Oru Kaathu Karuppu
From Vetri Padigal · 1991
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Oru kaathu karuppu kandaa | If you see a dark shadow or evil spirit, |
| Bayamum unakkirukkudhu tharanannaa | You feel fear in you, tharanannaa! |
| Udal verkkudhu viruvirukkudhu | The body sweats and shivers, |
| Veluthu mogam karukkudhu tharanannaa | Face pales and turns dark, tharanannaa! |
| Ada poyaa potta edhukku pantu satta | Oh go away, coward, why do you wear pants and shirt? |
| Ada veena yenya aana porandhutta hoi | Why were you uselessly born a man? Hoi! |
| Female | |
| Oru kaathu karuppu kandaa | If you see a dark shadow or evil spirit, |
| Bayamum unakkirukkudhu tharanannaa | You feel fear in you, tharanannaa! |
| Udal verkkudhu viruvirukkudhu | The body sweats and shivers, |
| Veluthu mogam karukkudhu tharanannaa | Face pales and turns dark, tharanannaa! |
| Female | |
| Ada enga veetu pillaiyilae | In the movie 'Enga Veettu Pillai', |
| Pattedupaar sattaiyilae | He grabs by the collar of the shirt, |
| MGR aa pathiyaa | Have you seen MGR? |
| Kattabomman veshathilae | In the role of Veerapandiya Kattabomman, |
| Karjippaaru singam polae | He roars like a lion, |
| Nadigar thilagam paarthiya | Have you seen Nadigar Thilagam (Sivaji Ganesan)? |
| Female | |
| Ada paayum puliyaaga vandhu | Coming like a pouncing tiger, |
| Paanju paanju sanda podum | Leaping and fighting furiously, |
| Rajinikanth paathiyaa | Have you seen Rajinikanth? |
| Villangala bendedukkum | Bending and thrashing the villains, |
| Naayagana vandhu nikkum | Standing tall as the heroic protagonist, |
| Kamalahaasan paathiya | Have you seen Kamal Haasan? |
| Female | |
| Pongi ezhu nee thaan herookala pola | Rise up boldly like those cinematic heroes! |
| Illaa vittaa neethaan kattikaiya saela | Otherwise, go wear a saree around yourself! |
| Adhukkum idhukkum dhinam | Every single day, for everything and anything, |
| Achapattu achapattu | Getting scared and fearful, |
| Edhukku pozhappu sollu | What kind of life is this, tell me? |
| Vetkam kettu vetkam kettu hae haei | Being so shameless, shameless! Hae haei! |
| Female | |
| Oru kaathu karuppu kandaa | If you see a dark shadow or evil spirit, |
| Bayamum unakkirukkudhu tharanannaa | You feel fear in you, tharanannaa! |
| Udal verkkudhu viruvirukkudhu | The body sweats and shivers, |
| Veluthu mogam karukkudhu tharanannaa | Face pales and turns dark, tharanannaa! |
| Ada poyaa potta edhukku pantu satta | Oh go away, coward, why do you wear pants and shirt? |
| Ada veena yenya aana porandhutta hae | Why were you uselessly born a man? Hae! |
| Female | |
| Oru kaathu karuppu kandaa | If you see a dark shadow or evil spirit, |
| Bayamum unakkirukkudhu tharanannaa | You feel fear in you, tharanannaa! |
| Udal verkkudhu viruvirukkudhu | The body sweats and shivers, |
| Veluthu mogam karukkudhu tharanannaa | Face pales and turns dark, tharanannaa! |
| Male | |
| Adi pathu perai othaiyilae | Hey girl, fighting ten men all alone, |
| Suthugirai vithaiyellam | Performing all those acrobatic stunts, |
| Ennaal kaatta kooduma | Can I ever pull all that off? |
