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Pick Pocket album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Manja Kuruvi

From Pick Pocket · 1989

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Pick Pocket
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
29 Dec 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
: {Manja kuruvi manja kuruvi
Konja paakkudhadi
Konji kulavi konji kulavi
Minja paakkudhadi} (2)
Ada sari thaan sarasammaa
Nee sariyaa orasammaa
Idhu alaiyum manasammaa
Nee aamaan jollammaa
Naan valanjaa valanju nelinjaa nelinju
Kuduthaal kuduppen
{Manja kuruvi manja kuruvi
Konja paakkudhadi
Konji kulavi konji kulavi
Minja paakkudhadi} (2)
Jugujumjum jumjugujum
Jugujumjum jumjugujum
Jugujumjum jumjugujum
Jugujumjum jumjugujum
Jumjaga jumjaga jumjaga jumjaa
Jumjaga jumjaga jumjaga jumjaa
Jumjagajaa jumjagajaa
Jumjaga jumjaga jumjaga jumjaga
Jumjagajaa jumjagajaa
Jumjaga jumjaga jumjaga jumjaga
Koodu vittuk koodu vandhu
Paanjadhenna
Ippodhu veli vittu thottam vandhu
Maenjadhenna
Paadu pattu chaethu vecha
Aasai enna
Ippodhu paarukkullae
Naan valartha meesai enna
Sengarumba…aa…
Katterumbu …uu…
Konjudhaiyaa…aa…
Kitta vandhu…uuu..
Oru noola pola veli onnu
Poda poren
Oru paala kooda paaya pottu
Naanum thaaren
Oru neram kaalam
Koodum podhu
Naanum kooda vaarenga
Manja kuruvi manja kuruvi
Konja paakkudhadi
Konji kulavi konji kulavi
Minja paakkudhadi
Ada sari thaan sarasammaa
Nee sariyaa orasammaa
Idhu alaiyum manasammaa
Nee aamaan jollammaa
Naan valanjaa valanju nelinjaa nelinju
Kuduthaal kuduppen
Manja kuruvi manja kuruvi
Konja paakkudhadi
Konji kulavi konji kulavi
Minja paakkudhadi
Thoondil ittu naan pudicha
Meenu rendu
Thullaattam podudhammaa
Maarukattu thedi vandhu
Moodi vecha veyililae
Vaaduminnu
Yaaraachum paathu puttaa
Koottam vandhu kooduminnu
Enna vela…aaa..
Solli pudu..uu.. hoi
En kitta nee …ee…
Thalli kudu….
Ada note ah kaatti
Nottam pottaa sikkaadhaiyaa
Ada nondi paaru nondi paaru
Thappadhaiyaa
Ada vendaam pulla
Nee thaan ippa
Sollum rate kattaadhu
{Manja kuruvi manja kuruvi
Konja paakkudhadi
Konji kulavi konji kulavi
Minja paakkudhadi} (2)
Ada sari thaan sarasammaa
Nee sariyaa orasammaa
Idhu alaiyum manasammaa
Nee aamaan jollammaa
Naan valanjaa valanju nelinjaa nelinju
Kuduthaal kuduppen..hae hoii
{Manja kuruvi manja kuruvi
Konja paakkudhadi
Konji kulavi konji kulavi
Minja paakkudhadi} (2)..yeah
The yellow bird, the yellow bird
tries to cuddle and flirt,
whispering sweet love and playing around,
trying to take full control!
Oh alright, my flirtatious girl,
come brush against me properly.
This heart of mine wanders restless,
so just say yes to me!
If I bend and sway and twist around,
I will give in, only if I want!
The yellow bird, the yellow bird
tries to cuddle and flirt,
whispering sweet love and playing around,
trying to take full control!
Jukujumjum jumjukujum
Jukujumjum jumjukujum
Jukujumjum jumjukujum
Jukujumjum jumjukujum
Jumjaka jumjaka jumjaka jumja
Jumjaka jumjaka jumjaka jumja
Jumjakaja jumjakaja
Jumjaka jumjaka jumjaka jumjaka
Jumjakaja jumjakaja
Jumjaka jumjaka jumjaka jumjaka
Leaving nest after nest,
why did it leap all the way here?
Crossing past the fence,
why has it come to graze in the garden now?
What about the desire
saved up with so much effort?
Now, in front of the whole world,
what about the mustache I grew with pride?
Like sweet red sugarcane...
...the big black ant...
...comes cuddling, my dear...
...drawing so close!
Like a thin thread, a fence
I am going to put up.
Spreading a mat and offering milk,
I too will give myself to you.
When the right time
and moment arrive,
I will come along with you, sir!
The yellow bird, the yellow bird
tries to cuddle and flirt,
whispering sweet love and playing around,
trying to take full control!
Oh alright, my flirtatious girl,
come brush against me properly.
This heart of mine wanders restless,
so just say yes to me!
If I bend and sway and twist around,
I will give in, only if I want!
The yellow bird, the yellow bird
tries to cuddle and flirt,
whispering sweet love and playing around,
trying to take full control!
Caught on the fishing hook I cast,
these two fish
are leaping and splashing!
Seeking the shelter of my chest,
I kept them covered, fearing the hot sun
would make them wither!
If anyone catches a glimpse,
a crowd will gather around!
What is the price...
...just name it, hey!
Right here to me...
...hand them over!
Flashing currency notes
and eyeing me won't catch me, mister!
Pry and search all you want,
you will not get away with it!
Oh come on, girl, don't do this,
right now,
the price you quote is too high!
The yellow bird, the yellow bird
tries to cuddle and flirt,
whispering sweet love and playing around,
trying to take full control!
Oh alright, my flirtatious girl,
come brush against me properly.
This heart of mine wanders restless,
so just say yes to me!
If I bend and sway and twist around,
I will give in, only if I want... hey hoy!
The yellow bird, the yellow bird
tries to cuddle and flirt,
whispering sweet love and playing around,
trying to take full control... yeah!
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Manja Kuruvi' is a playful, upbeat duet from the 1989 movie Pick Pocket. The song features lively folk-infused flirtation where the lovers tease each other using rich, playful metaphors of birds, sugarcane, fishing, and market bartering. The heroine metaphorically refers to her suitor as a 'yellow bird' (manja kuruvi) trying to win her affection, while the hero responds in kind with energetic romantic banter. Throughout the track, the lyrics build an atmosphere of youthful romance, clever retorts, and folk rhythm. Gangai Amaran weaves together colloquial terms, rhythmic vocal scatting ('jugujumjum'), and double entendres to create a catchy, humorous, and flirtatious dance number typical of late 1980s Tamil commercial cinema.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhai (Second letter rhyming / Assonance)

Manja kuruvi manja kuruvi / Konja paakkudhadi

The second consonant 'n' (ன / ஞ்) rhymes across adjacent lines ('Manja' and 'Konja').

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Manja kuruvi manja kuruvi

Comparing the lover to a 'Manja Kuruvi' (Yellow bird) that flutters around trying to affectionally dominate.

Repetition / Rhythm (Adukku Thodar)

Konji kulavi konji kulavi

Rhythmic repetition of 'Konji kulavi' and 'Jumjaga' to create a lively folk beat.

Did you know?

Trivia

Pick Pocket (1989) stars Prashanth's father Thiagarajan alongside Radha. The film's music score was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by his brother Gangai Amaran. The song is well regarded for its catchy, upbeat folk rhythm and playful lyrical exchanges.

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