Thom Thom Thiththiththom
From Alli Thandha Vaanam · 2001
- Lyricist
- Arivumathi
- Singers
- Hariharan, Harini, K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Vidyasagar
- Details
- Alli Thandha Vaanam2001
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thom thom thiththiththom | Thom, thom, sweet rhythm! |
| Tholaivil irunthum santhiththom | Though far apart, we met each other. |
| Female :Thom thom thiththiththom | Female: Thom, thom, sweet rhythm! |
| Tholaivil irunthum santhiththom | Though far apart, we met each other. |
| Male | |
| Kannaal kannil karpiththom | We taught each other through eyes gazing into eyes, |
| Kadhal paadam oppiththom | We recited our lessons of love. |
| Female :Kannaal kannil karpiththom | Female: We taught each other through eyes gazing into eyes, |
| Kadhal paadam oppiththom | We recited our lessons of love. |
| Male | |
| Theendi theendi thoondum viralai | The fingers that provoke by touching again and again, |
| Thittik kondae thiththiththom | We relished sweetly even while playfully scolding them. |
| Male | |
| ………….. | [Musical Interlude] |
| Male | |
| Thom thom thiththiththom | Thom, thom, sweet rhythm! |
| Tholaivil irunthum santhiththom | Though far apart, we met each other. |
| Female :Thom thom thiththiththom | Female: Thom, thom, sweet rhythm! |
| Tholaivil irunthum santhiththom | Though far apart, we met each other. |
| Male | |
| Aanilulla pennai konjam | A little bit of the woman inside the man, |
| Pennilulla aanai konjam | A little bit of the man inside the woman, |
| Konja solli konja solli | Asking them to coax each other, coax each other, |
| Konja solli yaasiththom | Asking them to coax each other, we pleaded. |
| Female | |
| Aanilulla pennai konjam | A little bit of the woman inside the man, |
| Pennilulla aanai konjam | A little bit of the man inside the woman, |
| Konja solli konja solli | Asking them to coax each other, coax each other, |
| Konja solli yaasiththom | Asking them to coax each other, we pleaded. |
| Male | |
| Koththi koththi pesum kannai | The eyes that speak by pecking softly, |
| Thikki thikki vaasiththom | We read them stutteringly. |
| Female :Suttri suttri veesum kaattrai | Female: The wind blowing round and round, |
| Nirkka solli suvaasiththom | We asked it to pause and inhaled it in. |
| Male | |
| Unnai ennai thundiththom | We severed the individual self in you and me, |
| Uyirinil ondraai Santhiththom | And met as one single soul. |
| Female :Meendum meendum seendum idhazhai | Female: The lips that tease repeatedly, |
| Muththam seithu thiththiththom… | We kissed them and tasted sweet bliss... |
| Chorus | |
| ……………. | [Musical Interlude] |
| Male | |
| Thom thom thiththiththom | Thom, thom, sweet rhythm! |
| Tholaivil irunthum santhiththom | Though far apart, we met each other. |
| Female | |
| Theeyil ulla neerai konjam | A little bit of water contained in fire, |
| Neeril ulla theeyai konjam | A little bit of fire contained in water, |
| Sera solli sera solli | Asking them to unite, asking them to unite, |
| Sera solli yaasiththom | Asking them to unite, we pleaded. |
| Female | |
| Theeyil ulla neerai konjam | A little bit of water contained in fire, |
| Neeril ulla theeyai konjam | A little bit of fire contained in water, |
| Sera solli sera solli | Asking them to unite, asking them to unite, |
| Sera solli yaasiththom | Asking them to unite, we pleaded. |
| Female | |
| Ottrai sollai sollaththaanae | Just to express that single word of love, |
| Kodi sollai vaasiththom | We read millions of words. |
| Male :Mella pesi mella thottu | Male: Speaking softly, touching gently, |
| Medhuvaai vayathai sothithom | We slowly tested the bounds of our youth. |
| Female | |
| Nizhalaiyum thirudi nesiththom | We stole even the shadow and cherished it, |
| Kanavilum ondraai yosiththom | We pondered together even in our dreams. |
| Male :Innum innum endrey nammai | Male: Asking us to devour ourselves more and more, |
| Thinna solli thiththom | We tasted sweet bliss. |
| Male | |
| …………… | [Musical Interlude] |
| Chorus | |
| …………. | [Musical Interlude] |
| Male | |
| Thom thom thiththiththom | Thom, thom, sweet rhythm! |
| Tholaivil irunthum santhiththom | Though far apart, we met each other. |
| Female :Kannaal kannil karpiththom | Female: We taught each other through eyes gazing into eyes, |
| Kadhal paadam oppiththom | We recited our lessons of love. |
| Male | |
| Theendi theendi thoondum viralai | The fingers that provoke by touching again and again, |
| Thittik kondae thiththiththom | We relished sweetly even while playfully scolding them. |
தோம் தோம் தித்தித்தோம்
தொலைவில் இருந்தும் சந்தித்தோம்
தோம் தோம் தித்தித்தோம்
தொலைவில் இருந்தும் சந்தித்தோம்
Thom, thom, sweet rhythm!
