- Lyricist
- Isaignani Ilayaraja
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Pudhu Nellu Pudhu Naathu
- Movie release year
- 1991
- Lyrics added on
- 15 Oct 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
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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