Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Karppenna Sivappenna

From Kula Gouravam · 1974

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
L. R. Eswari, P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Kula Gouravam1974

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oohho ho ho oohoVocalizing: Oohho ho ho ooho
Ho ho hoVocalizing: Ho ho ho
Female :Aahaa haah aha ahaFemale vocalizing: Aahaa haah aha aha
Ha aha haaVocalizing: Ha aha haa
Male
Karupenna sivappennaWhat matters if dark or fair
KannukkullaeWithin the eyes?
Sudum nerupenna NilavennaWhat matters if burning fire or cool moon
PennukkullaeWithin a woman?
Karupenna sivappennaWhat matters if dark or fair
KannukkullaeWithin the eyes?
Sudum nerupenna NilavennaWhat matters if burning fire or cool moon
PennukkullaeWithin a woman?
Female
Mudhalenna mudivennaWhat is the beginning and what is the end
UravukkullaeWithin a relationship?
Kadhai thodangattum mudiyattumLet the story begin or let it end
ManathukullaeWithin the mind!
Mudhalenna mudivennaWhat is the beginning and what is the end
UravukkullaeWithin a relationship?
Kadhai thodangattum mudiyattumLet the story begin or let it end
ManathukullaeWithin the mind!
Male
Karupenna sivappennaWhat matters if dark or fair
KannukkullaeWithin the eyes?
Male
Kadavul saatchiyaa kangal saatchiyaaIs God the witness, or are the eyes the witness
Kaadhal vazhakkilae needhi sollaTo pass judgment in the court of love?
Female :Aahaa haa aha haa aaahaa….aa…Female vocalizing: Aahaa haa aha haa aaahaa....aa...
Male
Kadavul saatchiyaa kangal saatchiyaaIs God the witness, or are the eyes the witness
Kaadhal vazhakkilae needhi sollaTo pass judgment in the court of love?
Male
Unakkum enakkum thirumanamendruTo announce that you and I are getting married
Oorukellam oru sedhi sollaAnd share this news with the whole town!
Female :Oooh ooo….Female vocalizing: Oooh ooo....
Male
Unakkum enakkum thirumanamendruTo announce that you and I are getting married
Oorukellam oru sedhi sollaAnd share this news with the whole town!
Female
Thalaivan tholilae thazhuvum naalilaeOn the day I embrace my lover's shoulders,
Kaalaththai neraththai paaraththaillaiI lost track of time and hour.
Male :Aahaa haa ahaa ha ooh ooo….Male vocalizing: Aahaa haa ahaa ha ooh ooo....
Female
Thalaivan tholilae thazhuvum naalilaeOn the day I embrace my lover's shoulders,
Kaalaththai neraththai paaraththaillaiI lost track of time and hour.
Female
Udhadum udhadum pesum velaiyilWhen lips speak to lips,
Vaai vittu pesa vaarththaiyillaiThere are no spoken words left from the mouth.
Male :Ooh ho ooo….Male vocalizing: Ooh ho ooo....
Female
Udhadum udhadum pesum velaiyilWhen lips speak to lips,
Vaai vittu pesa vaarththaiyillaiThere are no spoken words left from the mouth.
Male
Karupenna sivapennaWhat matters if dark or fair
KannukullaeWithin the eyes?
Sudum nerupenna NilavennaWhat matters if burning fire or cool moon
PennukkullaeWithin a woman?
Female
Mudhalenna mudivennaWhat is the beginning and what is the end
UravukkullaeWithin a relationship?
Kadhai thodangattum mudiyattumLet the story begin or let it end
ManathukullaeWithin the mind!
Male
Alli koottamo azhagu thottamoIs it a cluster of lilies or a beautiful garden?
Paarththa paaravaigal kodi perumMillions have gained sight just by looking!
Female :Aaha haa aahaa haa aahaa haa aa…Female vocalizing: Aaha haa aahaa haa aahaa haa aa...
Male
Alli koottamo azhagu thottamoIs it a cluster of lilies or a beautiful garden?
Paarththa paaravaigal kodi perumMillions have gained sight just by looking!
Male
Ninaivu manamum nizhal pol thinamumThe yearning heart, like a shadow every day,
Thogai mayilaiththaan thedi varaumComes seeking the peacock with spread feathers.
Female :Aahaa haa aa…Female vocalizing: Aahaa haa aa...
Male
Ninaivu manamum nizhal pol thinamumThe yearning heart, like a shadow every day,
Thogai mayilaiththaan thedi varaumComes seeking the peacock with spread feathers.
Female
Idhaya yaettilae ezhuthum paattilaeIn the song written on the pages of the heart,
Thaalaththai raagaththai searnthathennaWhy did rhythm and melody unite?
Male :Aahaa haa aha ha ooh oo oo….Male vocalizing: Aahaa haa aha ha ooh oo oo....
Female
Idhaya yaettilae ezhuthum paattilaeIn the song written on the pages of the heart,
Thaalaththai raagaththai searnthathennaWhy did rhythm and melody unite?
Female
Arugae arugae varuvatharkullaeBefore even coming close to each other,
Adhaiyum idhayum ketpathennaWhy ask for this and that?
Male :Ooh ho ooo…Male vocalizing: Ooh ho ooo...
Female :Arugae arugae varuvatharkullaeFemale: Before even coming close to each other,
Athaiyum idhayum ketpathennaWhy ask for this and that?
Male
Karupenna sivappennaWhat matters if dark or fair
KannukkullaeWithin the eyes?
Sudum nerupenna NilavennaWhat matters if burning fire or cool moon
PennukkullaeWithin a woman?
Female
Mudhalenna mudivennaWhat is the beginning and what is the end
UravukkullaeWithin a relationship?
Kadhai thodangattum mudiyattumLet the story begin or let it end
ManathukullaeWithin the mind!
Male
Oohhhoo ho ooo oo ooo ho oooVocalizing: Oohhhoo ho ooo oo ooo ho ooo
Female :………………….Female vocalizing...
Male
……………..Vocalizing...
Female :…………..Female vocalizing...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Karupenna Sivappenna from the 1974 film Kula Gouravam is a romantic duet penned by the legendary lyricist Vaali. The song explores deep themes of love transcending physical appearances and surface traits, asserting that complexions—whether dark or fair—and contrasting dispositions (fire or moon) do not define true emotional connection. The lovers emphasize that love originates and flourishes in the heart, rendering external differences irrelevant. Through poetic stanzas, the lovers express their eagerness to share their bond with society. They describe intimacy as a quiet realm where silent lip-to-lip connection renders spoken words redundant, and where time loses all meaning. Ultimately, love is celebrated as a natural harmony of rhythm and melody inscribed upon the pages of the human heart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis / Oxymoron

Sudum nerupenna Nilavenna

Contrasts opposing elements 'sudum nerupenna' (burning fire) and 'nilavenna' (cool moon) to express the multi-faceted nature of a woman.

Simile (Uvamai)

Ninaivu manamum nizhal pol thinamum

Compares persistent thoughts and memory following the beloved to a shadow ('nizhal pol').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Idhaya yaettilae ezhuthum paattilae

Metaphorically describes the emotional journey of romance as a song written on the pages of the heart ('idhaya yaettilae ezhuthum paattilae').

Did you know?

Trivia

Kula Gouravam (1974) features lyrics written by Vaali, who was known for blending deep philosophical commentary on beauty and love into melodious film duets during the 1970s.

Keep listening

More from Kula Gouravam