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Lyrics & meaning

Karudhu Kathaaduthu

From Niyayam · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. Janaki, Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Niyayam
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
25 Dec 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Karudhu kaathaadudhu
Kuruvi koothaadudhu
Pasum thoppellaam poo pookka
Onna poovaattam naan paakka
Karudhu kaathaadudhu
Kuruvi koothaadudhu
Pasum thoppellaam poo pookka
Onna poovaattam naan paakka
Adi thai maasam kalyaanam
Raavellaam kacheri nee rasikka
Indha paalaarum thaenaarum
Veraarum kaanaama naan kulikka
Haei karudhu kaathaadudhu
Kuruvi koothaadudhu
Pasum thoppellaam poo pookka
Enna poovaattam nee paakka
Meenae semmeenae
Unna oda thaalaatta
Poovae sempoovae
Panivaada paaraatta
Odambu punnaaga thaan
Odhadu onnaaga thaan
Orasa koodaadhaiyaa saami
Aasa kondaalum thaan
Alavu illaama thaan
Mazhaiya thaangaadhaiyaa boomi
Valai aadum kaiyodum
Kilaiyaadum kaniyodum
Vilaiyaadavaa
Hoo oru paadhi pasiyaara
Maru paadhi rusiyera
Parimaara vandhaayo nee thaan
Karudhu kaathaadudhu
Kuruvi koothaadudhu
Pasum thoppellaam poo pookka
Onna poovaattam naan paakka
Varum thai maasam kalyaanam
Raavellaam kacheri nee padikka
Indha paalaarum thaenaarum
Veraarum kaanaama naan kulikka
Haei karudhu kaathaadudhu
Kuruvi koothaadudhu
Pasum thoppellaam poo pookka
Unna poovaattam nee paakka
Kettaa naan kettaa
Thara maattae neeyaaga thaan
Thodanum kai padanum
Sugam malarum thaanaaga thaan
Iravil onnaattam thaan
Enakku thindaattam thaan
Manasil poraattam thaan lesaa
Padukkai mullaachudhu
Paalum kallaachudhu
Nilavum theeyaachudhu raasaa
Ini melum thaangaadhu
Iru kannum thoongaadhu
Uravaada vaa
Hae adhu poga modhaadhae
Alaiyaattam kaayaadhae
Ammaadi ennaaven naan thaan
Karudhu kaathaadudhu
Kuruvi koothaadudhu
Pasum thoppellaam poo pookka
Onna poovaattam naan paakka
Varum thai maasam kalyaanam
Raavellaam kacheri nee padikka
Indha paalaarum thaenaarum
Veraarum kaanaama naan kulikka
Karudhu kaathaadudhu
Kuruvi koothaadudhu
Pasum thoppellaam poo pookka
Enna poovaattam nee paakka
The clouds darken and the breeze blows,
The sparrows dance with joy,
As flowers bloom all over the green grove,
And I gaze at you as if you were a flower.
The clouds darken and the breeze blows,
The sparrows dance with joy,
As flowers bloom all over the green grove,
And I gaze at you as if you were a flower.
Girl, our wedding is in the month of Thai,
For you to enjoy a concert all night long,
In this river of milk and honey,
For me to bathe unseen by anyone else.
Hey, the clouds darken and the breeze blows,
The sparrows dance with joy,
As flowers bloom all over the green grove,
As you gaze at me as if I were a flower.
Oh fish, my sweet red fish,
As the running stream rocks you like a cradle,
Oh flower, my red blossom,
As the cool breeze praises you,
Until our bodies get bruised,
And our lips meet as one,
We shouldn't rub against each other, my dear!
Even if desire grows strong,
Without any restraint,
The earth cannot bear an endless downpour, dear man!
With bangles dancing on your wrists,
And sweet fruits swaying on the branches,
Shall I come to play?
To satisfy half my hunger,
And make the rest taste even sweeter,
Have you come to serve me a feast?
The clouds darken and the breeze blows,
The sparrows dance with joy,
As flowers bloom all over the green grove,
And I gaze at you as if you were a flower.
Our wedding is in the coming month of Thai,
For you to sing a concert all night long,
In this river of milk and honey,
For me to bathe unseen by anyone else.
Hey, the clouds darken and the breeze blows,
The sparrows dance with joy,
As flowers bloom all over the green grove,
As you gaze at me as if I were a flower.
If I ask, just because I ask,
You won't give in on your own.
I must touch you, my hand must reach you,
Only then will pleasure blossom on its own.
Struggling all alone through the night,
It has become quite a trouble for me,
With a quiet battle waging in my heart.
My bed feels like thorns,
Even milk feels as heavy as stone,
And the moonlight feels like fire, my king!
I can bear this no longer,
Neither of my eyes can sleep,
Come close, let us be together!
Hey, don't rush and crash into me like that,
Don't surge and burn like restless waves,
Oh goodness, what will happen to me?
The clouds darken and the breeze blows,
The sparrows dance with joy,
As flowers bloom all over the green grove,
And I gaze at you as if you were a flower.
Our wedding is in the coming month of Thai,
For you to sing a concert all night long,
In this river of milk and honey,
For me to bathe unseen by anyone else.
The clouds darken and the breeze blows,
The sparrows dance with joy,
As flowers bloom all over the green grove,
As you gaze at me as if I were a flower.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a vibrant and romantic folk-style duet from the movie Niyayam (1984), written by the celebrated lyricist Vaali. Set against a lush rural landscape of swaying cornfields, chirping sparrows, and blossoming groves, the lovers express their deep affection and eager anticipation for their upcoming wedding in the auspicious Tamil month of Thai. Through poetic exchanges filled with nature imagery, they convey the overwhelming intensity of youthful love, physical closeness, and romantic longing. The female protagonist playfully sets boundaries while expressing how sleepless and restless her nights have become in anticipation, while the male protagonist teasingly woos her with promises of an endless celebration of togetherness and intimate affection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Karudhu kaathaadudhu / Kuruvi koothaadudhu”

The second letters of the words match in adjacent lines (Karudhu / Kuruvi), creating a rhythmic chime characteristic of Tamil poetry.

Moonaai (Alliteration)

“Karudhu kaathaadudhu / Kuruvi koothaadudhu”

Repetition of the initial consonants ('k' sound) across the opening phrase gives a lively folk musical cadence.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Indha paalaarum thaenaarum”

The expression 'Paalaarum thaenaarum' (rivers of milk and honey) metaphorically represents sweet, overwhelming intimacy and luxury of romantic togetherness.

Uvamai (Simile)

“Onna poovaattam naan paakka”

Comparing looking at the beloved to looking at a blooming flower ('Poovaattam').

Hyperbole & Oxymoron

“Padukkai mullaachudhu / Paalum kallaachudhu / Nilavum theeyaachudhu raasaa”

Sensory inversion expressing romantic anguish where comforting things turn adverse—bed turning into thorns, moon into fire, and milk into stone.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Niyayam' (1984) is a Tamil film starring Sivakumar and Ambika. The music for the film was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, featuring lyrics penned by the veteran lyricist Vaali, who frequently drew upon pastoral Tamil imagery and traditional folk motifs to craft romantic rural melodies.

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