Narikathai
From Moondram Pirai · 1982
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Kamal Haasan, Sri Devi
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Moondram Pirai1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Hm munbu oru kaalaththula | Hm, once upon a time |
| Muruga mala kaattukkulla | Inside the Muruga mountain forest |
| Munbu oru kaalaththula | Once upon a time |
| Muruga mala kaattukkulla | Inside the Muruga mountain forest |
| Thandhiram migundha nari | A very cunning jackal |
| Vaazhndhu vandhadhu | Lived there |
| Adhu kaadu vittu naadu thedi | It left the forest and sought the town |
| Odi vandhadhu | And came running |
| Yenna pannichchu… | What did it do... |
| Female | |
| Odi vandhichchu | It came running |
| Male | |
| Hm odi vandha kulla nari | Hm, the short jackal that came running |
| Female :Aiyaiyo aiyaiyo | Female: Oh no, oh no! |
| Male | |
| Kaal thavari vizhnthathadi | Tripped its foot and fell down |
| Odi vandha kulla nari | The short jackal that came running |
| Kaal thavari vizhnthathadi | Tripped its foot and fell down |
| Neela nira saayam vechcha | In a tub containing |
| Thotti ondrilae | Blue colored dye |
| Adhu niram maari ponathadi | Its color changed completely, my dear girl |
| Chinna pombala | Little woman! |
| Female | |
| Ha ha ha ha ha ha | Ha ha ha ha ha ha |
| Male | |
| Nari colour maari pochchu | The jackal's color changed |
| Piragu kaadu thedi pochchu…. | Then it went looking for the forest... |
| Nari | The jackal |
| Female :Kaadu maari pochchu | Female: The forest changed! |
| Male :Aiyo apuram | Male: Oh dear, then? |
| Female :Colour thedi pochchu… | Female: It went looking for the color... |
| Ha ha ha ha | Ha ha ha ha |
| Male | |
| Kettudhu po kadhaiyae maathiputta | Oh no, you ruined it! You changed the story entirely! |
| Aiya enna iru iru iru iru | Hey what, wait wait wait wait |
| Innum kadhai irukku | There is still more story left |
| Vadaa….vaa thalai ellam | Come on... come here, headstrong girl |
| Seri sollu kadhai enga vuttan | Alright tell me, where did I leave the story? |
| Female :Hmm…nari kaadu thedi pochu | Female: Hmm... the jackal went looking for the forest |
| Male :Kaadi thedi pochaa | Male: Went looking for the forest? |
| Male | |
| Nari color maari kaattukulla pocha | The jackal changed color and went into the forest |
| Female :Haan.. | Female: Yeah... |
| Male :Maththa mirugam ellam yennada idhu | Male: Seeing this, all other animals wondered what new beast this was |
| Pudhusa oru mirugam vandhirukkudhae | A new kind of animal has arrived! |
| Appadinnu paaththu bayandhu pochu | Thinking so, they got terrified! |
| Female :Aiyaiyo..heheh.. | Female: Oh no!.. heheh.. |
| Male | |
| Hahaha naan aandavan | Hahaha, I am the lord sent by God! |
| Anupiya purushan | The husband/protector sent above! |
| Hahaha hahaha hahahahaha | Hahaha hahaha hahahahaha |
| Ungalai aala vandhirukkum arasan | The king who has come to rule over you all! |
| Male | |
| Mirungangal ellaam bayandhadhu | All the animals got scared |
| Angu nariyin raajiyam nadandhadhu | And there, the jackal's kingdom took reign |
| Oru naal megam idiththadhu | One day, the clouds thundered! |
| Minnal vediththadhu kaattru adiththadhu | Lightning burst, the wind blew hard! |
| Kaadu thudiththadhu nilam asaindhadhu | The forest trembled, the earth shook! |
| Mazhai pozhindhadhu ahhhh…. | The rain poured down... ahhhh... |
| Female :Aaahhhhhhh | Female: Aaahhhhhhh! |
| Male | |
