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24 Mani Neram album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kulikkum Pothile

From 24 Mani Neram · 1984

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
24 Mani Neram
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
31 Jul 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kulikkum podhilae
Manasu kekkalae
Ninaikkum podhilae
Mayakkam thaangalae
Nanaiyum aadaigalil
Theriyum kolangalai
Rasippadhenna sugamo
Kulikkum podhilae
Manasu kekkalae
Ninaikkum podhilae
Mayakkam thaangalae
Nanaiyum aadaigalil
Theriyum kolangalai
Rasippadhenna sugamo
Melaadai baaram aagumae
Thendralum theendinaal
Dhegam nogumae
Nee paarthaal
Naanam aagumae
Nenjilum kannilum minnal odumae
Paarijaadham thaenil oorumae
Paarkka paarkka bodhai yerumae
Kangal kooda kaayam pannumae
Kaadhal ennum theeyil thallumae
Gangai vellamae vaa
Kulikkum podhilae
Manasu kekkalae
Ninaikkum podhilae
Mayakkam thaangalae
Male :Nanaiyum aadaigalil
Theriyum kolangalai
Rasippadhenna sugamo
Kulikkum podhilae
Manasu kekkalae
Aagaayam manjal poosumae
Aasaiyin baashaiyai kangal pesumae
Poo manjam nenjam podumae
Punnagai sindhidum velai thaedumae
Mogam ennum
Yaagam seiyumae
Mutha maari engum peiyumae
Kaatru vandhu raagam paadumae
Kattil kooda thaalam podumae
Kettu paarkkalaam vaa
Kulikkum podhilae
Manasu kekkalae
Ninaikkum podhilae
Mayakkam thaangalae
Female :Nanaiyum aadaigalil
Theriyum kolangalai
Rasippadhenna sugamo
Kulikkum podhilae
Manasu kekkalae
While taking a bath,
My heart refuses to listen.
Just thinking about it,
I cannot bear this sweet dizziness.
Through the wet clothes,
The curves that reveal themselves—
What a pleasure it is to enjoy them!
While taking a bath,
My heart refuses to listen.
Just thinking about it,
I cannot bear this sweet dizziness.
Through the wet clothes,
The curves that reveal themselves—
What a pleasure it is to enjoy them!
Even my clothes feel heavy,
If the gentle breeze touches me,
My body feels so tender.
When you look at me,
Shyness takes over,
Lightning flashes in my heart and eyes.
The Parijatham flower soaks in honey,
The more I look, the more intoxicated I feel.
Even your eyes wound me,
Pushing me into the fire of love.
Come to me, like a flood of the Ganga!
While taking a bath,
My heart refuses to listen.
Just thinking about it,
I cannot bear this sweet dizziness.
Male: Through the wet clothes,
The curves that reveal themselves—
What a pleasure it is to enjoy them!
While taking a bath,
My heart refuses to listen.
The sky paints itself in turmeric gold,
Eyes speak the language of desire,
The heart spreads a bed of flowers,
Seeking the moment your smile spills over.
In the name of passion,
A sacred ritual will be performed,
A shower of kisses will pour everywhere,
The breeze will come and sing a melody,
Even the bed will keep the rhythm,
Come, let us listen and see!
While taking a bath,
My heart refuses to listen.
Just thinking about it,
I cannot bear this sweet dizziness.
Female: Through the wet clothes,
The curves that reveal themselves—
What a pleasure it is to enjoy them!
While taking a bath,
My heart refuses to listen.
Male
Female
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Female
Male
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Female
Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Kulikkum Podhilae' is an intimate and sensuous track from the 1984 Tamil thriller film '24 Mani Neram'. The song vividly describes the romantic intoxication and yearning felt by lovers. It captures the tactile sensation of water, light breezes, and wet garments, using rich sensory imagery to represent deep romantic passion and attraction. Through evocative poetic metaphors such as love as a fire, kisses as rain, and nature acting in harmony with desire, lyricist Pulamaipithan paints an alluring picture of physical and emotional closeness between the protagonists.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Etukai (Second-letter rhyme)

Kulikkum podhilae / Ninaikkum podhilae

The second letter in 'Kulikkum' (l) and 'Ninaikkum' (n) along with identical line-ending words 'podhilae' creates a rhythmic flow across lines.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Kaadhal ennum theeyil thallumae

Love is metaphorically equated to a burning flame ('kaadhal ennum theeyil').

Hyperbole & Imagery

Mutha maari engum peiyumae

Expressions of affection are exaggerated as a pouring shower of kisses ('mutha maari') covering everything.

Personification

Aagaayam manjal poosumae / Kaatru vandhu raagam paadumae

The sky is personified as smearing turmeric, and the wind is personified as singing a song.

Did you know?

Trivia

'24 Mani Neram' (1984) is a celebrated Tamil thriller film written and directed by Manivannan. The film features Mohan, Sathyaraj, and Nalini in key roles. The soundtrack was composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh, with lyrics written by the renowned poet Pulamaipithan.

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