Africa Kaattu Puli
From Aalavandhan · 2001
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Nandini Srikar
- Music director
- Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
- Details
- Aalavandhan2001
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| …………………………….. | ... |
| Female | |
| Africa kaattu puli | African wild tiger |
| Aal thinnum vettai puli | Man-eating hunting tiger |
| Chorus | |
| ………………………………. | ... |
| Female | |
| Africa kaattu puli | African wild tiger |
| Aal thinnum vettai puli | Man-eating hunting tiger |
| Mun jenmam moppam thedi | Searching by sniffing the trails of a past life |
| Alaiyuthae | It wanders around |
| Female | |
| Paattu paadi mudiya munnae | Before the song finishes playing |
| Vettai aadi mudikkanumae | The hunt must be completed |
| Thee parakkum kangalodu | With eyes shooting fire |
| Theduthae…. | It searches... |
| Female | |
| Africa kaattu puli | African wild tiger |
| Aal thinnum vettai puli | Man-eating hunting tiger |
| Mun jenmam moppam thedi | Searching by sniffing the trails of a past life |
| Alaiyuthae | It wanders around |
| Female | |
| Paattu paadi mudiya munnae | Before the song finishes playing |
| Vettai aadi mudikkanumae | The hunt must be completed |
| Thee parakkum kangalodu | With eyes shooting fire |
| Theduthae…. | It searches... |
| Chorus | |
| ………………………………. | ... |
| Female | |
| Munn jenmathil | In a past life |
| Pul meyum maanaaga vanthen | I came as a deer grazing on grass |
| Puliyaaga nee | As a tiger, you |
| Vandhu yennai yen kondraai | Came and killed me, why? |
| Female | |
| Appodhu iraiyaavum | Back then, as prey |
| Maanaai vanthen | I came as a deer |
| Ippodhu irai thedum | Now, seeking prey |
| Puliyaai vanthen | I have come as a tiger |
| Female | |
| Nee aagaayam sendraalum | Even if you escape to the sky |
| Pali vaanguven | I will exact my revenge |
| Unn raththaai kondu | Using your blood |
| Sevaanam seiven | I will paint the evening sky red |
| Female | |
| Indraenum endraenum | Whether today or any day |
| Rendaaga kondaadi kondraalthaan | Only if I celebrate splitting you in two and killing you |
| Yen kobam maarumae | Will my rage subside |
| Yuthathil naan vendru | Emerging victorious in this war |
| Raththathil neeraadi | Bathing in your blood |
| Puli vadivam poovaaga maaruven | My fierce tiger form will turn gentle like a flower |
| Chorus | |
| …………………………….. | ... |
| Male | |
| ………………………………… | ... |
| Female | |
| Kanden kanden | I saw, I saw |
| Paavathin bimbam kanden | I saw the image of sin |
| Konden konden | I took, I took |
| Kondraada sabathamum konden | I took a vow to slaughter |
| Female | |
| Narasimma avathaaram | The Narasimha avatar |
| Andru andru | Was back in those days |
| Puli konda avathaaram | The avatar taken as a tiger |
| Indru indru | Is today, right now |
| Female | |
| Kannodu naan konda kobam kandu | Seeing the rage burning in my eyes |
| Kaatrellaam minsaaram paayum indru | Electricity surges through the very air today |
| Mandraadi paarthaalum | Even if you beg and plead |
| Kondraadi theerthuvittu | I will rejoice in putting an end to you |
| Indrodu yivadivum neenguven | And shed this form forever starting today |
| Female | |
| Munn jenmam vaazhavillai | I didn't get to live in my past life |
| Pinn jenmam thoongavillai | I couldn't sleep in my later life |
| Indriravu nimathiyaai thoonguven | Tonight, I shall finally sleep in peace |
| Chorus | |
| ………………………………. | ... |
| Female | |
| Ha hahahahahahaha… | Ha hahahahahahaha... |
.............................
...
ஆப்பிரிக்கா காட்டு
புலி ஆள் தின்னும் வேட்டை
புலி
African wild tiger
Man-eating hunting tiger
.............................
...
