- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- Ilayaraja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Karimedu Karuvayan
- Movie release year
- 1985
- Lyrics added on
- 30 Jan 2019
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
…………………………….
Adi kadha kelu kadha kelu…
Karuvaayan kadha kelu… yei
Adi kadha kelu kadha kelu…
Karimettu karuvaayan
Kadha kelu kadha keladi
Karimettu karuvaayan kadha pola
Ini indha puvi ezhum kedaiyaadhadi
Kattu kadhai illai ottu kadhai illai
Kandu kettu vandhom oruvaaru
Vaigai nadhi kara orathula
Andru vaazhndhu jeyichavan varalaaru
Kadha kelu kadha kelu…
Karimettu karuvaayan
Kadha kelu kadha keladi…aa…
Unmaiyila avan kallan illa…
Yaa yaa yaa aa
Unmaiyila avan kallan illa
Marudha jillaavukkae
Avan sella pilla
Sondham oru aal illa
Bandham adhu thaan illa
Malaiyum maramum
Thavira yaarum illa
Thangachiya panna karpazhichaan
Avan rathathula ivan koppalichaan
Innum pazhi vaangaadhu
Kannil ima kaayaadhu
Yenavae ivanae sivanaa aarambichaan
Sattathil sonnaanga
Avano kolaiyaali
Sanangellaam sonnaanga
Avano odaiyaali
Avana thedi thedi vanathil odi odi
Punnaagi paduthichaam police police
Kadha kelu kadha kelu…
Kadha kelu kadha kelu…
Karimettu karuvaayan
Kadha kelu kadha keladi
Thenna marathula paduthiruppaan
Aanaa boomiyila kanna vechiruppaan
Kavatta villum undu
Kaiyil oru villundu
Villaal adichu edhaiyum
Vizhuga veppaan
Kanni kazhiyaadha
Kaaliyammaa
Indha karuvaayan mela thaan
Kaadhalammaa
Maalai yedhum soodaama
Thaali yedhum illaama
Kadaisi varaiyil irundhaa saaviyammaa
Sugam yedhum kaanaama
Veyilil sarugaanaal
Illaadha oorukku ivalae vazhi aanaal
Innum solla ponaa ilama veenaa ponaa
Karuvaayan kattaikku veragaa ponaa
Kadha kelu kadha kelu…
Kadha kelu kadha kelu…
Karimettu karuvaayan
Kadha kelu kadha keladi
Nanma senjaa ooril yaavarukkum
Andha paara manasula neer irukkum
Aagaannu karuvaayan pera yaar sonnaalum
Karuvil irukkum pilla kaiyedukkum
Paavi payalgala ver azhichaan
Andha panna kudumbathil
Neer thelichaan
Maanam piradhaanam thaan
Naanum karikaalan thaan
Ivanae singam endrae pereduthaan
Thekkatthu cheemaikku
Avanae adhikaari
Then paandi mannan thaan
Vandhaan uru maari
Avana enni kondu nenjil sogam kondu
Vaaikkaalaa odudhu vaigai nadhi
Kadha kelu kadha kelu…
Kadha kelu kadha kelu…
Karimettu karuvaayan
Kadha kelu kadha keladi
Andha karimettu karuvaayan kadha pola
Ini indha puvi ezhum kedaiyaadhadi
Kattu kadhai illai ottu kadhai illai
Kandu kettu vandhom oruvaaru
Andha vaigai nadhi kara orathula
Andru vaazhndhu jeyichavan varalaaru
Kadha kelu kadha kelu…
Karimettu karuvaayan
Kadha kelu kadha keladi…aa…
...
Listen to the story, oh listen to the story...
Listen to the story of Karuvayan... hey!
Listen to the story, oh listen to the story...
Karimedu Karuvayan,
Listen to his story, girl!
Like the story of Karimedu Karuvayan,
There is no other tale across all seven worlds, girl!
It is no made-up yarn, no borrowed fable,
We learned it directly from what we saw and heard!
