Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Maattukara Velan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thottu Kollava

From Maattukara Velan · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Maattukara Velan
Movie release year
1970
Lyrics added on
2 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Thottukollava
Nenjil thoduthukollava
Pattukollava
Mella pazhagikollava } (2)
Kattikollava
Unnai kalanthukollava
Kattikolla va va
Va mella thazhuvikollava
Thottukollava
Nenjil thoduthukollava
Pattukollava va va
Mella pazhagikollava
{ Manthirathai
Solla cholli ketkava
Un mounathirku
Osainayam serkavaa } (2)
{ Antharathil
Panthal ondru podava
Naan panthalukul
Panthu vilaiyadavaa } (2)
Aadumbothu
Sinthukavi paadava
Naan
Ammamma endru
Kannai moodava
Thottukollava
Nenjil thoduthukollava
Pattukollava
Mella pazhagikollava
{ Thangathinaal
Kalasam vaitha gopuram
Nadai thavazhumbothu
Kulungum isai aayiram } (2)
{ Kaadhalennum
Then irukum paathiram
Adhu
Kaalanthorum
Naan kudika maathiram } (2)
Iruvarukum
Inbam ennum saathiram
Kaalam innum undu
Atharkul enna aathiram
Thottukollava
Nenjil thoduthukollava
Pattukollava va va
Mella pazhagikollava
Kattikollava
Unnai kalanthukollava
Kattikolla va va
Va mella thazhuvikollava
Shall I touch you?
Shall I hold you close to my heart?
Shall I brush gently against you?
Shall I slowly get closer to you?
Shall I hold you in my arms?
Shall I become one with you?
Come, come, let me hold you!
Come, shall I gently embrace you?
Shall I touch you?
Shall I hold you close to my heart?
Shall I brush gently against you? Come, come!
Shall I slowly get closer to you?
The words of a magic spell,
Shall I ask you to whisper and listen?
To this quiet silence of yours,
Shall I add sweet musical rhythm?
High up in the open sky,
Shall I set up a canopy?
Under that canopy,
Shall I play a playful game?
While playing,
Shall I sing a sweet melody?
And shall I,
Whispering in sweet delight,
Close my eyes?
Shall I touch you?
Shall I hold you close to my heart?
Shall I brush gently against you?
Shall I slowly get closer to you?
Like a tower of pure gold,
Crowned with a sacred golden spire,
When your gentle steps sway,
A thousand melodies chime!
This cup of love,
Filled with sweet honey,
Is meant,
For all the days to come,
Only for me to drink!
For the two of us,
Pleasure is the only guiding rule;
We still have plenty of time,
Why be in such a hurry now?
Shall I touch you?
Shall I hold you close to my heart?
Shall I brush gently against you? Come, come!
Shall I slowly get closer to you?
Shall I hold you in my arms?
Shall I become one with you?
Come, come, let me hold you!
Come, shall I gently embrace you?
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Un Kangalile1978
Vazhkkai AlaigalRomantic UnionDesire
Ennendru Solvathu1986
Kanna Thorakkanum SaamiCourtshipRomantic Union
Pon Vaanilae1985
Anbin MugavariRomantic UnionDevotion
Mudhal Mudhala2006
VattaramDesirePlayful
Elankiliyae Innum Vilangaliye1982
SankarlalPlayful RomanceDesire
Poosi Poosi1980
Raman ParasuramanCourtshipDesire

From the same album

More songs from Maattukara Velan

View album
Poovaitha Poovaikku1970
Maattukara VelanPlayful
Pattikada Pattanamma1970
Maattukara VelanPlayful
Sathiyam Neeye1970
Maattukara Velan
Oru Pakkam Pakkira1970
Maattukara VelanPlayful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.