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Veerapandiya Kattabomman album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Takku Takku

From Veerapandiya Kattabomman · 1959

Lyricist
Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
Singers
P. Susheela, A. P. Komala, S. Varalakshmi
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Veerapandiya Kattabomman
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
1 May 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Takku takku
Takku takku
Takku takku takkunnu adikkadi thudikkum
Adikkadi thudikkum adi pennae
Nikkira idathilaeyae vandu pola suthi suthi
Sakkaram adikkum kadikaram alla
Takku takku
Takku takku takkunnu adikkadi thudikkum
Adikkadi thudikkum adi pennae
Methaiyila padutha kooda nithirai verukkum
Nithirai verukkumadi kannae
Endhan vaithiyaru pathiyam kodutha podhum
Pasikka marakkum adhu noiyum alla
Takku takku
Takku takku takkunnu adikkadi thudikkum
Adikkadi thudikkum adi pennae
Othai kaalil ninnukittu nithamum thavikkum
Nithamum thavikkum adi pennae
Kuthi vecha kanniyila ekkachekkamaga vandhu
Sikkiyae muzhikkum adhu kokkum alla
Ennavendru nee soladi
Adhu ennavendru nee solladi
Kadhal endru nee sollamma
Pudhu kaadhal endru nee sollamma
Velanai paadum thiruneeru podum
Veedhiyil thoongidum saami alla
Velanai paadum thiruneeru podum
Veedhiyil thoongidum saami alla
Nall iravu neram veshangal maarum
Kollai adithidum kalvan alla
Nall iravu neram veshangal maarum
Kollai adithidum kalvan alla
Kaanikkai kettaal kathithanai neettum
Kaiyaale yeiyaadha karumi alla
Kaanikkai kettaal kathithanai neettum
Kaiyaale yeiyaadha karumi alla
Anjaadha nadai podum yaanai alla
Female :Arasi munn vilaiyaadum maanum alla
Female :Anjaadha nadai podum yaanai alla
Female :Arasi munn vilaiyaadum maanum alla
Ennavendru nee keladi
Female :Ennavendrae neeyum kaelamma
Mannar endrae neeyum solladi
Engal mannar endrae neeyum solladi
Tak-tak, tak-tak!
Tak-tak, tak-tak!
It beats fast and often, going tak-tak-tak!
It beats so often, oh girl!
Spinning round and round in one spot like a beetle,
turning like a wheel, yet it is not a clock!
Tak-tak, tak-tak!
It beats fast and often, going tak-tak-tak!
It beats so often, oh girl!
Even lying on a soft mattress, it refuses to sleep,
it refuses to sleep, my dear!
Even when my doctor prescribes a strict diet,
it forgets its hunger, yet it is not an illness!
Tak-tak, tak-tak!
It beats fast and often, going tak-tak-tak!
It beats so often, oh girl!
Standing on one leg, it longs constantly,
it longs constantly, oh girl!
Walking blindly right into a set snare,
it gets trapped and blinks, yet it is not a crane!
Tell me what it is, girl!
Tell me, what could it be?
Say that it is love, my dear!
Say that it is brand new love!
Singing praises of Lord Murugan and wearing sacred ash,
he is not a holy man sleeping on the street!
Singing praises of Lord Murugan and wearing sacred ash,
he is not a holy man sleeping on the street!
Changing disguises in the dead of night,
he is not a thief who robs and plunders!
Changing disguises in the dead of night,
he is not a thief who robs and plunders!
When asked for tribute, he draws his sword,
yet he is not a miser who gives nothing with his hands!
When asked for tribute, he draws his sword,
yet he is not a miser who gives nothing with his hands!
Walking with a fearless stride, he is not an elephant!
Female: Prancing before the queen, he is not a deer either!
Female: Walking with a fearless stride, he is not an elephant!
Female: Prancing before the queen, he is not a deer either!
Ask me who he is, girl!
Female: Ask me who he is, my dear!
Say that he is the king, girl!
Say that he is our King!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song from 'Veerapandiya Kattabomman' is composed in the format of playful riddles (Vidukadhai) sung among court maidens. The song begins by describing mysterious physical and psychological symptoms—a racing heart, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, and restless yearning—that resemble non-living objects or illnesses, but ultimately point to the onset of love. In the second half, the riddles pivot from the abstract concept of love to the brave attributes of King Veerapandiya Kattabomman himself. The maidens compare his heroic traits—his devotion, night patrols, fierce resistance against unfair taxation, and grand stature—to various creatures and figures, concluding that the true answer to their riddle is both love and their beloved ruler.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia (Oli-kkurippu)

“Takku takku takkunnu adikkadi thudikkum”

The sound 'Takku takku' imitates the rhythmic beating of a heart and ticking motion of a clock.

Riddle / Paradox (Vidukadhai Structure)

“Sakkaram adikkum kadikaram alla”

Framing symptoms or actions with negative comparisons ('...alla') to create poetic riddles.

Simile (Uvamai)

“Nikkira idathilaeyae vandu pola suthi suthi”

Comparing the spinning motion of the restless mind or heart to a beetle ('vandu pola').

Alliteration & Rhyme (Monai and Ethukai)

“Velanai paadum thiruneeru podum”

Matching opening consonants and second-letter rhythms across consecutive lines for musical phrasing.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by G. Ramanathan for the iconic 1959 historical film 'Veerapandiya Kattabomman', this riddle song was rendered by P. Susheela, A. P. Komala, and S. Varalakshmi. The film won international acclaim at the 1960 Afro-Asian Film Festival in Cairo, where Sivaji Ganesan won Best Actor.

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From the same album

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Veerapandiya KattabommanRomantic

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