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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Karatoram Moongil Kaadu

From Magudi (1984) · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Magudi (1984)
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
15 May 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Karatoram moongil kaadu
Kaatta suththi vandu parakkuthu
Reengaaram pottukkittu
Moongilaiyum vandu tholaikkuthu
Vandu tholaichcha ootta vazhiyae kaaththu adichchaa
Pudhu saththamum ketkuthu enna saththam
Adhu ennai izhukkuthu aaga moththam
Pudhu saththamum ketkuthu enna saththam
Adhu ennai izhukkuthu aaga moththam
Karatoram moongil kaadu
Kaatta suththi vandu parakkuthu
Nee……thottaa pudikkum
Antha thudikkaaran potta kambi
Seemaiyilae sethi sonnaa
Ingu vanthu pesuthilla
Thottaa pudikkum
Antha thudikkaaran potta kambi
Seemaiyilae sethi sonnaa
Ingu vanthu pesuthilla
Maadu kannum meyuthadi
Maniyosai ketkuthadi
Oosaththaa kettuththaan
Oorkkuruvi paattu padikkum
Karatoram moongil kaadu
Kaatta suththi vandu parakkuthu
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa oo…
Anna adichchaa akka irukkaa azhuvaathae
Akka adichchaa aththai irukkaa azhuvaathae
Aththa adichchaa ammaa irukkaa azhuvaathae
Antha ammaavae adichchuputtaannu azhuvuriyaa
Kavalaipadaathedaa
En paattu irukku azhuvaathae
Adha kettu urangu pozhuthoda….
Therkkae adichcha mazhai vadakkaala thesa thirumbi
Oosiyilai kaattukulla odaiyila paayuthadi
Therkkae adichcha mazhai vadakkaala thesa thirumbi
Oosiyilai kaattukulla odaiyila paayuthadi
Odathanni thalumbaiyilae
Alaiyosai kelambaiyilae
Osaiththaan kettuththaan
Paakku maram paattu padikkum
Karatoram moongil kaadu
Kaatta suththi vandu parakkuthu
Reengaaram pottukkittu
Moongilaiyum vandu tholaikkuthu
Vandu tholaichcha ootta vazhiyae kaaththu adichchaa
Pudhu saththamum ketkuthu enna saththam
Adhu ennai izhukkuthu aaga moththam
Karatoram moongil kaadu
Kaatta suththi vandu parakkuthu
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
By the rocky hill lies a bamboo grove,
Beetles are flying all around the forest.
Humming a buzzing tune,
A beetle bores a hole into the bamboo.
When the wind blows through the hole made by the beetle,
A fresh new sound is heard—oh, what a sound!
All in all, it completely draws me in.
A fresh new sound is heard—oh, what a sound!
All in all, it completely draws me in.
By the rocky hill lies a bamboo grove,
Beetles are flying all around the forest.
If you touch it, it will shock you...
That wire strung up by the clever man!
When news is sent from distant towns,
Doesn't it come and speak right here?
If you touch it, it will shock you, that
Wire strung up by the clever man!
When news is sent from distant towns,
Doesn't it come and speak right here?
Cows and calves are grazing, girl,
The gentle chime of their bells is heard, girl!
Hearing that very chime,
The village sparrows sing a song!
By the rocky hill lies a bamboo grove,
Beetles are flying all around the forest.
Uyyala uyya
Uyyala uyya
Uyyala uyyala uyyala
Uyyala uyyala uyyala
Uyyala uyyala uyyala
Uyyala uyyala uyyala
Uyyala uyya
Uyyala uyya
Uyyala uyya
Uyyala uyya
Uyyala uyya
Uyyala uyya oo...
If brother hits you, sister is here, don't cry!
If sister hits you, aunt is here, don't cry!
If aunt hits you, mother is here, don't cry!
Are you crying because your mother herself hit you?
Don't you worry at all, my child,
You have my song, don't cry!
Listen to it and drift to sleep before dark...
The rain that fell in the south turned toward the north,
And rushes as a stream through the needle-leaf woods, girl!
The rain that fell in the south turned toward the north,
And rushes as a stream through the needle-leaf woods, girl!
As the stream water brims and spills,
As the gentle sound of ripples rises,
Hearing that very sound,
The betel palm sings a song!
By the rocky hill lies a bamboo grove,
Beetles are flying all around the forest.
Humming a buzzing tune,
A beetle bores a hole into the bamboo.
When the wind blows through the hole made by the beetle,
A fresh new sound is heard—oh, what a sound!
All in all, it completely draws me in.
By the rocky hill lies a bamboo grove,
Beetles are flying all around the forest.
Uyyala uyya
Uyyala uyya
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from the movie Magudi (1984), written by Vaali and composed by Ilaiyaraaja, celebrates the organic origins of music in nature and human life. The lyrics describe how music is naturally created: a beetle bore holes into bamboo, through which wind blows to create flute-like melodies that enchant the listener. It also marvels at technology like telegraph/telephone wires that connect far-off places and bring human voices together. The singer comforts a crying child through soothing verses, assuring that even when relatives or mothers scold, music offers supreme solace and functions as a lullaby. Nature itself participates in music-making—sparrows, streams, and betel nut trees all join in the rhythm of life, emphasizing that melody is an omnipresent comfort.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Karatoram moongil kaadu / Kaatta suththi vandu parakkuthu”

Matching second consonants across lines, e.g., 'Karatoram' and 'Kaatta', or 'Anna', 'Akka', 'Aththa'.

Personification

“Oorkkuruvi paattu padikkum”

Attributing human actions like singing songs to animals and trees ('Oorkkuruvi paattu padikkum', 'Paakku maram paattu padikkum').

Anaphora / Repetitive Consolidation Structure

“Anna adichchaa akka irukkaa azhuvaathae”

Sequential condition-action structure ('Anna adichchaa...', 'Akka adichchaa...', 'Aththa adichchaa...') creating rhythmic soothing cadence.

Onomatopoeia

“Reengaaram pottukkittu”

Imitative sound representation such as 'Reengaaram' (humming of beetles) and rhythmic vocalizations ('Uiyyaalaa').

Did you know?

Trivia

The theme of a beetle drilling into bamboo to create nature's flute is a classic motif in Tamil classical literature, which lyricist Vaali brilliantly adapted into folk-style modern poetry for Ilaiyaraaja's rustic score.

Keep listening

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Poovodu Kaathu Vandhu1989
Dharmam VellumNatureTender
Neelakkuyile Unnodu Naan1984
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Kuyil Paattu1997
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From the same album

More songs from Magudi (1984)

View album
Thenamum Kalyanam1984
Magudi (1984)Melancholic
Neelakkuyile Unnodu Naan1984
Magudi (1984)Romantic
En Machan Naan Pattukkutten1984
Magudi (1984)Playful

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