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Isaimozhi
Vetri Vizha album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thathom Thalangu

From Vetri Vizha · 1989

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Vetri Vizha
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
11 May 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thathom thalangu thathom
Thottom thodaamal thottom
Kaniyai thaangum
Kodiyai thaangum thagathom
Thathom thalangu thathom
Pattum padaamal pattom
Siruthangam thaangum
Angam yengum thagathom
Thazhuvattum thazhuvattum
Ilavattam ilavattam
Paravattum paravattum
Isai vellam paravattum
Imaiyathin mudimattum
Ilamaithaan kodikattum hoiii…
Thathom thalangu thathom
Thottom thodaamal thottom
Thathom thalangu thathom
Pattum padaamal pattom
…………………………………..
Iravil unnodu narthanamthaan
Idaiyil undaagum satham
Uravil munnooru keerthanamthaan
Idhazhgal kondaadum mutham
Suthanthira dhinam dhinamthaan
Niramtharam sugam sugamthaan
Nalamperum manam manamthaan
Valamvarum nagarvalamthaan
Inaiyathan inaiyathan
Anaiyathan anaiyathan
Female :Oru aththaan oru aththaan
Urugathaan urugathaan
Male :Thisaiyettum isaiyettum
Thaalangal muzhangattum hoii…
Thathom thalangu thathom
Thottom thodaamal thottom
Kaniyai thaangum
Kodiyai thaangum thagathom
Thathom thalangu thathom
Pattum padaamal pattom
Siruthangam thaangum
Angam yengum thagathom
…………………………………….
Kaluvum thanneeril nazhuvidumae
Valaiyil sikkatha meengal
Thadaigal illamal thaavidumae
Nadaigal kondaadum maangal
Siraiyinil paravaigalthaan
Siraginai virithidathaan
Piranthathu thunichalumthaan
Paranthidum iruppidamthaan
Idhayathil thunivaithaan
Kudivaikkum kudivaikkum
Male :Ethirikkum uthirikkum
Vedivaikkum vedivaikkum
Thathom thalangu thathom
Female :Ha
Male :Pattum padaamal pattom
Female :Ha
Male :Mirudhangam thaangum
Angam yengum thagathom
Thathom thalangu thathom
Male :Hey
Female :Thottom thodaamal thottom
Male :Ha
Female :Kaniyai thaangum
Kodiyai thaangum thagathom
Thazhuvattum thazhuvattum
Ilavattam ilavattam
Paravattum paravattum
Isai vellam paravattum
Imaiyathin mudimattum
Ilamaithaan kodikattum hoiii…
Thathom thalangu thathom
Thottom thodaamal thottom
Male :Thatha Thathom thalaangu thathom
Female :Thatha
Male :Pattum padaamal pattom
Female :Thatha
Thathom thalangu thathom
We touched, without touching we touched
Holding the fruit,
Holding the vine, thagathom
Thathom thalangu thathom
We touched, barely brushing without touching
Holding pure gold,
Across every limb, thagathom
Let it embrace, let it embrace
Youthful passion, youthful passion
Let it spread, let it spread
Let a flood of music spread
All the way to the peak of the Himalayas
Let youth unfurl its triumphant flag, hoiii…
Thathom thalangu thathom
We touched, without touching we touched
Thathom thalangu thathom
We touched, barely brushing without touching
...
Dancing with you through the night
The rhythmic sound arising at the waist
Three hundred melodious songs in our bond
A kiss celebrated by our lips
Every single day is Independence Day
It is endless bliss, endless bliss
It is a heart filled with goodness
It is a joyous procession around the city
Incomparable, truly incomparable
Unquenchable, truly unquenchable
Female: A beloved man, a beloved man
To melt in love, to melt in love
Male: Let music reach all eight directions
Let the rhythm and beats resound, hoii…
Thathom thalangu thathom
We touched, without touching we touched
Holding the fruit,
Holding the vine, thagathom
Thathom thalangu thathom
We touched, barely brushing without touching
Holding pure gold,
Across every limb, thagathom
...
In flowing water they slip away
The fish that never get caught in a net
Leaping without any obstacles
The deer that celebrate with their graceful walks
Even birds inside a cage
Spread open their wings
Courage itself was born
To soar high from wherever they dwell
Only bravery in the heart
Will take root and dwell inside
Male: For enemies, to scatter them apart
It sets off explosives, it sets off explosives
Thathom thalangu thathom
Female: Ha
Male: We touched, barely brushing without touching
Female: Ha
Male: Resembling a classical mridangam drum,
Across every limb, thagathom
Thathom thalangu thathom
Male: Hey
Female: We touched, without touching we touched
Male: Ha
Female: Holding the fruit,
Kodiyai thaangum thagathom
Let it embrace, let it embrace
Youthful passion, youthful passion
Let it spread, let it spread
Let a flood of music spread
All the way to the peak of the Himalayas
Let youth unfurl its triumphant flag, hoiii…
Thathom thalangu thathom
We touched, without touching we touched
Male: Thatha Thathom thalangu thathom
Female: Thatha
Male: We touched, barely brushing without touching
Female: Thatha
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Chorus
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This energetic song from Vetri Vizha celebrates youth, romance, freedom, and dynamic rhythm. Written with classic Vaali wordplay, the lyrics blend classical dance rhythm syllables ('solkattu') with themes of passionate love and unrestrained freedom. The protagonists describe a playful, electric closeness where touch is felt even without physical contact, comparing their dynamic spirit to wild deer, free birds breaking out of cages, and unstoppable floods of music. The song captures a sense of joyful triumph, freedom, and youthful exuberance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Paradox / Oxymoron (Muran)

“Thottom thodaamal thottom”

The phrase 'Thottom thodaamal thottom' (Touched without touching) and 'Pattum padaamal pattom' express a poetic contradiction describing subtle, non-physical sensory intimacy.

Edukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Iravil unnodu narthanamthaan / Uravil munnooru keerthanamthaan”

Rhyming of the second letter 'ra' in consecutive lines ('Iravil' and 'Uravil') creates auditory harmony.

Monai (First-letter Alliteration)

“Inaiyathan inaiyathan / Anaiyathan anaiyathan”

Alliteration of the initial letter 'I' across 'Inaiyathan' and 'Anaiyathan' or 'Iravil' and 'Idaiyil'.

Adukku Thodar (Repetitive Emphasis)

“Thazhuvattum thazhuvattum / Ilavattam ilavattam”

Words are repeated consecutively for emphasis and musical cadence (e.g., 'Thazhuvattum thazhuvattum', 'Ilavattam ilavattam').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for the 1989 action-thriller 'Vetri Vizha' starring Kamal Haasan and Prabhu, this track features vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra. Lyricist Vaali brilliantly integrated classical Bharatanatyam rhythmic syllables ('solkattu') into a Western-influenced pop arrangement, creating a timeless hit dance number.

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