Then Kulathile Kulikkava
From Ezhuthatha Sattangal · 1984
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Ezhuthatha Sattangal1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Thaen kulaththilae kulikkavaa midhakkavaa | Shall I bathe or float in the honey pond? |
| Thaen kulaththilae kulikkavaa midhakkavaa | Shall I bathe or float in the honey pond? |
| Female | |
| Pala viththai idhil puriyum | Many acts of passion can be performed in it, |
| Ada vetkkam enna iniyum | Ah, why be shy anymore? |
| Pala viththai idhil puriyum | Many acts of passion can be performed in it, |
| Vetkkam enna iniyum | Why be shy anymore? |
| Kadhalilae neentha vaikka | To make one swim in love, |
| Kaaman avan vetti vachcha | It was dug out by Kamadeva himself, |
| Female | |
| Thaen kulaththilae kulikkavaa midhakkavaa | Shall I bathe or float in the honey pond? |
| Female | |
| Ponn onnu poovaachchu poomeni soodaachchu | A golden woman bloomed into a flower, her soft body grew warm, |
| Kaayuthae karuguthae neerilum uruguthae | It dries up, gets scorched, and melts even inside water, |
| Ponn onnu poovaachchu poomeni soodaachchu | A golden woman bloomed into a flower, her soft body grew warm, |
| Kaayuthae karuguthae neerilum uruguthae | It dries up, gets scorched, and melts even inside water, |
| Female | |
| Thannikkulla theeyirunthu ennai sudum neram | When a fire inside the water burns me, |
| Aa….aa….aa….aa…aa…aa….aa…aa….aa….aa…..aa… | Aa....aa....aa....aa...aa...aa....aa...aa....aa....aa.....aa... |
| Thannikkulla theeyirunthu ennai sudum neram | When a fire inside the water burns me, |
| Pakkaththilae neeyirunthu mella thodumpothu | And when you are beside me, touching me gently, |
| Vaalipaththu theppam vida maaran avan katti vachcha | Built by Cupid to set sail the raft of youth, |
| Female | |
| Thaen kulaththilae kulikkavaa midhakkavaa | Shall I bathe or float in the honey pond? |
| Female | |
| Kalloorum en thegam engengum senthooram | Intoxicating nectar oozes from my body, smeared with vermilion everywhere, |
| Naanoru menagai pudhu vagai madhu vagai | I am a celestial Menaka, a new kind of intoxicant, |
| Kalloorum en thegam engengum senthooram | Intoxicating nectar oozes from my body, smeared with vermilion everywhere, |
| Naanoru menagai pudhu vagai madhu vagai | I am a celestial Menaka, a new kind of intoxicant, |
| Female | |
| Semparuththi pooveduththu senju vachcha thegam | A body crafted meticulously out of hibiscus flowers, |
| Aa….aa….aa….aa…aa…aa….aa…aa….aa….aa…..aa… | Aa....aa....aa....aa...aa...aa....aa...aa....aa....aa.....aa... |
| Semparuththi pooveduththu senju vachcha thegam | A body crafted meticulously out of hibiscus flowers, |
| Devarukkum moovarukkum inbam tharum yaagam | A ritual sacrifice that offers pleasure even to the gods and the holy trinity, |
| Pottukitta vedaththilae paattu varum raagaththilae | In the persona assumed, song flows naturally with melody, |
| Female | |
| Thaen kulaththilae kulikkavaa midhakkavaa | Shall I bathe or float in the honey pond? |
| Female | |
| Pala viththai idhil puriyum | Many acts of passion can be performed in it, |
| Ada vetkkam enna iniyum | Ah, why be shy anymore? |
| Pala viththai idhil puriyum | Many acts of passion can be performed in it, |
| Vetkkam enna iniyum | Why be shy anymore? |
| Kadhalilae neentha vaikka | To make one swim in love, |
| Kaaman avan vetti vachcha | It was dug out by Kamadeva himself, |
| Female | |
| Thaen pudhiya thaen | Honey, fresh new honey, |
| Inikkum thaen kulaththilae kulikkavaa midhakkavaa | In this sweet honey pond, shall I bathe or float? |
தேன் குளத்திலே குளிக்கவா மிதக்கவா
தேன் குளத்திலே குளிக்கவா மிதக்கவா
Shall I bathe or float in the honey pond?
Shall I bathe or float in the honey pond?
பல வித்தை இதில் புரியும்
அட வெட்கம் என்ன இனியும்
பல வித்தை இதில் புரியும்
வெட்கம் என்ன இனியும்
காதலிலே நீந்த வைக்க
காமன் அவன் வெட்டி வச்ச
Many acts of passion can be performed in it,
Ah, why be shy anymore?
