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Lyrics & meaning

Karumathur Kaatukule

From Virumaandi · 2004

Lyricist
Kamal Haasan
Singers
Mary, Periya Karuppu Thevar, Sukumar, Thiruvudiyan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Virumaandi2004

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Tharigida tharigidaRhythmic vocal syllables (Tharigida tharigida)
Thaga junu thaga junu….Rhythmic vocal syllables (Thaga junu thaga junu)
Tharigida tharigidaRhythmic vocal syllables (Tharigida tharigida)
Thaga junu thaga junu….Rhythmic vocal syllables (Thaga junu thaga junu)
Aaahaaa….Ah...
Male
Karumathur kaattukkullaeInside the Karumathur forest
Oru kaalathilOnce upon a time
Kaaliyamman pola vandhaalShe arrived like Goddess Kaali
PechiyammaGoddess Pechiyamma
Chorus
Karumathur kaattukkullaeInside the Karumathur forest
Oru kaalathilOnce upon a time
Kaaliyamman pola vandhaalShe arrived like Goddess Kaali
PechiyammaGoddess Pechiyamma
Chorus
Saiva samayal padayal vachuOffering vegetarian food offerings
Saruva chattiyil pongalvappaCooking sweet pongal in a brass pot
Saamikkellaam poosai vappaOffering worship to all deities
Sangeduthu oodhi nirpaBlowing the conch shell standing tall
Chorus
Karumathur kaattukkullaeInside the Karumathur forest
Oru kaalathilOnce upon a time
Kaaliyamman pola vandhaalShe arrived like Goddess Kaali
PechiyammaGoddess Pechiyamma
Male
Sangu satham adhuThat sound of the conch shell
Porkulathil ullaIn the battle pond
Pei kaaman kaadhil kettadhuReached the ears of the demon Pei Kaaman
Chorus :Kettadhu kettadhuChorus: Heard, it was heard
Male
Pongalodu pazhangazhumAlong with pongal and fruits
Saiva padaiyal vachuPlacing vegetarian offerings
Saamikku yaar angu padaippadhuWho is making offerings to God there?
Chorus :Padaippadhu padaippadhuChorus: Offering, making offerings
Male
Saiva vaadai adhuThat aroma of vegetarian food
Konjamum sagikkavillaiHe could not tolerate even a little
Thaaki mugham sulikka vaikkudhuIt attacked and made him frown his face
Chorus :Engal sengkan thudi thudikkaChorus: Making our red eyes throb with rage
Angam pada padakkaMaking the body shudder with excitement
Ponginaanae pei kaamanaePei Kaaman surged up furiously
Male
Maattu kudal eduthuTaking a cow's intestine
Maalaiyaaga pottudhaanWearing it as a garland
Pechiyamma edathukkuTo Pechiyamma's place
Avan vandhaanaeHe came over
Chorus
Maattu kudal eduthuTaking a cow's intestine
Maalaiyaaga pottudhaanWearing it as a garland
Pechiyamma edathukkuTo Pechiyamma's place
Avan vandhaanaeHe came over
Male
Naanaalum pagudhiyilaeIn the territory that I rule
Ennennamoo saththam dhaanWhat kind of random sounds are these?
Nee ezhuppum satham ellaamAll the sounds you make
Kuththam dhaanAre an offense here
Male
SathathaalaeBecause of the noise
Naethu poora thoongalaiI couldn't sleep all night yesterday
Unga sangu sathamYour conch sound
Kottu satham thaangalaiAnd drum beats are intolerable
Male
Ezhu naalil ingirundhu kilambanumYou must leave from here in seven days
Ada illaavitta neengalellaam polambanumOtherwise all of you will have to lament
Achamootti ellaraiyum mirattunaanInstilling fear, he threatened everyone
Porulai adichu norukki aavesama virattunaanSmashing objects in fury, he drove them away aggressively
Chorus :Viratunaan aiyayayo virattunaan… (2)Chorus: He drove them away, oh dear, he drove them away...
Male
Anna kodichiGraceful like a flag
Azhagu mayil pechiyammaPechiyamma, beautiful as a peacock
Thannan thaniyae vaaduravaSuffering all alone in distress
Kannaana kazhuvanaadhanPrecious Kazhuvanaadhan
Kandu manam kalangi ninnu…Saw her and stood heartbroken...
Chorus :MmmChorus: Mmm
Male
Avan ullangai reghaiyaHe examined the lines on her palm
Ooduruvi paarthuttaan..Chorus :OhoHe read them deep within... Chorus: Oho
Purangai reghaiyaThe lines on the back of her hand
Puratti puratti paarthutaan …Chorus :AhaHe flipped and studied thoroughly... Chorus: Aha
Male
Unnai kaappaatha orae oruTo protect you, there is only one
Aalai vitta ulagathilae yaarum illaiPerson left in this entire world
Chorus :AamaChorus: Yes
Male :Otti nirkum thunbam ellaamMale: All the clinging sorrows
Ottadaiya ottiduvaan oruthanaagaHe will clear away single-handedly like cobwebs
Chorus :AamaChorus: Yes
Male
Anaadhaikku aadharavu tharuvaandiHe gives refuge to the destitute