| Kaattu vilangugal kalangina | The wild beasts grew panicked and confused |
| Konjam bayandhana | They felt a bit scared |
| Udal nadingina aavi odingina | Their bodies trembled, their spirits quaked |
| Neela nariyin vaasal vandhu | They came to the blue jackal's doorstep |
| Olam vittu azhudhana | And started wailing out loud! |
| Male | |
| Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah | Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah |
| Yeah yeah nee yen azhugura | Yeah yeah, why are you crying? |
| Female :Nee yen azhudha | Female: Why did you cry? |
| Male :Naan puli singam muyal kutti | Male: I cried like a tiger, lion, and baby rabbit! |
| Adhu maadhiri azhudhen | I cried like those animals |
| Nee yen azhughura | Why are you crying? |
| Female :Appo seri hm sollu | Female: Okay then, fine, tell the story |
| Male | |
| Nariyum veliyil vandhadhu | The jackal also came outside |
| Mazhaiyil konjam nanaindhadhu | It got a little drenched in the rain |
| Neela saayam karanjadhu | The blue dye dissolved away |
| Nariyin vesham kalanjadhu | The jackal's disguise fell apart! |
| Female :Hahaha hahaha | Female: Hahaha hahaha |
| Male | |
| Neela saayam veluththu pochu | The blue dye faded away! |
| Female :Dum dum dum dum | Female: Dum dum dum dum |
| Male :Raja vesham kalanju pochu | Male: The king's disguise washed away! |
| Female :Dum dum dum dum | Female: Dum dum dum dum |
| Male | |
| Neela saayam yenna aachchu | What happened to the blue dye? |
| Female :Hm neela saayam veluthu pochu | Female: Hm, the blue dye faded away! |
| Male :Neela saayam veluthu pochu | Male: The blue dye faded away! |
| Female :Dum dum dum dum | Female: Dum dum dum dum |
| Male :Raja vesham kalanju pochu | Male: The king's disguise washed away! |
| Female :Dum dum dum dum | Female: Dum dum dum dum |
| Male | |
| Haan neela saayam veluthu pochu | Yes, the blue dye faded away! |
| Female :Dum dum dum dum | Female: Dum dum dum dum |
| Male :Raja vesham kalanju pochu | Male: The king's disguise washed away! |
| Dum dum dum dum | Dum dum dum dum |
| Kaatta vittae odi pochu | It ran away from the forest completely! |
| Dum dum dum dum | Dum dum dum dum |
| Dum dum dum dum | Dum dum dum dum |
| Dum dum dum dum | Dum dum dum dum |
| Female :Hahahahahahahahaha | Female: Hahahahahahahahaha |
ம்ம் முன்பு ஒரு காலத்துல
முருக மல காட்டுக்குள்ள
முன்பு ஒரு காலத்துல
முருக மல காட்டுக்குள்ள
தந்திரம் மிகுந்த நரி வாழ்ந்து வந்தது
அது காடு விட்டு நாடு தேடி ஓடி வந்தது
என்ன பன்னிச்சு
ஓடி வந்திச்சி
Hm, once upon a time
Inside the Muruga mountain forest
Once upon a time
Inside the Muruga mountain forest
A very cunning jackal
Lived there
It left the forest and sought the town
And came running
What did it do...
ம்ம் ஓடி வந்த குள்ள நரி
ஹையையோ ஹையையோ
It came running
கால் தவரி வீழ்ந்ததடி
ஓடி வந்த குள்ள நரி
கால் தவரி வீழ்ந்ததடி
நீல நிற சாயம் வெச்ச
தொட்டி ஒன்றிலே
அது நிறம் மாறி போனதடி
சின்ன பொம்பல
ஹ ஹ ஹ ஹ ஹ ஹ
Hm, the short jackal that came running
Female: Oh no, oh no!
நரி கலர் மாறி போச்சு
பிறகு காடு தேடி போச்சு
நரி
காடு மாறி போச்சு
ஐயோ அப்புறம்
கலர் தேடி போச்சு
ஹா ஹா ஹா
Tripped its foot and fell down
The short jackal that came running
Tripped its foot and fell down
In a tub containing
Blue colored dye
Its color changed completely, my dear girl
Little woman!
கெட்டுது போ
கதையே மாத்திபுட்டே
அய்ய என்ன இரு இரு இரு இரு
இன்னும் கதை இருக்கு
வாடா வா தலை எல்லாம்
சரி சொல்லு கதை எங்க விட்டேன்
ம்ம்..நரி காடு தேடி போச்சு
காடு தேடி போச்சா
Ha ha ha ha ha ha
நரி கலர் மாறி
காட்டுக்குள்ளே போச்சா
ஹான்...
