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Porkkaalam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Karuvella Kaatukkulae

From Porkkaalam · 1997

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Arun Mozhi, Anuradha Sriram, Sujatha
Music director
Deva
Movie name
Porkkaalam
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
9 Jan 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Karuvelangattukkulla
Kattivecha koottukkulla
Kanaangkuruvi rendu
Enna pesdhu ada
Enna pesudhu….
……………………
Karuvelangattukkulla
Kattivecha koottukkulla
Kanaangkuruvi rendu
Enna pesdhu ada
Enna pesudhu….
Kukuku kuku ku
Kukuku kuku ku
Mullu vettavandha muthammaalukkum
Veragu vettavandha velarmaganukkum
Porutham nalla poruthamunnu
Porani pesudhu summaa porani pesudhu
Karuvelangattukkulla
Kattivecha koottukkulla
Kanaangkuruvi rendu
Enna pesdhu ada
Enna pesudhu….
Mullu vettavandha muthammaalukkum
Veragu vettavandha velarmaganukkum
Orasal enna orasalunnu
Porani pesudhu summaa porani pesudhu
…………………………
Eesaani moolaiyila
Oosi mazha peiyayila
Kuruvirendum rekkakkulla
Koodha kaayumae…ae……ae….
Eesaani moolaiyila
Oosi mazha peiyayila
Kuruvirendum rekkakkulla
Koodha kaayumae…
Naama koodhakaanjadhundaa
Endru kuththi pesudhu
Kuruvi kuththi pesudhu
Kodamazha pudichaalum
Ada koodha kaathu adichaalum
Pudikkaadha kuruvikitta
Potta koodumaa
Idhu pombalakki puriyallennu
Porani pesudhu kuruvi porani pesudhu
Haan sodiyoda paadiyaada
Odiyodi vandhapodhu
Sandapotta kuruviyinnu jaadapesudhu
Koodu yaaru koodu endrum
Sodi engu koodumendrum
Konjanaalil theriyumunnu
Kuruvi pesudhu
Karuvelangattukkulla
Kattivecha koottukkulla
Kanaangkuruvi rendu
Enna pesdhu ada
Enna pesudhu….
……………………
Cholayangaattukkulla
Cholangothi thingayila
Mookkum mookkum modhikkolla
Muththam tharumae…ae….ae…
Cholayangaattukkulla
Cholangothi thingayila
Mookkum mookkum modhikkolla
Muththam tharumae…
Naama muththam thandhadhundaa
Endru monagi pesudhu
Kuruvi monagi pesudhu
Muththu cholam thingayila
Ada muththam kiththam thandhukittaa
Cholathundu sikkikkittu
Thonda vikkumae
Idha pottachchikki solla cholli
Kuththi pesudhu kuruvi kuththi pesudhu
Ahaan aththuvana kaattukkulla
Oththavaayi thannikettaa
Mullukkaattu kuruviyonnu
Lollu pesudhu
Kaadu vettum saakkavechu
Kooduvetta koodaadhunnu
Paadubatta kuruviyonnu
Padhari pesudhu
Karuvelangattukkulla
Kattivecha koottukkulla
Kanaangkuruvi rendu
Enna pesdhu ada
Enna pesudhu….
Mullu vettavandha muthammaalukkum
Veragu vettavandha velarmaganukkum
Porutham nalla poruthamunnu
Porani pesudhu summaa porani pesudhu
Karuvelangattukkulla …aaa…aa….ae…
Chorus :………………………..
Inside the thorny forest,
inside the nest they built,
what are those two lovebirds
talking about, oh tell me,
what are they talking about?
...
Inside the thorny forest,
inside the nest they built,
what are those two lovebirds
talking about, oh tell me,
what are they talking about?
Koo-koo-koo, koo-koo-koo
Koo-koo-koo, koo-koo-koo
Between Muthamma, who came to cut thorn bushes,
and Velar's son, who came to chop firewood,
saying, "They make such a fine match,"
they are gossiping, simply gossiping away!
Inside the thorny forest,
inside the nest they built,
what are those two lovebirds
talking about, oh tell me,
what are they talking about?
Between Muthamma, who came to cut thorn bushes,
and Velar's son, who came to chop firewood,
saying, "Look at the sparks flying between them,"
they are gossiping, simply gossiping away!
...
From the northeast corner,
when fine needles of rain fall,
tucked under each other's wings, the two birds
warm themselves against the biting chill...
From the northeast corner,
when fine needles of rain fall,
tucked under each other's wings, the two birds
warm themselves against the biting chill...
"Have we ever huddled close like that?"
so it taunts with sharp words,
the little bird teasingly speaks!