Though far apart, we met each other.
Female: Thom, thom, sweet rhythm!
Though far apart, we met each other.
கண்ணால் கண்ணில் கற்பித்தோம்
காதல் பாடம் ஒப்பித்தோம்
கண்ணால் கண்ணில் கற்பித்தோம்
காதல் பாடம் ஒப்பித்தோம்
We taught each other through eyes gazing into eyes,
We recited our lessons of love.
Female: We taught each other through eyes gazing into eyes,
We recited our lessons of love.
தீண்டித் தீண்டி தூண்டும் விரலை
திட்டிக் கொண்டே தித்தித்தோம்.......
The fingers that provoke by touching again and again,
We relished sweetly even while playfully scolding them.
....................
[Musical Interlude]
தோம் தோம் தித்தித்தோம்
தொலைவில் இருந்தும் சந்தித்தோம்
தோம் தோம் தித்தித்தோம்
தொலைவில் இருந்தும் சந்தித்தோம்
Thom, thom, sweet rhythm!
Though far apart, we met each other.
Female: Thom, thom, sweet rhythm!
Though far apart, we met each other.
ஆணிலுள்ள பெண்ணை கொஞ்சம்
பெண்ணிலுள்ள ஆணை கொஞ்சம்
கொஞ்ச சொல்லி கொஞ்ச சொல்லி
கொஞ்ச சொல்லி யாசித்தோம்
A little bit of the woman inside the man,
A little bit of the man inside the woman,
Asking them to coax each other, coax each other,
Asking them to coax each other, we pleaded.
ஆணிலுள்ள பெண்ணை கொஞ்சம்
பெண்ணிலுள்ள ஆணை கொஞ்சம்
கொஞ்ச சொல்லி கொஞ்ச சொல்லி
கொஞ்ச சொல்லி யாசித்தோம்
A little bit of the woman inside the man,
A little bit of the man inside the woman,
Asking them to coax each other, coax each other,
Asking them to coax each other, we pleaded.
கொத்திக் கொத்தி பேசும் கண்ணை
திக்கித் திக்கி வாசித்தோம்
சுற்றிச் சுற்றி வீசும் காற்றை
நிற்கச் சொல்லி சுவாசித்தோம்
The eyes that speak by pecking softly,
We read them stutteringly.
Female: The wind blowing round and round,
We asked it to pause and inhaled it in.
உன்னை என்னை துண்டித்தோம்
உயிரினில் ஒன்றாய் சந்தித்தோம்
மீண்டும் மீண்டும் சீண்டும் இதழை
முத்தம் செய்து தித்தித்தோம்....
We severed the individual self in you and me,
And met as one single soul.
Female: The lips that tease repeatedly,
We kissed them and tasted sweet bliss...
...........................
[Musical Interlude]
தோம் தோம் தித்தித்தோம்
தொலைவில் இருந்தும் சந்தித்தோம்
Thom, thom, sweet rhythm!