ஆப்பிரிக்கா காட்டு
புலி ஆள் தின்னும் வேட்டை
புலி முன் ஜென்மம் மோப்பம்
தேடி அலையுதே
African wild tiger
Man-eating hunting tiger
Searching by sniffing the trails of a past life
It wanders around
பாட்டு பாடி
முடிய முன்னே வேட்டை
ஆடி முடிக்கணுமே தீ பறக்கும்
கண்களோடு தேடுதே
Before the song finishes playing
The hunt must be completed
With eyes shooting fire
It searches...
ஆப்பிரிக்கா காட்டு
புலி ஆள் தின்னும் வேட்டை
புலி முன் ஜென்மம் மோப்பம்
தேடி அலையுதே
African wild tiger
Man-eating hunting tiger
Searching by sniffing the trails of a past life
It wanders around
பாட்டு பாடி
முடிய முன்னே வேட்டை
ஆடி முடிக்கணுமே தீ பறக்கும்
கண்களோடு தேடுதே
Before the song finishes playing
The hunt must be completed
With eyes shooting fire
It searches...
.............................
...
முன் ஜென்மத்தில்
புல் மேயும் மானாக வந்தேன்
புலியாக நீ வந்து என்னை ஏன்
கொன்றாய்
In a past life
I came as a deer grazing on grass
As a tiger, you
Came and killed me, why?
அப்போது இரையாவும்
மானாய் வந்தேன் இப்போது
இரை தேடும் புலியாய் வந்தேன்
Back then, as prey
I came as a deer
Now, seeking prey
I have come as a tiger
நீ ஆகாயம்
சென்றாலும் பழி
வாங்குவேன் உன்
ரத்தத்தை கொண்டு
செவ்வானம் செய்வேன்
Even if you escape to the sky
I will exact my revenge
Using your blood
I will paint the evening sky red
இன்றேனும்
என்றேனும் ரெண்டாக
கொண்டாடி கொன்றால்
தான் என் கோபம் மாறுமே
யுத்தத்தில் நான் வென்று
ரத்தத்தில் நீராடி புலி வடிவம்
பூவாக மாறுவேன்
Whether today or any day
Only if I celebrate splitting you in two and killing you
Will my rage subside
Emerging victorious in this war
Bathing in your blood
My fierce tiger form will turn gentle like a flower
.............................
.............................
...
கண்டேன் கண்டேன்
பாவத்தின் பிம்பம் கண்டேன்
கொண்டேன் கொண்டேன்
கொன்றாட சபதமும் கொண்டேன்
...
நரசிம்ம அவதாரம்
அன்று அன்று புலி கொண்ட
அவதாரம் இன்று இன்று
I saw, I saw
I saw the image of sin
I took, I took
I took a vow to slaughter
கண்ணோடு நான்
கொண்ட கோபம் கண்டு
காற்றெல்லாம் மின்சாரம்
பாயும் இன்று மன்றாடி
பார்த்தாலும் கொன்றாடி
தீர்த்து விட்டு இன்றோடு
இவ்வடிவும் நீங்குவேன்
The Narasimha avatar
Was back in those days
The avatar taken as a tiger
Is today, right now
முன் ஜென்மம்
வாழவில்லை பின் ஜென்மம்
தூங்கவில்லை இன்றிரவு
நிம்மதியில் தூங்குவேன்
Seeing the rage burning in my eyes
Electricity surges through the very air today
Even if you beg and plead
I will rejoice in putting an end to you
And shed this form forever starting today
.............................
I didn't get to live in my past life
I couldn't sleep in my later life
Tonight, I shall finally sleep in peace
ஹா ஹாஹா
ஹாஹா ஹாஹாஹா
...
Ha hahahahahahaha...
……………………………..
...
Africa kaattu puli
African wild tiger
Aal thinnum vettai puli
Man-eating hunting tiger
……………………………….
...
Africa kaattu puli
African wild tiger
Aal thinnum vettai puli
Man-eating hunting tiger
Mun jenmam moppam thedi
Searching by sniffing the trails of a past life
Alaiyuthae
It wanders around
Paattu paadi mudiya munnae
Before the song finishes playing
Vettai aadi mudikkanumae
The hunt must be completed
Thee parakkum kangalodu
With eyes shooting fire
Theduthae….
It searches...
