Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Marundho Marundhu

From Karpukkarasi · 1957

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Karpukkarasi1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Maruntho marunthuMedicine, Oh medicine!
Kannapuththu kandamaalaiFor facial ulcers and scrofula,
Manja kaamaalaikalukkellaam marunthunduThere is medicine for all types of jaundice,
Male
Kaasumaalai podaamae kazhuththu sullukkuthunnuSaying her neck is sprained without a gold coin necklace,
Kanneervidum ponnukku marunthundoIs there any medicine for a crying woman?
Male
IllaeNo!
Male :IrukkuMale: It exists!
Male :Appa solluMale: Then tell us!
Male
Moosai thangathai kambi neetti soodukaattiHeating gold in a crucible, drawing it into a wire, and heating it,
Mudhugilae rendu vaanginaaIf she receives two lashes of it on her back,
GunangidaikkumShe will be cured!
Male
Jeeva sinthaamani marunthuJeeva Chinthamani medicine!
Male :Chiththa vaiththiya marunthuMale: Siddha medical medicine!
Male :Maruntho marunthuMale: Medicine, Oh medicine!
Male
Yaettu moolamaai pathinensiththarOriginating from palm leaf manuscripts by the eighteen Siddhas,
Paattaai thiruvaai malarnthathuFlowed as divine poetry from their holy mouths,
Yaettu moolamaai pathinensiththarOriginating from palm leaf manuscripts by the eighteen Siddhas,
Paattaai thiruvaai malarnthathuFlowed as divine poetry from their holy mouths,
Siraeshdamaana immarunthugalThese superior medicines,
Ovvoru veettilum iruppathu nallathuIt is good to have them in every home.
Male
Karappaan soripadai sirangukalukkuFor eczema, scabies, ringworm, and boils,
Kalimbugal tharuvom thadavikkalaamWe will provide ointments to apply.
Karappaan soripadai sirangukalukkuFor eczema, scabies, ringworm, and boils,
Kalimbugal tharuvom thadavikkalaamWe will provide ointments to apply.
Male
Kaamasuraththaal kavalaipaduvorFor those who suffer from love-sickness,
Kaliyaana kuligai saappidalaamThey can take the marriage pill!
Kaamasuraththaal kavalaipaduvorFor those who suffer from love-sickness,
Kaliyaana kuligai saappidalaamThey can take the marriage pill!
Male
Kastapadaamal sugamaai vaazhaTo live comfortably without suffering,
Kaayakalpam undidalaamOne can consume the elixir of youth,
Kastapadaamal sugamaai vaazhaTo live comfortably without suffering,
Kaayakalpam undidalaamOne can consume the elixir of youth.
Male
Adhu kai vasamillai tharkaala saanthikkuIf that is unavailable, for temporary peace,
Kaakkaai pidiththu pusikkalaamOne can flatter and butter up others.
Male
Namma naattu vaiththiyar kaattu mooligaiOur native doctors' wild herbal medicine,
Maruntho marunthuMedicine, Oh medicine!
Udal nanmai kaanavae unmaiyoduTruly proven for bodily well-being,
Palar undathu kai kandathuTested and consumed by many with verified results.
Male
Paattu paadum thondakalellaamIf singing throats get choked up,
Paara pola kattikittaaAnd become heavy like a rock,
Kaattu kuyil sooppu pottuTell them to make soup out of a wild cuckoo,
Sappida sollungaAnd drink it!
Male
Aattam varaak kaalgalukkuFor legs that cannot dance or move,
Mayilkaalu thailam pottuApply peacock-foot oil,
Arai mandalam azhuththiyazhuththaAnd pressing firmly in half-circles,
Theaikka sollungaTell them to rub it!
Male
Porukkaatha pallu valikkuFor unbearable toothaches,
Surukkaththilae marunthirukkuThere is a quick medicine available:
Pokkirikittae vaayai kuduththuGo pick a fight with a rogue,
Paarkka sollungoAnd let them punch your mouth!
Male
Karuppaana thalaimudiyumTo keep dark black hair,
Velukkaamae iruppatharkkuFrom ever turning white,
Kaakkaavai uyiroduSwallow a live crow,
Muzhunga sollungoWhole!
Andang kaakkaavai uyiroduSwallow a live raven,
Muzhunga sollungoWhole!
Male
Maruntho marunthuMedicine, Oh medicine!
Male :Maruntho marunthuMale: Medicine, Oh medicine!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a satirical street-vendor duet performed by travelling Siddha practitioners advertising their remedies. It begins by listing genuine traditional Siddha claims derived from ancient palm leaf manuscripts, addressing skin ailments, jaundice, and bodily health.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Karappaan soripadai sirangukalukku / Kalimbugal tharuvom thadavikkalaam

The second letters of consecutive lines share the same consonant sound, such as 'Kaasumaalai' and 'Kanneervidum' (matching 's' / 'n' sound patterns) or 'Karappaan' and 'Kalimbugal'.

Moonaai (Initial letter alliteration)

Kaamasuraththaal kavalaipaduvor / Kaliyaana kuligai saappidalaam

Matching starting letters across words within a line, such as 'Kaamasuraththaal' and 'Kaliyaana'.

Satire / Irony

Porukkaatha pallu valikku ... Pokkirikittae vaayai kuduththu

Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram uses hyperbole and absurd remedies (e.g., letting a rogue punch your mouth to cure toothache, swallowing a live raven whole to prevent gray hair) to mock charlatans and human greed.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the legendary lyricist Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, this song showcases his trademark wit and sharp social commentary embedded within traditional folk humor. The song is composed by G. Ramanathan and sung by the iconic duo T. M. Soundararajan and Seerkazhi Govindarajan.

Keep listening

More from Karpukkarasi