Karutha Machan
From Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu · 1991
- Lyricist
- Isaignani Ilayaraja
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu1991
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| {Karutha machan | Dark-complexioned cousin, |
| Kanjathanam edhukku vachaan | Why are you holding back so miserly? |
| Paruthikkullae panja vachu vedikka vachaan | He kept cotton inside the pod and made it burst open! |
| Appappo yappappa pipipee | Ah-ha yappappa pipipee! |
| Dum dum dum dum dum} (2) | Dum dum dum dum dum! |
| Female | |
| Karutha machan | Dark-complexioned cousin, |
| Kanjathanam edhukku vachan | Why are you holding back so miserly? |
| Female | |
| Pootti vacha kudhira onnu puttu kichu maama | A locked-up horse has broken free, uncle! |
| Ippa pudichu adha adakki vaikka kitta varalaama | Can I come close to catch and tame it now? |
| Thotta kili koottukkulle maatti kichu maama | The parrot that was touched got trapped in the cage, uncle! |
| Andha pootta oru saavi vachu pootta thora maama | Use a key to open that lock, uncle! |
| Panjaangam nee paaru pantha kaalum nee podu | Check the almanac and erect the wedding pillar! |
| Un maarbil saayama thoongaathu kannu | My eyes will not sleep unless resting on your chest. |
| Female | |
| Ennai than pudichu mella thaan anaichu | Hold me tight and embrace me gently, |
| Mutham thaan nitham thaan | Kisses every single day, |
| Vachu thaan konjanum konjanum | You must pamper and cuddle me repeatedly! |
| Female | |
| Karutha machan | Dark-complexioned cousin, |
| Kanjathanam edhukku vachaan | Why are you holding back so miserly? |
| Paruthikkullae panja vachu vedikka vachaan | He kept cotton inside the pod and made it burst open! |
| Appappo yappappa pipipee | Ah-ha yappappa pipipee! |
| Dum dum dum dum dum | Dum dum dum dum dum! |
| Female | |
| Karutha machan | Dark-complexioned cousin, |
| Kanjathanam edhukku vachan | Why are you holding back so miserly? |
| Paruthikkullae panja vachu vedikka vachan | He kept cotton inside the pod and made it burst open! |
| Female | |
| Mulaichu ingu moonu ila vittavalum naanae | I am the one who sprouted here and grew three leaves, |
| Enna karuga vachu paakkuriyae kaanja nilam pola | Why do you watch me scorch like parched land? |
| Nethu ingae samanjathellaam pullakkuttiyoda | Girls who attained puberty yesterday already have children, |
| Andha nenappuenna vaattuthaiya sutta chatti pola | That thought roasts me like a hot clay pan! |
| Eppodhum un nesam maaraathu en paaasam | Your affection is forever, my love will never change, |
| En selai maaraappu nee thaanae raasa | You are the upper cloth of my saree, my king! |
| Female | |
| Ennai than pudichu mella thaan anaichu | Hold me tight and embrace me gently, |
| Mutham thaan nitham thaan | Kisses every single day, |
| Vachu thaan konjanum konjanum | You must pamper and cuddle me repeatedly! |
| Female | |
| Karutha machan | Dark-complexioned cousin, |
| Kanjathanam edhukku vachaan | Why are you holding back so miserly? |
| Paruthikkullae panja vachu vedikka vachaan | He kept cotton inside the pod and made it burst open! |
| Appappo yappappa pipipee | Ah-ha yappappa pipipee! |
| Dum dum dum dum dum | Dum dum dum dum dum! |
| Female | |
| Karutha machan | Dark-complexioned cousin, |
| Kanjathanam edhukku vachan | Why are you holding back so miserly? |
| Paruthikkullae panja vachu vedikka vachan | He kept cotton inside the pod and made it burst open! |
{கருத்த மச்சான் கஞ்சத்தனம் எதுக்கு வெச்சான்
பருத்திக்குள்ளே பஞ்ச வெச்சு வெடிக்க வெச்சான்
அப்பப்போ எப்பப்பா பிப்பிப்பீ டும்டும்டும் டும்டும்டும்} (2)
Dark-complexioned cousin,
Why are you holding back so miserly?
He kept cotton inside the pod and made it burst open!
Ah-ha yappappa pipipee!
Dum dum dum dum dum!
கருத்த மச்சான் கஞ்சத்தனம் எதுக்கு வெச்சான்
Dark-complexioned cousin,
Why are you holding back so miserly?
