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Isaimozhi
Azhagar Malai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Karugumani

From Azhagar Malai · 2009

Lyricist
Pazhani Bharathi
Singers
Ilayaraja, Bela Shende
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Azhagar Malai
Movie release year
2009
Lyrics added on
9 Jul 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Karugamani karugamani
Kaluthula aaduthadi
Kaninja kani urimai ini
Enakkunu paaduthadi
Kuduthu vacha aal naanu
Adhu unakku theriyaadhu
Vayasil varum kolaaru
Vanthuruchu thagaraaru
Idhu yaarukkaana thirunaalu thirunaalu
Karugamani karugamani
Kaluthula aaduthaiyaa
Kaninja kani urimai ini
Unakkunnu paaduthaiyaa
…………….
Maaveduthen kolathukku
Un mugam varainchu vachen
Kaayeduthen kozhumbu vaikka
Rasathilae pottu putten
Kora pullu paayeduthen
Urakkatha tholaichuputten
Kozhi satham ketkum munnae
On kural kettu putten
Kizhakku thekka vadakku
Engum theriyum un aasai mugam
Enakku adi enakku
Nee irukkum dhisai koyil kulam
Kaathula kekkum oosa
Enna sollutho
Kanmani nadantha
Kolusin osai kekkum enakku
Karugamani karugamani
Kaluthula aaduthadi
Female :Kaninja kani urimai ini
Unakkunnu paaduthaiyaa
Moochu varum aazhathula
Unna naan padhukki vachen
Mungililae kaathu tharum
Isapol rasuchukitten
Valarpiraiya mudhal muthalaa
Edhirila unna paarthen
Theipiraiyaa dhinam kuranchu
Un nenappil elachuputten
Kuzhathai manam iruntha
Indha ulagam romba azhagaagum
Manasu ezhunthu vizhuntha
Adhu kaadhal enum kadalaagum
Gopuram melae yeri
Paattu paadava
Maadathil kooda poda
Naanum kooda varatta
Karugamani karugamani
Kaluthula aaduthadi
Female :Kaninja kani urimai ini
Unakkunnu paaduthaiyaa
Kuduthu vacha aal naanu
Adhu unakku theriyaadhu
Female :Vayachu ippo pathinaaru
Vanthuruchu thagaraaru
Male :Idhu yaarukkaana thirunaalu thirunaalu
Karugamani karugamani
Kaluthula aaduthadi
Female :Kaninja kani urimai ini
Unakkunnu paaduthaiyaa
The black beads necklace,
Is swaying around your neck, girl,
And it sings that this ripe fruit
Belongs only to me!
I am the truly blessed one,
Though you do not know it yet.
The restlessness that comes with youth
Has stirred up a sweet trouble!
Whose festive day is this? Whose celebration is it?
The black beads necklace,
Is swaying around my neck, my man,
And it sings that this ripe fruit
Belongs only to you!
...
I took flour to draw a kolam (floor pattern),
And ended up drawing your face instead.
I picked vegetables to make curry,
And tossed them into the rasam soup.
I spread out a reed mat to rest,
And lost my sleep completely.
Even before the rooster crowed,
I heard your voice calling me.
East, south, or north,
Everywhere I look, I see your beloved face.
For me, oh my darling,
The direction where you stand is a sacred temple.
What is that rustling sound
Whispering in the breeze?
Whenever my sweetheart walks by,
I hear the sweet chime of her anklets.
The black beads necklace,
Is swaying around your neck, girl,
And it sings that this ripe fruit
Belongs only to you!
Deep inside, where my breath begins,
I have tucked you safely away.
Like the music made by the wind
Blowing through bamboo, I savoured your presence.
Like a waxing moon, for the very first time,
I saw you standing right before me.
Like a waning moon, shrinking day by day,
I grew thin longing for you.
If only we have the innocent heart of a child,
This world becomes truly beautiful.
When the heart rises and falls like waves,
It turns into an ocean of love.
Shall I climb to the top of the temple tower
And sing a song for you?
To build a little nest in the tower alcove,
Shall I come along with you too?
The black beads necklace,
Is swaying around your neck, girl,
And it sings that this ripe fruit
Belongs only to you!
I am the truly blessed one,
Though you do not know it yet.
My age is now sweet sixteen,
And the restless trouble has begun!
Whose festive day is this? Whose celebration is it?
The black beads necklace,
Is swaying around your neck, girl,
And it sings that this ripe fruit
Belongs only to you!
Male
Male
Female
Chorus
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Karugamani Karugamani' from the film Azhagar Malai is a romantic duet expressing playful affection, longing, and deep devotion between two lovers. The term 'Karugamani' refers to the traditional black beads worn in a mangalsutra or sacred necklace, symbolizing union and marital promise. The lovers exchange poetic banter about how love has rendered them hopelessly distracted—drawing each other's faces instead of traditional patterns and hearing each other's voices in the wind.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Nee irukkum dhisai koyil kulam”

Comparing the beloved's direction to a sacred temple pond ('koyil kulam') and love to an ocean ('kaadhal enum kadalaagum').

Simile (Uwamai)

“Valarpiraiya mudhal muthalaa / Theipiraiyaa dhinam kuranchu”

Comparing the maiden's changing physical and mental state to the waxing ('valarpirai') and waning ('theipirai') phases of the moon.

Alliteration (Monai)

“Karugamani karugamani / Kaluthula aaduthadi / Kaninja kani urimai ini”

Repetition of initial consonants like 'K' in 'Karugamani', 'Kaluthula', 'Kaninja', 'Kani'.

Rhyme (Edhukai)

“Maaveduthen kolathukku / Kaayeduthen kozhumbu vaikka”

Second letter matching across lines such as 'Kora' and 'Urakka', 'Maaveduthen' and 'Kaayeduthen'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the movie 'Azhagar Malai' stars RK and Bhanu, the soundtrack was composed by the legendary Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, featuring soulful folk compositions that capture the authentic rural essence of Tamil Nadu.

Keep listening

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From the same album

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