Even if the summer rains pour,
or the freezing cold winds blow,
with a bird that dislikes you,
can you ever build a home together?
"This woman just does not understand,"
the bird gossips, it gossips away!
Aha, while running and singing together as a pair,
when we came running along,
it drops hints about the bird that picked a fight!
Whose nest this really is,
and where this pair will finally unite,
"will all be known in a few days,"
so the little bird says!
Inside the thorny forest,
inside the nest they built,
what are those two lovebirds
talking about, oh tell me,
what are they talking about?
...
Inside the cornfield,
while pecking and eating grains of corn,
as their beaks tap against each other,
they share a sweet little kiss...
Inside the cornfield,
while pecking and eating grains of corn,
as their beaks tap against each other,
they share a sweet little kiss...
"Have we ever kissed like that?"
it murmurs softly,
the little bird murmurs and whispers!
While eating pearl corn,
if you go around kissing,
a piece of corn will get stuck
and make your throat choke!
"Go tell that to that girl,"
the bird taunts, it taunts with piercing words!
Aha, in the middle of this desolate forest,
when I ask for just a single mouthful of water,
a bird from this thorny woods
talks back with cheeky sass!
"Using clearing the woods as an excuse,
you shouldn't ruin a family's nest,"
a struggling, anxious little bird
cries out in distress!
Inside the thorny forest,
inside the nest they built,
what are those two lovebirds
talking about, oh tell me,
what are they talking about?
Between Muthamma, who came to cut thorn bushes,
and Velar's son, who came to chop firewood,
saying, "They make such a fine match,"
they are gossiping, simply gossiping away!
Inside the thorny forest... ah...
Chorus: ...
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Male
Male
Chorus
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Karuvelangattukkulla' is an iconic Tamil folk song from Cheran's critically acclaimed film 'Porkkaalam' (1997), composed by Deva with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu. The song employs a charming rural allegorical device: two sparrows residing in a babool tree nest act as observers and commentators on the budding village romance and playful friction between Muthammaal (a girl clearing thorns) and Velarmagan (a youth gathering firewood). Through imagery of seasonal weather (needle-like northeast monsoon rains), field work, pecking corn, and sharing warmth, Vairamuthu captures the subtle dynamics of rural courtship, gossip, and romance through the witty perspective of nature.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (மாந்தரூபமாக்கல்)

Kanaangkuruvi rendu Enna pesdhu ada Enna pesudhu….

The song personifies birds ('Kanaangkuruvi') as gossiping village observers who mock and comment on human romance.

Sensory & Visual Imagery (காட்சி உவமை)

Eesaani moolaiyila Oosi mazha peiyayila

'Oosi mazha' (needle-like rain) evokes a sharp tactile and visual sensation of light, cold drizzle in rural Tamil Nadu.

Ethukai / Second-letter Rhyme (எதுகை)

Karuvelangattukkulla / Kattivecha koottukkulla

Matching second consonants across lines ('ru' in Karuvelangattukkulla / Kattivecha / Kanaangkuruvi).

Folk Humor & Hyperbole (நகைச்சுவை உயர்நவிற்சி)

Ada muththam kiththam thandhukittaa Cholathundu sikkikkittu Thonda vikkumae

Humorous hyperbolic warning that kissing while pecking corn will choke the throat with corn bits.

Did you know?

Trivia

Music for 'Porkkaalam' was composed by Deva, with lyrics by Vairamuthu. The song features vocals by Anuradha Sriram, Sujatha, and Krishnaraj. The film went on to win the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film and a National Film Award.

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