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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thottu Thottu Pallakku

From Kadhal Rojavae · 2000

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sujatha
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kadhal Rojavae2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thottu thottu pallaakku aadudhuTouching gently, the palanquin sways
Sokka vaikkum singaaram koodudhuMesmerizing beauty enhances and grows
Thottu thottu pallaakku aadudhuTouching gently, the palanquin sways
Sokka vaikkum singaaram koodudhuMesmerizing beauty enhances and grows
Male
Maayamo enna jaalamoIs it magic or what kind of trick?
Raathiri nadu raathiriAt night, in the middle of the night
Iru ullam pongum vellam maadhiriLike a flood overflowing in two hearts
Female
Thottu thottu pallaakku aadudhuTouching gently, the palanquin sways
Sokka vaikkum singaaram koodudhuMesmerizing beauty enhances and grows
Thottu thottu pallaakku aadudhuTouching gently, the palanquin sways
Sokka vaikkum singaaram koodudhuMesmerizing beauty enhances and grows
Male
Nanana nanananaaNanana nanananaa
Thaanna nanananaThaanna nananana
Nana naannanaa hoiNana naannanaa hoi
Male
Hoi en mel oru saamaram polHoi, like a royal fan over me
Thendral vandhu veesudhaeThe southern breeze blows gently
Man mel oru menagai polLike a celestial Menaka on this earth
Munnaal nindru pesudhaeStanding right in front and speaking
Female
Hmm … hmm mmm…Hmm … hmm mmm…
Male :Nana nananaaMale: Nana nananaa
Female :Hmm … hmm mmm…Female: Hmm … hmm mmm…
Male :Naana naana naanaMale: Naana naana naana
Female
Unnaal oru thaamarai pooBecause of you, a lotus flower
Mottavizhndhu aadudhaeUnfurls its petals and sways
Ullae pudhu thaen surandhuFresh honey secretes deep inside
Odai ena odudhaeAnd flows freely like a stream
Male
Vanji nee poo chenduYou are a maiden like a flower bouquet
Vandhadho pon vanduHas a golden beetle arrived?
Female :Kekkudhae reengaaramFemale: A humming sound is heard
Mellavae kaadhoramGently near the ears
Male
Inbamo kollai inbamoIs it joy? A stolen plunder of joy?
Aadal dhinam paadalDancing every day, singing every day
Idhu kaadhal raajiyamThis is the kingdom of love
Female
Thottu thottu pallaakku aadudhuTouching gently, the palanquin sways
Sokka vaikkum singaaram koodudhuMesmerizing beauty enhances and grows
Thottu thottu pallaakku aadudhuTouching gently, the palanquin sways
Sokka vaikkum singaaram koodudhuMesmerizing beauty enhances and grows
Female
MaayamooIs it magic...
Male :Nana nananaaMale: Nana nananaa
Female :Enna jaalamoFemale: Or what kind of trick?
Male :Nana nananaaMale: Nana nananaa
Female :RaathiriFemale: Night...
Male :Nana nananaaMale: Nana nananaa
Female :Nadu raathiriFemale: In the middle of the night...
Male :Nana nananaaMale: Nana nananaa
Female :Iru ullam pongumFemale: Overflowing in two hearts...
Vellam maadhiriLike a rushing flood
Male
Haa… hahha hahha hahha haa…Haa… hahha hahha hahha haa…
Thottu thottu pallaakku aadudhuTouching gently, the palanquin sways
Sokka vaikkum singaaram koodudhuMesmerizing beauty enhances and grows
Thottu thottu pallaakku aadudhuTouching gently, the palanquin sways
Sokka vaikkum singaaram koodudhuMesmerizing beauty enhances and grows
Female
Munnam mani maaligaiyilEarlier in a gemstone mansion
Vanna kili vaazhndhadhuA colorful parrot lived
Innaal idhu nee virithaToday, into the web of desire you spread
Aasai valaiyil veezhndhadhuIt has fallen helpless
Male
Aahaa haaAahaa haa
Female :Nana nananaaFemale: Nana nananaa
Male :Hmmm… hmm…Male: Hmmm… hmm…
Female :Nana nana nanaFemale: Nana nana nana
Male
Engae yedhu nerum endruWhere and what might happen
Yaarum solla koodumoCan anyone ever tell?
Kaalam namai serthu vaithuWill time bring us together
Naalum vilaiyaadumoAnd play its game every day?
Female
Ennaiyae pandhaadumTossing me around like a ball
Mannavan vaalibamIs the kingly youthfulness
Male :Endrumae vandhaadumMale: Always coming to dance along
Kanmani nyaabagamIs the memory of my beloved
Female
Paarvaiyil inba oorvalamA procession of joy in the gaze
Aadal dhinam paadalDancing every day, singing every day
Idhu kaadhal raajiyamThis is the kingdom of love
Male
Thottu thottu pallaakku aadudhuTouching gently, the palanquin sways
Sokka vaikkum singaaram koodudhuMesmerizing beauty enhances and grows
Female :Thottu thottu pallaakku aadudhuFemale: Touching gently, the palanquin sways
Sokka vaikkum singaaram koodudhuMesmerizing beauty enhances and grows
Male
MaayamoIs it magic...
Female :Lala lalalaaFemale: Lala lalalaa
Male :Enna jaalamoMale: Or what kind of trick?
Female :Lala lalalaaFemale: Lala lalalaa
Male :RaathiriMale: Night...
Female :Lala lalalaaFemale: Lala lalalaa
Male :Nadu raathiriMale: In the middle of the night...
Female :Lala lalalaaFemale: Lala lalalaa
Male :Iru ullam pongumMale: Overflowing in two hearts...
Vellam maadhiriLike a rushing flood
Hahhahaa hahhahaa hahhaaHahhahaa hahhahaa hahhaa
Female
Thottu thottu pallaakku aadudhuTouching gently, the palanquin sways
Sokka vaikkum singaaram koodudhuMesmerizing beauty enhances and grows
Male :Thottu thottu pallaakku aadudhuMale: Touching gently, the palanquin sways
Sokka vaikkum singaaram koodudhuMesmerizing beauty enhances and grows

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Thottu Thottu Pallaakku Aadudhu is a romantic duet expressing the ecstasy, allure, and enchantment shared between two lovers during late night hours. The couple compares their swelling emotions to an overflowing flood and describes their surroundings with poetic metaphors—cool breezes acting as royal fans, blooming lotus flowers dripping honey, and a parrot falling into a net of desire.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Iru ullam pongum vellam maadhiri

Comparing the cool breeze to a royal fan ('saamaram pol') and overflowing emotions to a flood ('vellam maadhiri').

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Idhu kaadhal raajiyam

Describing love and passion as a kingdom ('kaadhal raajiyam') and the woman as a floral bouquet ('poo chendu').

Edukki (Repetition for Emphasis / Rhythm)

Thottu thottu pallaakku aadudhu

Repetition of words like 'Thottu thottu' creates a rhythmic sway mimicking a palanquin.

Did you know?

Trivia

This romantic classic features rich classical and folk-fusion orchestration composed by Ilaiyaraaja (often misattributed in modern compilation albums), showcasing Muthulingam's classic poetic Tamil phrasing.

Keep listening

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