Theppa Kulathinil Kulippathu
From Sarithira Nayagan · 1984
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Sarithira Nayagan1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Theppa kulaththinil kulippathu | The one bathing in the temple tank, |
| Poovaa pennaa puriyavillai hae haei | Is it a flower or a woman? I cannot understand, hey hey! |
| Theppa kulaththinil kulippathu | The one bathing in the temple tank, |
| Poovaa pennaa puriyavillai hae haei | Is it a flower or a woman? I cannot understand, hey hey! |
| Muththu thelikulam mithakkaiyil | When pearls splash in the pond as she floats, |
| Yedho bothai theriyavillai | An unknown intoxication overcomes, I cannot tell. |
| Male | |
| Theppa kulaththinil kulippathu | The one bathing in the temple tank, |
| Poovaa pennaa puriyavillai hae haei | Is it a flower or a woman? I cannot understand, hey hey! |
| Female | |
| Marakkilai melae yaeri kulippathai paarththaayaa | Did you climb up a tree branch and watch her bathing? |
| Kurangugal illaatha kuraiyinai theerththaayaa | Did you fulfill the absence of monkeys here? |
| Uchchaani kombil nindru | Standing on the highest branch, |
| Vaazhum kaalum neettaathu | Stretching out the tail and leg... |
| Uchchaani kombil nindru | Standing on the highest branch, |
| Vaazhum kaalum neettaathu | Stretching out the tail and leg... |
| Female | |
| Theppa kulaththinil kulippathu | The one bathing in the temple tank, |
| Poovaa ponnaa puriyavillaiyaa ohho hoi | Is it a flower or gold/woman? Don't you understand, ohho hoi! |
| Uchchi thalaikkanam pidiththavan | The arrogant man who has lost his senses to pride, |
| Bodhai innum theliyalaiyaa…. | Has your intoxication not cleared yet? |
| Female | |
| Mariyaathai theriyaathaa poiyyaa | Don't you have any respect? Go away, man! |
| Sariyaana madaiyanthaan neeyaa | Are you a complete fool? |
| Uraikkaatha mara mandaiyo | Is your head made of insensitive wood? |
| Male :Yaei adi enai manampolae thittu | Male: Hey girl, scold me as much as your heart desires! |
| Adhuthaanae sugamaana mettu | That itself is a sweet tune to my ears! |
| Vilaiyaadum vayathillaiyo | Isn't this the age to play around? |
| Female | |
| Muzhikkira moraikkira manthi | You monkey staring and glaring, |
| Aduththathu nadappathai sinthi | Think about what will happen next! |
| Adhaipondra idhikaasamaa | Is it an epic tale like that? |
| Male :Ada tharisanam kidaiththathu devi | Male: Ah, I have obtained your divine vision, oh goddess! |
| Thavikkuthu thudikkuthu aavi | My soul suffers and throbs with desire! |
| Raiththaalae abaraathamaa | Is it a crime if I scream out in excitement? |
| Male | |
| Uduththiya selaiyellaam eduththavan naanthaanae | I am the one who took away all the sarees you wore! |
| Iduppinil illaamal iruppaval neethaanae | And you are the one standing without anything on your waist! |
| Selaigal illaavittaal maanam eenam pogaathaa | If there are no clothes, won't honor and dignity be lost? |
| Chorus | |
| Krishna mugunthaa govinthaa | Krishna, Mukunda, Govinda! |
| Kattiya selaiyai neeyumthaa | Give back the saree I wore! |
| Krishna mugunthaa govinthaa | Krishna, Mukunda, Govinda! |
| Kattiya selaiyai neeyumthaa | Give back the saree I wore! |
| Kannaththil thaanae pottukittom | We slap our own cheeks in repentance, |
| Kaigalai kooppu kettukittom | We fold our hands and beg you! |
| Kannaththil thaanae pottukittom | We slap our own cheeks in repentance, |
| Kaigalai kooppu kettukittom | We fold our hands and beg you! |
| Female | |
| Uchchi thalaiganam pidiththavan | The arrogant man who has lost his head to pride, |
| Bodhai innum theliyalaiyaa | Has your intoxication not cleared yet? |
| Female | |
| Avalaattam ivalaattam lesaa | Is her dance or this woman's playful act easy to handle? |