மத்த மிருகம் எல்லாம்
என்னடா இது
புதுசா ஒரு மிருகம் வந்திருக்குதே
அப்படின்னு பாத்து பயந்து போச்சு
ஐயையோ
The jackal's color changed
Then it went looking for the forest...
The jackal
Female: The forest changed!
Male: Oh dear, then?
Female: It went looking for the color...
Ha ha ha ha
ஹஹஹ நான் ஆண்டவன்
அனுப்பிய புருஷன்
ஹஹஹ ஹஹஹ
உங்களை ஆள வந்திருக்கும் அரசன்
Oh no, you ruined it! You changed the story entirely!
Hey what, wait wait wait wait
There is still more story left
Come on... come here, headstrong girl
Alright tell me, where did I leave the story?
Female: Hmm... the jackal went looking for the forest
Male: Went looking for the forest?
மிருகங்கள் எல்லாம் பயந்தது
அங்கு நரியின் ராஜ்ஜியம் நடந்தது
ஒரு நாள் மேகம் இடித்தது
மின்னல் வெடித்தது காற்று அடித்தது
காடு துடித்தது நிலம் அசைந்தது
மழை பொழிந்தது....ஆஆஆஆ
ஆஆஆஆ.....
The jackal changed color and went into the forest
Female: Yeah...
Male: Seeing this, all other animals wondered what new beast this was
A new kind of animal has arrived!
Thinking so, they got terrified!
Female: Oh no!.. heheh..
காடு விலங்குகள் கலங்கின
கொஞ்சம் பயந்தன
உடல் நடுங்கின ஆவி ஒடுங்கின
நீல நரியின் வாசல் வந்து
ஓலம் இட்டு அழுதன.....
Hahaha, I am the lord sent by God!
The husband/protector sent above!
Hahaha hahaha hahahahaha
The king who has come to rule over you all!
உஉஉ...ஆஆஆ.....
ஏய் நீ ஏன் அழுகுற
நீ ஏன் அழுத
நான் புலி சிங்கம் முயல்
அது மாதிரி அழுதேன்
நீ ஏன் அழுகுற
அப்போ சரி ஹ்ம்ம்..சொல்லு
All the animals got scared
And there, the jackal's kingdom took reign
One day, the clouds thundered!
Lightning burst, the wind blew hard!
The forest trembled, the earth shook!
The rain poured down... ahhhh...
Female: Aaahhhhhhh!
நரியும் வெளியே வந்தது
மழையில் கொஞ்சம் நனைந்தது
நீல சாயம் கரைஞ்சது
நரியின் வேஷம் கலைஞ்சது
ஹஹஹ ஹஹஹ
The wild beasts grew panicked and confused
They felt a bit scared
Their bodies trembled, their spirits quaked
They came to the blue jackal's doorstep
And started wailing out loud!
நீல சாயம் வெளுத்து போச்சு
டும் டும் டும் டும்
ராஜா வேஷம் கலைஞ்சு போச்சு
டும் டும் டும் டும்
Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah
Yeah yeah, why are you crying?
Female: Why did you cry?
Male: I cried like a tiger, lion, and baby rabbit!
I cried like those animals
Why are you crying?
Female: Okay then, fine, tell the story
ஹான் நீல சாயம் என்ன ஆச்சு
ம்ம் நீல சாயம் வெளுத்து போச்சு
நீல சாயம் வெளுத்து போச்சு
டும் டும் டும் டும்
ராஜா வேஷம் கலைஞ்சு போச்சு
டும் டும் டும் டும்
The jackal also came outside
It got a little drenched in the rain
The blue dye dissolved away
The jackal's disguise fell apart!
Female: Hahaha hahaha
ஹான் நீல சாயம் வெளுத்து போச்சு
டும் டும் டும் டும்
ராஜா வேஷம் கலைஞ்சு போச்சு
டும் டும் டும் டும்
காட்ட விட்டே ஓடி போச்சு
டும் டும் டும் டும்
டும் டும் டும் டும்
டும் டும் டும் டும்
ஹஹஹஹஹா
The blue dye faded away!
Female: Dum dum dum dum
Male: The king's disguise washed away!