Africa kaattu puli
African wild tiger
Aal thinnum vettai puli
Man-eating hunting tiger
Mun jenmam moppam thedi
Searching by sniffing the trails of a past life
Alaiyuthae
It wanders around
Paattu paadi mudiya munnae
Before the song finishes playing
Vettai aadi mudikkanumae
The hunt must be completed
Thee parakkum kangalodu
With eyes shooting fire
Theduthae….
It searches...
……………………………….
...
Munn jenmathil
In a past life
Pul meyum maanaaga vanthen
I came as a deer grazing on grass
Puliyaaga nee
As a tiger, you
Vandhu yennai yen kondraai
Came and killed me, why?
Appodhu iraiyaavum
Back then, as prey
Maanaai vanthen
I came as a deer
Ippodhu irai thedum
Now, seeking prey
Puliyaai vanthen
I have come as a tiger
Nee aagaayam sendraalum
Even if you escape to the sky
Pali vaanguven
I will exact my revenge
Unn raththaai kondu
Using your blood
Sevaanam seiven
I will paint the evening sky red
Indraenum endraenum
Whether today or any day
Rendaaga kondaadi kondraalthaan
Only if I celebrate splitting you in two and killing you
Yen kobam maarumae
Will my rage subside
Yuthathil naan vendru
Emerging victorious in this war
Raththathil neeraadi
Bathing in your blood
Puli vadivam poovaaga maaruven
My fierce tiger form will turn gentle like a flower
……………………………..
...
…………………………………
...
Kanden kanden
I saw, I saw
Paavathin bimbam kanden
I saw the image of sin
Konden konden
I took, I took
Kondraada sabathamum konden
I took a vow to slaughter
Narasimma avathaaram
The Narasimha avatar
Andru andru
Was back in those days
Puli konda avathaaram
The avatar taken as a tiger
Indru indru
Is today, right now
Kannodu naan konda kobam kandu
Seeing the rage burning in my eyes
Kaatrellaam minsaaram paayum indru
Electricity surges through the very air today
Mandraadi paarthaalum
Even if you beg and plead
Kondraadi theerthuvittu
I will rejoice in putting an end to you
Indrodu yivadivum neenguven
And shed this form forever starting today
Munn jenmam vaazhavillai
I didn't get to live in my past life
Pinn jenmam thoongavillai
I couldn't sleep in my later life
Indriravu nimathiyaai thoonguven
Tonight, I shall finally sleep in peace
……………………………….
...
Ha hahahahahahaha…
Ha hahahahahahaha...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This track, titled 'Africa Kaattu Puli' from Kamal Haasan's psychological thriller 'Aalavandhan' (2001), expresses the intense, vengeful psyche of the protagonist/antagonist Nandhu. Driven by childhood trauma, psychosis, and a sense of karmic retribution, Nandhu envisions himself as a predatory tiger hunting down his victim, whom he views as an embodiment of evil. The lyrics draw vivid metaphors comparing past lives to prey (a innocent deer) and current lives to the hunter (a fierce tiger), framing his murderous rampage as an avataric act akin to Lord Narasimha destroying evil to find eventual peace.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Africa kaattu puli / Aal thinnum vettai puli”
Compares the protagonist's alter-ego directly to an African wild tiger ('Africa kaattu puli') hunting its prey.
Alliteration & Monai (Initial Rhyming)
“Kanden kanden / Paavathin bimbam kanden”
Repetition of initial consonants/sounds such as 'Kanden kanden' and 'Konden konden' to create rhythmic intensity.
Contrast (Edhiraai Amaithal)
“Appodhu iraiyaavum / Maanaai vanthen / Ippodhu irai thedum / Puliyaai vanthen”
Contrasts the gentle deer ('maan') of the past with the ferocious tiger ('puli') of the present.
Allusion (Puraana Kurippeedhu)
“Narasimma avathaaram / Andru andru / Puli konda avathaaram / Indru indru”
References Lord Narasimha's furious incarnation to justify his righteous, destructive rage.
Did you know?
Trivia
Aalavandhan (2001) featured music composed by the trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and lyrics penned by Vairamuthu. The song captures the tortured psychological state of Nandhu, played by Kamal Haasan in a dual role. The film's innovative visual style and dark soundtrack heavily influenced global cinema, including Quentin Tarantino, who cited Aalavandhan's animated violence sequences as an inspiration for Kill Bill.
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