| Pallodanju sillodanju | With broken teeth and smashed to pieces, |
| Kai odanju kaal odanju | With broken arms and broken legs, |
| Munaal nirkka venuma | Should I stand before you like that? |
| Male | |
| Adi acha padum sangathikku | Hey, for things that truly warrant fear, |
| Acha pada venumminnu | One ought to be afraid, |
| Sonnaan andha valluvan | So said the sage Thiruvalluvar! |
| Enna pola valluvanum | A wise man like me, |
| Vambhu thumbhu vechukaama | Avoiding fights and trouble, |
| Mannil vaazhndha nallavan | Is a good man who lives peacefully on this earth. |
| Male | |
| Indha uyir ponaa innum onnu yedhu | If this life is lost, where can I get another? |
| Aasai idhan melae vekkadhavan yaaru | Who doesn't cherish their own life? |
| Nadantha kolaiya kannil kandu putten kandu putten | I witnessed the murder that happened with my own eyes, my own eyes! |
| Varattu izhuppil vandhu sikkikitten sikkikitten hahahaha | I unnecessarily got dragged and caught in this mess, caught in this mess, hahahaha! |
| Male | |
| Oru kaathu karuppa kandaa | If I see a dark shadow or evil spirit, |
| Bayamum enakkirukkudhu tharanannaa | I feel fear in me, tharanannaa! |
| Udal verthu viruviruthu | Body sweats and shivers, |
| Veluthu mogam karukkudhu tharanannaa | Face pales and turns dark, tharanannaa! |
| Male | |
| Adi veeram veeram enakku dhooram dhooram | Hey, bravery and heroism are far, far away from me! |
| Adi jhansi raani nee thaan udhavanum hahahaha | Hey Jhansi Rani, you are the one who must help me! Hahaha! |
| Male | |
| Oru kaathu karuppa kandaa | If I see a dark shadow or evil spirit, |
| Bayamum enakkirukkudhu tharanannaa | I feel fear in me, tharanannaa! |
| Udal verthu viruviruthu | Body sweats and shivers, |
| Veluthu mogam karukkudhu tharanannaa | Face pales and turns dark, tharanannaa! |
| Haahaaha | Haahaaha |
ஒரு காத்துக் கருப்பக் கண்டா
பயமும் உனக்கிருக்குது தரனன்னா
உடல் வேர்த்து விறுவிறுத்து
வெளுத்து மொகம் கறுக்குது தரனன்னா
அட போயா பொட்ட எதுக்கு பேன்டு சட்ட
அட வீணா ஏன்யா ஆணா பொறந்துட்ட ஹொய்
If you see a dark shadow or evil spirit,
You feel fear in you, tharanannaa!
The body sweats and shivers,
Face pales and turns dark, tharanannaa!
Oh go away, coward, why do you wear pants and shirt?
Why were you uselessly born a man? Hoi!
ஒரு காத்துக் கருப்பக் கண்டா
பயமும் உனக்கிருக்குது தரனன்னா
உடல் வேர்த்து விறுவிறுத்து
வெளுத்து மொகம் கறுக்குது தரனன்னா
If you see a dark shadow or evil spirit,
You feel fear in you, tharanannaa!
The body sweats and shivers,
Face pales and turns dark, tharanannaa!
அட எங்க வீட்டுப் பிள்ளையிலே
பாட்டெடுப்பார் சாட்டையிலே
எம் ஜி ஆரப் பாத்தியா
கட்டபொம்மன் வேஷத்திலே
கர்ஜிப்பாரு சிங்கம் போலே
நடிகர் திலகம் பாத்தியா
In the movie 'Enga Veettu Pillai',
He grabs by the collar of the shirt,
Have you seen MGR?
In the role of Veerapandiya Kattabomman,
He roars like a lion,
Have you seen Nadigar Thilagam (Sivaji Ganesan)?
அட பாயும் புலியாக வந்து
பாஞ்சு பாஞ்சு சண்ட போடும்
ரஜினிகாந்தப் பாத்தியா
வில்லன்கள பென்டெடுக்கும்
நாயகனா வந்து நிக்கும்
கமலஹாஸன் பாத்தியா
Coming like a pouncing tiger,
Leaping and fighting furiously,
Have you seen Rajinikanth?
