Karatoram Moongil Kaadu
From Magudi (1984) · 1984
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Magudi (1984)1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Karatoram moongil kaadu | Bamboo forest by the side of the shore, |
| Kaatta suththi vandu parakkuthu | A beetle flies around the forest wind, |
| Reengaaram pottukkittu | Making a humming sound, |
| Moongilaiyum vandu tholaikkuthu | The beetle drills a hole in the bamboo tree. |
| Male | |
| Vandu tholaichcha ootta vazhiyae kaaththu adichchaa | When the wind blows through the hole drilled by the beetle, |
| Pudhu saththamum ketkuthu enna saththam | A new sound is heard—what sound is that? |
| Adhu ennai izhukkuthu aaga moththam | It mesmerizes and pulls me completely towards it. |
| Pudhu saththamum ketkuthu enna saththam | A new sound is heard—what sound is that? |
| Adhu ennai izhukkuthu aaga moththam | It mesmerizes and pulls me completely towards it. |
| Male | |
| Karatoram moongil kaadu | Bamboo forest by the side of the shore, |
| Kaatta suththi vandu parakkuthu | A beetle flies around the forest wind, |
| Male | |
| Nee……thottaa pudikkum | If you touch it, it catches you— |
| Antha thudikkaaran potta kambi | That wire laid by that clever man; |
| Seemaiyilae sethi sonnaa | If news is spoken in a distant land, |
| Ingu vanthu pesuthilla | Doesn't it travel and speak right here? |
| Male | |
| Thottaa pudikkum | If you touch it, it catches you— |
| Antha thudikkaaran potta kambi | That wire laid by that clever man; |
| Seemaiyilae sethi sonnaa | If news is spoken in a distant land, |
| Ingu vanthu pesuthilla | Doesn't it travel and speak right here? |
| Male | |
| Maadu kannum meyuthadi | Cattle and calves are grazing, |
| Maniyosai ketkuthadi | The sound of tinkling bells is heard, |
| Oosaththaa kettuththaan | Hearing that sound loudly, |
| Oorkkuruvi paattu padikkum | The house sparrow sings a song. |
| Male | |
| Karatoram moongil kaadu | Bamboo forest by the side of the shore, |
| Kaatta suththi vandu parakkuthu | A beetle flies around the forest wind. |
| Chorus | |
| Uiyyaalaa uiyaa | Uiyyaalaa uiyaa |
| Uiyyaalaa uiyaa | Uiyyaalaa uiyaa |
| Chorus | |
| Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa | Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa |
| Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa | Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa |
| Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa | Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa |
| Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa | Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa |
| Chorus | |
| Uiyyaalaa uiyaa | Uiyyaalaa uiyaa |
| Uiyyaalaa uiyaa | Uiyyaalaa uiyaa |
| Uiyyaalaa uiyaa | Uiyyaalaa uiyaa |
| Uiyyaalaa uiyaa | Uiyyaalaa uiyaa |
| Uiyyaalaa uiyaa | Uiyyaalaa uiyaa |
| Uiyyaalaa uiyaa oo… | Uiyyaalaa uiyaa oo… |
| Male | |
| Anna adichchaa akka irukkaa azhuvaathae | If brother beats you, sister is there—don't cry; |
| Akka adichchaa aththai irukkaa azhuvaathae | If sister beats you, aunt is there—don't cry; |
| Aththa adichchaa ammaa irukkaa azhuvaathae | If aunt beats you, mother is there—don't cry; |
| Antha ammaavae adichchuputtaannu azhuvuriyaa | Are you crying because mother herself beat you? |
| Kavalaipadaathedaa | Do not worry, dear child, |
| En paattu irukku azhuvaathae | My song is here, so do not cry, |
| Adha kettu urangu pozhuthoda…. | Listen to it and sleep early on... |
| Male | |
| Therkkae adichcha mazhai vadakkaala thesa thirumbi | The rain that poured in the south shifted direction to the north, |
| Oosiyilai kaattukulla odaiyila paayuthadi | And flows into the stream inside the pine forest; |
| Therkkae adichcha mazhai vadakkaala thesa thirumbi | The rain that poured in the south shifted direction to the north, |
| Oosiyilai kaattukulla odaiyila paayuthadi | And flows into the stream inside the pine forest; |
| Male | |
| Odathanni thalumbaiyilae | As the stream water overflows, |
| Alaiyosai kelambaiyilae | As the sound of ripples arises, |
| Osaiththaan kettuththaan | Hearing that sound, |
| Paakku maram paattu padikkum | The betel nut tree sings a song. |
| Male | |
| Karatoram moongil kaadu | Bamboo forest by the side of the shore, |
| Kaatta suththi vandu parakkuthu | A beetle flies around the forest wind, |
| Reengaaram pottukkittu | Making a humming sound, |
| Moongilaiyum vandu tholaikkuthu | The beetle drills a hole in the bamboo tree. |
| Male | |
| Vandu tholaichcha ootta vazhiyae kaaththu adichchaa | When the wind blows through the hole drilled by the beetle, |
| Pudhu saththamum ketkuthu enna saththam | A new sound is heard—what sound is that? |
| Adhu ennai izhukkuthu aaga moththam | It mesmerizes and pulls me completely towards it. |
| Male | |
| Karatoram moongil kaadu | Bamboo forest by the side of the shore, |
| Kaatta suththi vandu parakkuthu | A beetle flies around the forest wind. |
| Male | |
| Uiyyaalaa uiyaa | Uiyyaalaa uiyaa |
| Uiyyaalaa uiyaa | Uiyyaalaa uiyaa |
கரட்டோரம் மூங்கில் காடு
காட்டச் சுத்தி வண்டு பறக்குது
ரீங்காரம் போட்டுக்கிட்டு
மூங்கிலையும் வண்டு தொளைக்குது
Bamboo forest by the side of the shore,
A beetle flies around the forest wind,
Making a humming sound,
The beetle drills a hole in the bamboo tree.
