Takku Takku
From Veerapandiya Kattabomman · 1959
- Lyricist
- Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
- Singers
- P. Susheela, A. P. Komala, S. Varalakshmi
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Veerapandiya Kattabomman1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Takku takku | Takku takku |
| Takku takku | Takku takku |
| Takku takku takkunnu adikkadi thudikkum | It throbs frequently with a 'takku takku' sound |
| Adikkadi thudikkum adi pennae | It throbs frequently, oh girl |
| Nikkira idathilaeyae vandu pola suthi suthi | Spinning in circles like a beetle right where it stands |
| Sakkaram adikkum kadikaram alla | It spins like a wheel, but it is not a clock |
| Takku takku | Takku takku |
| Takku takku takkunnu adikkadi thudikkum | It throbs frequently with a 'takku takku' sound |
| Adikkadi thudikkum adi pennae | It throbs frequently, oh girl |
| Female | |
| Methaiyila padutha kooda nithirai verukkum | Even when lying on a soft bed, it despises sleep |
| Nithirai verukkumadi kannae | It despises sleep, my dear |
| Endhan vaithiyaru pathiyam kodutha podhum | Even when my doctor prescribes a strict diet |
| Pasikka marakkum adhu noiyum alla | It forgets hunger, but it is not a disease |
| Takku takku | Takku takku |
| Takku takku takkunnu adikkadi thudikkum | It throbs frequently with a 'takku takku' sound |
| Adikkadi thudikkum adi pennae | It throbs frequently, oh girl |
| Female | |
| Othai kaalil ninnukittu nithamum thavikkum | Standing on a single leg, it suffers every single day |
| Nithamum thavikkum adi pennae | It suffers every single day, oh girl |
| Kuthi vecha kanniyila ekkachekkamaga vandhu | Getting caught completely in a set trap |
| Sikkiyae muzhikkum adhu kokkum alla | It blinks in confusion, but it is not a crane |
| Female | |
| Ennavendru nee soladi | Tell me what it is, my friend |
| Adhu ennavendru nee solladi | Tell me what that thing is |
| Female | |
| Kadhal endru nee sollamma | Say that it is love, my dear |
| Pudhu kaadhal endru nee sollamma | Say that it is brand new love, my dear |
| Female | |
| Velanai paadum thiruneeru podum | It sings of Lord Murugan and applies holy ash |
| Veedhiyil thoongidum saami alla | But it is not an ascetic sleeping on the street |
| Velanai paadum thiruneeru podum | It sings of Lord Murugan and applies holy ash |
| Veedhiyil thoongidum saami alla | But it is not an ascetic sleeping on the street |
| Female | |
| Nall iravu neram veshangal maarum | In the middle of the night, it changes disguises |
| Kollai adithidum kalvan alla | But it is not a thief who loots and plunders |
| Nall iravu neram veshangal maarum | In the middle of the night, it changes disguises |
| Kollai adithidum kalvan alla | But it is not a thief who loots and plunders |
| Female | |
| Kaanikkai kettaal kathithanai neettum | If asked for a tax offering, it draws out a knife |
| Kaiyaale yeiyaadha karumi alla | But it is not a miser who gives nothing with his hands |
| Kaanikkai kettaal kathithanai neettum | If asked for a tax offering, it draws out a knife |
| Kaiyaale yeiyaadha karumi alla | But it is not a miser who gives nothing with his hands |
| Female | |
| Anjaadha nadai podum yaanai alla | It is not a fearless walking elephant |
| Female :Arasi munn vilaiyaadum maanum alla | Female: Nor is it a deer playing in front of the queen |
| Female :Anjaadha nadai podum yaanai alla | Female: It is not a fearless walking elephant |