Though far apart, we met each other.
தீயில் உள்ள நீரை கொஞ்சம்
நீரில் உள்ள தீயை கொஞ்சம்
சேரச் சொல்லி சேரச் சொல்லி
சேரச் சொல்லி யாசித்தோம்
A little bit of water contained in fire,
A little bit of fire contained in water,
Asking them to unite, asking them to unite,
Asking them to unite, we pleaded.
தீயில் உள்ள நீரை கொஞ்சம்
நீரில் உள்ள தீயை கொஞ்சம்
சேரச் சொல்லி சேரச் சொல்லி
சேரச் சொல்லி யாசித்தோம்
A little bit of water contained in fire,
A little bit of fire contained in water,
Asking them to unite, asking them to unite,
Asking them to unite, we pleaded.
ஒற்றைச் சொல்லை சொல்லத்தானே
கோடிச் சொல்லை வாதித்தோம்
மெல்லப் பேசி மெல்லத் தொட்டு
மெதுவாய் வயதை சோதித்தோம்
Just to express that single word of love,
We read millions of words.
Male: Speaking softly, touching gently,
We slowly tested the bounds of our youth.
நிழலையும் திருடி நேசித்தோம்
கனவிலும் ஒன்றாய் யோசித்தோம்
இன்னும் இன்னும் என்றே நம்மை
தின்னச் சொல்லி தித்தித்தோம்...
We stole even the shadow and cherished it,
We pondered together even in our dreams.
Male: Asking us to devour ourselves more and more,
We tasted sweet bliss.
....................
[Musical Interlude]
...........................
[Musical Interlude]
தோம் தோம் தித்தித்தோம்
தொலைவில் இருந்தும் சந்தித்தோம்
கண்ணால் கண்ணில் கற்பித்தோம்
காதல் பாடம் ஒப்பித்தோம்
Thom, thom, sweet rhythm!
Though far apart, we met each other.
Female: We taught each other through eyes gazing into eyes,
We recited our lessons of love.
தீண்டித் தீண்டி தூண்டும் விரலை
திட்டிக் கொண்டே தித்தித்தோம்.......
The fingers that provoke by touching again and again,
We relished sweetly even while playfully scolding them.
Thom thom thiththiththom
Thom, thom, sweet rhythm!
Tholaivil irunthum santhiththom
Though far apart, we met each other.
Female :Thom thom thiththiththom
Female: Thom, thom, sweet rhythm!
Tholaivil irunthum santhiththom
Though far apart, we met each other.
Kannaal kannil karpiththom
We taught each other through eyes gazing into eyes,
Kadhal paadam oppiththom
We recited our lessons of love.
Female :Kannaal kannil karpiththom
Female: We taught each other through eyes gazing into eyes,
Kadhal paadam oppiththom
We recited our lessons of love.
Theendi theendi thoondum viralai
The fingers that provoke by touching again and again,
Thittik kondae thiththiththom
We relished sweetly even while playfully scolding them.
…………..
[Musical Interlude]
Thom thom thiththiththom
Thom, thom, sweet rhythm!
Tholaivil irunthum santhiththom
Though far apart, we met each other.
Female :Thom thom thiththiththom
Female: Thom, thom, sweet rhythm!
Tholaivil irunthum santhiththom
Though far apart, we met each other.
Aanilulla pennai konjam
A little bit of the woman inside the man,
Pennilulla aanai konjam
A little bit of the man inside the woman,
Konja solli konja solli
Asking them to coax each other, coax each other,
Konja solli yaasiththom
Asking them to coax each other, we pleaded.
Aanilulla pennai konjam
A little bit of the woman inside the man,
Pennilulla aanai konjam
A little bit of the man inside the woman,
Konja solli konja solli
Asking them to coax each other, coax each other,
Konja solli yaasiththom
Asking them to coax each other, we pleaded.
Koththi koththi pesum kannai
The eyes that speak by pecking softly,
Thikki thikki vaasiththom
We read them stutteringly.
