Thottum Thodathathu
From Meendum Vazhven · 1972
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Meendum Vazhven1972
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Thottum thodathathu | It touches yet touches not |
| Idhu pattum padathathu | It contacts yet contacts not |
| Unnai mattum vidaathathu | It never leaves you alone |
| Female | |
| Thottum thodathathu | It touches yet touches not |
| Idhu pattum padathathu | It contacts yet contacts not |
| Unnai mattum vidaathathu | It never leaves you alone |
| Aadinaal raani naan | If I dance, I am the queen |
| Jodiyin raaja nee | As my partner, you are the king |
| Female | |
| Thottum thodathathu | It touches yet touches not |
| Idhu pattum padathathu | It contacts yet contacts not |
| Unnai mattum vidaathathu | It never leaves you alone |
| Female | |
| Oru tharam eduthathum | Once picked up, |
| Madhu kinnam viduma | Does the cup of wine ever let go? |
| Udarkattu mayakkathai | The trance of physical beauty, |
| Maranthoru manamaa | Has any heart ever forgotten it? |
| Adhai ida unakkindha aattathil sugama | Is this game pleasant for you compared to that? |
| Ponaal varadhu …hmmm ponaal varadhu | Once gone it will not return... hmmm once gone it will not return |
| Hmm mm ponaal varadhu | Hmm mm once gone it will not return |
| Female | |
| Oru tharam eduthathum | Once picked up, |
| Madhu kinnam viduma | Does the cup of wine ever let go? |
| Udarkattu mayakkathai | The trance of physical beauty, |
| Maranthoru manamaa | Has any heart ever forgotten it? |
| Adhai ida unakkindha aattathil sugama | Is this game pleasant for you compared to that? |
| Ponaal varadhu .. | Once gone it will not return... |
| Female | |
| Kallil irangu nee pennil mayangu | Drown in liquor, swoon over a woman |
| Kaadhal vazhangu kai kattil urangu | Offer love and sleep in the embrace of arms |
| Aadinaal raani naan | If I dance, I am the queen |
| Jodiyin raaja nee | As my partner, you are the king |
| Female | |
| Thottum thodathathu | It touches yet touches not |
| Idhu pattum padathathu | It contacts yet contacts not |
| Unnai mattum vidaathathu | It never leaves you alone |
| Female | |
| Kaivittu ponadhai pidippathu sulabam | What slipped out of hand is easy to retrieve |
| Kadasiyil unnidam panam vandhu kuviyum | In the end, money will pile up before you |
| Kanniyin paattukkku kaaranam puriyum | You will understand the reason for this maiden's song |
| Seettai vidaathae hmmm seettai vidaathae | Don't give up the cards hmmm don't give up the cards |
| Hmm mm aattam vidaathae | Hmm mm don't give up the game |
| Female | |
| Kaivittu ponadhai pidippathu sulabam | What slipped out of hand is easy to retrieve |
| Kadasiyil unnidam panam vandhu kuviyum | In the end, money will pile up before you |
| Kanniyin paattukkku kaaranam puriyum | You will understand the reason for this maiden's song |
| Seettai vidaathae | Don't give up the cards |
| Female | |
| Nottum kedaikkum en sondham kedaikkum | You will get money notes and you will get my companionship |
| Ketkkum varaikkum en paattum pirakkum | As long as you listen, my song will keep flowing |
| Aadinaal raani naan | If I dance, I am the queen |
| Jodiyin raaja nee | As my partner, you are the king |
| Female | |
| Thottum thodathathu | It touches yet touches not |
| Idhu pattum padathathu | It contacts yet contacts not |
| Unnai mattum vidaathathu | It never leaves you alone |
தொட்டும் தொடாதது இது பட்டும் பாடாதது
உன்னை மட்டும் விடாதது
It touches yet touches not
It contacts yet contacts not
It never leaves you alone
தொட்டும் தொடாதது இது பட்டும் பாடாதது
உன்னை மட்டும் விடாதது
ஆடினால் ராணி நான் ஜோடியின் ராஜா நீ
It touches yet touches not
It contacts yet contacts not
It never leaves you alone
If I dance, I am the queen
As my partner, you are the king
தொட்டும் தொடாதது இது பட்டும் பாடாதது
உன்னை மட்டும் விடாதது
It touches yet touches not
It contacts yet contacts not
It never leaves you alone
ஒரு தரம் எடுத்ததும் மதுக்கிண்ணம் விடுமா
உடற்கட்டு மயக்கத்தை மறந்தொரு மனமா
அதைவிட உனக்கிந்த ஆட்டத்தில் சுகமா
போனால் வராது ஹ்ம்ம் போனால் வராது
ஹ்ம் ஹ்ம் போனால் வராது
Once picked up,
Does the cup of wine ever let go?
