துட்டு

सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि

Money is often referred to as 'Lakshmi' (the Goddess of Wealth) in homes, but 'Thuttu' on the streets. This duality shows the sacred vs. profane view of currency. In Chennai, 'Thuttu' is often pronounced with a very sharp 'T' and is a staple of the local dialect, often appearing in 'Gana' songs. Villains often use the word 'Thuttu' to sound more menacing or greedy, while heroes use it to show they are 'men of the people'. While used, 'Saththam' or 'Kaasu' is sometimes preferred over 'Thuttu', which is seen as more of an Indian Tamil slang.