Along the banks of the Vaigai river,
This is the legend of the man who lived and triumphed!
Listen to the story, oh listen to the story...
Karimedu Karuvayan,
Listen to his story, girl... ah...
In truth, he was never a thief...
Ya ya ya ah
In truth, he was never a thief,
To the entire Madurai district,
He was the beloved son!
He had no family of his own,
Not a single relative to call his own,
The mountains and the trees
Were all the kin he had.
The landlord violated his younger sister,
And in that villain's blood, Karuvayan took his revenge!
Until full vengeance was served,
The tears in his eyes would not dry.
And so he rose in fury like Lord Shiva!
The law branded him
A cold murderer,
But all the people declared
He was their true protector!
Searching for him and chasing him through the woods,
The police were left battered, worn out, and bedridden!
Listen to the story, oh listen to the story...
Listen to the story, oh listen to the story...
Karimedu Karuvayan,
Listen to his story, girl!
He would rest atop a coconut tree,
Yet keep his sharp eyes locked on the ground.
He carried a slingshot,
And held a bow in his hand;
Shooting with his bow,
He could bring down any target.
Unmarried and pure,
Young Kaaliyamma
Fell deeply in love
With this Karuvayan!
Never wearing a wedding garland,
Without even a thali (sacred marriage thread),
She lived unwed and devoted till the very end.
Never tasting life's comforts,
She withered like dry leaves in the scorching sun;
She led the way to the other world.
To tell the truth, her youth went to waste,
And she became the firewood for Karuvayan's pyre!
Listen to the story, oh listen to the story...
Listen to the story, oh listen to the story...
Karimedu Karuvayan,
Listen to his story, girl!
He did good deeds for all the villagers;
Inside that rock-like heart, a spring of kindness flowed.
Whenever someone praised Karuvayan's name with awe,
Even a baby in the womb would fold its hands in respect!
He destroyed the wicked villains by their roots,
And upon that cruel landlord's clan,
He sprinkled funeral waters!
"Honor is everything to me,
I am as fierce as king Karikalan!"
He earned the name of being a mighty lion!
Over the southern country,
He was the true authority;
It was as if the ancient Pandiya king
Had returned in a new form!
Remembering him with deep sorrow in its heart,
The Vaigai river now flows like a tearful stream!
Listen to the story, oh listen to the story...
Listen to the story, oh listen to the story...
Karimedu Karuvayan,
Listen to his story, girl!
Like the story of that Karimedu Karuvayan,
There is no other tale across all seven worlds, girl!
It is no made-up yarn, no borrowed fable,
We learned it directly from what we saw and heard!
Along the banks of that Vaigai river,
This is the legend of the man who lived and triumphed!
Listen to the story, oh listen to the story...
Karimedu Karuvayan,
Listen to his story, girl... ah...
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Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song serves as a folk ballad narrative detailing the life and legend of Karimedu Karuvayan, a righteous folk hero who lived along the banks of the Vaigai river in Madurai. Though labelled an outlaw and murderer by the formal legal system after taking revenge against those who violated his sister's honor, he is hailed by the local people as a protector and savior. The lyrics highlight his marksmanship, his devotion to justice, the tragedy of the woman who loved him unconditionally, and his enduring legacy among the common folk.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edegai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Sondham oru aal illa / Bandham adhu thaan illa”
Rhyming of the second consonant sound across consecutive lines ('ndh' sound in Sondham and Bandham).
Monai (Alliteration)
“Malaiyum maramum”
Repetition of the initial 'M' sound in adjacent words.
Personification
“Avana enni kondu nenjil sogam kondu / Vaaikkaalaa odudhu vaigai nadhi”
The Vaigai river is personified as feeling sorrow in its heart for Karuvayan as it flows.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Karimedu Karuvayan' (1985) marked the directorial debut of actor-director Ramarajan. The movie stars Vijayakanth in the title role and features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by Gangai Amaran.
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