பூட்டி வெச்ச குதிர ஒண்ணு புட்டுக்குச்சு மாமா
இப்ப புடிச்சு அத அடக்கி வெக்க கிட்ட வரலாமா
தோட்டக் கிளி கூட்டுக்குள்ள மாட்டிக்கிச்சு மாமா
அந்த கூட்ட ஒரு சாவி வச்சு பூட்டத் தொற மாமா
பஞ்சாங்கம் நீ பாரு பந்தக்காலு நீ போடு
ஓம் மார்பில் சாயாம தூங்காது கண்ணு
A locked-up horse has broken free, uncle!
Can I come close to catch and tame it now?
The parrot that was touched got trapped in the cage, uncle!
Use a key to open that lock, uncle!
Check the almanac and erect the wedding pillar!
My eyes will not sleep unless resting on your chest.
என்னத்தான் புடிச்சு மெல்லத்தான் அணச்சு
முத்தம்தான் நித்தம்தான்
வச்சுத்தான் கொஞ்சணும் கொஞ்சணும்……
Hold me tight and embrace me gently,
Kisses every single day,
You must pamper and cuddle me repeatedly!
கருத்த மச்சான் கஞ்சத்தனம் எதுக்கு வெச்சான்
பருத்திக்குள்ளே பஞ்ச வெச்சு வெடிக்க வெச்சான்
அப்பப்போ எப்பப்பா பிப்பிப்பீ டும்டும்டும் டும்டும்டும்
Dark-complexioned cousin,
Why are you holding back so miserly?
He kept cotton inside the pod and made it burst open!
Ah-ha yappappa pipipee!
Dum dum dum dum dum!
கருத்த மச்சான் கஞ்சத்தனம் எதுக்கு வெச்சான்
பருத்திக்குள்ளே பஞ்ச வெச்சு வெடிக்க வெச்சான்
Dark-complexioned cousin,
Why are you holding back so miserly?
He kept cotton inside the pod and made it burst open!
மொளச்சு இங்கு மூணு எல விட்டவளும் நானே
என்ன கருக வெச்சு பாக்குறியே காஞ்ச நெலம் போலே
நேத்து இங்கே சமஞ்சதெல்லாம் புள்ள குட்டியோட
அந்த நெனப்பு என்ன வாட்டுதையா சுட்ட சட்டி போல
எப்போதும் ஓம் நேசம் மாறாது எம் பாசம்
என் சேல மாராப்பு நீதானே ராசா
I am the one who sprouted here and grew three leaves,
Why do you watch me scorch like parched land?
Girls who attained puberty yesterday already have children,
That thought roasts me like a hot clay pan!
Your affection is forever, my love will never change,
You are the upper cloth of my saree, my king!
என்னத்தான் புடிச்சு மெல்லத்தான் அணச்சு
முத்தம்தான் நித்தம்தான்
வச்சுத்தான் கொஞ்சணும் கொஞ்சணும்…
Hold me tight and embrace me gently,
Kisses every single day,
You must pamper and cuddle me repeatedly!
கருத்த மச்சான் கஞ்சத்தனம் எதுக்கு வெச்சான்
பருத்திக்குள்ளே பஞ்ச வெச்சு வெடிக்க வெச்சான்
அப்பப்போ எப்பப்பா பிப்பிப்பீ டும்டும்டும் டும்டும்டும்
Dark-complexioned cousin,
Why are you holding back so miserly?
He kept cotton inside the pod and made it burst open!
Ah-ha yappappa pipipee!
Dum dum dum dum dum!
கருத்த மச்சான் கஞ்சத்தனம் எதுக்கு வெச்சான்
பருத்திக்குள்ளே பஞ்ச வெச்சு வெடிக்க வெச்சான்
Dark-complexioned cousin,
Why are you holding back so miserly?
He kept cotton inside the pod and made it burst open!
{Karutha machan
Dark-complexioned cousin,
Kanjathanam edhukku vachaan
Why are you holding back so miserly?
Paruthikkullae panja vachu vedikka vachaan
He kept cotton inside the pod and made it burst open!
Appappo yappappa pipipee
Ah-ha yappappa pipipee!
Dum dum dum dum dum} (2)
Dum dum dum dum dum!
Karutha machan
Dark-complexioned cousin,
Kanjathanam edhukku vachan
Why are you holding back so miserly?
