Karumbukku Erumbu Varum
From Adutha Kattam · 1999
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- K. S. Chitra
- Music director
- S. P. Venkatesh
- Details
- Adutha Kattam1999
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa | Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa |
| Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa | Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa |
| Female | |
| Karumbukku erumbu varum | Ants will flock to sugarcane |
| Kani thinna kurangu varum | Monkeys will come to eat fruit |
| Chorus :Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa | Chorus: Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa |
| Female :Kattazhgi kannadiththaal | Female: If a gorgeous beauty winks her eye |
| Kattilukku nilavu varum | The moon itself will come to the bed |
| Chorus :Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa | Chorus: Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa |
| Female | |
| Athikaalai varaikkum | Until the early morning hours |
| Idhu aalai izhukkum soodaga inikkum | This pulls a person in, sweetly and warmly |
| Chorus :Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa | Chorus: Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa |
| Female | |
| Hmm…..karumbukku erumbu varum | Hmm... ants will flock to sugarcane |
| Kani thinna kurangu varum | Monkeys will come to eat fruit |
| Chorus | |
| ……………… | |
| Female | |
| Kannaa nee ellai thaandaathe | My dear, do not cross your boundaries |
| Kannaalae karppai theendaathe hoi | Do not violate chastity with your eyes, hoi |
| En paattil thaalam podaamal | Without keeping rhythm to my song |
| En maeni aazham paaraathae | Do not attempt to measure the depth of my body |
| Female | |
| Ival aada vanthaval kalaiyaala vanthaval | She came to dance, she came for the sake of art |
| Pala nooru paadalgal parimaara vanthaval | She came to deliver many hundreds of songs |
| Penn maanam ullaval | She is a woman possessing dignity |
| Chorus :Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa | Chorus: Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa |
| Female | |
| Hoi…..karumbukku erumbu varum | Hoi... ants will flock to sugarcane |
| Kani thinna kurangu varum | Monkeys will come to eat fruit |
| Female | |
| Aah raaththiri michcham illaamal | Ah, without saving any part of the night |
| Hoh….ippothae etchil ooraathae ho | Hoh... do not let your mouth water right now, ho |
| Kannaalae jodi paar kannaa | Pair up only using your eyes, my dear |
| Kai neetti theenda paaraathae | Do not stretch out your hand trying to touch |
| Female | |
| Ival kaala soozhalil oru kaihiyaanaval | She is a captive bound by the circumstances of time |
| Antha kaaman yaettilae oru saedhiyaanaval | She is a news story in the ledger of Cupid |
| Maan jaadhi pondraval | She is gentle like the deer species |
| Chorus | |
| Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa | Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa |
| Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa | Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa |
| Female | |
| Hoi….karumbukku erumbu varum | Hoi... ants will flock to sugarcane |
| Kani thinna kurangu varum | Monkeys will come to eat fruit |
| Kattazhgi kannadiththaal | If a gorgeous beauty winks her eye |
| Kattilukku nilavu varum | The moon itself will come to the bed |
| Kattazhgi kannadiththaal | If a gorgeous beauty winks her eye |
| Kattilukku nilavu varum….. | The moon itself will come to the bed... |
ஜாக்கு ஜாக் ஜா ஜக ஜாக்கு ஜாக் ஜா
ஜாக்கு ஜாக் ஜா ஜக ஜாக்கு ஜாக் ஜா
Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
கரும்புக்கு எறும்பு வரும்
கனி தின்ன குரங்கு வரும்
குழு :
ஜாக்கு ஜாக் ஜா ஜக ஜாக்கு ஜாக் ஜா
கட்டழகி கண்ணடித்தால்
கட்டிலுக்கு நிலவு வரும்
குழு :
ஜாக்கு ஜாக் ஜா ஜக ஜாக்கு ஜாக் ஜா
Ants will flock to sugarcane
Monkeys will come to eat fruit
Chorus: Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Female: If a gorgeous beauty winks her eye
The moon itself will come to the bed
Chorus: Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
அதிகாலை வரைக்கும்
இது ஆளை இழுக்கும் சூடாக இனிக்கும்
குழு :
ஜாக்கு ஜாக் ஜா ஜக ஜாக்கு ஜாக் ஜா
Until the early morning hours
This pulls a person in, sweetly and warmly
Chorus: Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
ஹிம்....கரும்புக்கு எறும்பு வரும்
கனி தின்ன குரங்கு வரும்
Hmm... ants will flock to sugarcane
Monkeys will come to eat fruit
...........................
