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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Karigalan Kala Pola

From Vettaikaaran · 2009

Lyricist
Kabilan
Singer
Suchith Suresan
Music director
Sangeetha Rajeshwaran
Details
Vettaikaaran2009

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Karikalan kaala polae karuthirukuthu kuzhaluYour hair is as black as King Karikalan's leg
Female
Kuzhalilla kuzhalilla taju mahal nezhaluIt is not hair, it is not hair, it is the shadow of the Taj Mahal!
Male
Sevaloda kondai polae sevandhirukudhu udhaduYour lips are as red as a rooster's crest
Female
Udhadilla udhadilla mandhiricha thagaduIt is not lips, it is not lips, it is a enchanted talisman!
Male
Yeh paruthi poova polae padhiyudhu un paadhamYour foot leaves impressions soft like a cotton flower
Female
Paadhamilla paadhamilla pacharisi saadhamIt is not a foot, it is not a foot, it is cooked raw rice!
Male
Yeh valampuri sangai polae vazhukudhu un kazhuthuYour neck is as smooth as a right-whorled conch
Female
Kazhuthilla kazhuthilla kannadasan ezhuthuIt is not a neck, it is not a neck, it is the poetic writing of Kannadasan!
Male
Karikalan kaala polae karuthirukuthu kuzhaluYour hair is as black as King Karikalan's leg
Female
Kuzhalilla kuzhalilla taju mahal nezhaluIt is not hair, it is not hair, it is the shadow of the Taj Mahal!
Male
Sevaloda kondai polae sevandhirukudhu udhaduYour lips are as red as a rooster's crest
Female
Aye udhadilla udhadilla mandhiricha thagaduHey, it is not lips, it is not lips, it is a enchanted talisman!
Female
Aaahhhh aaaa aaaa aaaaaa aaaa aaaaaaahhhhhAaahhhh aaaa aaaa aaaaaa aaaa aaaaaaahhhhh
Male
Yeh baala valaivu polae ulladhadi mookuYour nose is curved like a young crescent moon
Female
Mooku illa mooku illa mundhiri mundhiri cake-uIt is not a nose, it is not a nose, it is a cashew cake!
Male
Oodhi vecha balloon polae uppiruku kannamYour cheeks are puffed up like a blown balloon
Female
Kannamilla kannamilla velli velli kinnamIt is not cheeks, it is not cheeks, it is a silver bowl!
Male
Marudhaani kolam pottu mayakudhu thegamAdorned with henna patterns, your body hypnotizes
Female
Thegam illa thegam illa thee pidicha megamIt is not a body, it is not a body, it is a cloud on fire!
Male
Maaraapu pandhalila maraichu vecha solaiA grove hidden under the saree canopy
Female
Solaiyilla solaiyilla jalli kattu kaalaIt is not a grove, it is not a grove, it is a jallikattu bull!
Male
Karikalan kaala polae karuthirukuthu kuzhaluYour hair is as black as King Karikalan's leg
Female
Kuzhalilla kuzhalilla taju mahal nezhaluIt is not hair, it is not hair, it is the shadow of the Taj Mahal!
Male
Sevaloda kondai polae sevandhirukudhu udhaduYour lips are as red as a rooster's crest
Female
Udhadilla udhadilla mandhiricha thagaduIt is not lips, it is not lips, it is a enchanted talisman!
Female
Up and down up and downUp and down up and down
Male
Kandavudan vettudhadi kathiri kolu kannuYour scissor-like eyes snip as soon as they see me
Female
Kannu illa kannu illa kerangadikira gin-uIt is not eyes, it is not eyes, it is intoxicating gin!
Male
Patha vecha mathaapu pol minu minukudhu palluYour teeth sparkle like lit sparklers
Female
Pallu illa pallu illa padhicha vaira kalluIt is not teeth, it is not teeth, it is embedded diamonds!
Male
Suruku paiya polae iruku idupuYour waist is tight like a drawstring pouch
Female
Idupu illa idupu illa indhiran padaipuIt is not a waist, it is not a waist, it is Lord Indra's creation!
Male
Kannu pada pogudhunu kannathula machamA mole on your cheek to ward off the evil eye
Female
Macham illa macham illa nee vittu vecha michamIt is not a mole, it is not a mole, it is a spot left behind by you!
Male
Karikalan kaala polae karuthirukuthu kuzhaluYour hair is as black as King Karikalan's leg
Female
Kuzhalilla kuzhalilla taju mahal nezhaluIt is not hair, it is not hair, it is the shadow of the Taj Mahal!
Male
Sevaloda kondai polae sevandhirukudhu udhaduYour lips are as red as a rooster's crest
Female
Udhadilla udhadilla mandhiricha thagaduIt is not lips, it is not lips, it is a enchanted talisman!
Male
Yeh paruthi poova polae padhiyudhu un paadhamYour foot leaves impressions soft like a cotton flower
Female
Paadhamilla paadhamilla pacharisi saadhamIt is not a foot, it is not a foot, it is cooked raw rice!
Male
Yeh valampuri sangai polae vazhukudhu un kazhuthuYour neck is as smooth as a right-whorled conch
Female
Kazhuthilla kazhuthilla kannadasan ezhuthuIt is not a neck, it is not a neck, it is the poetic writing of Kannadasan!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Karikalan Kaala Polae is a high-energy, playful Tamil duet from the 2009 movie Vettaikaaran. The male protagonist extravagantly praises his beloved's beauty by comparing every part of her body to traditional, poetic, contemporary, and humorous imagery. In a playful call-and-response format, each conventional simile is immediately contradicted and elevated to an even more dramatic metaphor, creating a lively and engaging poetic battle of wits and admiration.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Karikalan kaala polae karuthirukuthu kuzhalu

The song heavily uses 'Polae' (like/as) to draw playful comparisons between the heroine's features and diverse cultural/everyday elements.

Hyperbole & Counter-Metaphor

Kuzhalilla kuzhalilla taju mahal nezhalu

Each comparison is immediately denied and exaggerated into an extraordinary object to emphasize extreme beauty.

Repetition (Emoni / Anaphora)

Udhadilla udhadilla mandhiricha thagadu

The phrase pattern 'X-illa X-illa' is repeated across all stanzas for rhythmic emphasis and comic effect.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song references famous historical and cultural figures such as the Chola King Karikalan, the legendary lyricist Kannadasan, as well as modern items like 'cashew cake' and 'gin', blending traditional Tamil folk poetic traditions with modern urban slang.

Keep listening

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