| Nadakkaathu nadakkaathu rasaa veliyera mattaenaiyya | It won't work, my prince, I will not step out of the water! |
| Male :Oo….ilameengal vishnaagam nanju | Male: Oh, young fish, venomous snakes, poison, |
| Ivaiyaavum thanneeril undu kadichchaalae thaangaathammaa | All these exist in the water; if they bite, you can't bear it, my lady! |
| Ha ha ha haa | Ha ha ha ha! |
| Female | |
| Nadanthathatha maranthidu sami pulavaya paarvaiyil kaami | Forget what happened, lord; show me your compassionate gaze! |
| Paranthaaman avathaaramae | Oh incarnation of Lord Paranthaman! |
| Male :Aa…aa…. araikurai udaiyinil paarththaa | Male: Ah... seeing you in scant attire, |
| Azhagenai asaikkuthu aaththaa paarththaalum pasi theerumae | Your beauty moves me, mother! Even just looking at you satisfies my hunger! |
| Female | |
| Krishna mugunthaa govinthaa | Krishna, Mukunda, Govinda! |
| Kattiya selaiyai neeyumthaa | Give back the saree I wore! |
| Kannaththil thaanae pottukittom | We slap our cheeks in repentance, |
| Kaigalai kooppu kettukittom | We fold our hands and beg! |
| Female | |
| Nanthakumaaraa navaneetha soraa devagi bala | Oh Nandakumara, butter thief, son of Devaki! |
| Dheiva kunaalaa prabhuvae prabhuvae krishna prabhavae | Oh divine natured Lord, Lord Krishna, my Lord! |
| Maraven maravaen unai naan maravaen | I will never forget, never forget, I will never forget you! |
| Male :Jei krishnaa mahaa prabhu…jei…. | Male: Hail Krishna, Great Lord... Hail! |
தெப்பக் குளத்தினில் குளிப்பது
பூவா பெண்ணா புரியவில்லை ஹே ஹேய்
தெப்பக் குளத்தினில் குளிப்பது
பூவா பெண்ணா புரியவில்லை ஹே ஹேய்
முத்து தெளிக்குலம் மிதக்கையில்
ஏதோ போதை தெரியவில்லை
The one bathing in the temple tank,
Is it a flower or a woman? I cannot understand, hey hey!
The one bathing in the temple tank,
Is it a flower or a woman? I cannot understand, hey hey!
When pearls splash in the pond as she floats,
An unknown intoxication overcomes, I cannot tell.
தெப்பக் குளத்தினில் குளிப்பது
பூவா பெண்ணா புரியவில்லை ஹே ஹேய்
The one bathing in the temple tank,
Is it a flower or a woman? I cannot understand, hey hey!
மரக்கிளை மேலே ஏறி குளிப்பதை பார்த்தாயா
குரங்குகள் இல்லாத குறையினை தீர்த்தாயா
உச்சாணி கொம்பில் நின்று
வாலும் காலும் நீட்டாது
உச்சாணி கொம்பில் நின்று
வாலும் காலும் நீட்டாது
Did you climb up a tree branch and watch her bathing?
Did you fulfill the absence of monkeys here?
Standing on the highest branch,
Stretching out the tail and leg...
Standing on the highest branch,
Stretching out the tail and leg...
தெப்பக் குளத்தினில் குளிப்பது
பூவா பெண்ணா புரியல்லையா ஓஹோஹோய்
உச்சித் தலைக்கனம் பிடித்தவன்
போதை இன்னும் தெளியலையா...
The one bathing in the temple tank,
Is it a flower or gold/woman? Don't you understand, ohho hoi!
The arrogant man who has lost his senses to pride,
Has your intoxication not cleared yet?
மரியாதை தெரியாதா போய்யா
சரியான மடையன் தான் நீயா
உரைக்காத மர மண்டையோ
ஏய் அடி எனை மனம்போலே திட்டு
அதுதானே சுகமான மெட்டு
விளையாடும் வயதில்லையோ
Don't you have any respect? Go away, man!
Are you a complete fool?
Is your head made of insensitive wood?
Male: Hey girl, scold me as much as your heart desires!
That itself is a sweet tune to my ears!
Isn't this the age to play around?
முழிக்கிற மொறைக்கிற மந்தி
அடுத்தது நடப்பதை சிந்தி
அதைப்போன்ற இதிகாசமா
அட தரிசனம் கிடைத்தது தேவி
தவிக்குது துடிக்குது ஆவி
ரசித்தாலே அபராதமா
You monkey staring and glaring,
Think about what will happen next!
Is it an epic tale like that?
Male: Ah, I have obtained your divine vision, oh goddess!
My soul suffers and throbs with desire!
Is it a crime if I scream out in excitement?
உடுத்திய சேலையெல்லாம் எடுத்தவன் நான்தானே
இடுப்பினில் இல்லாமல் இருப்பவள் நீதானே
சேலைகள் இல்லாவிட்டால் மானம் ஈனம் போகாதா
I am the one who took away all the sarees you wore!
And you are the one standing without anything on your waist!
If there are no clothes, won't honor and dignity be lost?
