Karpoora Mullai Ondru
From Karpoora Mullai · 1991
- Lyricist
- Isaignani Ilayaraja
- Singers
- K. S. Chithra, Chorus
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Karpoora Mullai1991
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Yaaaahhhh…… | Yaaaahhhh...... |
| Female | |
| Karpoora mullai ondru | A camphor jasmine flower |
| Kaattaatru vellam endru | Like a wild river flood |
| Kelambida thaan | To set off now |
| Dhoolu kelappida thaan | To rock the floor with energy |
| Kettukka paattu saththam | Listen to the sound of music |
| Sivakaasi vaettu saththam | Sound like Sivakasi crackers |
| Dhenam dhenam thaan | Every single day |
| Enga sudhandhiram thaan | This is our freedom |
| Female | |
| Karpoora… | Camphor... |
| Karpoora mullai ondru | A camphor jasmine flower |
| Kaattaatru vellam endru | Like a wild river flood |
| Kelambida thaan | To set off now |
| Dhoolu kelappida thaan | To rock the floor with energy |
| Kettukka paattu saththam | Listen to the sound of music |
| Sivakaasi vaettu saththam | Sound like Sivakasi crackers |
| Dhenam dhenam thaan | Every single day |
| Enga sudhandhiram thaan | This is our freedom |
| Chorus | |
| Katti poda naanga | To be bound and tied |
| Oru petti paambum alla | We are not boxed snakes |
| Ottu poovum noolum | Bound flowers and threads |
| Verum pattikkaadum alla | Or mere backward rustic folks |
| Ellai kodu pottu | To draw a boundary line |
| Adhai illai endru solla | And declare we cannot cross |
| Andha kaala seedhai | Like Sita of ancient times |
| Adhu indha paavai alla | This modern woman is not like her |
| Female | |
| Nalliravil | In the dead of night |
| Chorus | |
| Jaangu chakkara | Jaangu chakkara |
| Jaangu chakkara chachchaa | Jaangu chakkara chachchaa |
| Female | |
| Indha velli radham | This silver chariot |
| Chorus | |
| Jaangu chakkara | Jaangu chakkara |
| Jaangu chakkara chachchaa | Jaangu chakkara chachchaa |
| Female | |
| Nalliravil | In the dead of night |
| Chorus | |
| Aadi nadappadhum | Dancing as we walk |
| Paadi nadapadhum jolly | Singing along is pure fun |
| Female | |
| Indha velli radham | This silver chariot |
| Chorus | |
| Veedhi valam vara | To parade down the streets |
| Yedhu idharkkoru vaeli | What fence can ever stop it |
| Female | |
| Hoi | Hoi |
| Female | |
| Karpoora… haei haei | Camphor... haei haei |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………………. | ........................ |
| Chorus | |
| Engae poga vendum | Where it needs to flow |
| Nadhi yaarai ketka vendum | Who should a river ask permission from? |
| Ishtam pola odum | It flows as it pleases |
| Thadai pottu paaru thaandum | Try placing a barrier, it will leap over it |
| Eppo paada vendum | When it needs to sing |
| Kuyil yaarai ketka vendum | Who should the cuckoo ask permission from? |
| Ennam pola paadum | It sings as it fancies |
| Adhil inbam kodi thondrum | Creating millions of joys from it |
| Female | |
| Palliyilae | At the school |
| Chorus | |
| Jaangu chakkara | Jaangu chakkara |
| Jaangu chakkara chachchaa | Jaangu chakkara chachchaa |
| Female | |
| Oru raa kuruvi | A night bird |
| Chorus | |
| Jaangu chakkara | Jaangu chakkara |
| Jaangu chakkara chachchaa | Jaangu chakkara chachchaa |
| Female | |
| Palliyilae | At the school |
| Chorus | |
| Paadam padichadhu | Studying lessons |
| Boru adichadhu podi | Became so boring, get lost! |
| Female | |
| Oru raa kuruvi | A night bird |
| Chorus | |
| Koottam nadathida | To hold a gathering |
| Koovi azhaithadhu vaadi | Cried out calling us to come along |
| Female | |
| Haei | Haei |
| Female | |
| Karpoora mullai ondru | A camphor jasmine flower |
| Kaattaatru vellam endru | Like a wild river flood |
| Kelambida thaan | To set off now |
| Dhoolu kelappida thaan | To rock the floor with energy |
| Kettukka paattu saththam | Listen to the sound of music |
| Sivakaasi vaettu saththam | Sound like Sivakasi crackers |
| Dhenam dhenam thaan | Every single day |
| Enga sudhandhiram thaan | This is our freedom |
| Female | |
| Karpoora… | Camphor... |
| Karpoora mullai ondru | A camphor jasmine flower |
| Kaattaatru vellam endru | Like a wild river flood |
| Kelambida thaan | To set off now |
| Dhoolu kelappida thaan | To rock the floor with energy |
| Kettukka paattu saththam | Listen to the sound of music |
| Sivakaasi vaettu saththam | Sound like Sivakasi crackers |
| Dhenam dhenam thaan | Every single day |
| Enga sudhandhiram thaan | This is our freedom |
யாஹ்ஹ்.......................