Female: Dum dum dum dum
What happened to the blue dye?
Female: Hm, the blue dye faded away!
Male: The blue dye faded away!
Female: Dum dum dum dum
Male: The king's disguise washed away!
Female: Dum dum dum dum
Yes, the blue dye faded away!
Female: Dum dum dum dum
Male: The king's disguise washed away!
Dum dum dum dum
It ran away from the forest completely!
Dum dum dum dum
Dum dum dum dum
Dum dum dum dum
Female: Hahahahahahahahaha
Hm munbu oru kaalaththula
Hm, once upon a time
Muruga mala kaattukkulla
Inside the Muruga mountain forest
Munbu oru kaalaththula
Once upon a time
Muruga mala kaattukkulla
Inside the Muruga mountain forest
Thandhiram migundha nari
A very cunning jackal
Vaazhndhu vandhadhu
Lived there
Adhu kaadu vittu naadu thedi
It left the forest and sought the town
Odi vandhadhu
And came running
Yenna pannichchu…
What did it do...
Odi vandhichchu
It came running
Hm odi vandha kulla nari
Hm, the short jackal that came running
Female :Aiyaiyo aiyaiyo
Female: Oh no, oh no!
Kaal thavari vizhnthathadi
Tripped its foot and fell down
Odi vandha kulla nari
The short jackal that came running
Kaal thavari vizhnthathadi
Tripped its foot and fell down
Neela nira saayam vechcha
In a tub containing
Thotti ondrilae
Blue colored dye
Adhu niram maari ponathadi
Its color changed completely, my dear girl
Chinna pombala
Little woman!
Ha ha ha ha ha ha
Ha ha ha ha ha ha
Nari colour maari pochchu
The jackal's color changed
Piragu kaadu thedi pochchu….
Then it went looking for the forest...
Nari
The jackal
Female :Kaadu maari pochchu
Female: The forest changed!
Male :Aiyo apuram
Male: Oh dear, then?
Female :Colour thedi pochchu…
Female: It went looking for the color...
Ha ha ha ha
Ha ha ha ha
Kettudhu po kadhaiyae maathiputta
Oh no, you ruined it! You changed the story entirely!
Aiya enna iru iru iru iru
Hey what, wait wait wait wait
Innum kadhai irukku
There is still more story left
Vadaa….vaa thalai ellam
Come on... come here, headstrong girl
Seri sollu kadhai enga vuttan
Alright tell me, where did I leave the story?
Female :Hmm…nari kaadu thedi pochu
Female: Hmm... the jackal went looking for the forest
Male :Kaadi thedi pochaa
Male: Went looking for the forest?
Nari color maari kaattukulla pocha
The jackal changed color and went into the forest
Female :Haan..
Female: Yeah...
Male :Maththa mirugam ellam yennada idhu
Male: Seeing this, all other animals wondered what new beast this was
Pudhusa oru mirugam vandhirukkudhae
A new kind of animal has arrived!
Appadinnu paaththu bayandhu pochu
Thinking so, they got terrified!
Female :Aiyaiyo..heheh..
Female: Oh no!.. heheh..
Hahaha naan aandavan
Hahaha, I am the lord sent by God!
Anupiya purushan
The husband/protector sent above!
Hahaha hahaha hahahahaha
Hahaha hahaha hahahahaha
Ungalai aala vandhirukkum arasan
The king who has come to rule over you all!
Mirungangal ellaam bayandhadhu
All the animals got scared
Angu nariyin raajiyam nadandhadhu
And there, the jackal's kingdom took reign
Oru naal megam idiththadhu
One day, the clouds thundered!
Minnal vediththadhu kaattru adiththadhu
Lightning burst, the wind blew hard!
Kaadu thudiththadhu nilam asaindhadhu
The forest trembled, the earth shook!
Mazhai pozhindhadhu ahhhh….
The rain poured down... ahhhh...
Female :Aaahhhhhhh
Female: Aaahhhhhhh!
Kaattu vilangugal kalangina
The wild beasts grew panicked and confused
Konjam bayandhana
They felt a bit scared
Udal nadingina aavi odingina
Their bodies trembled, their spirits quaked
Neela nariyin vaasal vandhu
They came to the blue jackal's doorstep
Olam vittu azhudhana
And started wailing out loud!
Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah
Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah
Yeah yeah nee yen azhugura
Yeah yeah, why are you crying?
Female :Nee yen azhudha
Female: Why did you cry?
Male :Naan puli singam muyal kutti
Male: I cried like a tiger, lion, and baby rabbit!
Adhu maadhiri azhudhen
I cried like those animals
Nee yen azhughura
Why are you crying?
Female :Appo seri hm sollu
Female: Okay then, fine, tell the story
Nariyum veliyil vandhadhu
The jackal also came outside
Mazhaiyil konjam nanaindhadhu
It got a little drenched in the rain
Neela saayam karanjadhu
The blue dye dissolved away
Nariyin vesham kalanjadhu
The jackal's disguise fell apart!
Female :Hahaha hahaha
Female: Hahaha hahaha
Neela saayam veluththu pochu
The blue dye faded away!
Female :Dum dum dum dum
Female: Dum dum dum dum
Male :Raja vesham kalanju pochu
Male: The king's disguise washed away!
Female :Dum dum dum dum
Female: Dum dum dum dum
Neela saayam yenna aachchu
What happened to the blue dye?
Female :Hm neela saayam veluthu pochu
Female: Hm, the blue dye faded away!
Male :Neela saayam veluthu pochu
Male: The blue dye faded away!
Female :Dum dum dum dum
Female: Dum dum dum dum
Male :Raja vesham kalanju pochu
Male: The king's disguise washed away!
Female :Dum dum dum dum
Female: Dum dum dum dum
Haan neela saayam veluthu pochu
Yes, the blue dye faded away!
Female :Dum dum dum dum
Female: Dum dum dum dum
Male :Raja vesham kalanju pochu
Male: The king's disguise washed away!
Dum dum dum dum
Dum dum dum dum
Kaatta vittae odi pochu
It ran away from the forest completely!
Dum dum dum dum
Dum dum dum dum
Dum dum dum dum
Dum dum dum dum
Dum dum dum dum
Dum dum dum dum
Female :Hahahahahahahahaha
Female: Hahahahahahahahaha
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful storytelling song from 'Moondram Pirai' features Cheenu (played by Kamal Haasan) narrating the classic Panchatantra moral fable of 'The Blue Jackal' to Viji (played by Sridevi), who suffers from retrograde amnesia and acts like a child. Cheenu sings about a cunning jackal that accidentally falls into a vat of blue dye in a town, turns blue, and goes back to the forest claiming to be a divine king sent by God. The forest animals fear and obey it until a heavy thunderstorm washes off the blue paint, exposing its disguise and chasing it away. Throughout the song, Viji constantly interrupts with childlike giggles, funny confusions, and background beat sounds ('Dum dum dum dum'), making the performance an endearing display of affection and care between the two characters.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai and Monai (Tamil Alliteration and Rhyming)
“Oru naal megam idiththadhu / Minnal vediththadhu kaattru adiththadhu”
Rhythmic rhyming verbs and nouns are used throughout the narration to maintain a storytelling cadence, such as 'idiththadhu' (thundered), 'vediththadhu' (burst), 'adiththadhu' (blew), and 'asaindhadhu' (moved).
Personification / Allegory
“Hahaha naan aandavan / Anupiya purushan / Ungalai aala vandhirukkum arasan”
The jackal personifies itself as a divine king sent by God to deceive the wild animals of the forest.
Onomatopoeia and Conversational Folk Style
“Male: Raja vesham kalanju pochu / Female: Dum dum dum dum”
The inclusion of rhythmic drum sound imitations ('Dum dum dum dum') and natural conversational interruptions creates an interactive narrative folk style.
Did you know?
Trivia
In Balu Mahendra's masterpiece 'Moondram Pirai' (1982), composed by Ilaiyaraaja, this track serves as an interactive story-song (Kadhai Paattu). Kamal Haasan and Sridevi brought immense natural charm to this scene, capturing the innocent, childlike dynamic of Viji and the gentle patience of Cheenu. The sequence adapts the famous Panchatantra tale of the 'Neela Nari' (Blue Jackal).
Keep listening
More from Moondram Pirai
Moondram Pirai
Moondram Pirai
Moondram Pirai
Moondram Pirai
Moondram Pirai