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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Karuppi

From Pariyerum Perumal · 2018

Lyricist
Vivek
Singers
Santhosh Narayanan, Dr. S. C. Chandilya
Music director
Santhosh Narayanan
Movie name
Pariyerum Perumal
Movie release year
2018
Lyrics added on
19 Jan 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Adi karuppi en karuppi
Nagathadamae en paadha
Nee illaadha kaattil
Naan eppadithaan thiriveno
Adi karuppi en karuppi
Nagathadamae en paadha
Nee illaadha kaattil
Naan eppadithaan thiriveno
Karuppi en karuppi
Naan pesuradhu kekkudha
En azhugaiyum kekkudha
Andha rayilin adiyil sikki sedhari
Idhayam kathum valiyum
Vedhanaiyum kekkudha..(Dialogue)
Ippa udanae naan unna pakkanum
Mookkil mugam vachi orasanum
Un naakkil nakki
En azhukka kazhuvi poganum
Enga vandha unna pakkalam (Dialogue)
Yaar andha kaattil odanji
Kedappadu neeya illa naana
Naana illa neeya
Neeya naana…naana neeya karuppi…(Dialogue)
Irandhadhu neeya iruppadhu naana
Iruppadhu neeya irandhadhu naana
Nammala konnaven yaarunu
Enakku nalla theriyum
Anga seththadhu yaarunu
Avanukku mattumdhan puriyum
Azhinjadhu neeya
Chorus :O…oh…oh
Male :Azhuvadhu naana
Chorus :O…oh…oh
Azhuvadhu neeya
Chorus :O…oh…oh
Male :Azhinjadhu naana
Endhiri karuppi amma kooppudura
Kulikka poganum endhiridi
Yendi pesala en kooda
Ennadi nadandhichi anga..(Dialogue)
Valiya thaangaama thudichiya
Kadaisi nimisham enna nenaichiya
Unna kollum podhu avan sirichana
Nee koraikkumpodhu avan moraichana..(Dialogue)
Unkitta padichi padichi
Sonnanae kettiya
Yaar kooptu nee pona
Yendi pona
Ethana thadava solliyirukken
Ellam manusanum ingae onnu illaenu…(Dialogue)
Valathu anaikkuravan
Kazhutha nerikkiravan
Kanna thadavuravan
Kaala nodikkiravan
Konnu sirikkiravan
Ninnu azhuguravan
Karuppan
Sevappan
Saami
Saathan
Adimai
Aandaan
Mayiru
Matta
Aayiram manusan undunu
Unakku appovae sonnen kettiya nee
Chorus :O…oh…oh
O…oh…oh
Male :Ippa udanae naan unna
Pakkanum karuppi
Chorus :O…oh…oh
Nalaikku vandhu appa kepparu
Naan ennadi badhil solluven
Unna enganu solluven
Engadi iruka nee
Endhiri karuppi
Endhiri karuppi
Endhiri karuppi
Endhiri karuppi
Rendu kaalilo naalu kaalilo
Indha mannilae ulavittu kedakka
Naai illadi nee
Naan illayaa nee
Oh Karuppi, my Karuppi
Your paw prints were my path
In the wilderness without you,
how will I ever wander?
Oh Karuppi, my Karuppi
Your paw prints were my path
In the wilderness without you,
how will I ever wander?
Karuppi, my Karuppi
Can you hear me speaking?
Can you hear my weeping too?
Trapped and crushed beneath that train,
the pain of a screaming heart
and its agony... can you hear it?
I need to see you right now
I need to nuzzle my face against your nose
Licking me with your tongue,
you should wash away my dirt
Where should I come to see you?
Who is lying broken
in that wilderness—is it you or me?
Is it me, or is it you?
Is it you or me... me or you, Karuppi?
Are you the one who died, and I the one alive?
Are you the one alive, and I the one who died?
The one who killed us—
I know very well
But who really died there—
only he will understand
Were you the one destroyed?
Chorus: Oh... Oh... Oh...
Male: Am I the one weeping?
Chorus: Oh... Oh... Oh...
Are you the one weeping?
Chorus: Oh... Oh... Oh...
Male: Was I the one destroyed?
Get up, Karuppi, mother is calling
We have to go bathe, get up girl
Why aren't you speaking to me?
What happened there, girl?
Did you writhe, unable to bear the pain?
Did you think of me in your final moment?
Did he laugh when he killed you?
Did he glare when you barked?
I warned you over and over,
but did you listen?
Who called you, that made you go?
Why did you go, girl?
How many times have I told you,
that not all humans here are the same?
The one who raises and embraces you,
the one who chokes your neck,
the one who strokes your eyes,
the one who breaks your legs,
the one who kills and laughs,
the one who stands and weeps,
the dark one,
the fair one,
the god,
the devil,
the slave,
the master,
the worthless,
the useless,
that there are a thousand kinds of people—
I told you back then, did you listen?
Chorus: Oh... Oh... Oh...
Oh... Oh... Oh...
Male: Right now, I need
to see you, Karuppi
Chorus: Oh... Oh... Oh...
Father will come tomorrow and ask,
what answer will I give, girl?
Where will I tell him you are?
Where are you, girl?
Get up, Karuppi!
Get up, Karuppi!
Get up, Karuppi!
Get up, Karuppi!
Whether on two legs or four legs,
wandering across this earth...
You are not just a dog, girl,
aren't you me?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Karuppi is an intensely emotional elegy from the movie Pariyerum Perumal, expressing the protagonist Pariyan's immense anguish over the brutal, caste-motivated murder of his beloved hunting dog, Karuppi. The song uses Karuppi as an allegory for the oppressed communities who suffer ruthless violence at the hands of societal hierarchy and caste discrimination. Pariyan laments the loss, questioning whether Karuppi died or if a part of his own soul and identity perished with her. Through poignant lyricism by Vivek, the song exposes the hypocrisy and deceit of human society, warning how people hide behind binary identities such as master, slave, god, or devil. Ultimately, Karuppi serves as both a heartbreaking eulogy for a loyal companion and a scathing critique of caste oppression in contemporary society.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Chiasmus / Antithesis (Ethir-Inai)

“Irandhadhu neeya iruppadhu naana / Iruppadhu naana irandhadhu neeya”

Inversion of words and ideas across adjacent lines to highlight existential confusion and deep emotional shock.

Allegory / Metaphor (Uruvagandhu)

“Rendu kaalilo naalu kaalilo... Naai illadi nee / Naan illayaa nee”

Equating the victimized four-legged dog with the oppressed two-legged human protagonist, blurring the line between animal suffering and human caste oppression.

Contrast / Binary Oppositions (Muran)

“Saami / Saathan / Adimai / Aandaan”

Listing stark philosophical and societal polarities to illustrate the divisive nature of human society.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed and sung by Santhosh Narayanan, 'Karuppi' serves as the thematic backbone for Mari Selvaraj's debut directorial film 'Pariyerum Perumal' (2018). The dog Karuppi represents the marginalized identity and foreshadows the social struggles faced by the protagonist throughout the film.

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