வண்டு தொளைச்ச ஓட்ட வழியே காத்து அடிச்சா
புது சத்தமும் கேட்குது என்ன சத்தம்
அது என்னை இழுக்குது ஆக மொத்தம்
புது சத்தமும் கேட்குது என்ன சத்தம்
அது என்னை இழுக்குது ஆக மொத்தம்
When the wind blows through the hole drilled by the beetle,
A new sound is heard—what sound is that?
It mesmerizes and pulls me completely towards it.
A new sound is heard—what sound is that?
It mesmerizes and pulls me completely towards it.
கரட்டோரம் மூங்கில் காடு
காட்டச் சுத்தி வண்டு பறக்குது
Bamboo forest by the side of the shore,
A beetle flies around the forest wind,
நீ.........தொட்டாத் புடிக்கும்
அந்த துடிக்காரன் போட்ட கம்பி
சீமையிலே சேதி சொன்னா
இங்கு வந்து பேசுதில்ல......
If you touch it, it catches you—
That wire laid by that clever man;
If news is spoken in a distant land,
Doesn't it travel and speak right here?
தொட்டாத் புடிக்கும் அந்த
துடிக்காரன் போட்ட கம்பி
சீமையிலே சேதி சொன்னா
இங்கு வந்து பேசுதில்ல......
If you touch it, it catches you—
That wire laid by that clever man;
If news is spoken in a distant land,
Doesn't it travel and speak right here?
மாடு கன்னும் மேயுதடி
மணியோசை கேட்குதடி
ஓசத்தான் கேட்டுத்தான்
ஊர்க்குருவி பாட்டு படிக்கும்
Cattle and calves are grazing,
The sound of tinkling bells is heard,
Hearing that sound loudly,
The house sparrow sings a song.
கரட்டோரம் மூங்கில் காடு
காட்டச் சுத்தி வண்டு பறக்குது
Bamboo forest by the side of the shore,
A beetle flies around the forest wind.
உய்யாலா உய்யா
உய்யாலா உய்யா
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
உய்யாலா உய்யாலா உய்யாலா
உய்யாலா உய்யாலா உய்யாலா
உய்யாலா உய்யாலா உய்யாலா
உய்யாலா உய்யாலா உய்யாலா
Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa
உய்யாலா உய்யா
உய்யாலா உய்யா
உய்யாலா உய்யா
உய்யாலா உய்யா
உய்யாலா உய்யா
உய்யாலா உய்யா ஊ.....
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa oo…
அண்ண அடிச்சா அக்கா இருக்கா அழுவாதே
அக்கா அடிச்சா அத்த இருக்கா அழுவாதே
அத்த அடிச்சா அம்மா இருக்கா அழுவாதே
அந்த அம்மாவே அடிச்சுபுட்டான்னு அழுவுறியா
கவலைப்படாதேடா
என் பாட்டு இருக்கு அழுவாதே
அது கேட்டு உறங்கு பொழுதோட.....
If brother beats you, sister is there—don't cry;
If sister beats you, aunt is there—don't cry;
If aunt beats you, mother is there—don't cry;
Are you crying because mother herself beat you?
Do not worry, dear child,
My song is here, so do not cry,
Listen to it and sleep early on...
தெற்கே அடிச்ச மழை வடக்கால தெச திரும்பி
ஊசியிலைக் காட்டுக்குள்ள ஓடையில பாயுதடி
தெற்கே அடிச்ச மழை வடக்கால தெச திரும்பி
ஊசியிலைக் காட்டுக்குள்ள ஓடையில பாயுதடி
The rain that poured in the south shifted direction to the north,
And flows into the stream inside the pine forest;
The rain that poured in the south shifted direction to the north,
And flows into the stream inside the pine forest;
ஓடத்தண்ணி தளும்பையிலே
அலையோசை கெளம்பையிலே
ஓசத்தான் கேட்டுத்தான்
பாக்கு மரம் பாட்டு படிக்கும்
As the stream water overflows,
As the sound of ripples arises,
Hearing that sound,
The betel nut tree sings a song.