Yaaaahhhh......
கற்பூர முல்லை ஒன்று
காட்டாற்று வெள்ளம் என்று
கிளம்பிடத்தான்
தூளு கிளப்பிடத்தான்
கேட்டுக்கோ பாட்டுச் சத்தம்
சிவகாசி வேட்டுச் சத்தம்
தினம் தினம்தான்
எங்க சுதந்திரம்தான்
A camphor jasmine flower
Like a wild river flood
To set off now
To rock the floor with energy
Listen to the sound of music
Sound like Sivakasi crackers
Every single day
This is our freedom
பெண் மற்றும் குழு :
உய்யாரோ உய்யா உய்யா உய்யாரோ
ஹரே உய்யாரோ உய்யா உய்யா
உய்யாரோ உய்யா ஹோய்
Camphor...
A camphor jasmine flower
Like a wild river flood
To set off now
To rock the floor with energy
Listen to the sound of music
Sound like Sivakasi crackers
Every single day
This is our freedom
கற்பூர......
கற்பூர முல்லை ஒன்று
காட்டாற்று வெள்ளம் என்று
கிளம்பிடத்தான்
தூளு கிளப்பிடத்தான்
கேட்டுக்கோ பாட்டுச் சத்தம்
சிவகாசி வேட்டுச் சத்தம்
தினம் தினம்தான்
எங்க சுதந்திரம்தான்
To be bound and tied
We are not boxed snakes
Bound flowers and threads
Or mere backward rustic folks
To draw a boundary line
And declare we cannot cross
Like Sita of ancient times
This modern woman is not like her
கட்டிப் போட நாங்க
ஒரு பெட்டிப் பாம்பு அல்ல
பொட்டுப் பூவும் சூடும்
வெறும் பட்டிக்காடும் அல்ல
எல்லைக்கோடு போட்டு
அது இல்லையென்று சொல்ல
அந்தக்கால சீதை
அது இந்த பாவையல்ல
In the dead of night
நள்ளிரவில்........
Jaangu chakkara
Jaangu chakkara chachchaa
ஜாங்கு சக்கர
ஜாங்கு சக்கர சச்சச்சா
This silver chariot
இந்த வெள்ளிரதம்........
Jaangu chakkara
Jaangu chakkara chachchaa
ஜாங்கு சக்கர
ஜாங்கு சக்கர சச்சச்சா
In the dead of night
நள்ளிரவில்........
Dancing as we walk
Singing along is pure fun
ஆடி நடப்பதும்
பாடி நடப்பதும் ஜாலி
This silver chariot
இந்த வெள்ளிரதம்
To parade down the streets
What fence can ever stop it
வீதி வலம் வர
ஏது இதற்கொரு வேலி
Hoi
ஹோய்
Camphor... haei haei
பெண் மற்றும் குழு :
உய்யாரோ உய்யா உய்யா உய்யாரோ
ஹரே உய்யாரோ உய்யா உய்யா
உய்யாரோ உய்யா ஹோய்
........................
கற்பூர....ஹேய் ஹேய்
Where it needs to flow
Who should a river ask permission from?
It flows as it pleases
Try placing a barrier, it will leap over it
When it needs to sing
Who should the cuckoo ask permission from?