கண்ணா நீ எல்லை தாண்டாதே
கண்ணாலே கற்பை தீண்டாதே ஹோய்
என் பாட்டில் தாளம் போடாமல்
என் மேனி ஆழம் பாராதே
My dear, do not cross your boundaries
Do not violate chastity with your eyes, hoi
Without keeping rhythm to my song
Do not attempt to measure the depth of my body
இவள் ஆட வந்தவள் கலையாள வந்தவள்
பல நூறு பாடல்கள் பரிமாற வந்தவள்
பெண் மானம் உள்ளவள்....
குழு :
ஜாக்கு ஜாக் ஜா ஜக ஜாக்கு ஜாக் ஜா
She came to dance, she came for the sake of art
She came to deliver many hundreds of songs
She is a woman possessing dignity
Chorus: Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
ஹோய்...கரும்புக்கு எறும்பு வரும்
கனி தின்ன குரங்கு வரும்.....
Hoi... ants will flock to sugarcane
Monkeys will come to eat fruit
ஆஹ் ராத்திரி மிச்சம் இல்லாமல்
ஹொஹ்...இப்போதே எச்சில் ஊறாதே ஹோ
கண்ணாலே ஜோடி பார் கண்ணா
கை நீட்டி தீண்ட பாராதே
Ah, without saving any part of the night
Hoh... do not let your mouth water right now, ho
Pair up only using your eyes, my dear
Do not stretch out your hand trying to touch
இவள் கால சூழலில் ஒரு கைதியானவள்
அந்த காமன் ஏட்டிலே ஒரு சேதியானவள்
மான் ஜாதி போன்றவள்
She is a captive bound by the circumstances of time
She is a news story in the ledger of Cupid
She is gentle like the deer species
ஜாக்கு ஜாக் ஜா ஜக ஜாக்கு ஜாக் ஜா
ஜாக்கு ஜாக் ஜா ஜக ஜாக்கு ஜாக் ஜா
Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
ஹோய்...கரும்புக்கு எறும்பு வரும்
கனி தின்ன குரங்கு வரும்
கட்டழகி கண்ணடித்தால்
கட்டிலுக்கு நிலவு வரும்
அதிகாலை வரைக்கும் இது
ஆளை இழுக்கும் சூடாக இனிக்கும்...
Hoi... ants will flock to sugarcane
Monkeys will come to eat fruit
If a gorgeous beauty winks her eye
The moon itself will come to the bed
If a gorgeous beauty winks her eye
The moon itself will come to the bed...
Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Karumbukku erumbu varum
Ants will flock to sugarcane
Kani thinna kurangu varum
Monkeys will come to eat fruit
Chorus :Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Chorus: Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Female :Kattazhgi kannadiththaal
Female: If a gorgeous beauty winks her eye
Kattilukku nilavu varum
The moon itself will come to the bed
Chorus :Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Chorus: Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Athikaalai varaikkum
Until the early morning hours
Idhu aalai izhukkum soodaga inikkum
This pulls a person in, sweetly and warmly
Chorus :Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Chorus: Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Hmm…..karumbukku erumbu varum
Hmm... ants will flock to sugarcane
Kani thinna kurangu varum
Monkeys will come to eat fruit
………………
Kannaa nee ellai thaandaathe
My dear, do not cross your boundaries
Kannaalae karppai theendaathe hoi
Do not violate chastity with your eyes, hoi
En paattil thaalam podaamal
Without keeping rhythm to my song
En maeni aazham paaraathae
Do not attempt to measure the depth of my body
Ival aada vanthaval kalaiyaala vanthaval
She came to dance, she came for the sake of art
Pala nooru paadalgal parimaara vanthaval
She came to deliver many hundreds of songs
Penn maanam ullaval
She is a woman possessing dignity
Chorus :Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Chorus: Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Hoi…..karumbukku erumbu varum
Hoi... ants will flock to sugarcane
Kani thinna kurangu varum
Monkeys will come to eat fruit
Aah raaththiri michcham illaamal
Ah, without saving any part of the night
Hoh….ippothae etchil ooraathae ho
Hoh... do not let your mouth water right now, ho
Kannaalae jodi paar kannaa
Pair up only using your eyes, my dear
Kai neetti theenda paaraathae
Do not stretch out your hand trying to touch
Ival kaala soozhalil oru kaihiyaanaval
She is a captive bound by the circumstances of time
Antha kaaman yaettilae oru saedhiyaanaval
She is a news story in the ledger of Cupid
Maan jaadhi pondraval
She is gentle like the deer species
Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Jaakku jaak jaa jaga jaakku jaak jaa
Hoi….karumbukku erumbu varum
Hoi... ants will flock to sugarcane
Kani thinna kurangu varum
Monkeys will come to eat fruit
Kattazhgi kannadiththaal
If a gorgeous beauty winks her eye
Kattilukku nilavu varum
The moon itself will come to the bed
Kattazhgi kannadiththaal
If a gorgeous beauty winks her eye
Kattilukku nilavu varum…..
The moon itself will come to the bed...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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