கரட்டோரம் மூங்கில் காடு
காட்டச் சுத்தி வண்டு பறக்குது
ரீங்காரம் போட்டுக்கிட்டு
மூங்கிலையும் வண்டு தொளைக்குது
Bamboo forest by the side of the shore,
A beetle flies around the forest wind,
Making a humming sound,
The beetle drills a hole in the bamboo tree.
வண்டு தொளைச்ச ஓட்ட வழியே காத்து அடிச்சா
புது சத்தமும் கேட்குது என்ன சத்தம்
அது என்னை இழுக்குது ஆக மொத்தம்
When the wind blows through the hole drilled by the beetle,
A new sound is heard—what sound is that?
It mesmerizes and pulls me completely towards it.
கரட்டோரம் மூங்கில் காடு
காட்டச் சுத்தி வண்டு பறக்குது
Bamboo forest by the side of the shore,
A beetle flies around the forest wind.
உய்யாலா உய்யா
உய்யாலா உய்யா
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Karatoram moongil kaadu
Bamboo forest by the side of the shore,
Kaatta suththi vandu parakkuthu
A beetle flies around the forest wind,
Reengaaram pottukkittu
Making a humming sound,
Moongilaiyum vandu tholaikkuthu
The beetle drills a hole in the bamboo tree.
Vandu tholaichcha ootta vazhiyae kaaththu adichchaa
When the wind blows through the hole drilled by the beetle,
Pudhu saththamum ketkuthu enna saththam
A new sound is heard—what sound is that?
Adhu ennai izhukkuthu aaga moththam
It mesmerizes and pulls me completely towards it.
Pudhu saththamum ketkuthu enna saththam
A new sound is heard—what sound is that?
Adhu ennai izhukkuthu aaga moththam
It mesmerizes and pulls me completely towards it.
Karatoram moongil kaadu
Bamboo forest by the side of the shore,
Kaatta suththi vandu parakkuthu
A beetle flies around the forest wind,
Nee……thottaa pudikkum
If you touch it, it catches you—
Antha thudikkaaran potta kambi
That wire laid by that clever man;
Seemaiyilae sethi sonnaa
If news is spoken in a distant land,
Ingu vanthu pesuthilla
Doesn't it travel and speak right here?
Thottaa pudikkum
If you touch it, it catches you—
Antha thudikkaaran potta kambi
That wire laid by that clever man;
Seemaiyilae sethi sonnaa
If news is spoken in a distant land,
Ingu vanthu pesuthilla
Doesn't it travel and speak right here?
Maadu kannum meyuthadi
Cattle and calves are grazing,
Maniyosai ketkuthadi
The sound of tinkling bells is heard,
Oosaththaa kettuththaan
Hearing that sound loudly,
Oorkkuruvi paattu padikkum
The house sparrow sings a song.
Karatoram moongil kaadu
Bamboo forest by the side of the shore,
Kaatta suththi vandu parakkuthu
A beetle flies around the forest wind.
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaalaa uiyyaalaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa oo…
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa oo…
Anna adichchaa akka irukkaa azhuvaathae
If brother beats you, sister is there—don't cry;
Akka adichchaa aththai irukkaa azhuvaathae
If sister beats you, aunt is there—don't cry;
Aththa adichchaa ammaa irukkaa azhuvaathae
If aunt beats you, mother is there—don't cry;
Antha ammaavae adichchuputtaannu azhuvuriyaa
Are you crying because mother herself beat you?
Kavalaipadaathedaa
Do not worry, dear child,
En paattu irukku azhuvaathae
My song is here, so do not cry,
Adha kettu urangu pozhuthoda….
Listen to it and sleep early on...
Therkkae adichcha mazhai vadakkaala thesa thirumbi
The rain that poured in the south shifted direction to the north,
Oosiyilai kaattukulla odaiyila paayuthadi
And flows into the stream inside the pine forest;
Therkkae adichcha mazhai vadakkaala thesa thirumbi
The rain that poured in the south shifted direction to the north,
Oosiyilai kaattukulla odaiyila paayuthadi
And flows into the stream inside the pine forest;
Odathanni thalumbaiyilae
As the stream water overflows,
Alaiyosai kelambaiyilae
As the sound of ripples arises,
Osaiththaan kettuththaan
Hearing that sound,
Paakku maram paattu padikkum
The betel nut tree sings a song.
Karatoram moongil kaadu
Bamboo forest by the side of the shore,
Kaatta suththi vandu parakkuthu
A beetle flies around the forest wind,
Reengaaram pottukkittu
Making a humming sound,
Moongilaiyum vandu tholaikkuthu
The beetle drills a hole in the bamboo tree.
Vandu tholaichcha ootta vazhiyae kaaththu adichchaa
When the wind blows through the hole drilled by the beetle,
Pudhu saththamum ketkuthu enna saththam
A new sound is heard—what sound is that?
Adhu ennai izhukkuthu aaga moththam
It mesmerizes and pulls me completely towards it.
Karatoram moongil kaadu
Bamboo forest by the side of the shore,
Kaatta suththi vandu parakkuthu
A beetle flies around the forest wind.
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Uiyyaalaa uiyaa
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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