Karumbum Erumbum
From Puthumai Pithan · 1957
- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singer
- C. S. Jayaraman
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Puthumai Pithan1957
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Karumbum erumbum polae | Like sugarcane and the ant, |
| Kaaviyam thiruvodum polae | Like an epic poem and an alms bowl, |
| Irumbum kaandham polae | Like iron and a magnet, |
| Irukkalam marakkamalae | We can remain together without forgetting each other. |
| Male | |
| Manae un mel maiyal aanen | Oh deer-like maiden, I have fallen in love with you! |
| Nillu nillu | Stop, stop! |
| Manae un mel maiyal aanen | Oh deer-like maiden, I have fallen in love with you! |
| Nillu nillu | Stop, stop! |
| Thaenae undhan istam enna | Oh sweet honey, what is your desire? |
| Sollu sollu | Tell me, tell me! |
| Thaenae undhan istam enna | Oh sweet honey, what is your desire? |
| Sollu sollu | Tell me, tell me! |
| Manae un mel maiyal aanen | Oh deer-like maiden, I have fallen in love with you! |
| Nillu nillu | Stop, stop! |
| Male | |
| Dhegam ellam unnale | Because of you, my whole body... |
| Thaelaaga kottudhadi | Stings like a scorpion! |
| Indha baagam ellam thannale | All these parts of mine, on their own... |
| Paambaaga kadikkudhadi | Bite like a snake! |
| Male | |
| Dhegam ellam unnale | Because of you, my whole body... |
| Thaelaaga kottudhadi | Stings like a scorpion! |
| Baagam ellam thannale | All these parts of mine, on their own... |
| Paambaaga kadikkudhadi | Bite like a snake! |
| Male | |
| Mogathaal ennai meeri | Overpowered by lustful desire, |
| Mel moochu vaanguthadi | I am gasping for breath! |
| Kannae endhan | Oh my dear eye, |
| Raaja petha rojaapoovae | Oh rose born to a king, |
| Kanal jaadai kaati vittaal naane poven | If you show a fiery glance, I will perish! |
| Manae un mel maiyal aanen | Oh deer-like maiden, I have fallen in love with you! |
| Nillu nillu | Stop, stop! |
| Male | |
| Yaaradi nee ingu vandhaval yaaradi nee | Who are you, woman, who came here, who are you? |
| Korathanamaai kaaval meeriyae | Slyly breaching the guard, |
| Sollaamal yen vandhaai sollu | Why did you come without telling? Tell me! |
| Korathanamaai kaaval meeriyae | Slyly breaching the guard, |
| Sollaamal yen vandhaai sollu sollu | Why did you come without telling? Tell me, tell me! |
| Korathanamaai kaaval meeriyae | Slyly breaching the guard, |
| Sollaamal yen vandhaai sollu sollu sollu sollu | Why did you come without telling? Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me! |
| Yaaradi nee ingu vandhaval yaaradi nee | Who are you, woman, who came here, who are you? |
| Male | |
| Pitham theliya marunthondrikkudhu | There is a medicine to cure this madness, |
| Per inbam adhukullae | Supreme bliss lies within it. |
| Pitham theliya marunthondrikkudhu | There is a medicine to cure this madness, |
| Per inbam adhukullae | Supreme bliss lies within it. |
| Mattra marundhugal thindraalum ullukku | Even if I consume other medicines inside, |
| Mattra marundhugal thindraalum ullukku | Even if I consume other medicines inside, |
| Valle vallae aiyaen adimai | It won't work, it won't work, I am your humble slave! |
| Pitham theliya marunthondrikkudhu | There is a medicine to cure this madness, |
| Per inbam adhukullae | Supreme bliss lies within it. |
| Mattra marundhugal | Other medicines... |
| Mattra marundhugal thindraalum ullukku | Even if I consume other medicines inside, |
| Valle vallae aiyaen adimai | It won't work, it won't work, I am your humble slave! |
| Pitham theliya marunthondrikkudhu | There is a medicine to cure this madness, |
| Per inbam adhukullae | Supreme bliss lies within it. |
கரும்பும் எறும்பும் போலே....
காவியும் திருவோடும் போலே....
இரும்பும் காந்தம் போலே
இருக்கலாம் மறக்காமலே.....
Like sugarcane and the ant,
Like an epic poem and an alms bowl,
Like iron and a magnet,
We can remain together without forgetting each other.
மானே உன் மேல் மையலானேன்
நில்லு நில்லு
மானே உன் மேல் மையலானேன்
நில்லு நில்லு
தேனே உந்தன் இஷ்டமென்ன
சொல்லு சொல்லு.....