Female :Suttri suttri veesum kaattrai
Female: The wind blowing round and round,
Nirkka solli suvaasiththom
We asked it to pause and inhaled it in.
Unnai ennai thundiththom
We severed the individual self in you and me,
Uyirinil ondraai Santhiththom
And met as one single soul.
Female :Meendum meendum seendum idhazhai
Female: The lips that tease repeatedly,
Muththam seithu thiththiththom…
We kissed them and tasted sweet bliss...
…………….
[Musical Interlude]
Thom thom thiththiththom
Thom, thom, sweet rhythm!
Tholaivil irunthum santhiththom
Though far apart, we met each other.
Theeyil ulla neerai konjam
A little bit of water contained in fire,
Neeril ulla theeyai konjam
A little bit of fire contained in water,
Sera solli sera solli
Asking them to unite, asking them to unite,
Sera solli yaasiththom
Asking them to unite, we pleaded.
Theeyil ulla neerai konjam
A little bit of water contained in fire,
Neeril ulla theeyai konjam
A little bit of fire contained in water,
Sera solli sera solli
Asking them to unite, asking them to unite,
Sera solli yaasiththom
Asking them to unite, we pleaded.
Ottrai sollai sollaththaanae
Just to express that single word of love,
Kodi sollai vaasiththom
We read millions of words.
Male :Mella pesi mella thottu
Male: Speaking softly, touching gently,
Medhuvaai vayathai sothithom
We slowly tested the bounds of our youth.
Nizhalaiyum thirudi nesiththom
We stole even the shadow and cherished it,
Kanavilum ondraai yosiththom
We pondered together even in our dreams.
Male :Innum innum endrey nammai
Male: Asking us to devour ourselves more and more,
Thinna solli thiththom
We tasted sweet bliss.
……………
[Musical Interlude]
………….
[Musical Interlude]
Thom thom thiththiththom
Thom, thom, sweet rhythm!
Tholaivil irunthum santhiththom
Though far apart, we met each other.
Female :Kannaal kannil karpiththom
Female: We taught each other through eyes gazing into eyes,
Kadhal paadam oppiththom
We recited our lessons of love.
Theendi theendi thoondum viralai
The fingers that provoke by touching again and again,
Thittik kondae thiththiththom
We relished sweetly even while playfully scolding them.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Thom Thom Thiththiththom' from the movie 'Alli Thandha Vaanam' (2001) is a deeply romantic duet composed by Vidyasagar and written by lyricist Arivumathi. The song expresses the intimate emotional and physical connection between two lovers who, despite physical distance or differences, find complete unity in love. The lyrics creatively depict the duality of love, such as finding the feminine essence in a man and the masculine in a woman, or merging contrasting elements like fire and water. Through vivid poetic imagery, the song explores how love transcends individuality—erasing 'you' and 'me' to form a singular soul. The lovers communicate through glances, playful touches, and unspoken words, celebrating the sweet, intoxicating journey of longing, intimacy, and oneness.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Thom thom thiththiththom / Tholaivil irunthum santhiththom”
Repetition of the initial 'Th' consonant sound across consecutive words, creating rhythmic musicality.
Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Theendi theendi thoondum viralai”
The deliberate repetition of words like 'Theendi theendi' (touching repeatedly) and 'Konja solli' (asking to coax) to intensify the romantic sensation.
Paradox / Oxymoron (Muran)
“Theeyil ulla neerai konjam / Neeril ulla theeyai konjam”
Juxtaposing contrasting natural elements like water inside fire and fire inside water to represent the union of opposites in love.
Anaphora & Philosophical Dualism
“Aanilulla pennai konjam / Pennilulla aanai konjam”
Exploring the psychological concept akin to Anima and Animus—finding feminine qualities in a man and masculine qualities in a woman.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Vidyasagar, 'Thom Thom Thiththiththom' is celebrated for its lush melodic arrangement featuring rich acoustic rhythm guitar work and soft percussion. Lyricist Arivumathi's poetic imagery of 'water in fire' and 'fire in water' received acclaim from literary critics for bringing classical Sangam poetic sensibilities into modern Tamil film music.
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