Bending and thrashing the villains,
Standing tall as the heroic protagonist,
Have you seen Kamal Haasan?
பொங்கி எழு நீதான் ஹீரோக்களப் போல
இல்லா விட்டா நீதான் கட்டிக்கயா சேல
அதுக்கும் இதுக்கும் தினம்
அச்சப்பட்டு அச்சப்பட்டு
எதுக்கு பொழப்பு சொல்லு
வெக்கம் கெட்டு வெக்கம் கெட்டு ஏஹேய்
Rise up boldly like those cinematic heroes!
Otherwise, go wear a saree around yourself!
Every single day, for everything and anything,
Getting scared and fearful,
What kind of life is this, tell me?
Being so shameless, shameless! Hae haei!
ஒரு காத்துக் கருப்பக் கண்டா
பயமும் உனக்கிருக்குது தரனன்னா
உடல் வேர்த்து விறுவிறுத்து
வெளுத்து மொகம் கறுக்குது தரனன்னா
அட போயா பொட்ட எதுக்கு பேன்டு சட்ட
அட வீணா ஏன்யா ஆணா பொறந்துட்ட ஹே
If you see a dark shadow or evil spirit,
You feel fear in you, tharanannaa!
The body sweats and shivers,
Face pales and turns dark, tharanannaa!
Oh go away, coward, why do you wear pants and shirt?
Why were you uselessly born a man? Hae!
ஒரு காத்துக் கருப்பக் கண்டா
பயமும் உனக்கிருக்குது தரனன்னா
உடல் வேர்த்து விறுவிறுத்து
வெளுத்து மொகம் கறுக்குது தரனன்னா
If you see a dark shadow or evil spirit,
You feel fear in you, tharanannaa!
The body sweats and shivers,
Face pales and turns dark, tharanannaa!
அடி பத்துப் பேரை ஒத்தையிலே
சுத்துகிற வித்தை எல்லாம்
என்னால் காட்டக் கூடுமா
பல்லொடஞ்சு சில்லொடஞ்சு
கை ஒடஞ்சு கால் ஒடஞ்சு
முன்னால் நிற்க வேணுமா
Hey girl, fighting ten men all alone,
Performing all those acrobatic stunts,
Can I ever pull all that off?
With broken teeth and smashed to pieces,
With broken arms and broken legs,
Should I stand before you like that?
அடி அச்சப் படும் சங்கதிக்கு
அச்சப் பட வேணுமுன்னு
சொன்னான் அந்த வள்ளுவன்
என்னப் போல வள்ளுவனும்
வம்பு தும்பு வெச்சுக்காம
மண்ணில் வாழ்ந்த நல்லவன்
Hey, for things that truly warrant fear,
One ought to be afraid,
So said the sage Thiruvalluvar!
A wise man like me,
Avoiding fights and trouble,
Is a good man who lives peacefully on this earth.
இந்த உயிர் போனா இன்னும் ஒண்ணு ஏது
ஆசை இதன் மேலே வெக்காதவன் யாரு
நடந்தக் கொலையக் கண்ணில்
கண்டு புட்டேன் கண்டு புட்டேன்
வரட்டு இழுப்பில் வந்து
சிக்கிக்கிட்டேன் சிக்கிக்கிட்டேன் ஹாஹ்ஹா
If this life is lost, where can I get another?
Who doesn't cherish their own life?
I witnessed the murder that happened with my own eyes, my own eyes!
I unnecessarily got dragged and caught in this mess, caught in this mess, hahahaha!
ஒரு காத்துக் கருப்பக் கண்டா
பயமும் எனக்கிருக்குது தரனன்னா
உடல் வேர்த்து விறுவிறுத்து
வெளுத்து மொகம் கறுக்குது தரனன்னா
If I see a dark shadow or evil spirit,
I feel fear in me, tharanannaa!
Body sweats and shivers,
Face pales and turns dark, tharanannaa!