கிருஷ்ணா முகுந்தா கோவிந்தா
கட்டிய சேலையை நீயும் தா
கிருஷ்ணா முகுந்தா கோவிந்தா
கட்டிய சேலையை நீயும் தா
கன்னத்தில் தானே போட்டுக்கிட்டோம்
கைகளை கூப்பி கேட்டுக்கிட்டோம்
கன்னத்தில் தானே போட்டுக்கிட்டோம்
கைகளை கூப்பி கேட்டுக்கிட்டோம்
Krishna, Mukunda, Govinda!
Give back the saree I wore!
Krishna, Mukunda, Govinda!
Give back the saree I wore!
We slap our own cheeks in repentance,
We fold our hands and beg you!
We slap our own cheeks in repentance,
We fold our hands and beg you!
உச்சித் தலைக்கனம் பிடித்தவன்
போதை இன்னும் தெளியலையா...
The arrogant man who has lost his head to pride,
Has your intoxication not cleared yet?
அவளாட்டம் இவளாட்டம் லேசா
நடக்காது நடக்காது ராசா வெளியேற மாட்டேனய்யா...
ஓ.....இளமீன்கள் விஷநாகம் நஞ்சு
இவை யாவும் தண்ணீரில் உண்டு கடிச்சாலே தாங்காதம்மா
ஹ ஹ ஹ ஹா....
Is her dance or this woman's playful act easy to handle?
It won't work, my prince, I will not step out of the water!
Male: Oh, young fish, venomous snakes, poison,
All these exist in the water; if they bite, you can't bear it, my lady!
Ha ha ha ha!
நடந்தத மறந்திடு சாமி புடவய பார்வையில் காமி
பரந்தாமன் அவதாரமே
ஆ......ஆ..அரைகுறை உடையினில் பார்த்தா
அழகெனை அசைக்குது ஆத்தா பார்த்தாலும் பசி தீருமே......
Forget what happened, lord; show me your compassionate gaze!
Oh incarnation of Lord Paranthaman!
Male: Ah... seeing you in scant attire,
Your beauty moves me, mother! Even just looking at you satisfies my hunger!
கிருஷ்ணா முகுந்தா கோவிந்தா
கட்டிய சேலையை நீயும் தா
கன்னத்தில் நானும் போட்டுகிட்டேன்
கைகளை கூப்பி கேட்டுக்கிட்டேன்
Krishna, Mukunda, Govinda!
Give back the saree I wore!
We slap our cheeks in repentance,
We fold our hands and beg!
நந்தகுமாரா நவநீத சோரா தேவகி பாலா
தெய்வ குணாளா பிரபுவே பிரபுவே கிருஷ்ண பிரபுவே
மறவேன் மறவேன் உனை நான் மறவேன்
ஜெய் கிருஷ்ண மஹாபிரபு...ஜெய்....
Oh Nandakumara, butter thief, son of Devaki!
Oh divine natured Lord, Lord Krishna, my Lord!
I will never forget, never forget, I will never forget you!
Male: Hail Krishna, Great Lord... Hail!
Theppa kulaththinil kulippathu
The one bathing in the temple tank,
Poovaa pennaa puriyavillai hae haei
Is it a flower or a woman? I cannot understand, hey hey!
Theppa kulaththinil kulippathu
The one bathing in the temple tank,
Poovaa pennaa puriyavillai hae haei
Is it a flower or a woman? I cannot understand, hey hey!
Muththu thelikulam mithakkaiyil
When pearls splash in the pond as she floats,
Yedho bothai theriyavillai
An unknown intoxication overcomes, I cannot tell.
Theppa kulaththinil kulippathu
The one bathing in the temple tank,
Poovaa pennaa puriyavillai hae haei
Is it a flower or a woman? I cannot understand, hey hey!
Marakkilai melae yaeri kulippathai paarththaayaa
Did you climb up a tree branch and watch her bathing?
Kurangugal illaatha kuraiyinai theerththaayaa
Did you fulfill the absence of monkeys here?
Uchchaani kombil nindru
Standing on the highest branch,
Vaazhum kaalum neettaathu
Stretching out the tail and leg...
Uchchaani kombil nindru
Standing on the highest branch,
Vaazhum kaalum neettaathu
Stretching out the tail and leg...
Theppa kulaththinil kulippathu
The one bathing in the temple tank,
Poovaa ponnaa puriyavillaiyaa ohho hoi
Is it a flower or gold/woman? Don't you understand, ohho hoi!
Uchchi thalaikkanam pidiththavan
The arrogant man who has lost his senses to pride,
Bodhai innum theliyalaiyaa….
Has your intoxication not cleared yet?
Mariyaathai theriyaathaa poiyyaa
Don't you have any respect? Go away, man!
Sariyaana madaiyanthaan neeyaa
Are you a complete fool?
Uraikkaatha mara mandaiyo
Is your head made of insensitive wood?