Avan peru naan sonnen virumandiI speak of him named Virumandi
Chorus :AaangChorus: Yeah
Female
Virumandiya vendi varathaanTo pray to Virumandi
Anga pechiyamma purapattaalaePechiyamma set out from there
Kanandharam kaadu kadandhuCrossing dense dark forests
Andha vanna mayil purappattaalaeThat colorful peacock set off
Female
Erumbu yera mudiyaadhaeWhere even an ant cannot climb
Ettu suthu kottaikkullaInside an eight-layered fort
Paambu yera mudiyaadhaeWhere even a snake cannot slither
Pathu suthu kottaikkullaInside a ten-layered fort
Male
Ohoo vevaram kettu virumandiOh, hearing the news, Virumandi
Veeram pongi kondu ezhundhaanaeRose up with surging valor
kanni ponnu kadhai kettuHearing the young maiden's story
Kannu sevandhida ezhundhaanaeHe arose with eyes turning red with rage
Male
Petha pulla thuyaram kettuHearing the agony of a daughter
Pethavanga thudippadhu polJust like parents throb in distress
Perum puzhuthi puyal adikkaAs a massive dust storm blew
Pei kaaman irukkumidamWhere the demon Pei Kaaman resides
Male
Perum andam kidu kidukkaMaking the immense universe shake
Virumandi vandhaanaeVirumandi arrived
Chorus :Vandhaanae vandhaanae vandhaanae….Chorus: He arrived, he arrived, he arrived...
Male
Ven pongalVen pongal
Thaengai pazham viboothiCoconut, banana, holy ash
Adhai veruppadhennaWhy do you despise these?
Artham ketta kabodhiYou mindless fool
Male
Idhu pechiyammaThis is where Pechiyamma
Kudiyirukkum kadaludaaResides, like an ocean
Ethiruthu pesinaakaIf you speak against her
Kizhinchu pogum kudaludaaYour guts will be torn apart
Male
Maattu kudalilWearing a garland of cow intestines
Maalai podum paaraariYou rogue
Un muthugil yeri seiya poren savvaariI am going to ride on your back
Chorus :Savvaari savvaari savvaari….Chorus: A ride, a ride, a ride...
Male
Ippadi virumandi sonnadhumWhen Virumandi spoke like this
Rendu perkkum kadumaiyaBetween the two of them, a fierce
Sandai nadanthuchuFight broke out
Appo boomiyellam nadunguchuThen the entire earth trembled
Malai ellam odanchichuAll the mountains shattered
Idha paartha silaperuSeeing this, a few people said
Vinnai edhukkaiyaa sandai poduringhaWhy are you two fighting to break the sky?
Samadhanama pesi theerthukalam sonnanghaThey suggested settling it peacefully by talking
Avangalum adhukku sammadham sonnanghaThey both agreed to that proposal
Apprum panchayathula theerpu sonnangaThen in the village assembly, they gave a verdict
Madhura motta koburapakkathulaNear the bald temple tower of Madurai
Kodi onnu naatu veipomWe will plant a flag
Unga rendu perula yaaru kodiya mudhalaWhichever of you two
Thookittu varagalooBrings back the flag first
Avangalukku andha ellai sondhamnuThat boundary will belong to them, they judged
Theerpu solla peikaaman yosichaanDemon Kaaman thought about this verdict
Sadhi seiya thittam theetunaanHe plotted a treacherous plan
Virumandi kku nindi kuthira onnu kuduthuGiving a limping horse to Virumandi
Avan poi enga kodi thookittuHe thought how could Virumandi go and bring back the flag
Vara poraan nenachaan…ahaaan (Dialogue)He expected to win easily... (Dialogue)
Male
Motta kooburathukkuTowards the bald tower
Purapattan pei kaamanumPei Kaaman set out
Kottappa naaikanooraTo touch Kottappa Naickanoor
Thottuda viruman ponnaanViruman went ahead
Chorus
Motta kooburathukkuTowards the bald tower
Purapattan pei kaamanumPei Kaaman set out
Kottappa naaikanooraTo touch Kottappa Naickanoor
Thottuda viruman ponnaanViruman went ahead
Male
Yeika nenaicha andha peikaamanOutsmarting the cunning demon Kaaman
Ellaiyayum serthu alanthu vandhuMeasuring and conquering the entire boundary
Jeyichaanae virumaandiumVirumandi emerged victorious
Chorus :Jeyichaanae virumaandiumChorus: Virumandi won
Jeyichaanae virumaandiumVirumandi won
Female
Annen thirumbhi ponaIf elder brother returns home
Ingae ivan Summa irupaanaWill this demon stay quiet here?
Ponnukku tholla kudukkumAnyone who harasses a woman
Evanum inga nalla irupaanaWill they ever live peacefully here?
Female
Enna naan seiya porenWhat am I going to do?
Ennakku onnum teriyalaiyaeI don't know what to do at all
Ada annan kaaran viruman ponaIf brother Viruman leaves
Verum yedhum vazhiyum ilayaeThere is no other way left
Male
{Yosichu oru thandhiramThinking of a trick
Panna pechiammaPechiyamma acted
Chorus :Enna thandhiramChorus: What trick?