The trance of physical beauty,
Has any heart ever forgotten it?
Is this game pleasant for you compared to that?
Once gone it will not return... hmmm once gone it will not return
Hmm mm once gone it will not return
ஒரு தரம் எடுத்ததும் மதுக்கிண்ணம் விடுமா
உடற்கட்டு மயக்கத்தை மறந்தொரு மனமா
அதைவிட உனக்கிந்த ஆட்டத்தில் சுகமா
போனால் வராது
Once picked up,
Does the cup of wine ever let go?
The trance of physical beauty,
Has any heart ever forgotten it?
Is this game pleasant for you compared to that?
Once gone it will not return...
கள்ளில் இறங்கு நீ பெண்ணில் மயங்கு
காதல் வழங்கு கைக்கட்டில் உறங்கு.............
ஆடினால் ராணி நான் ஜோடியின் ராஜா நீ
Drown in liquor, swoon over a woman
Offer love and sleep in the embrace of arms
If I dance, I am the queen
As my partner, you are the king
தொட்டும் தொடாதது இது பட்டும் பாடாதது
உன்னை மட்டும் விடாதது
It touches yet touches not
It contacts yet contacts not
It never leaves you alone
கைவிட்டுப் போனதைப் பிடிப்பது சுலபம்
கடைசியில் உன்னிடம் பணம் வந்து குவியும்
கன்னியின் பாட்டுக்குக் காரணம் புரியும்
சீட்டை விடாதே......ஹ்ம்ம் சீட்டை விடாதே........
ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம் ஆட்டம் விடாதே........
What slipped out of hand is easy to retrieve
In the end, money will pile up before you
You will understand the reason for this maiden's song
Don't give up the cards hmmm don't give up the cards
Hmm mm don't give up the game
கைவிட்டுப் போனதைப் பிடிப்பது சுலபம்
கடைசியில் உன்னிடம் பணம் வந்து குவியும்
கன்னியின் பாட்டுக்குக் காரணம் புரியும்
சீட்டை விடாதே......
What slipped out of hand is easy to retrieve
In the end, money will pile up before you
You will understand the reason for this maiden's song
Don't give up the cards
நோட்டும் கிடைக்கும் என் சொந்தம் கிடைக்கும்
கேட்கும் வரைக்கும் என் பாட்டும் பிறக்கும்
ஆடினால் ராணி நான் ஜோடியின் ராஜா நீ
You will get money notes and you will get my companionship
As long as you listen, my song will keep flowing
If I dance, I am the queen
As my partner, you are the king
தொட்டும் தொடாதது இது பட்டும் பாடாதது
உன்னை மட்டும் விடாதது
It touches yet touches not
It contacts yet contacts not
It never leaves you alone
Thottum thodathathu
It touches yet touches not
Idhu pattum padathathu
It contacts yet contacts not
Unnai mattum vidaathathu
It never leaves you alone
Thottum thodathathu
It touches yet touches not
Idhu pattum padathathu
It contacts yet contacts not
Unnai mattum vidaathathu
It never leaves you alone
Aadinaal raani naan
If I dance, I am the queen
Jodiyin raaja nee
As my partner, you are the king
Thottum thodathathu
It touches yet touches not
Idhu pattum padathathu
It contacts yet contacts not
Unnai mattum vidaathathu
It never leaves you alone
Oru tharam eduthathum
Once picked up,
Madhu kinnam viduma
Does the cup of wine ever let go?