அடி வீரம் வீரம் எனக்கு ரொம்ப ரொம்ப தூரம்
அடி ஜான்சி ராணி நீ தான் உதவணும் ஹொஹ்ஹொ
Hey, bravery and heroism are far, far away from me!
Hey Jhansi Rani, you are the one who must help me! Hahaha!
ஒரு காத்துக் கருப்பக் கண்டா
பயமும் எனக்கிருக்குது தரனன்னா
உடல் வேர்த்து விறுவிறுத்து
வெளுத்து மொகம் கறுக்குது தரனன்னா ஹொஹ்ஹொ
If I see a dark shadow or evil spirit,
I feel fear in me, tharanannaa!
Body sweats and shivers,
Face pales and turns dark, tharanannaa!
Haahaaha
Oru kaathu karuppu kandaa
If you see a dark shadow or evil spirit,
Bayamum unakkirukkudhu tharanannaa
You feel fear in you, tharanannaa!
Udal verkkudhu viruvirukkudhu
The body sweats and shivers,
Veluthu mogam karukkudhu tharanannaa
Face pales and turns dark, tharanannaa!
Ada poyaa potta edhukku pantu satta
Oh go away, coward, why do you wear pants and shirt?
Ada veena yenya aana porandhutta hoi
Why were you uselessly born a man? Hoi!
Oru kaathu karuppu kandaa
If you see a dark shadow or evil spirit,
Bayamum unakkirukkudhu tharanannaa
You feel fear in you, tharanannaa!
Udal verkkudhu viruvirukkudhu
The body sweats and shivers,
Veluthu mogam karukkudhu tharanannaa
Face pales and turns dark, tharanannaa!
Ada enga veetu pillaiyilae
In the movie 'Enga Veettu Pillai',
Pattedupaar sattaiyilae
He grabs by the collar of the shirt,
MGR aa pathiyaa
Have you seen MGR?
Kattabomman veshathilae
In the role of Veerapandiya Kattabomman,
Karjippaaru singam polae
He roars like a lion,
Nadigar thilagam paarthiya
Have you seen Nadigar Thilagam (Sivaji Ganesan)?
Ada paayum puliyaaga vandhu
Coming like a pouncing tiger,
Paanju paanju sanda podum
Leaping and fighting furiously,
Rajinikanth paathiyaa
Have you seen Rajinikanth?
Villangala bendedukkum
Bending and thrashing the villains,
Naayagana vandhu nikkum
Standing tall as the heroic protagonist,
Kamalahaasan paathiya
Have you seen Kamal Haasan?
Pongi ezhu nee thaan herookala pola
Rise up boldly like those cinematic heroes!
Illaa vittaa neethaan kattikaiya saela
Otherwise, go wear a saree around yourself!
Adhukkum idhukkum dhinam
Every single day, for everything and anything,
Achapattu achapattu
Getting scared and fearful,
Edhukku pozhappu sollu
What kind of life is this, tell me?
Vetkam kettu vetkam kettu hae haei
Being so shameless, shameless! Hae haei!
Oru kaathu karuppu kandaa
If you see a dark shadow or evil spirit,
Bayamum unakkirukkudhu tharanannaa
You feel fear in you, tharanannaa!
Udal verkkudhu viruvirukkudhu
The body sweats and shivers,
Veluthu mogam karukkudhu tharanannaa
Face pales and turns dark, tharanannaa!
Ada poyaa potta edhukku pantu satta
Oh go away, coward, why do you wear pants and shirt?
Ada veena yenya aana porandhutta hae
Why were you uselessly born a man? Hae!
Oru kaathu karuppu kandaa
If you see a dark shadow or evil spirit,
Bayamum unakkirukkudhu tharanannaa
You feel fear in you, tharanannaa!
Udal verkkudhu viruvirukkudhu
The body sweats and shivers,
Veluthu mogam karukkudhu tharanannaa
Face pales and turns dark, tharanannaa!