Male :Yaei adi enai manampolae thittu
Male: Hey girl, scold me as much as your heart desires!
Adhuthaanae sugamaana mettu
That itself is a sweet tune to my ears!
Vilaiyaadum vayathillaiyo
Isn't this the age to play around?
Muzhikkira moraikkira manthi
You monkey staring and glaring,
Aduththathu nadappathai sinthi
Think about what will happen next!
Adhaipondra idhikaasamaa
Is it an epic tale like that?
Male :Ada tharisanam kidaiththathu devi
Male: Ah, I have obtained your divine vision, oh goddess!
Thavikkuthu thudikkuthu aavi
My soul suffers and throbs with desire!
Raiththaalae abaraathamaa
Is it a crime if I scream out in excitement?
Uduththiya selaiyellaam eduththavan naanthaanae
I am the one who took away all the sarees you wore!
Iduppinil illaamal iruppaval neethaanae
And you are the one standing without anything on your waist!
Selaigal illaavittaal maanam eenam pogaathaa
If there are no clothes, won't honor and dignity be lost?
Krishna mugunthaa govinthaa
Krishna, Mukunda, Govinda!
Kattiya selaiyai neeyumthaa
Give back the saree I wore!
Krishna mugunthaa govinthaa
Krishna, Mukunda, Govinda!
Kattiya selaiyai neeyumthaa
Give back the saree I wore!
Kannaththil thaanae pottukittom
We slap our own cheeks in repentance,
Kaigalai kooppu kettukittom
We fold our hands and beg you!
Kannaththil thaanae pottukittom
We slap our own cheeks in repentance,
Kaigalai kooppu kettukittom
We fold our hands and beg you!
Uchchi thalaiganam pidiththavan
The arrogant man who has lost his head to pride,
Bodhai innum theliyalaiyaa
Has your intoxication not cleared yet?
Avalaattam ivalaattam lesaa
Is her dance or this woman's playful act easy to handle?
Nadakkaathu nadakkaathu rasaa veliyera mattaenaiyya
It won't work, my prince, I will not step out of the water!
Male :Oo….ilameengal vishnaagam nanju
Male: Oh, young fish, venomous snakes, poison,
Ivaiyaavum thanneeril undu kadichchaalae thaangaathammaa
All these exist in the water; if they bite, you can't bear it, my lady!
Ha ha ha haa
Ha ha ha ha!
Nadanthathatha maranthidu sami pulavaya paarvaiyil kaami
Forget what happened, lord; show me your compassionate gaze!
Paranthaaman avathaaramae
Oh incarnation of Lord Paranthaman!
Male :Aa…aa…. araikurai udaiyinil paarththaa
Male: Ah... seeing you in scant attire,
Azhagenai asaikkuthu aaththaa paarththaalum pasi theerumae
Your beauty moves me, mother! Even just looking at you satisfies my hunger!
Krishna mugunthaa govinthaa
Krishna, Mukunda, Govinda!
Kattiya selaiyai neeyumthaa
Give back the saree I wore!
Kannaththil thaanae pottukittom
We slap our cheeks in repentance,
Kaigalai kooppu kettukittom
We fold our hands and beg!
Nanthakumaaraa navaneetha soraa devagi bala
Oh Nandakumara, butter thief, son of Devaki!
Dheiva kunaalaa prabhuvae prabhuvae krishna prabhavae
Oh divine natured Lord, Lord Krishna, my Lord!
Maraven maravaen unai naan maravaen
I will never forget, never forget, I will never forget you!
Male :Jei krishnaa mahaa prabhu…jei….
Male: Hail Krishna, Great Lord... Hail!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful song from 'Sarithira Nayagan' recreates the famous mythological 'Gopi Vastrapaharanam' (Lord Krishna hiding the clothes of the bathing gopis) in a lighthearted, musical interaction. The female lead bathes in a pond while the male lead steals her clothes after climbing a tree, teasing her continuously. She admonishes his mischievous behavior and calls him arrogant and foolish, while he cheekily takes her scoldings as music to his ears.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Theppa kulaththinil kulippathu”
Matching second consonant 'pp' across consecutive lines (Theppa / Muththu / Theppa).
Alliteration (Monaai)
“Poovaa pennaa puriyavillai hae haei”
Repetition of initial sound 'P' in 'Poovaa pennaa puriyavillai'.
Mythological Allusion
“Krishna mugunthaa govinthaa / Kattiya selaiyai neeyumthaa”
Direct reference to Lord Krishna stealing the gopis' clothes in Bhagavata Purana (Vastrapaharanam).
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is composed by legendary director M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Vaali, featuring playful vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Vani Jairam. It explicitly mimics the classical story of Krishna and the Gopis in a film dance sequence context.
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