Many acts of passion can be performed in it,
Why be shy anymore?
To make one swim in love,
It was dug out by Kamadeva himself,
தேன் குளத்திலே குளிக்கவா மிதக்கவா
Shall I bathe or float in the honey pond?
பொண் ஒன்னு பூவாச்சு பூமேனி சூடாச்சு
காயுதே கருகுதே நீரிலும் உருகுதே
பொண் ஒன்னு பூவாச்சு பூமேனி சூடாச்சு
காயுதே கருகுதே நீரிலும் உருகுதே
A golden woman bloomed into a flower, her soft body grew warm,
It dries up, gets scorched, and melts even inside water,
A golden woman bloomed into a flower, her soft body grew warm,
It dries up, gets scorched, and melts even inside water,
தண்ணிக்குள்ள தீயிருந்து என்னை சுடும் நேரம்
ஆ....ஆ...ஆ...ஆ...ஆ...ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ...ஆ...ஆ...ஆ..
தண்ணிக்குள்ள தீயிருந்து என்னை சுடும் நேரம்
பக்கத்திலே நீயிருந்து மெல்ல தொடும்போது
வாலிபத்து தெப்பம் விட மாறன் அவன் கட்டி வச்ச
When a fire inside the water burns me,
Aa....aa....aa....aa...aa...aa....aa...aa....aa....aa.....aa...
When a fire inside the water burns me,
And when you are beside me, touching me gently,
Built by Cupid to set sail the raft of youth,
தேன் குளத்திலே குளிக்கவா மிதக்கவா
Shall I bathe or float in the honey pond?
கள்ளூறும் என் தேகம் எங்கெங்கும் செந்தூரம்
நானொரு மேனகை புது வகை மது வகை
கள்ளூறும் என் தேகம் எங்கெங்கும் செந்தூரம்
நானொரு மேனகை புது வகை மது வகை
Intoxicating nectar oozes from my body, smeared with vermilion everywhere,
I am a celestial Menaka, a new kind of intoxicant,
Intoxicating nectar oozes from my body, smeared with vermilion everywhere,
I am a celestial Menaka, a new kind of intoxicant,
செம்பருத்தி பூவெடுத்து செஞ்சு வச்ச தேகம்
ஆ....ஆ...ஆ...ஆ...ஆ...ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ...ஆ...ஆ...ஆ..
செம்பருத்தி பூவெடுத்து செஞ்சு வச்ச தேகம்
தேவருக்கும் மூவருக்கும் இன்பம் தரும் யாகம்
போட்டுக்கிட்ட வேடத்திலே பாட்டு வரும் ராகத்திலே
A body crafted meticulously out of hibiscus flowers,
Aa....aa....aa....aa...aa...aa....aa...aa....aa....aa.....aa...
A body crafted meticulously out of hibiscus flowers,
A ritual sacrifice that offers pleasure even to the gods and the holy trinity,
In the persona assumed, song flows naturally with melody,
தேன் குளத்திலே குளிக்கவா மிதக்கவா
Shall I bathe or float in the honey pond?
பல வித்தை இதில் புரியும்
அட வெட்கம் என்ன இனியும்
பல வித்தை இதில் புரியும்
வெட்கம் என்ன இனியும்
காதலிலே நீந்த வைக்க
காமன் அவன் வெட்டி வச்ச
Many acts of passion can be performed in it,
Ah, why be shy anymore?
Many acts of passion can be performed in it,
Why be shy anymore?
To make one swim in love,
It was dug out by Kamadeva himself,
தேன் புதிய தேன்
இனிக்கும் தேன் குளத்திலே குளிக்கவா மிதக்கவா
Honey, fresh new honey,
In this sweet honey pond, shall I bathe or float?
Thaen kulaththilae kulikkavaa midhakkavaa
Shall I bathe or float in the honey pond?
Thaen kulaththilae kulikkavaa midhakkavaa
Shall I bathe or float in the honey pond?
Pala viththai idhil puriyum
Many acts of passion can be performed in it,
Ada vetkkam enna iniyum
Ah, why be shy anymore?
Pala viththai idhil puriyum
Many acts of passion can be performed in it,
Vetkkam enna iniyum
Why be shy anymore?
Kadhalilae neentha vaikka
To make one swim in love,
Kaaman avan vetti vachcha
It was dug out by Kamadeva himself,
Thaen kulaththilae kulikkavaa midhakkavaa
Shall I bathe or float in the honey pond?