Male
Viral la pottuirundha modhiraththaShe dropped her ring from her finger
Kinathula pottuttu..annen annenInto a well, calling 'Brother, brother!'
Modhiram vizhunthiruchu eduthu kudunga sonnaSaying 'My ring fell in, please fetch it for me'
Thangachikaaga kinathula kudhichi andhaFor his sister's sake, jumping into the well
Modhiraratha edukaiyila…While retrieving that ring...
Kinnathukku mela kalla vechu moodiPlacing a heavy stone over the well
Pechiamma virumaandiya kinathukullaPechiyamma imprisoned Virumandi
Sirai vechuttaInside the well
Enna thangachi ennaku idhu thaanAsking 'Is this the gratitude you show me, sister?'
Nee kaattum nandri ah nu kettkaWhen he asked her
Dhinam dhinam annanukku poosai pannaTo perform worship for brother every day
Sooliponnum soolimaadum kodukkaOffering pregnant women and pregnant cattle as sacrifice
Nambalaala mudiyumaIs that possible for us?
Kodutha indha oorum ulagum thaanWould this town and world be able to bear it?
Thaanguma nenachi annan kitta sonnaThinking so, she explained to her brother
Nee ketta madhiri unakkuWe cannot perform worship as you demanded
Poosai panna mudiyathuWe cannot worship in that severe manner
Aana unakku naangha enna pannuvom na} (Dialogue)But what we will do for you is... (Dialogue)
Female
Ullluuuuuuuuu….ullluuuuu…Ullluuuuuuuuu….ullluuuuu…
Male :Aadi kadasi velliMale: On the last Friday of Aadi month
Unakku oru poosai veipomWe will perform worship for you
Aadoda pongal vechuCooking goat pongal
Appo padaiyal veippomWe will offer food to you then
Chorus
Aadi kadasi velliOn the last Friday of Aadi month
Unakku oru poosai veipomWe will perform worship for you
Aadoda pongal vechuCooking goat pongal
Appo padaiyal veippomWe will offer food to you then
Male
Adiyen nee kettadhellamOh Lord, everything you asked for
Chorus :Amaamaam senju veipomChorus: Yes, we will fulfill and offer
Male :Adhukaagha engalaiyaeMale: For that reason, protecting us always
Eppodhum kaathirunthuAlways watching over us
Ingae nee irukka venumYou must reside right here
Engum kunkuma mangalam thanga venumEverywhere, auspiciousness and prosperity must reside
Chorus :Swami ingae nee irukka venumChorus: Lord, you must reside right here
Engum kunkuma mangalam thanga venumEverywhere, auspiciousness and prosperity must reside
Chorus
…………………………………...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Karumathur Kaattukkullae is an epic folk ballad narrative from the 2004 film Virumaandi. Written by Kamal Haasan and set to music by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, the track recounts local Tamil deity folklore surrounding Goddess Pechiyamma, the demon Pei Kaaman, and the heroic deity Virumandi. When Pechiyamma settles in Karumathur with vegetarian worship, the meat-garlanded demon Pei Kaaman tries to drive her out. Pechiyamma seeks the aid of Virumandi, who confronts Pei Kaaman in a clash so fierce that the earth shakes. Settling the feud through a race to the Madurai temple tower, Virumandi overcomes Pei Kaaman's trickery to win the territory. To ensure Virumandi remains to protect the village permanently, Pechiyamma cleverly tricks him into a well to fetch her ring, then seals the well with a boulder. In return for his eternal protection as the village guardian deity, she promises annual worship on the last Friday of the auspicious Tamil month of Aadi, establishing the regional temple traditions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Karumathur kaattukkullae

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across adjacent words, creating rhythmic folk cadence.

Uvamaani (Simile)

Kaaliyamman pola vandhaal Pechiyamma

Comparing Pechiyamma's fierce arrival in the forest to Goddess Kaali using 'pola'.

Uyarvu Navortchi (Hyperbole)

Appo boomiyellam nadunguchu / Malai ellam odanchichu

Exaggerating the battle's force to emphasize its cosmic scale, where mountains break and the earth shakes.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song represents the authentic Tamil 'Kathaipattu' (ballad storytelling) style, capturing regional Madurai deity folklore. Maestro Ilaiyaraaja incorporated traditional rural percussion instruments and authentic village folk vocals to recreate the atmosphere of local temple festivals.

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