தேனே உந்தன் இஷ்டமென்ன
சொல்லு சொல்லு......
மானே உன் மேல் மையலானேன்
நில்லு நில்லு
Oh deer-like maiden, I have fallen in love with you!
Stop, stop!
Oh deer-like maiden, I have fallen in love with you!
Stop, stop!
Oh sweet honey, what is your desire?
Tell me, tell me!
Oh sweet honey, what is your desire?
Tell me, tell me!
Oh deer-like maiden, I have fallen in love with you!
Stop, stop!
தேகமெல்லாம் உன்னாலே
தேளாக கொட்டுதடி
இந்த பாகமெல்லாம் தன்னாலே
பாம்பாக கடிக்குதடி
Because of you, my whole body...
Stings like a scorpion!
All these parts of mine, on their own...
Bite like a snake!
தேகமெல்லாம் உன்னாலே
தேளாக கொட்டுதடி
பாகமெல்லாம் தன்னாலே
பாம்பாக கடிக்குதடி
Because of you, my whole body...
Stings like a scorpion!
All these parts of mine, on their own...
Bite like a snake!
மோகத்தால் என்னை மீறி
மேல் மூச்சு வாங்குதடி
கண்ணே எந்தன்
ராஜா பெத்த ரோஜாப்பூவே
கண்ணால் ஜாடைக் காட்டி விட்டால் நானே போவேன்
மானே உன் மேல் மையலானேன்
நில்லு நில்லு
Overpowered by lustful desire,
I am gasping for breath!
Oh my dear eye,
Oh rose born to a king,
If you show a fiery glance, I will perish!
Oh deer-like maiden, I have fallen in love with you!
Stop, stop!
யாரடி நீ இங்கு வந்தவள் யாரடி நீ
கோரத்தனமாய் காவல் மீறியே
சொல்லாமல் ஏன் வந்தாய் சொல்லு
கோரத்தனமாய் காவல் மீறியே
சொல்லாமல் ஏன் வந்தாய் சொல்லு சொல்லு
கோரத்தனமாய் காவல் மீறியே
சொல்லாமல் ஏன் வந்தாய் சொல்லு சொல்லு சொல்லு சொல்லு
யாரடி நீ இங்கு வந்தவள் யாரடி நீ
Who are you, woman, who came here, who are you?
Slyly breaching the guard,
Why did you come without telling? Tell me!
Slyly breaching the guard,
Why did you come without telling? Tell me, tell me!
Slyly breaching the guard,
Why did you come without telling? Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me!
Who are you, woman, who came here, who are you?
பித்தம் தெளிய மருந்தொன்றிருக்குது
பேரின்பம் அதுக்குள்ளே
பித்தம் தெளிய மருந்தொன்றிருக்குது
பேரின்பம் அதுக்குள்ளே
மற்ற மருந்துகள் தின்றாலும் உள்ளுக்கு
மற்ற மருந்துகள் தின்றாலும் உள்ளுக்கு
வல்லே வல்லே ஐயேன் அடிமை
பித்தம் தெளிய மருந்தொன்றிருக்குது
பேரின்பம் அதுக்குள்ளே
மற்ற மருந்துகள்
மற்ற மருந்துகள் தின்றாலும் உள்ளுக்கு
வல்லே வல்லே ஐயேன் அடிமை
பித்தம் தெளிய மருந்தொன்றிருக்குது
பேரின்பம் அதுக்குள்ளே
There is a medicine to cure this madness,
Supreme bliss lies within it.
There is a medicine to cure this madness,
Supreme bliss lies within it.
Even if I consume other medicines inside,
Even if I consume other medicines inside,
It won't work, it won't work, I am your humble slave!
There is a medicine to cure this madness,
Supreme bliss lies within it.
Other medicines...
Even if I consume other medicines inside,
It won't work, it won't work, I am your humble slave!
There is a medicine to cure this madness,
Supreme bliss lies within it.
Karumbum erumbum polae
Like sugarcane and the ant,
Kaaviyam thiruvodum polae
Like an epic poem and an alms bowl,
Irumbum kaandham polae
Like iron and a magnet,
Irukkalam marakkamalae
We can remain together without forgetting each other.
Manae un mel maiyal aanen
Oh deer-like maiden, I have fallen in love with you!
Nillu nillu
Stop, stop!
Manae un mel maiyal aanen
Oh deer-like maiden, I have fallen in love with you!
Nillu nillu
Stop, stop!
Thaenae undhan istam enna
Oh sweet honey, what is your desire?
