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{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu
| cover =
| alt =
| type =
| artist = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]], [[Swarnalatha]]
| album = [[Thalapathi]]
| released = 14 July 1991
| format =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre =
| length = 7:10
| label = [[Lahari Music]]
| composer = [[Ilaiyaraaja]]
| lyricist = [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]]
| producer = Ilaiyaraaja
}}
"'''Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu'''" ({{translation|Rakkamma, Clap Your Hands}}) is a [[Tamil language]] song from the 1991 Indian film ''[[Thalapathi]]''. The lyrics were written by [[Vaali (poet)|Vaali]] and music composed by [[Ilaiyaraaja]], with [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]] and [[Swarnalatha]] providing the vocals. It was named the fourth most popular song in a poll conducted by the [[BBC World Service]] worldwide in 2002.

== Recording ==
The song sung by [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]] and [[Swarnalatha]] was featured in the 1991 film ''Thalapathi'',<ref name="hindu1">{{Cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/11/26/stories/2002112600160400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030704204404/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/11/26/stories/2002112600160400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 July 2003 |title=Tamil tune leads Top Ten |date=26 November 2002 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=1 January 2014}}</ref> which was known to be the last collaboration of [[Mani Ratnam]] and [[Ilaiyaraaja]], the former's regular composer until then. It was recorded in [[Bombay]] and was among the first to be recorded for the film.{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2012|p=170}} On the insistence of Mani Ratnam, Vaali had "blended" the original lines with ''[[Tevaram]]'', a [[Śaiva]] devotional poetry.{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2012|p=170}}

== Music video ==
{{quote box|bgcolor=#CCDDFF|align=right|width=25%|quote="When Rajini-Sir is dancing, he puts in a lot of energy and work into it. He matched Prabhu Deva's energy and this is something that Mani Ratnam admired. Prabhu Deva was a kid then but Rajinikanth would match all his steps."{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2012|p=169}}|source=—[[Santosh Sivan]], the song's photographer}}

The song was shot in Raya Gopuram, [[Melukote]] over several days during the night. It was picturised on [[Rajinikanth]] and [[Sonu Walia]] dancing along with other dancers.{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2012|p=169}} ''Thalapathi'' was directed by Mani Ratnam while cinematography was handled by [[Santosh Sivan]]. The song was choreographed by [[Mugur Sundar]] and his son [[Prabhu Deva]]. According to Mani Ratnam, it was one of the "big-scale" songs of Sivan in the latter's early career.{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2012|p=169}} Set in the backdrop of a temple, the song's pulse changes when [[Shobana]] arrives with a group of women possessing oil-lamps, passing the dancers and floating those lamps on a pond. At this point, the music shifts to ''Tevaram''. After that the song returns to its original rhythm.{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2012|p=169}}{{Sfn|Ramachandran|2012|p=170}}

== Legacy ==
The global rights for the song was sold to [[Lahari Music]] at a compensation of {{INRConvert|7.5|m|year=1992}} in 1992.<ref name="toi">{{Cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Saif-Ali-Khans-Agent-Vinod-again-in-copyright-case/articleshow/13064531.cms?referral=PM |title=Saif Ali Khan's Agent Vinod again in copyright case |date=10 May 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |access-date=22 May 2012 |archive-date=11 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111211045/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Saif-Ali-Khans-Agent-Vinod-again-in-copyright-case/articleshow/13064531.cms?referral=PM |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2002, as a part of its 70th anniversary celebrations, the [[BBC World Service]] conducted an international poll to choose the ten most popular songs of all time worldwide.<ref name=hindu1 /> More than 1,000 songs from various countries were nominated through an online voting system.<ref name=hindu1 /> "Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu" was leading the poll for a brief period of time leaving behind other popular [[Single (music)|singles]] such as [[Yesterday (Beatles song)|Yesterday]], [[Bohemian Rhapsody]] and [[Stairway to Heaven]].<ref name=hindu1 /> After leading the poll for a brief period, the song was named the fourth most popular when the results were announced on 21 December 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/us/features/topten/profiles/index.shtml |title=The World's Top Ten |publisher=[[BBC World Service]] |access-date=1 January 2014 |archive-date=21 August 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821022652/http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/us/features/topten/profiles/index.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2012, ''[[Agent Vinod (2012 film)|Agent Vinod]]'', a [[Bollywood]] film starring [[Saif Ali Khan]] used the song in a sequence in the film.<ref name="midday">{{Cite news |url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/saif-pays-the-price-literally/156454 |title=Saif pays the price, literally? |date=2 April 2012 |work=[[Mid-Day]] |access-date=21 September 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071838/http://www.mid-day.com/articles/saif-pays-the-price-literally/156454 |url-status=live }}</ref> Lahari Music took legal action against Khan, who also produced the film, for using it without their permission.<ref name=toi />

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==
*{{Cite book |last=Ramachandran |first=Naman |title=Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography |title-link=Rajinikanth: The Definitive Biography |publisher=Penguin Books Limited |year=2012 |isbn=978-81-8475-796-5 |author-link=Naman Ramachandran}}

[[Category:1991 songs]]
[[Category:Indian songs]]
[[Category:Songs with lyrics by Vaali (poet)]]
[[Category:Songs with music by Ilaiyaraaja]]
[[Category:Songs in Tamil]]
[[Category:Songs written for Tamil films]]

Rakkamma Kaiya Thattu - Revision history

GeorgeGirdleston: created the pg nd citations - done