Kulikkum Pothile
From 24 Mani Neram · 1984
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- 24 Mani Neram1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kulikkum podhilae | While taking a bath |
| Manasu kekkalae | The heart does not listen |
| Ninaikkum podhilae | While thinking about it |
| Mayakkam thaangalae | The intoxication is unbearable |
| Nanaiyum aadaigalil | In the wet clothes |
| Theriyum kolangalai | The patterns that are revealed |
| Rasippadhenna sugamo | What a joy it is to admire them |
| Female | |
| Kulikkum podhilae | While taking a bath |
| Manasu kekkalae | The heart does not listen |
| Ninaikkum podhilae | While thinking about it |
| Mayakkam thaangalae | The intoxication is unbearable |
| Nanaiyum aadaigalil | In the wet clothes |
| Theriyum kolangalai | The patterns that are revealed |
| Rasippadhenna sugamo | What a joy it is to admire them |
| Male | |
| Melaadai baaram aagumae | The upper garment becomes a burden |
| Thendralum theendinaal | If even the gentle breeze touches |
| Dhegam nogumae | The body feels sore |
| Female | |
| Nee paarthaal | If you look |
| Naanam aagumae | Shyness takes over |
| Nenjilum kannilum minnal odumae | Lightning flashes in the heart and eyes |
| Male | |
| Paarijaadham thaenil oorumae | The Parijatha flower is soaked in honey |
| Paarkka paarkka bodhai yerumae | As I keep looking, intoxication increases |
| Female | |
| Kangal kooda kaayam pannumae | Even eyes can inflict a wound |
| Kaadhal ennum theeyil thallumae | Pushing into the fire called love |
| Male | |
| Gangai vellamae vaa | Come like the flood of the Ganges |
| Female | |
| Kulikkum podhilae | While taking a bath |
| Manasu kekkalae | The heart does not listen |
| Ninaikkum podhilae | While thinking about it |
| Mayakkam thaangalae | The intoxication is unbearable |
| Male :Nanaiyum aadaigalil | Male: In the wet clothes |
| Theriyum kolangalai | The patterns that are revealed |
| Rasippadhenna sugamo | What a joy it is to admire them |
| Female | |
| Kulikkum podhilae | While taking a bath |
| Manasu kekkalae | The heart does not listen |
| Female | |
| Aagaayam manjal poosumae | The sky smears turmeric gold |
| Aasaiyin baashaiyai kangal pesumae | The eyes speak the language of desire |
| Male | |
| Poo manjam nenjam podumae | The heart lays out a bed of flowers |
| Punnagai sindhidum velai thaedumae | It seeks the moment to spill a smile |
| Female | |
| Mogam ennum | Called passion |
| Yaagam seiyumae | It performs a ritual fire |
| Mutha maari engum peiyumae | A shower of kisses rains everywhere |
| Male | |
| Kaatru vandhu raagam paadumae | The wind comes and sings a melody |
| Kattil kooda thaalam podumae | Even the bed keeps time to the rhythm |
| Female | |
| Kettu paarkkalaam vaa | Come, let us listen and experience |
| Male | |
| Kulikkum podhilae | While taking a bath |
| Manasu kekkalae | The heart does not listen |
| Ninaikkum podhilae | While thinking about it |
| Mayakkam thaangalae | The intoxication is unbearable |
| Female :Nanaiyum aadaigalil | Female: In the wet clothes |
| Theriyum kolangalai | The patterns that are revealed |
| Rasippadhenna sugamo | What a joy it is to admire them |
| Male | |
| Kulikkum podhilae | While taking a bath |
| Manasu kekkalae | The heart does not listen |
குளிக்கும் போதிலே
மனசு கேக்கலே
நினைக்கும் போதிலே
மயக்கம் தாங்கலே
நனையும் ஆடைகளில்
தெரியும் கோலங்களை
ரசிப்பதென்ன சுகமோ
While taking a bath
The heart does not listen
While thinking about it
The intoxication is unbearable
In the wet clothes
The patterns that are revealed
What a joy it is to admire them
குளிக்கும் போதிலே
மனசு கேக்கலே
நினைக்கும் போதிலே
மயக்கம் தாங்கலே
நனையும் ஆடைகளில்
தெரியும் கோலங்களை
ரசிப்பதென்ன சுகமோ
While taking a bath
The heart does not listen
While thinking about it
The intoxication is unbearable
In the wet clothes
The patterns that are revealed
What a joy it is to admire them
மேலாடை பாரம் ஆகுமே
தென்றலும் தீண்டினால்
தேகம் நோகுமே
The upper garment becomes a burden
If even the gentle breeze touches
The body feels sore
நீ பார்த்தால் நாணம் ஆகுமே
நெஞ்சிலும் கண்ணிலும்
மின்னல் ஓடுமே
If you look
Shyness takes over
Lightning flashes in the heart and eyes
பாரிஜாதம் தேனில் ஊறுமே
பார்க்கப் பார்க்க போதை ஏறுமே
The Parijatha flower is soaked in honey
As I keep looking, intoxication increases