Sollu sollu
Tell me, tell me!
Thaenae undhan istam enna
Oh sweet honey, what is your desire?
Sollu sollu
Tell me, tell me!
Manae un mel maiyal aanen
Oh deer-like maiden, I have fallen in love with you!
Nillu nillu
Stop, stop!
Dhegam ellam unnale
Because of you, my whole body...
Thaelaaga kottudhadi
Stings like a scorpion!
Indha baagam ellam thannale
All these parts of mine, on their own...
Paambaaga kadikkudhadi
Bite like a snake!
Dhegam ellam unnale
Because of you, my whole body...
Thaelaaga kottudhadi
Stings like a scorpion!
Baagam ellam thannale
All these parts of mine, on their own...
Paambaaga kadikkudhadi
Bite like a snake!
Mogathaal ennai meeri
Overpowered by lustful desire,
Mel moochu vaanguthadi
I am gasping for breath!
Kannae endhan
Oh my dear eye,
Raaja petha rojaapoovae
Oh rose born to a king,
Kanal jaadai kaati vittaal naane poven
If you show a fiery glance, I will perish!
Manae un mel maiyal aanen
Oh deer-like maiden, I have fallen in love with you!
Nillu nillu
Stop, stop!
Yaaradi nee ingu vandhaval yaaradi nee
Who are you, woman, who came here, who are you?
Korathanamaai kaaval meeriyae
Slyly breaching the guard,
Sollaamal yen vandhaai sollu
Why did you come without telling? Tell me!
Korathanamaai kaaval meeriyae
Slyly breaching the guard,
Sollaamal yen vandhaai sollu sollu
Why did you come without telling? Tell me, tell me!
Korathanamaai kaaval meeriyae
Slyly breaching the guard,
Sollaamal yen vandhaai sollu sollu sollu sollu
Why did you come without telling? Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me!
Yaaradi nee ingu vandhaval yaaradi nee
Who are you, woman, who came here, who are you?
Pitham theliya marunthondrikkudhu
There is a medicine to cure this madness,
Per inbam adhukullae
Supreme bliss lies within it.
Pitham theliya marunthondrikkudhu
There is a medicine to cure this madness,
Per inbam adhukullae
Supreme bliss lies within it.
Mattra marundhugal thindraalum ullukku
Even if I consume other medicines inside,
Mattra marundhugal thindraalum ullukku
Even if I consume other medicines inside,
Valle vallae aiyaen adimai
It won't work, it won't work, I am your humble slave!
Pitham theliya marunthondrikkudhu
There is a medicine to cure this madness,
Per inbam adhukullae
Supreme bliss lies within it.
Mattra marundhugal
Other medicines...
Mattra marundhugal thindraalum ullukku
Even if I consume other medicines inside,
Valle vallae aiyaen adimai
It won't work, it won't work, I am your humble slave!
Pitham theliya marunthondrikkudhu
There is a medicine to cure this madness,
Per inbam adhukullae
Supreme bliss lies within it.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song from 'Puthumai Pithan' (1957) is a theatrical and dramatic expression of intense romantic longing. The protagonist playfully addresses his beloved using evocative similes—comparing their connection to an ant attracted to sugarcane and iron drawn to a magnet. He confesses how love-sickness has overwhelmed his senses, describing his physical restless state as if being stung by scorpions and bitten by snakes. Demanding to know the identity of the mysterious beauty who bypassed security to enter his presence, he asserts that no ordinary medicine can cure his romantic madness ('pitham'). The only true remedy and ultimate bliss lie in her love, declaring himself forever devoted as her humble servant.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai (Simile)
“Karumbum erumbum polae / Irumbum kaandham polae”
Compares the inseparable bond between the lovers to ants on sugarcane and iron to a magnet using 'polae' (like).
Uyarvu Navitchi Ani (Hyperbole)
“Thaelaaga kottudhadi / Paambaaga kadikkudhadi”
Exaggerates the feverish physical pangs of lovesickness to scorpion stings and snake bites.
Adukku Thodar (Repetition / Anaphora)
“Nillu nillu / Sollu sollu”
Repeats imperative words like 'Nillu' (Stop) and 'Sollu' (Tell) for dramatic musical rhythm and emotional urgency.
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Raaja petha rojaapoovae”
Directly addresses the beloved as a royal rose bloom, enhancing the romantic imagery.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by G. Ramanathan with lyrics by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, this song features the high-pitched, classical theatrical vocal style of legendary singer C. S. Jayaraman. The film 'Puthumai Pithan' (1957) starred M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and was a major musical hit of its era.
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