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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Karuva Mara Kaatukulla

From Raavana Kottam · 2023

Lyricist
Ekadasi
Singer
Anthony Daasan
Music director
Justin Prabhakaran
Details
Raavana Kottam2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Karuvamara kattukullaInside the babool tree forest
AiyaaOh sir
Karuva mara kattukullaInside the babool tree forest
Kari moottam podayillaWhile setting up a charcoal kiln
Male
Eettu potta yemakkaraThe betrayer who plotted against us
Evan thinna koduthomaeWhom did we feed?
Evan thinna koduthomaeWhom did we feed?
Ye aiyaaOh sir
Male
Indha paavi paya sollinaala..hahaBecause of this sinful fellow's word..haha
Indha paavi paya sollinaalaBecause of this sinful fellow's word
Paavi paya sollinaalaBecause of the sinful fellow's word
Pullaigala izhandhu irukkumaiyaaWe have lost our children, oh sir
Male
Inga kuruvigala suttalaeHere, if someone shoots even small birds
Kola padhari pogum aiyaaOur heart shudders in pain, oh sir
Kola padhari pogum aiyaaOur heart shudders in pain, oh sir
Kola padhari pogum aiyaaOur heart shudders in pain, oh sir
Male
Vadusara kaavukullaInside the Vadusara grove
Ye aiyaaOh sir
Vadusara kaavukullaInside the Vadusara grove
Manasapadu vandhadhaiyaaDeep sorrow came over our hearts, oh sir
Male
Thuppaakki sutturundhaIf a gun had shot me
Thooki pottu poyiruvenI would have cast it aside and moved on
Thondakuzhi tholaichi puttenI have lost my voice in grief
Throgatha enna seiyaWhat can be done about this betrayal?
Indha throgatha enna seiyaWhat can be done about this betrayal?
Aiyaa..hehehh..Oh sir..hehehh..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant folk song from Raavana Kottam expresses deep lamentation and betrayal. Set against the backdrop of rural livelihoods—such as making charcoal in babool (karuvelam) forests—the speaker mourns the loss of their children caused by trusting a deceitful person's words. The song captures the immense pain of a tight-knit community where even harm to a small bird causes deep emotional distress, highlighting how intolerable human tragedy and betrayal are in comparison. The grief is portrayed as so overwhelming that a physical wound from a gunshot would have been easier to endure than the silent, lingering agony of treachery.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

“Karuvamara kattukulla / Kari moottam podayilla”

Matching second consonants ('ru' / 'ri') across lines creates rhythmic folk cohesion.

Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)

“Kola padhari pogum aiyaa”

The line is repeated consecutively to emphasize the deep emotional shuddering and visceral heartbreak of the villagers.

Imagery / Cultural Context

“Karuva mara kattukulla / Kari moottam podayilla”

Uses charcoal kiln ('Kari moottam') and babool forest ('Karuva mara kattu') imagery to ground the tragedy in the local labor culture of Southern Tamil Nadu.

Hyperbole & Contrast

“Thuppaakki sutturundha / Thooki pottu poyiruven”

Contrasts physical gunshots with emotional betrayal, stating that a gunshot wound could be brushed off, but emotional betrayal leaves a permanent, unbearable scar.

Did you know?

Trivia

Raavana Kottam (2023), starring Shanthanu Bhagyaraj, centers on socio-political conflicts surrounding Karuvelam (Prosopis juliflora) trees and charcoal workers in Southern Tamil Nadu. Justin Prabhakaran composed the musical score, incorporating authentic regional folk lamentations sung with raw emotion by Anthony Daasan.

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