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Thedi Vandha Mappillai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thottu Kattava

From Thedi Vandha Mappillai · 1970

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Thedi Vandha Mappillai
Movie release year
1970
Lyrics added on
19 Jan 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thottu kaattavaa
Melai naattu sangeedhathai
Thottu kaattavaa
Vattam podavaa
Vaalibathin vegathodu
Vattam podavaa
Hoo… hooho… hoo…hooho..
Lalallaa… papparappaa…
Thottu kaattavaa
Melai naattu sangeedhathai
Thottu kaattavaa
Vattam podavaa
Vaalibathin vegathodu
Vattam podavaa
Adhuvaai kanivadhum undu
Adhithaal kanivadhum undu
Sangeedha njaanamum
Sarasamum sugamum
Thaanae varuvadhum undu
Isaiyai rasippadhu undu
Idaiyai rasippadhum undu
Yedhilae vizhundhaal sugamo
Adhilae idhayam padhivadhum undu
Thottu kaattavaa
Melai naattu sangeedhathai
Thottu kaattavaa
Vattam podavaa
Vaalibathin vegathodu
Vattam podavaa
Thaalathil vizhuvadhu paadal
Thaagathil ezhuvadhu kaadhal
Thallaadum idaiyudan nadamidum pennin
Kannae kaadhalin vaasal
Aasaiyai tharuvadhu maeni
Aasaiyai thurandhavan njaani
Anjaamal nadappadhum thaedhiyai paarppadhum
Naveena ulagathin paani
Thottu kaattavaa
Melai naattu sangeedhathai
Thottu kaattavaa
Vattam podavaa
Vaalibathin vegathodu
Vattam podavaa
Hoo… hooho… hoo…hooho…
Lalallaa… papparappaa…
Laa… laa… laa… laa…
Shall I show you with a touch?
Western music,
shall I show you with a touch?
Shall I spin around in circles?
With all the energy of youth,
shall I spin around in circles?
Hoo-hoo... hoo-hoo... hoo-o-ho...
La-la-la-la... pap-pa-rap-pa...
Shall I show you with a touch?
Western music,
shall I show you with a touch?
Shall I spin around in circles?
With all the energy of youth,
shall I spin around in circles?
Some ripen on their own,
and some ripen when struck.
The feel for music,
playful romance, and pleasure—
these too can arrive on their own.
Some find joy in music,
and some admire a slender waist.
Whichever brings the sweetest joy,
the heart settles itself there.
Shall I show you with a touch?
Western music,
shall I show you with a touch?
Shall I spin around in circles?
With all the energy of youth,
shall I spin around in circles?
A song is born from rhythm,
and love rises from longing.
For a woman dancing with swaying hips,
her eyes are the doorway to love.
The body awakens desire,
yet one who lets go of desire is a sage.
Moving without fear and admiring beauty
is the style of this modern world!
Shall I show you with a touch?
Western music,
shall I show you with a touch?
Shall I spin around in circles?
With all the energy of youth,
shall I spin around in circles?
Hoo-hoo... hoo-hoo... hoo-o-ho...
La-la-la-la... pap-pa-rap-pa...
La... la... la... la...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Thottu Kaattavaa is a high-energy, Western-influenced dance track from the 1970 Tamil film Thedi Vandha Mappillai. The song celebrates youthful vitality, music, dance, and modern romance through playful rhythm and catchy vocalizations. Written by Vaali, the lyricism playfully balances philosophical musings on desire and modern living with lighthearted commentary on beauty and rhythm. It highlights how music and love both require natural timing and spontaneous passion, characteristic of 1970s Tamil cinema's modern club songs.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edukai (Second Letter Rhyming)

Adhuvaai kanivadhum undu / Adhithaal kanivadhum undu

Matching second consonant sound 'dhu' in consecutive lines 'Adhuvaai' and 'Adhithaal'.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Thaalathil vizhuvadhu paadal / Thaagathil ezhuvadhu kaadhal

Initial consonant 'Tha' alliteration between rhythm ('Thaalathil') and thirst ('Thaagathil').

Antithesis (Contrast)

Aasaiyai tharuvadhu maeni / Aasaiyai thurandhavan njaani

Juxtaposes bodily desire ('Aasaiyai tharuvadhu maeni') with ascetic renunciation ('Aasaiyai thurandhavan njaani').

Did you know?

Trivia

Thedi Vandha Mappillai (1970), directed by B. R. Panthulu and starring M. G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, featured music composed by M. S. Viswanathan. This song is sung by T. M. Soundararajan and L. R. Eswari, serving as a stylish Western pop dance number that became popular among youth during the 1970s.

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