Pootti vacha kudhira onnu puttu kichu maama
A locked-up horse has broken free, uncle!
Ippa pudichu adha adakki vaikka kitta varalaama
Can I come close to catch and tame it now?
Thotta kili koottukkulle maatti kichu maama
The parrot that was touched got trapped in the cage, uncle!
Andha pootta oru saavi vachu pootta thora maama
Use a key to open that lock, uncle!
Panjaangam nee paaru pantha kaalum nee podu
Check the almanac and erect the wedding pillar!
Un maarbil saayama thoongaathu kannu
My eyes will not sleep unless resting on your chest.
Ennai than pudichu mella thaan anaichu
Hold me tight and embrace me gently,
Mutham thaan nitham thaan
Kisses every single day,
Vachu thaan konjanum konjanum
You must pamper and cuddle me repeatedly!
Karutha machan
Dark-complexioned cousin,
Kanjathanam edhukku vachaan
Why are you holding back so miserly?
Paruthikkullae panja vachu vedikka vachaan
He kept cotton inside the pod and made it burst open!
Appappo yappappa pipipee
Ah-ha yappappa pipipee!
Dum dum dum dum dum
Dum dum dum dum dum!
Karutha machan
Dark-complexioned cousin,
Kanjathanam edhukku vachan
Why are you holding back so miserly?
Paruthikkullae panja vachu vedikka vachan
He kept cotton inside the pod and made it burst open!
Mulaichu ingu moonu ila vittavalum naanae
I am the one who sprouted here and grew three leaves,
Enna karuga vachu paakkuriyae kaanja nilam pola
Why do you watch me scorch like parched land?
Nethu ingae samanjathellaam pullakkuttiyoda
Girls who attained puberty yesterday already have children,
Andha nenappuenna vaattuthaiya sutta chatti pola
That thought roasts me like a hot clay pan!
Eppodhum un nesam maaraathu en paaasam
Your affection is forever, my love will never change,
En selai maaraappu nee thaanae raasa
You are the upper cloth of my saree, my king!
Ennai than pudichu mella thaan anaichu
Hold me tight and embrace me gently,
Mutham thaan nitham thaan
Kisses every single day,
Vachu thaan konjanum konjanum
You must pamper and cuddle me repeatedly!
Karutha machan
Dark-complexioned cousin,
Kanjathanam edhukku vachaan
Why are you holding back so miserly?
Paruthikkullae panja vachu vedikka vachaan
He kept cotton inside the pod and made it burst open!
Appappo yappappa pipipee
Ah-ha yappappa pipipee!
Dum dum dum dum dum
Dum dum dum dum dum!
Karutha machan
Dark-complexioned cousin,
Kanjathanam edhukku vachan
Why are you holding back so miserly?
Paruthikkullae panja vachu vedikka vachan
He kept cotton inside the pod and made it burst open!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Karutha Machan' is a playful, romantic rural folk song from the movie Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu. The female protagonist playfully chides her dark-complexioned suitor (cousin) for being stingy with his affection and hesitating to marry her. She uses vivid rural metaphors—like bursting cotton pods, a wild horse breaking free, and parched land waiting for rain—to express her intense desire, youthful restlessness, and eagerness to get married and share intimacy with him.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamaani (Simile)
“Enna karuga vachu paakkuriyae kaanja nilam pola”
Comparing the burning desire/restlessness to a hot clay pan ('sutta chatti pola') and parched land ('kaanja nilam pola').
Uruvagaim (Metaphor)
“Paruthikkullae panja vachu vedikka vachaan”
Comparing pent-up youthful passion bursting out to cotton bursting out of a ripe pod ('Paruthikkullae panja vachu vedikka vachaan').
Anomatopoeia / Onomatopoeia
“Appappo yappappa pipipee / Dum dum dum dum dum”
Use of folk rhythmic sounds and musical instrumentation imitations like 'pipipee' and 'dum dum dum' to create a lively rural atmosphere.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Panjaangam nee paaru pantha kaalum nee podu”
Rhyming of second letters across adjacent lines ('Thotta' and 'Andha' / 'Panjaangam' and 'Un').
Did you know?
Trivia
Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu (1991) marked the directorial debut of veteran director Bharathiraja's son, Manoj Paramahamsa, and introduced actors Rahul and Sukanya. The music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, who also penned the lyrics for this energetic folk song, which became a massive hit in rural Tamil Nadu.
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