Adi pathu perai othaiyilae
Hey girl, fighting ten men all alone,
Suthugirai vithaiyellam
Performing all those acrobatic stunts,
Ennaal kaatta kooduma
Can I ever pull all that off?
Pallodanju sillodanju
With broken teeth and smashed to pieces,
Kai odanju kaal odanju
With broken arms and broken legs,
Munaal nirkka venuma
Should I stand before you like that?
Adi acha padum sangathikku
Hey, for things that truly warrant fear,
Acha pada venumminnu
One ought to be afraid,
Sonnaan andha valluvan
So said the sage Thiruvalluvar!
Enna pola valluvanum
A wise man like me,
Vambhu thumbhu vechukaama
Avoiding fights and trouble,
Mannil vaazhndha nallavan
Is a good man who lives peacefully on this earth.
Indha uyir ponaa innum onnu yedhu
If this life is lost, where can I get another?
Aasai idhan melae vekkadhavan yaaru
Who doesn't cherish their own life?
Nadantha kolaiya kannil kandu putten kandu putten
I witnessed the murder that happened with my own eyes, my own eyes!
Varattu izhuppil vandhu sikkikitten sikkikitten hahahaha
I unnecessarily got dragged and caught in this mess, caught in this mess, hahahaha!
Oru kaathu karuppa kandaa
If I see a dark shadow or evil spirit,
Bayamum enakkirukkudhu tharanannaa
I feel fear in me, tharanannaa!
Udal verthu viruviruthu
Body sweats and shivers,
Veluthu mogam karukkudhu tharanannaa
Face pales and turns dark, tharanannaa!
Adi veeram veeram enakku dhooram dhooram
Hey, bravery and heroism are far, far away from me!
Adi jhansi raani nee thaan udhavanum hahahaha
Hey Jhansi Rani, you are the one who must help me! Hahaha!
Oru kaathu karuppa kandaa
If I see a dark shadow or evil spirit,
Bayamum enakkirukkudhu tharanannaa
I feel fear in me, tharanannaa!
Udal verthu viruviruthu
Body sweats and shivers,
Veluthu mogam karukkudhu tharanannaa
Face pales and turns dark, tharanannaa!
Haahaaha
Haahaaha
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful comic duet showcases a humorous clash of perspectives between a brave woman and a self-confessed timid man. The woman ridicules the man for his lack of courage, calling him a coward who trembles at the thought of darkness or ghosts. She challenges him to emulate Tamil cinema's legendary action stars—MGR, Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, and Kamal Haasan—and mockingly suggests he wear a saree if he lacks masculine bravery.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamai)
“Karjippaaru singam polae”
Compares Sivaji Ganesan's roaring performance in Kattabomman directly to a lion ('singam polae').
Metaphor & Imagery
“Ada paayum puliyaaga vandhu”
Compares Rajinikanth's high-energy screen presence and fight style to a pouncing tiger ('paayum puli').
Cultural Allusion
“Sonnaan andha valluvan”
References Thiruvalluvar's famous Thirukkural couplet 'Anjaamai anjaamai idamai...' to philosophically defend cowardice as a virtue of caution.
Repetition (Adukku Thodar)
“Paanju paanju sanda podum”
Repetition of the verb 'paanju' (leaping) emphasizes continuous action and energetic martial movement.
Rhyme (Ethugai)
“Udal verkkudhu viruvirukkudhu / Veluthu mogam karukkudhu”
Matching internal rhyming patterns and rhythm ('verkkudhu', 'viruvirukkudhu', 'karukkudhu') enhance the folk-song quality.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is from the 1991 action-drama film 'Vetri Padigal', directed by Manobala and starring Ramki, Nirosha, and Srividya. The music for the film was composed by S. A. Rajkumar, with lyrics penned by the renowned poet Vaali. In the lyrics, Vaali cleverly weaves pop-culture references to four iconic pillars of Tamil cinema (MGR, Sivaji Ganesan, Rajinikanth, and Kamal Haasan) while contrasting cinema heroism with real-life cowardice.
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