கண்கள் கூட காயம் பண்ணுமே
காதல் என்னும் தீயில் தள்ளுமே
Even eyes can inflict a wound
Pushing into the fire called love
கங்கை வெள்ளமே வா
Come like the flood of the Ganges
குளிக்கும் போதிலே
மனசு கேக்கலே
நினைக்கும் போதிலே
மயக்கம் தாங்கலே
நனையும் ஆடைகளில்
தெரியும் கோலங்களை
ரசிப்பதென்ன சுகமோ
While taking a bath
The heart does not listen
While thinking about it
The intoxication is unbearable
Male: In the wet clothes
The patterns that are revealed
What a joy it is to admire them
குளிக்கும் போதிலே
மனசு கேக்கலே
While taking a bath
The heart does not listen
ஆகாயம் மஞ்சள் பூசுமே
ஆசையின் பாஷையை கண்கள் பேசுமே
The sky smears turmeric gold
The eyes speak the language of desire
பூ மஞ்சம் நெஞ்சம் போடுமே
புன்னகை என்னிடம் வேலை தேடுமே
The heart lays out a bed of flowers
It seeks the moment to spill a smile
மோகம் என்னும்
யாகம் செய்யுமே
முத்த மாரி எங்கும் பெய்யுமே
Called passion
It performs a ritual fire
A shower of kisses rains everywhere
காற்று வந்து ராகம் பாடுமே
கட்டில் கூட தாளம் போடுமே
The wind comes and sings a melody
Even the bed keeps time to the rhythm
கேட்டுப் பார்க்கலாம் வா
Come, let us listen and experience
குளிக்கும் போதிலே
மனசு கேக்கலே
நினைக்கும் போதிலே
மயக்கம் தாங்கலே
While taking a bath
The heart does not listen
While thinking about it
The intoxication is unbearable
Female: In the wet clothes
The patterns that are revealed
What a joy it is to admire them
நனையும் ஆடைகளில்
தெரியும் கோலங்களை
ரசிப்பதென்ன சுகமோ
While taking a bath
The heart does not listen
குளிக்கும் போதிலே
மனசு கேக்கலே
Kulikkum podhilae
While taking a bath
Manasu kekkalae
The heart does not listen
Ninaikkum podhilae
While thinking about it
Mayakkam thaangalae
The intoxication is unbearable
Nanaiyum aadaigalil
In the wet clothes
Theriyum kolangalai
The patterns that are revealed
Rasippadhenna sugamo
What a joy it is to admire them
Kulikkum podhilae
While taking a bath
Manasu kekkalae
The heart does not listen
Ninaikkum podhilae
While thinking about it
Mayakkam thaangalae
The intoxication is unbearable
Nanaiyum aadaigalil
In the wet clothes
Theriyum kolangalai
The patterns that are revealed
Rasippadhenna sugamo
What a joy it is to admire them
Melaadai baaram aagumae
The upper garment becomes a burden
Thendralum theendinaal
If even the gentle breeze touches
Dhegam nogumae
The body feels sore
Nee paarthaal
If you look
Naanam aagumae
Shyness takes over
Nenjilum kannilum minnal odumae
Lightning flashes in the heart and eyes
Paarijaadham thaenil oorumae
The Parijatha flower is soaked in honey
Paarkka paarkka bodhai yerumae
As I keep looking, intoxication increases
Kangal kooda kaayam pannumae
Even eyes can inflict a wound
Kaadhal ennum theeyil thallumae
Pushing into the fire called love
Gangai vellamae vaa
Come like the flood of the Ganges
Kulikkum podhilae
While taking a bath
Manasu kekkalae
The heart does not listen
Ninaikkum podhilae
While thinking about it
Mayakkam thaangalae
The intoxication is unbearable
Male :Nanaiyum aadaigalil
Male: In the wet clothes
Theriyum kolangalai
The patterns that are revealed
Rasippadhenna sugamo
What a joy it is to admire them
Kulikkum podhilae
While taking a bath
Manasu kekkalae
The heart does not listen
Aagaayam manjal poosumae
The sky smears turmeric gold
Aasaiyin baashaiyai kangal pesumae
The eyes speak the language of desire
Poo manjam nenjam podumae
The heart lays out a bed of flowers
Punnagai sindhidum velai thaedumae
It seeks the moment to spill a smile
Mogam ennum
Called passion
Yaagam seiyumae
It performs a ritual fire
Mutha maari engum peiyumae
A shower of kisses rains everywhere
Kaatru vandhu raagam paadumae
The wind comes and sings a melody
Kattil kooda thaalam podumae
Even the bed keeps time to the rhythm
Kettu paarkkalaam vaa
Come, let us listen and experience
Kulikkum podhilae
While taking a bath
Manasu kekkalae
The heart does not listen
Ninaikkum podhilae
While thinking about it
Mayakkam thaangalae
The intoxication is unbearable
Female :Nanaiyum aadaigalil
Female: In the wet clothes
Theriyum kolangalai
The patterns that are revealed
Rasippadhenna sugamo
What a joy it is to admire them
Kulikkum podhilae
While taking a bath
Manasu kekkalae
The heart does not listen
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'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.
Keep listening
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