Female | |
| Kattikollava | Shall I hug you? |
| Unnai kalanthukollava | Shall I mingle with you? |
| Male | |
| Kattikolla va va | Come, come to embrace, |
| Va mella thazhuvikollava | Come, shall I gently embrace you? |
{ தொட்டுக்
கொள்ளவா நெஞ்சில்
தொடுத்துக் கொள்ளவா
Shall I touch you?
Shall I string you into my heart?
பட்டுக் கொள்ளவா
மெல்லப் பழகிக்
கொள்ளவா } (2)
Shall I hold on to you?
Shall I slowly get accustomed to you?
கட்டிக் கொள்ளவா
உன்னைக்கலந்து கொள்ளவா
Shall I hug you?
Shall I mingle with you?
கட்டிக் கொள்ள
வா வாவா மெல்லத்தழுவிக்
கொள்ள வா
Come, come to embrace,
Come, shall I gently embrace you?
தொட்டுக்
கொள்ளவா நெஞ்சில்
தொடுத்துக் கொள்ளவா
Shall I touch you?
Shall I string you into my heart?
பட்டுக் கொள்ள
வா வா மெல்லப் பழகிக்
கொள்ளவா
Shall I hold on to you, come, come,
Shall I slowly get accustomed to you?
{ மந்திரத்தைச்
சொல்லச் சொல்லிக்
கேட்கவா
The secret mantra,
Shall I ask you to recite it?
உன் மெளனத்திற்க்கு
ஓசை நயம் சேர்க்கவா } (2)
To your silence,
Shall I add musical harmony?
{ அந்தரத்தில்
பந்தல் ஒன்று போடவா
In the mid-air,
Shall I erect a canopy?
நான்பந்தலுக்குள்
பந்து விளையாடவா } (2)
Inside that canopy,
Shall I play with a ball?
ஆடும்போது
சிந்து கவி பாடவா
While playing,
Shall I sing a poetic melody?
நான்
அம்மம்மா என்று
கண்ணை மூடவா
Shall I,
Saying 'Ammamma',
Close my eyes?
தொட்டுக்
கொள்ளவா நெஞ்சில்
தொடுத்துக் கொள்ளவா
Shall I touch you?
Shall I string you into my heart?
பட்டுக் கொள்ளவா
மெல்லப் பழகிக்
கொள்ளவா
Shall I hold on to you?
Shall I slowly get accustomed to you?
{ தங்கத்தினால்
கலசம் வைத்த கோபுரம்
நடை தவழும் போது
குலுங்கும் இசை ஆயிரம் } (2)
Made of gold,
A temple tower adorned with a crest,
When you walk,
A thousand musical notes jingle.
{ காதலென்னும்
தேனிருக்கும் பாத்திரம்
The container called love,
That holds sweet honey,
அதுகாலம்
தோறும் நான் குடிக்க
மாத்திரம் } (2)
That is,
Through all times,
Only for me to drink.
இருவருக்கும்
இன்பம் என்னும் சாத்திரம்
காலம்இன்னும் உண்டு
அதற்குள் என்ன ஆத்திரம்
For both of us,
Pleasure is a sacred rule.
There is still plenty of time,
Why such haste before then?
தொட்டுக்
கொள்ளவா நெஞ்சில்
தொடுத்துக் கொள்ளவா
Shall I touch you?
Shall I string you into my heart?
பட்டுக் கொள்ளவா
வா மெல்லப் பழகிக்
கொள்ளவா
Shall I hold on to you, come, come,
Shall I slowly get accustomed to you?
கட்டிக் கொள்ளவா
உன்னைக்கலந்து கொள்ளவா
Shall I hug you?
Shall I mingle with you?
கட்டிக் கொள்ள
வா வாவா மெல்லத்தழுவிக்
கொள்ள வா
Come, come to embrace,
Come, shall I gently embrace you?
{ Thottukollava
Shall I touch you?
Nenjil thoduthukollava
Shall I string you into my heart?
Pattukollava
Shall I hold on to you?
Mella pazhagikollava } (2)
Shall I slowly get accustomed to you?
Kattikollava
Shall I hug you?
Unnai kalanthukollava
Shall I mingle with you?
Kattikolla va va
Come, come to embrace,
Va mella thazhuvikollava
Come, shall I gently embrace you?
Thottukollava
Shall I touch you?
Nenjil thoduthukollava
Shall I string you into my heart?
Pattukollava va va
Shall I hold on to you, come, come,
Mella pazhagikollava
Shall I slowly get accustomed to you?
{ Manthirathai
The secret mantra,
Solla cholli ketkava
Shall I ask you to recite it?
Un mounathirku
To your silence,
Osainayam serkavaa } (2)
Shall I add musical harmony?
{ Antharathil
In the mid-air,
Panthal ondru podava
Shall I erect a canopy?
Naan panthalukul
Inside that canopy,
Panthu vilaiyadavaa } (2)
Shall I play with a ball?
Aadumbothu
While playing,
Sinthukavi paadava
Shall I sing a poetic melody?
Naan
Shall I,
Ammamma endru
Saying 'Ammamma',
Kannai moodava
Close my eyes?
Thottukollava
Shall I touch you?
Nenjil thoduthukollava
Shall I string you into my heart?
Pattukollava
Shall I hold on to you?
Mella pazhagikollava
Shall I slowly get accustomed to you?
{ Thangathinaal
Made of gold,
Kalasam vaitha gopuram
A temple tower adorned with a crest,
Nadai thavazhumbothu
When you walk,
Kulungum isai aayiram } (2)
A thousand musical notes jingle.
{ Kaadhalennum
The container called love,
Then irukum paathiram
That holds sweet honey,
Adhu
That is,
Kaalanthorum
Through all times,
Naan kudika maathiram } (2)
Only for me to drink.
Iruvarukum
For both of us,
Inbam ennum saathiram
Pleasure is a sacred rule.
Kaalam innum undu
There is still plenty of time,
Atharkul enna aathiram
Why such haste before then?
Thottukollava
Shall I touch you?
Nenjil thoduthukollava
Shall I string you into my heart?
Pattukollava va va
Shall I hold on to you, come, come,
Mella pazhagikollava
Shall I slowly get accustomed to you?
Kattikollava
Shall I hug you?
Unnai kalanthukollava
Shall I mingle with you?
Kattikolla va va
Come, come to embrace,
Va mella thazhuvikollava
Come, shall I gently embrace you?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This romantic duet expresses playful intimacy, passionate desire, and affection between two lovers. The lyrics use vivid poetic imagery, comparing the beloved's physical graceful walk to jingling musical notes from a golden temple tower, and love to a vessel of sweet honey meant to be savored for eternity.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Emoni / Rhyme (Iyaibu)
“Thottukollava / Nenjil thoduthukollava”
The repetitive suffix '-kollava' at the end of consecutive lines creates a melodic rhythmic pattern throughout the chorus.
Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagom)
“Kaadhalennum then irukum paathiram”
Comparing love to a honey-filled vessel meant for consumption across time.
Alliteration (Monai)
“Panthal ondru podava / Naan panthalukul panthu vilaiyadavaa”
Repetition of the 'Pa' consonant sound across consecutive lines ('Panthal', 'Panthu').
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Thottukollava' is from the 1970 Tamil blockbuster 'Maattukara Velan' starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), Jayalalithaa, and Lakshmi. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, lyrics penned by Kannadasan, and rendered by the legendary duet singers T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela.
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