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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Karugumani

From Azhagar Malai · 2009

Lyricist
Pazhani Bharathi
Singers
Ilayaraja, Bela Shende
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Azhagar Malai2009

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Karugamani karugamaniBlack beads, black beads,
Kaluthula aaduthadiDangling around the neck!
Kaninja kani urimai iniThe right to this ripe fruit,
Enakkunu paaduthadiNow sings that it belongs to me!
Male
Kuduthu vacha aal naanuI am a fortunate person,
Adhu unakku theriyaadhuYou do not realize that!
Vayasil varum kolaaruThe trouble that arrives with youth,
Vanthuruchu thagaraaruHas now stirred up a storm!
Idhu yaarukkaana thirunaalu thirunaaluWhose grand festive day is this, festive day?
Female
Karugamani karugamaniBlack beads, black beads,
Kaluthula aaduthaiyaaDangling around the neck, my dear!
Kaninja kani urimai iniThe right to this ripe fruit,
Unakkunnu paaduthaiyaaNow sings that it belongs to you, my dear!
Chorus
……………....
Female
Maaveduthen kolathukkuI took rice flour to draw a threshold design,
Un mugam varainchu vachenAnd drew your face instead!
Kaayeduthen kozhumbu vaikkaI took vegetables to cook curry,
Rasathilae pottu puttenAnd dropped them into the rasam instead!
Male
Kora pullu paayeduthenI spread out a woven grass mat,
Urakkatha tholaichuputtenAnd completely lost my sleep!
Kozhi satham ketkum munnaeBefore the rooster's crow was heard,
On kural kettu puttenI heard your voice calling!
Female
Kizhakku thekka vadakkuEast, South, or North,
Engum theriyum un aasai mugamEverywhere I look, your beloved face appears!
Male
Enakku adi enakkuTo me, oh girl, to me,
Nee irukkum dhisai koyil kulamThe direction where you stand is a sacred temple pond!
Female
Kaathula kekkum oosaThe murmur heard in the wind,
Enna solluthoWhat is it whispering?
Male
Kanmani nadanthaAs my beloved walked,
Kolusin osai kekkum enakkuI hear the tinkling sound of her anklets!
Male
Karugamani karugamaniBlack beads, black beads,
Kaluthula aaduthadiDangling around the neck!
Female :Kaninja kani urimai iniFemale: The right to this ripe fruit,
Unakkunnu paaduthaiyaaNow sings that it belongs to you, my dear!
Male
Moochu varum aazhathulaIn the deepest depths of my breath,
Unna naan padhukki vachenI have hidden you safely!
Mungililae kaathu tharumLike the melody created when wind,
Isapol rasuchukittenPasses through a bamboo stem, I savored it!
Female
Valarpiraiya mudhal muthalaaLike the waxing moon for the first time,
Edhirila unna paarthenI saw you standing right in front of me!
Theipiraiyaa dhinam kuranchuLike the waning moon, diminishing daily,
Un nenappil elachuputtenI have grown frail yearning in your thoughts!
Male
Kuzhathai manam irunthaIf one possesses an innocent heart like a child,
Indha ulagam romba azhagaagumThis entire world becomes immensely beautiful!
Female
Manasu ezhunthu vizhunthaWhen the heart ebbs and flows,
Adhu kaadhal enum kadalaagumIt transforms into an ocean called love!
Male
Gopuram melae yeriShall I climb atop the temple tower,
Paattu paadavaAnd sing a song of joy?
Female
Maadathil kooda podaTo build a nest in the balcony alcove,
Naanum kooda varattaShall I also join you?
Male
Karugamani karugamaniBlack beads, black beads,
Kaluthula aaduthadiDangling around the neck!
Female :Kaninja kani urimai iniFemale: The right to this ripe fruit,
Unakkunnu paaduthaiyaaNow sings that it belongs to you, my dear!
Male
Kuduthu vacha aal naanuI am a fortunate person,
Adhu unakku theriyaadhuYou do not realize that!
Female :Vayachu ippo pathinaaruFemale: The age is sixteen now,
Vanthuruchu thagaraaruAnd trouble has arrived!
Male :Idhu yaarukkaana thirunaalu thirunaaluMale: Whose grand festive day is this, festive day?
Male
Karugamani karugamaniBlack beads, black beads,
Kaluthula aaduthadiDangling around the neck!
Female :Kaninja kani urimai iniFemale: The right to this ripe fruit,
Unakkunnu paaduthaiyaaNow sings that it belongs to you, my dear!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

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