| Female :Arasi munn vilaiyaadum maanum alla | Female: Nor is it a deer playing in front of the queen |
| Female | |
| Ennavendru nee keladi | Ask me what it is, my friend |
| Female :Ennavendrae neeyum kaelamma | Female: Ask what it is, my dear |
| Female | |
| Mannar endrae neeyum solladi | Say that it is the King, my friend |
| Engal mannar endrae neeyum solladi | Say that it is our King, my dear |
டக்கு டக்கு
டக்கு டக்கு
டக்கு டக்கு டக்குன்னு அடிக்கடி துடிக்கும்
அடிக்கடி துடிக்கும் அடிப் பெண்ணே
நிக்கிற இடத்திலேயே வண்டு போல சுத்தி சுத்தி
சக்கரம் அடிக்கும் கடிகாரம் அல்ல
டக்குடக்கு
டக்கு டக்கு டக்குன்னு அடிக்கடி துடிக்கும்
அடிக்கடி துடிக்கும் அடிப் பெண்ணே
Takku takku
Takku takku
It throbs frequently with a 'takku takku' sound
It throbs frequently, oh girl
Spinning in circles like a beetle right where it stands
It spins like a wheel, but it is not a clock
Takku takku
It throbs frequently with a 'takku takku' sound
It throbs frequently, oh girl
மெத்தையில் படுத்தா கூட நித்திரை வெறுக்கும்
நித்திரை வெறுக்குமடி கண்ணே
எத்தன வைத்தியரு பத்தியம் கொடுத்த போதும்
பசிக்க மறக்கும் அது நோயும் அல்ல
டக்குடக்கு
டக்கு டக்கு டக்குன்னு அடிக்கடி துடிக்கும்
அடிக்கடி துடிக்கும் அடிப் பெண்ணே
Even when lying on a soft bed, it despises sleep
It despises sleep, my dear
Even when my doctor prescribes a strict diet
It forgets hunger, but it is not a disease
Takku takku
It throbs frequently with a 'takku takku' sound
It throbs frequently, oh girl
ஒத்தைக் காலில் நின்னுகிட்டு நித்தமும் தவிக்கும்
நித்தமும் தவிக்கும் அடி பெண்ணே
குத்தி வெச்ச கண்ணியில எக்கச்சக்கமாக வந்து
சிக்கியே முழிக்கும் அது கொக்கும் அல்ல
Standing on a single leg, it suffers every single day
It suffers every single day, oh girl
Getting caught completely in a set trap
It blinks in confusion, but it is not a crane
என்னவென்று நீ சொல்லடி
அது என்னவென்று நீ சொல்லடி
Tell me what it is, my friend
Tell me what that thing is
காதல் என்று நீ சொல்லம்மா
புதுக் காதல் என்று நீ சொல்லம்மா
Say that it is love, my dear
Say that it is brand new love, my dear
வேலனைப் பாடும் திருநீறு போடும்
வீதியில் தூங்கும் சாமி அல்ல
வேலனைப் பாடும் திருநீறு போடும்
வீதியில் தூங்கும் சாமி அல்ல
It sings of Lord Murugan and applies holy ash
But it is not an ascetic sleeping on the street
It sings of Lord Murugan and applies holy ash
But it is not an ascetic sleeping on the street
நள்ளிரவு நேரம் வேஷங்கள் மாறும்
கொள்ளை அடித்திடும் கள்வன் அல்ல
நள்ளிரவு நேரம் வேஷங்கள் மாறும்
கொள்ளை அடித்திடும் கள்வன் அல்ல
In the middle of the night, it changes disguises
But it is not a thief who loots and plunders
In the middle of the night, it changes disguises
But it is not a thief who loots and plunders
காணிக்கை கேட்டால் கத்திதனை நீட்டும்
கையாலே எய்யாத கருமி அல்ல
காணிக்கை கேட்டால் கத்திதனை நீட்டும்
கையாலே எய்யாத கருமி அல்ல
If asked for a tax offering, it draws out a knife
But it is not a miser who gives nothing with his hands
If asked for a tax offering, it draws out a knife
But it is not a miser who gives nothing with his hands
அஞ்சாத நடை போடும் யானை அல்ல
அரசி முன் விளையாடும் மானும் அல்ல
It is not a fearless walking elephant
Female: Nor is it a deer playing in front of the queen
Female: It is not a fearless walking elephant
Female: Nor is it a deer playing in front of the queen
அஞ்சாத நடை போடும் யானை அல்ல
அரசி முன் விளையாடும் மானும் அல்ல
Ask me what it is, my friend
Female: Ask what it is, my dear
என்னவென்றே நீயும் கேளடி
என்னவென்றே நீயும் கேளம்மா
Say that it is the King, my friend
Say that it is our King, my dear
மன்னர் என்றே நீயும் சொல்லடி
எங்கள் மன்னர் என்றே நீயும் சொல்லடி...