It sings as it fancies
Creating millions of joys from it
........................................
At the school
எங்கே போக வேண்டும்
நதி யாரை கேட்க வேண்டும்
இஷ்டம் போல ஓடும்
தடை போட்டு பாரு தாண்டும்
எப்ப பாட வேண்டும்
குயில் யாரை கேட்க வேண்டும்
எண்ணம் போல பாடும்
அதில் இன்பம் கோடி தோன்றும்
Jaangu chakkara
Jaangu chakkara chachchaa
பள்ளியிலே.......
A night bird
ஜாங்கு சக்கர
ஜாங்கு சக்கர சச்சச்சா
Jaangu chakkara
Jaangu chakkara chachchaa
ஒரு ராக்குருவி....
At the school
ஜாங்கு சக்கர
ஜாங்கு சக்கர சச்சச்சா
Studying lessons
Became so boring, get lost!
பள்ளியிலே
A night bird
பாடம் படிச்சது
போரு அடிச்சது போடி
To hold a gathering
Cried out calling us to come along
ஒரு ராக்குருவி
Haei
கூட்டம் நடத்திட
கூவி அழைச்சது வாடி
A camphor jasmine flower
Like a wild river flood
To set off now
To rock the floor with energy
Listen to the sound of music
Sound like Sivakasi crackers
Every single day
This is our freedom
ஹேய்
Camphor...
A camphor jasmine flower
Like a wild river flood
To set off now
To rock the floor with energy
Listen to the sound of music
Sound like Sivakasi crackers
Every single day
This is our freedom
பெண் மற்றும் குழு :
உய்யாரோ உய்யா உய்யா உய்யாரோ
ஹரே உய்யாரோ உய்யா உய்யா
உய்யாரோ உய்யா ஹோய்
கற்பூர.....
கற்பூர முல்லை ஒன்று
காட்டாற்று வெள்ளம் என்று
கிளம்பிடத்தான்
தூளு கிளப்பிடத்தான்
கேட்டுக்கோ பாட்டுச் சத்தம்
சிவகாசி வேட்டுச் சத்தம்
தினம் தினம்தான்
எங்க சுதந்திரம்தான்
பெண் மற்றும் குழு :
உய்யாரோ உய்யா உய்யா உய்யாரோ
ஹரே உய்யாரோ உய்யா உய்யா
உய்யாரோ உய்யா ஹோய்
கற்பூர......
கற்பூர முல்லை ஒன்று
காட்டாறாற்று வெள்ளம் என்று
கிளம்பிடத்தான்
தூளு கிளப்பிடத்தான்
கேட்டுக்கோ பாட்டுச் சத்தம்
சிவகாசி வேட்டுச் சத்தம்
தினம் தினம்தான்
எங்க சுதந்திரம்தான்
பெண் மற்றும் குழு :
ஹஹஹஹஹஹா.......
Yaaaahhhh……
Yaaaahhhh......
Karpoora mullai ondru
A camphor jasmine flower
Kaattaatru vellam endru
Like a wild river flood
Kelambida thaan
To set off now
Dhoolu kelappida thaan
To rock the floor with energy
Kettukka paattu saththam
Listen to the sound of music
Sivakaasi vaettu saththam
Sound like Sivakasi crackers
Dhenam dhenam thaan
Every single day
Enga sudhandhiram thaan
This is our freedom
Karpoora…
Camphor...