Udarkattu mayakkathai
The trance of physical beauty,
Maranthoru manamaa
Has any heart ever forgotten it?
Adhai ida unakkindha aattathil sugama
Is this game pleasant for you compared to that?
Ponaal varadhu …hmmm ponaal varadhu
Once gone it will not return... hmmm once gone it will not return
Hmm mm ponaal varadhu
Hmm mm once gone it will not return
Oru tharam eduthathum
Once picked up,
Madhu kinnam viduma
Does the cup of wine ever let go?
Udarkattu mayakkathai
The trance of physical beauty,
Maranthoru manamaa
Has any heart ever forgotten it?
Adhai ida unakkindha aattathil sugama
Is this game pleasant for you compared to that?
Ponaal varadhu ..
Once gone it will not return...
Kallil irangu nee pennil mayangu
Drown in liquor, swoon over a woman
Kaadhal vazhangu kai kattil urangu
Offer love and sleep in the embrace of arms
Aadinaal raani naan
If I dance, I am the queen
Jodiyin raaja nee
As my partner, you are the king
Thottum thodathathu
It touches yet touches not
Idhu pattum padathathu
It contacts yet contacts not
Unnai mattum vidaathathu
It never leaves you alone
Kaivittu ponadhai pidippathu sulabam
What slipped out of hand is easy to retrieve
Kadasiyil unnidam panam vandhu kuviyum
In the end, money will pile up before you
Kanniyin paattukkku kaaranam puriyum
You will understand the reason for this maiden's song
Seettai vidaathae hmmm seettai vidaathae
Don't give up the cards hmmm don't give up the cards
Hmm mm aattam vidaathae
Hmm mm don't give up the game
Kaivittu ponadhai pidippathu sulabam
What slipped out of hand is easy to retrieve
Kadasiyil unnidam panam vandhu kuviyum
In the end, money will pile up before you
Kanniyin paattukkku kaaranam puriyum
You will understand the reason for this maiden's song
Seettai vidaathae
Don't give up the cards
Nottum kedaikkum en sondham kedaikkum
You will get money notes and you will get my companionship
Ketkkum varaikkum en paattum pirakkum
As long as you listen, my song will keep flowing
Aadinaal raani naan
If I dance, I am the queen
Jodiyin raaja nee
As my partner, you are the king
Thottum thodathathu
It touches yet touches not
Idhu pattum padathathu
It contacts yet contacts not
Unnai mattum vidaathathu
It never leaves you alone
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Thottum Thodathathu is a glamorous cabaret dance song from the 1972 Tamil movie 'Meendum Vazhven', with lyrics penned by Kavignar Kannadasan. In the song, a dancer tempts a player at a gambling club, drawing parallels between the irresistible addictions of wine, female beauty, and playing cards. She playfully sings that once these worldly pleasures take hold, they never leave a person alone. She entices the protagonist to keep playing the game without giving up, promising that money will accumulate and that her affection and music will be there for him as long as he stays. Kannadasan uses sharp, rhythmic Tamil wordplay and end-rhymes to convey the seductive atmosphere of high-stakes gambling and worldly temptation.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Thottum thodathathu / Idhu pattum padathathu / Unnai mattum vidaathathu”
The second letter 't' (ட்) repeats across consecutive lines ('Thottum', 'pattum', 'mattum'), creating a rhythmic flow.
Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)
“Thottum thodathathu / Idhu pattum padathathu”
Juxtaposing opposing concepts like touch/untouched and king/queen to create dynamic imagery.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Nottum kedaikkum en sondham kedaikkum / Ketkkum varaikkum en paattum pirakkum”
The lines end with matching rhyming suffixes ('kedaikkum', 'pirakkum').
Metaphor
“Madhu kinnam viduma / Udarkattu mayakkathai”
Comparing the cup of wine and physical beauty to irresistible traps of addiction.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Meendum Vazhven' (1972) is a crime thriller starring Ravichandran and Jayanthi. Kannadasan's lyrics in this song playfully blend card game terms like 'Seettu' (cards) and 'Aattam' (game) with sensory romantic expressions, characteristic of 1970s club dance sequences in Tamil cinema.
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