Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kurukku Siruthavale

From Mudhalvan · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Hariharan, Mahalakshmi Iyer
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Mudhalvan1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kurukku chiruthavalae ennai kungumathil karaichavalaeO woman with a slender waist, you dissolved me in kumkum.
Nenjil manja thechu kulikkaiyil enna konjam poosu thaayaeeWhen you bathe applying turmeric on your chest, smear me a little bit, my dear.
Un kolusukkul maniyaaga enna konjam maathu thaayaeTransform me into a bell inside your anklet, my dear.
Male
Kurukku chiruthavalae….aee … ennai kungumathil karaichavalaeO woman with a slender waist, you dissolved me in kumkum.
Nenjil manja thechu kulikkaiyil enna konjam poosu thaayaeeWhen you bathe applying turmeric on your chest, smear me a little bit, my dear.
Un kolusukkul maniyaaga enna konjam maathu thaayaeTransform me into a bell inside your anklet, my dear.
Female
Oru kannil neer kasiya..aaa udhattu vazhi usir kasiyaTears trickling from one eye, life breath trickling through the lips,
Unnalae sila murai irakkavum sila murai pirakkavum aanadhaeBecause of you, I have died a few times and been born a few times.
Ada aathoda vizhundha ela andha aathoda povadhu polLike a leaf that fell in the river floating along with the current,
Nenju unnodu thaan pinnodudhaeMy heart runs right behind you.
Ada kaalam marandhu kaattu maramum pookkiradhaeeForgetting time, even a wild tree blossoms!
Male
Kurukku chiruthavalae ennai kungumathil karaichavalaeO woman with a slender waist, you dissolved me in kumkum.
Nenjil manja thechu kulikkaiyil enna konjam poosu thaayaeeWhen you bathe applying turmeric on your chest, smear me a little bit, my dear.
Un kolusukkul maniyaaga enna konjam maathu thaayaeTransform me into a bell inside your anklet, my dear.
Female
Hey …hey …hey…hey…hey ..heyHey hey hey hey hey hey
Hey…hey …hey ….heyhey…heyHey hey hey hey hey hey
Female
Kambanjangu vizhundha maadhiriyaeLike a pearl millet ear falling down,
Male
Kodiya vittu kudhicha malligaiyae oru mozhiyil sirichu pesariyaeLike a jasmine flower jumping off the vine, you smile and speak in a unique language.
Female
Vaayi mela vaaya vechu vaarthaighala urinju puttaPlacing mouth on mouth, you sucked away all words.
Verala vechu azhuthiya kazhuthula koluthiya veppam innum pogalaThe warmth ignited on the neck pressed by your fingers hasn't faded yet.
Male
Adi ompola chevappu illa kanukkaal kooda karuppu illaHey girl, there is no red like yours, nor is even your ankle dark.
Nee theendum idam thithikkumaeEvery spot you touch feels sweet.
Ini baakki odambum seiya vendum baakkiyamaeeNow the rest of my body must be blessed with your touch as well.
Male
Kurukku chiruthavalae ennai kungumathil karaichavalaeO woman with a slender waist, you dissolved me in kumkum.
Nenjil manja thechu kulikkaiyil enna konjam poosu thaayaeeWhen you bathe applying turmeric on your chest, smear me a little bit, my dear.
Un kolusukkul maniyaaga enna konjam maathu thaayaeTransform me into a bell inside your anklet, my dear.
Male
Oru thadava izhuthu anaicha padi uyir moocha niruthu kanmaniyaePull me close in an embrace once and stop my breath, my darling.
Female
Om mudhugha tholachu veliyera innum konjam irukku ennavanaeTo pierce through your back and emerge, there is still a bit left, my man.
Male
Mazhaiyadikkum siru pechu veyiladikkum oru paarvaiA small conversation that rains, a glance that shines like sunlight,
Odambu mannil pudhaiyira varaiyil udan vara koodumo..oooWill these accompany us until our body gets buried in the earth?
Female
Usir ennoda irukkaiyila nee mannoda povadhengaeWhile your life force is with me, where can you go into the earth?
Ada un jeevanil naan illaiyaaAh, am I not living inside your soul?
Kolla vandha maranam kooda kozhambumaiyaa…aaahEven Death coming to kill would get confused, my dear!
Male
Kurukku chiruthavalae ennai kungumathil karaichavalaeO woman with a slender waist, you dissolved me in kumkum.
Nenjil manja thechu kulikkaiyilWhen bathing applying turmeric on my chest,
Female
Unna konjam poosuven aiyaaI will smear a bit of you, my lord.
Male
Un kolusukkul maniyaaga enna konjamInto a bell inside your anklet, me...
Female
Maathuven aiyaaa…I will transform you, my lord!
Male
Ohoo ooooo oooooo …. ohoo oooooo oooooooOhoo ooooo oooooo .... ohoo oooooo ooooooo
Female
Ohoo oooooo ooooo …. ohoo oooooo ooooooOhoo oooooo ooooo …. ohoo oooooo oooooo

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kurukku Chiruthavale is an iconic romantic duet from the 1999 Tamil film Mudhalvan. Penned by Vairamuthu and composed by A. R. Rahman, the song depicts intense intimacy, passion, and spiritual merging between two lovers. The male protagonist expresses a deep desire to become an indispensable part of his lover's daily adornments—asking to be smeared like turmeric on her chest or placed as a bell in her anklet.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

Ada aathoda vizhundha ela andha aathoda povadhu pol / Nenju unnodu thaan pinnodudhae

Compares the heart chasing after the beloved to a leaf drifting helplessly down a flowing river stream.

Uyarvu Navortchi (Hyperbole)

Kolla vandha maranam kooda kozhambumaiyaa…aaah

Exaggerates the depth of their merged souls by stating that even the God of Death coming to take life would end up confused about whom to take.

Visual Imagery

Nenjil manja thechu kulikkaiyil enna konjam poosu thaayaee

Uses vivid cultural imagery of turmeric, kumkum, and anklet bells to describe sensory physical intimacy.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A. R. Rahman for S. Shankar's political thriller 'Mudhalvan' (1999), the song features masterly renditions by Hariharan and Mahalakshmi Iyer. Its lush arrangements blend traditional rural Tamil folk motifs with modern orchestral soundscapes.

Keep listening

More from Mudhalvan