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Adutha Kattam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Karumbukku Erumbu Varum

From Adutha Kattam · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
K. S. Chitra
Music director
S. P. Venkatesh
Movie name
Adutha Kattam
Movie release year
1999
Lyrics added on
7 Apr 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Karumbukku erumbu varum
Kani thinna kurangu varum
Chorus :Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Female :Kattazhgi kannadiththaal
Kattilukku nilavu varum
Chorus :Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Athikaalai varaikkum
Idhu aalai izhukkum soodaga inikkum
Chorus :Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Hmm…..karumbukku erumbu varum
Kani thinna kurangu varum
………………
Kannaa nee ellai thaandaathe
Kannaalae karppai theendaathe hoi
En paattil thaalam podaamal
En maeni aazham paaraathae
Ival aada vanthaval kalaiyaala vanthaval
Pala nooru paadalgal parimaara vanthaval
Penn maanam ullaval
Chorus :Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Hoi…..karumbukku erumbu varum
Kani thinna kurangu varum
Aah raaththiri michcham illaamal
Hoh….ippothae etchil ooraathae ho
Kannaalae jodi paar kannaa
Kai neetti theenda paaraathae
Ival kaala soozhalil oru kaihiyaanaval
Antha kaaman yaettilae oru saedhiyaanaval
Maan jaadhi pondraval
Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Hoi….karumbukku erumbu varum
Kani thinna kurangu varum
Kattazhgi kannadiththaal
Kattilukku nilavu varum
Kattazhgi kannadiththaal
Kattilukku nilavu varum…..
Jaaku jaak jaa jaga jaaku jaak jaa
Jaaku jaak jaa jaga jaaku jaak jaa
Ants will come flocking to sugarcane,
Monkeys will come to feast on fruit!
Chorus: Jaaku jaak jaa jaga jaaku jaak jaa
Female: If a stunning beauty winks,
The moon itself will come to the bed!
Chorus: Jaaku jaak jaa jaga jaaku jaak jaa
Until the early morning,
It pulls you in, hot and sweet!
Chorus: Jaaku jaak jaa jaga jaaku jaak jaa
Mmm... ants will come flocking to sugarcane,
Monkeys will come to feast on fruit!
...
My dear, do not cross your limits,
Do not violate my modesty with your gaze, hoy!
Instead of keeping rhythm to my song,
Do not try to measure the depths of my body.
She came here to dance, to rule through her art,
She came to share hundreds of songs,
She is a woman of dignity!
Chorus: Jaaku jaak jaa jaga jaaku jaak jaa
Hoy... ants will come flocking to sugarcane,
Monkeys will come to feast on fruit!
Ah, with the whole night still left ahead,
Ho... do not start drooling so soon, ho!
Pair with me only with your eyes, my dear,
Do not reach out your hand to touch.
She is trapped as a prisoner of circumstances,
She has become just a story in the book of Kama (the god of desire),
Yet she belongs to the gentle nature of a deer!
Jaaku jaak jaa jaga jaaku jaak jaa
Jaaku jaak jaa jaga jaaku jaak jaa
Hoy... ants will come flocking to sugarcane,
Monkeys will come to feast on fruit!
If a stunning beauty winks,
The moon itself will come to the bed!
If a stunning beauty winks,
The moon itself will come to the bed...
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This energetic song captures the tension between magnetic sensual attraction and self-dignity. Using vivid folk imagery of nature—such as ants drawn to sweet sugarcane and monkeys seeking ripe fruit—it acknowledges natural human desires while firmly asserting personal boundaries. The singer reminds her admirer that she is a performer dedicated to her art and deserving of respect, urging him to appreciate her beauty with his eyes rather than crossing limits or treating her as mere eye candy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Karumbukku erumbu varum / Kani thinna kurangu varum

Compares natural irresistible instincts (ants attracted to sugar, monkeys to fruits) to male attraction towards female beauty.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Kattazhgi kannadiththaal / Kattilukku nilavu varum

Exaggerates the impact of a wink, suggesting it is so captivating that even the moon would descend to the bed.

Repetition/Rhyme (Iyaippu)

Ival aada vanthaval kalaiyaala vanthaval / Pala nooru paadalgal parimaara vanthaval

Use of the repeating suffix 'vanthaval' at line endings to create a rhythmic cadence celebrating the dancer's intent.

Did you know?

Trivia

Penned by poet Vairamuthu, the lyrics use traditional Tamil folk motifs and rhythm (Jaakku) to balance playful dance energy with themes of female dignity and artistic passion.

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