Ponn onnu poovaachchu poomeni soodaachchu
A golden woman bloomed into a flower, her soft body grew warm,
Kaayuthae karuguthae neerilum uruguthae
It dries up, gets scorched, and melts even inside water,
Ponn onnu poovaachchu poomeni soodaachchu
A golden woman bloomed into a flower, her soft body grew warm,
Kaayuthae karuguthae neerilum uruguthae
It dries up, gets scorched, and melts even inside water,
Thannikkulla theeyirunthu ennai sudum neram
When a fire inside the water burns me,
Aa….aa….aa….aa…aa…aa….aa…aa….aa….aa…..aa…
Aa....aa....aa....aa...aa...aa....aa...aa....aa....aa.....aa...
Thannikkulla theeyirunthu ennai sudum neram
When a fire inside the water burns me,
Pakkaththilae neeyirunthu mella thodumpothu
And when you are beside me, touching me gently,
Vaalipaththu theppam vida maaran avan katti vachcha
Built by Cupid to set sail the raft of youth,
Thaen kulaththilae kulikkavaa midhakkavaa
Shall I bathe or float in the honey pond?
Kalloorum en thegam engengum senthooram
Intoxicating nectar oozes from my body, smeared with vermilion everywhere,
Naanoru menagai pudhu vagai madhu vagai
I am a celestial Menaka, a new kind of intoxicant,
Kalloorum en thegam engengum senthooram
Intoxicating nectar oozes from my body, smeared with vermilion everywhere,
Naanoru menagai pudhu vagai madhu vagai
I am a celestial Menaka, a new kind of intoxicant,
Semparuththi pooveduththu senju vachcha thegam
A body crafted meticulously out of hibiscus flowers,
Aa….aa….aa….aa…aa…aa….aa…aa….aa….aa…..aa…
Aa....aa....aa....aa...aa...aa....aa...aa....aa....aa.....aa...
Semparuththi pooveduththu senju vachcha thegam
A body crafted meticulously out of hibiscus flowers,
Devarukkum moovarukkum inbam tharum yaagam
A ritual sacrifice that offers pleasure even to the gods and the holy trinity,
Pottukitta vedaththilae paattu varum raagaththilae
In the persona assumed, song flows naturally with melody,
Thaen kulaththilae kulikkavaa midhakkavaa
Shall I bathe or float in the honey pond?
Pala viththai idhil puriyum
Many acts of passion can be performed in it,
Ada vetkkam enna iniyum
Ah, why be shy anymore?
Pala viththai idhil puriyum
Many acts of passion can be performed in it,
Vetkkam enna iniyum
Why be shy anymore?
Kadhalilae neentha vaikka
To make one swim in love,
Kaaman avan vetti vachcha
It was dug out by Kamadeva himself,
Thaen pudhiya thaen
Honey, fresh new honey,
Inikkum thaen kulaththilae kulikkavaa midhakkavaa
In this sweet honey pond, shall I bathe or float?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Thaen Kulaththilae' from 'Ezhuthatha Sattangal' (1984) is a highly romantic and sensuous solo performed by S. Janaki. The lyrics metaphorically depict love and intimacy as a 'honey pond' created by Kamadeva (the god of love). The protagonist expresses her intense desire, passion, and physical longing, describing her body as a delicate creation made of hibiscus flowers and equating her allure to that of a celestial nymph like Menaka.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamaani / Metaphor
“Thaen kulaththilae kulikkavaa midhakkavaa”
Comparing the overwhelming sweetness and depth of romantic passion to a 'honey pond' (Thaen Kulaththilae).
Oxymoron / Paradox
“Thannikkulla theeyirunthu ennai sudum neram”
Describing fire burning inside water ('Thannikkulla theeyirunthu'), highlighting the internal fire of passion despite being immersed in cooling water.
Moni / Rhyme Scheme (Iyaibu)
“Ponn onnu poovaachchu poomeni soodaachchu”
End rhymes like 'poovaachchu' and 'soodaachchu', 'karuguthae' and 'uruguthae' create a pleasing rhythmic cadence.
Allusion
“Naanoru menagai pudhu vagai madhu vagai”
References to Hindu mythological figures such as Kaaman (Cupid/Kamadeva), Menaka (celestial dancer), and Devas (gods) to heighten the sensory and divine aspects of passion.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung with immense expression by S. Janaki, this track stands out in the 1984 film 'Ezhuthatha Sattangal' (directed by K. Shankar, starring Prabhu and Sivaji Ganesan). The song is celebrated for Janaki's vocal nuances and Pulamaipithan's rich classical Tamil imagery.
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