Karpoora mullai ondru
A camphor jasmine flower
Kaattaatru vellam endru
Like a wild river flood
Kelambida thaan
To set off now
Dhoolu kelappida thaan
To rock the floor with energy
Kettukka paattu saththam
Listen to the sound of music
Sivakaasi vaettu saththam
Sound like Sivakasi crackers
Dhenam dhenam thaan
Every single day
Enga sudhandhiram thaan
This is our freedom
Katti poda naanga
To be bound and tied
Oru petti paambum alla
We are not boxed snakes
Ottu poovum noolum
Bound flowers and threads
Verum pattikkaadum alla
Or mere backward rustic folks
Ellai kodu pottu
To draw a boundary line
Adhai illai endru solla
And declare we cannot cross
Andha kaala seedhai
Like Sita of ancient times
Adhu indha paavai alla
This modern woman is not like her
Nalliravil
In the dead of night
Jaangu chakkara
Jaangu chakkara
Jaangu chakkara chachchaa
Jaangu chakkara chachchaa
Indha velli radham
This silver chariot
Jaangu chakkara
Jaangu chakkara
Jaangu chakkara chachchaa
Jaangu chakkara chachchaa
Nalliravil
In the dead of night
Aadi nadappadhum
Dancing as we walk
Paadi nadapadhum jolly
Singing along is pure fun
Indha velli radham
This silver chariot
Veedhi valam vara
To parade down the streets
Yedhu idharkkoru vaeli
What fence can ever stop it
Hoi
Hoi
Karpoora… haei haei
Camphor... haei haei
…………………………….
........................
Engae poga vendum
Where it needs to flow
Nadhi yaarai ketka vendum
Who should a river ask permission from?
Ishtam pola odum
It flows as it pleases
Thadai pottu paaru thaandum
Try placing a barrier, it will leap over it
Eppo paada vendum
When it needs to sing
Kuyil yaarai ketka vendum
Who should the cuckoo ask permission from?
Ennam pola paadum
It sings as it fancies
Adhil inbam kodi thondrum
Creating millions of joys from it
Palliyilae
At the school
Jaangu chakkara
Jaangu chakkara
Jaangu chakkara chachchaa
Jaangu chakkara chachchaa
Oru raa kuruvi
A night bird
Jaangu chakkara
Jaangu chakkara
Jaangu chakkara chachchaa
Jaangu chakkara chachchaa
Palliyilae
At the school
Paadam padichadhu
Studying lessons
Boru adichadhu podi
Became so boring, get lost!
Oru raa kuruvi
A night bird
Koottam nadathida
To hold a gathering
Koovi azhaithadhu vaadi
Cried out calling us to come along
Haei
Haei
Karpoora mullai ondru
A camphor jasmine flower
Kaattaatru vellam endru
Like a wild river flood
Kelambida thaan
To set off now
Dhoolu kelappida thaan
To rock the floor with energy
Kettukka paattu saththam
Listen to the sound of music
Sivakaasi vaettu saththam
Sound like Sivakasi crackers
Dhenam dhenam thaan
Every single day
Enga sudhandhiram thaan
This is our freedom
Karpoora…
Camphor...
Karpoora mullai ondru
A camphor jasmine flower
Kaattaatru vellam endru
Like a wild river flood
Kelambida thaan
To set off now
Dhoolu kelappida thaan
To rock the floor with energy
Kettukka paattu saththam
Listen to the sound of music
Sivakaasi vaettu saththam
Sound like Sivakasi crackers
Dhenam dhenam thaan
Every single day
Enga sudhandhiram thaan
This is our freedom
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Karpoora Mullai Ondru' is an exuberant song expressing youth, female empowerment, and unrestrained freedom. The song compares young women to wild mountain streams and free-spirited cuckoos that refuse to be constrained by traditional boundaries or social restrictions. Rejecting historical expectations of submissive womanhood, the lyrics celebrate modern independence, fun, and breaking away from dull routines. The lively rhythms and metaphors of Sivakasi firecrackers emphasize high energy, celebration, and joy in living life on one's own terms.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamaani)
“Kaattaatru vellam endru”
Comparing the young woman to a wild river flood ('Kaattaatru vellam endru') to show untamed energy.
Alliteration (Monai)
“Karpoora mullai ondru / Kaattaatru vellam endru / Kelambida thaan”
Repetition of the 'K' sound in 'Karpoora', 'Kaattaatru', and 'Kelambida'.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Indha velli radham”
Describing young women's procession as a 'silver chariot' ('velli radham').
Rhetorical Question
“Nadhi yaarai ketka vendum”
Asking who a river or cuckoo needs to ask before flowing or singing, emphasizing inherent autonomy.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Karpoora Mullai' (1991) is a modern social drama directed by Fazil, starring Amala, Srividya, and Raja. The music was composed by Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja, who also penned the lyrics for this energetic track, highlighting themes of female autonomy and youthfulness.
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