Takku takku
Takku takku
Takku takku
Takku takku
Takku takku takkunnu adikkadi thudikkum
It throbs frequently with a 'takku takku' sound
Adikkadi thudikkum adi pennae
It throbs frequently, oh girl
Nikkira idathilaeyae vandu pola suthi suthi
Spinning in circles like a beetle right where it stands
Sakkaram adikkum kadikaram alla
It spins like a wheel, but it is not a clock
Takku takku
Takku takku
Takku takku takkunnu adikkadi thudikkum
It throbs frequently with a 'takku takku' sound
Adikkadi thudikkum adi pennae
It throbs frequently, oh girl
Methaiyila padutha kooda nithirai verukkum
Even when lying on a soft bed, it despises sleep
Nithirai verukkumadi kannae
It despises sleep, my dear
Endhan vaithiyaru pathiyam kodutha podhum
Even when my doctor prescribes a strict diet
Pasikka marakkum adhu noiyum alla
It forgets hunger, but it is not a disease
Takku takku
Takku takku
Takku takku takkunnu adikkadi thudikkum
It throbs frequently with a 'takku takku' sound
Adikkadi thudikkum adi pennae
It throbs frequently, oh girl
Othai kaalil ninnukittu nithamum thavikkum
Standing on a single leg, it suffers every single day
Nithamum thavikkum adi pennae
It suffers every single day, oh girl
Kuthi vecha kanniyila ekkachekkamaga vandhu
Getting caught completely in a set trap
Sikkiyae muzhikkum adhu kokkum alla
It blinks in confusion, but it is not a crane
Ennavendru nee soladi
Tell me what it is, my friend
Adhu ennavendru nee solladi
Tell me what that thing is
Kadhal endru nee sollamma
Say that it is love, my dear
Pudhu kaadhal endru nee sollamma
Say that it is brand new love, my dear
Velanai paadum thiruneeru podum
It sings of Lord Murugan and applies holy ash
Veedhiyil thoongidum saami alla
But it is not an ascetic sleeping on the street
Velanai paadum thiruneeru podum
It sings of Lord Murugan and applies holy ash
Veedhiyil thoongidum saami alla
But it is not an ascetic sleeping on the street
Nall iravu neram veshangal maarum
In the middle of the night, it changes disguises
Kollai adithidum kalvan alla
But it is not a thief who loots and plunders
Nall iravu neram veshangal maarum
In the middle of the night, it changes disguises
Kollai adithidum kalvan alla
But it is not a thief who loots and plunders
Kaanikkai kettaal kathithanai neettum
If asked for a tax offering, it draws out a knife
Kaiyaale yeiyaadha karumi alla
But it is not a miser who gives nothing with his hands
Kaanikkai kettaal kathithanai neettum
If asked for a tax offering, it draws out a knife
Kaiyaale yeiyaadha karumi alla
But it is not a miser who gives nothing with his hands
Anjaadha nadai podum yaanai alla
It is not a fearless walking elephant
Female :Arasi munn vilaiyaadum maanum alla
Female: Nor is it a deer playing in front of the queen
Female :Anjaadha nadai podum yaanai alla
Female: It is not a fearless walking elephant
Female :Arasi munn vilaiyaadum maanum alla
Female: Nor is it a deer playing in front of the queen
Ennavendru nee keladi
Ask me what it is, my friend
Female :Ennavendrae neeyum kaelamma
Female: Ask what it is, my dear
Mannar endrae neeyum solladi
Say that it is the King, my friend
Engal mannar endrae neeyum solladi
Say that it is our King, my dear
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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