Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Karuvakaatu Karuvaaya

From Marudhu · 2016

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Jithin Raj, Vandana Srinivasan, Jayamoorthy
Music director
D. Imman
Details
Marudhu2016

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Karuvakkattu karuvayaaOh dark-complexioned man of the blackthorn forest,
Kooda kaalamelam varuvayaaWill you stay with me for a lifetime?
Mutham kodukkum thiruvayaaOh holy mouth that gives kisses,
Enna moochu mutta viduvayaaWill you make me breathless with affection?
Female
Karuvakkattu karuvayaaOh dark-complexioned man of the blackthorn forest,
Kooda kaalamelam varuvayaaWill you stay with me for a lifetime?
Mutham kodukkum thiruvayaaOh holy mouth that gives kisses,
Enna moochu mutta viduvayaaWill you make me breathless with affection?
Female
Thannanthani maanu iva thanni illa meenuShe is a lonely deer, a fish out of water,
Manja thaali potta nee mattumthaanae aanuOnce you tie the sacred yellow thread, you are my only man.
Male
Kutham illa ponnu nee kutha vecha thenuYou are a flawless girl, honey stored in a jar,
Kannukulla vechu unna kaappathuven naanuI will protect you inside the pupil of my eyes.
Female
Thodutha poovukku naar poruppuThe string takes responsibility for the woven flowers,
En thuvanda selaikku nee poruppuYou take responsibility for my draped saree.
Izhutha izhuppukku naan poruppuI take responsibility to follow wherever you pull me,
En idippu vallikku nee poruppuYou take responsibility for my waist pain.
Male
Natchathiram ethanaiyoHow many stars are up in the sky?
Ennikka therinjathu enakkuI know how to count them all.
Macham mattum ethanaiyoHow many moles are on your body?
Innum edukkala kanakkuI am yet to take that count.
Female
Naan vellaankarattil molacha mottuI am a flower bud sprouted in the white clay field,
Un vetti eduthu veli kattuBuild a fence around me using your veshti.
Un annakayithil mudinju kittuTie yourself to my waist thread,
En aayul muzhukka anba kottuShower your love upon me for my entire lifetime.
Female
Karuvakkattu karuvayaaOh dark-complexioned man of the blackthorn forest,
Kooda kaalamelam varuvayaaaaa…Will you stay with me for a lifetime?
Mutham kodukkum thiruvayaaOh holy mouth that gives kisses,
Male
Yeh paasam ulla nenjilIn your heart full of affection,
Naan vaasam panna porenI am going to make my residence.
Vaaram varum munneBefore a week passes,
Unna maasam panna porenI will make you pregnant.
Female
Saama kozhi koova un sangathikku vaarenAs the midnight rooster crows, I come to embrace you.
Otha mutham thantha naan retta pulla thaarenIf you give me one kiss, I will give you twin children.
Male
Paalu thayira uraiyum munneBefore milk curdles into yogurt,
Pathu thadava senthiruppomWe would have united ten times.
Thayiru mora maaru mattumUntil yogurt turns into buttermilk,
Uyirum uyirum kalanthiruppomOur souls will remain intertwined as one.
Female
Usuraiyum maanathaiyum unkitta kuduthitten thalaivaI have surrendered my life and honor to you, my leader.
Yezhu jenmam theeru mattum enakku irukkanum uravaYou must remain my beloved relation across seven births.
Female
Karuvakkattu karuvayaa….Oh dark-complexioned man of the blackthorn forest...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Karuvakkattu Karuvaya' is a passionate romantic folk duet set in rural Tamil Nadu. The female protagonist expresses her deep affection and lifelong devotion to her lover, whom she affectionately calls 'Karuvayan' (the dark-skinned man of the blackthorn forest). The song weaves playful intimacy with deep commitments of marital love, imagery of rural life, and poetic promises of togetherness that transcend generations. The male counterpart responds with assurances of protection, care, and fatherhood, romanticizing their domestic future together through traditional metaphors involving milk, yogurt, roosters, and farming landscapes. The lyrics celebrate raw, uninhibited affection grounded in rural cultural aesthetics.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Thannanthani maanu iva thanni illa meenu

Comparing the heroine to 'thanni illa meenu' (a fish out of water) and 'kutha vecha thenu' (honey stored in a pot) to highlight her vulnerability and sweet pure nature.

Edugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Thodutha poovukku naar poruppu / Izhutha izhuppukku naan poruppu

Matching second consonants across lines ('d' sound in 'Thodutha' and 'Izhutha') to create rhythmic symmetry.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

En thuvanda selaikku nee poruppu / En idippu vallikku nee poruppu

Repetition of the ending syllable 'poruppu' at the end of consecutive lines.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navirtchi)

Paalu thayira uraiyum munne / Pathu thadava senthiruppom

Exaggerating intimate domestic speed and fertility using metaphors of milk curdling and twin offspring.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Karuvakkattu Karuvaya' from the film 'Marudhu' (2016) was composed by D. Imman and sung by Vandana Srinivasan and Jithin Raj. Written by Vairamuthu, the song gained massive popularity across rural Tamil Nadu for its evocative folk melody and expressive rustic lyrics.

Keep listening

More from Marudhu