Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Muthukulikka Vaareergala

From Anubavi Raja Anubavi · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
L. R. Eswari, T. M. Soundararajan, M. S. Vishwanathan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Anubavi Raja Anubavi1967

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Muththuk kulikka vaarigalaaAre you coming to dive for pearls?
Moochai adakka vaarigalaaAre you coming to hold your breath?
Muththuk kulikka vaarigalaaAre you coming to dive for pearls?
Moochai adakka vaarigalaaAre you coming to hold your breath?
Female
Sippi eduppoma mama mamaShall we pick up sea shells, uncle?
Ammaalukkum sondhamillaiyoDoesn't it belong to mother as well?
Sippi eduppoma mama mamaShall we pick up sea shells, uncle?
Ammaalukkum sondhamillaiyoDoesn't it belong to mother as well?
Female
Muththuk kulikka vaarigalaaAre you coming to dive for pearls?
Male
Yaelaa muththamma ummanasu embuttuHey Muthamma, how deep is what's in your heart?
En kittaththan solludiyammaWhy don't you tell it directly to me, girl?
Female :Mama….Female : Uncle....
Male :Yaelaa muththamma ummanasu embuttuMale : Hey Muthamma, how deep is what's in your heart?
En kittaththan solludiyammaWhy don't you tell it directly to me, girl?
Male
Naalang naalumilla muththedukkaThere is no good or bad day to fetch pearls,
Nammalai nee kooppitta thennadiyammaWhy did you call us then, girl?
Naalang naalumilla muththedukkaThere is no good or bad day to fetch pearls,
Nammalai nee kooppitta thennadiyammaWhy did you call us then, girl?
Male
Muththuk kudukka vaarigalaaAre you coming to give kisses (pearls)?
Kaththuk kodukka vaarigalaaAre you coming to teach romance?
Sanggu parippoma yaelaa yaelaaShall we harvest conch shells, hey there?
Ammaalukkum sondhamillaiyoDoesn't it belong to mother as well?
Muththuk kudukka vaarigalaaAre you coming to give kisses (pearls)?
Female
Aalana PonnugaGrown-up young women,
Paakku vaikkum munnameBefore betrothal arrangements are made,
Ennavennu solluvagaWill express what is on their mind.
Aalana PonnugaGrown-up young women,
Paakku vaikkum munnameBefore betrothal arrangements are made,
Ennavennu solluvagaWill express what is on their mind.
Female
Huk…kolaru pannamaHmph... without creating a problem,
Kitta vandhu konjungoCome closer and fondle me,
Cinemavil konjuraappalaJust like they embrace in the movies,
Male
Kaaththavarayanai aariyamaalaThe way Kathavarayan and Ariyamala,
Kadhalichcha maathiriyilaaFell in love with each other.
Kaaththavarayanai aariyamaalaThe way Kathavarayan and Ariyamala,
Kadhalichcha maathiriyilaaFell in love with each other.
Female
Jinjinnakkadi JinjinakkadiJinjinnakkadi Jinjinakkadi (rhythmic folk beats)
Paarththinggale neengalumHaving watched that, all of you,
Andha sarasam panni paarungaTry engaging in such sweet romance too.
Jinjinnakkadi JinjinakkadiJinjinnakkadi Jinjinakkadi (rhythmic folk beats)
Paarththinggale neengalumHaving watched that, all of you,
Andha sarasam panni paarungaTry engaging in such sweet romance too.
Male
Oho…..Oho.....
oo….oo…..oo….oo…oo…oo…oo…o..Oo....oo.....oo....oo...oo...oo...oo...o..
Male
Muththuk kudukka vaarigalaaAre you coming to give kisses (pearls)?
Kaththuk kodukka vaarigalaaAre you coming to teach romance?
Female :Muththuk kulikka vaarigalaaFemale : Are you coming to dive for pearls?
Moochai adakka vaarigalaaAre you coming to hold your breath?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Muththuk Kulikka Vaarigalaa' is a celebrated, playful folk duet from the 1967 Tamil movie 'Anubavi Raja Anubavi', composed by M. S. Viswanathan, penned by Kannadasan, and sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela. The song revolves around playful, romantic teasing between a young man and a woman set against a coastal folk backdrop.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Sileadai (Double Entendre / Pun)

Muththuk kudukka vaarigalaa / Kaththuk kodukka vaarigalaa

Uses the word 'Muththu' cleverely to mean both literal sea pearls ('muththuk kulikka') and romantic kisses ('muththuk kudukka').

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Muththuk kulikka vaarigalaa / Moochai adakka vaarigalaa

Repetition of the initial sound 'Mu' across adjacent words to create a rhythmic folk musical flow.

Allusion (Aaluvaamai)

Kaaththavarayanai aariyamaala / Kadhalichcha maathiriyilaa

Refers to the iconic Tamil folk legend characters Kathavarayan and Ariyamala as a benchmark for passionate romantic love.

Did you know?

Trivia

This hit track features music by M. S. Viswanathan with vocals by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela. The movie 'Anubavi Raja Anubavi' (1967), directed by K. Balachander, famously stars comedian Nagesh in a dual role. Kannadasan's lyrics masterfully use regional fisherman dialect and wordplay to create an iconic song that remains popular in Tamil pop culture.

Keep listening

More from Anubavi Raja Anubavi