Uppu Karuvadu
From Mudhalvan · 1999
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Mudhalvan1999
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thaen mozhiyae ..ae..ae | Oh sweet-spoken one... |
| Lalalala lailai….lalalala lailai … lalalala …..lailai….lalalala …lailai | Lalalala lailai....lalalala lailai … lalalala …..lailai….lalalala …lailai |
| Male | |
| Ye uppu karuvaadu ooravecha soru oottivida nee pothum enaku | Hey, salted dry fish and soaked rice - it is enough if you feed me! |
| Muthamitta nethiyila | On the forehead that you kissed, |
| Maarbuku mathiyila | In the middle of your chest, |
| Sethuvida thonuthadi …eeee…..hey… | I feel like dying... hey! |
| Male | |
| Oh.. oda kara mela oru onaan pidippomaa | Oh, shall we catch a garden lizard on the bank of the stream? |
| Kaakaa kadi kadichu siru maangaa thimbomaa | Shall we bite off a small green mango with crow-nibbles? |
| Female | |
| {Kolaaka kolaaka kolaak kalaa | {Kolaaka kolaaka kolaak kalaa |
| Male | |
| Korava meenu kuthikkira aathukulla | In the river where the Koravai fish leaps, |
| Korapullu mulakira sethukkulla | In the mud where Korai grass sprouts, |
| En kooda sagathikoothu | Play in the mud together with me, |
| Aadu thai thai thai thai thai | Dance to the beat thai thai thai thai thai! |
| Adi oththa thuni uduthi kulippomaa | Hey girl, shall we bathe wearing just a single cloth? |
| Vetkam thalli vai vai | Put your shyness aside! |
| Female | |
| Lai lai lai lai lai lai … lai la lai lai lai lai | Lai lai lai lai lai lai … lai la lai lai lai lai |
| Porathum varuvathum poi poi poi | Birth and arrival are all a lie, lie, lie! |
| Irukkira nimisham mei mei mei | The present moment alone is truth, truth, truth! |
| Male | |
| Vaazhai ilaiyila onna virunthaa vai vai vai vai vai | Serve yourself as a feast on a plantain leaf! |
| Female | |
| Aasaiya paaru aai aai aai | Look at the desire, ah ah ah! |
| Kaadukullenna noi noi noi | What illness can affect love inside the forest? |
| Male | |
| Pathinettu vayasu sevaiyellaam sei sei sei sei sei sei | Perform all the romantic services of an eighteen-year-old! |
| Female | |
| {Kolaaka kolaaka kolaak kalaa | {Kolaaka kolaaka kolaak kalaa |
| Male | |
| Ye uppu karuvaadu ooravecha soru oottivida nee pothum enaku | Hey, salted dry fish and soaked rice - it is enough if you feed me! |
| Muthamitta nethiyila | On the forehead that you kissed, |
| Maarbuku mathiyila | In the middle of your chest, |
| Sethuvida thonuthadi enaku | I feel like dying, my dear! |
| Male | |
| Oh thaen mozhiyae ….thaen mozhiyae | Oh sweet-spoken one... sweet-spoken one... |
| Oh… lailalai lailalai thaen mozhiyae | Oh... lailalai lailalai sweet-spoken one... |
| Lelelele lele le lelelele lele | Lelelele lele le lelelele lele |
| Female | |
| Lai… lai… lai…. lai … lai … lai | Lai… lai… lai…. lai … lai … lai |
| Female | |
| Kaathu mattum nozhayira kaattukulla | Inside the thick forest where only the wind enters, |
| Thookanaanguruvi koottukulla | Inside the nest of a weaver bird, |
| Oru naalil enna kudiyiruka vai vai vai vai vai | Let me reside for just one day! |
| Nee selai thirudi kondu ponaalum | Even if you steal my saree and take it away, |
| Maanam kaakum kai kai | My hands will cover and protect my modesty! |
| Male | |
| Lailailailai …. lailailai … lailalailai … lailailai | Lailailailai …. lailailai … lailalailai … lailailai |
| Aadai enbathu poi poi poi | Clothing is just a lie, lie, lie! |
| Athu konda porul mattum mei mei mei | Only the physical form it holds is truth, truth, truth! |
| Athanai azhagaiyum maiyaa kaiyil | Place all that beauty in the hands of this artist! |
| Vai vai vai vai vai | Place it, place it, place it! |
| Female | |
| Nenjukkul kepathu thai thai thai | What is heard in the heart is the rhythmic beat (thai thai thai)! |
| Nenachatha muraipadi sei sei sei | Do what you intended properly! |
| Male | |
| Meiyum meiyum kalapathuthaan | The union of body with body is... |
| Mei mei mei mei mei mei | Truth, truth, truth, truth, truth! |
| Female | |
| Uppu karuvaadu ooravecha soru | Salted dry fish and soaked rice, |
| Oottivida venumaa umakku | Do you need someone to feed you? |
| Muthamittu nethiyila maarbuku mathiyila | Kissing on the forehead, in the middle of the chest, |
| Sethuvida thonuthaa umakku | Do you really feel like dying? |
| Male | |
| Hey uppu karuvaadu ooravecha soru | Hey, salted dry fish and soaked rice - it is enough if you feed me! |
| Oottivida nee pothum enaku | It is enough if you feed me! |
| Muthamittu nethiyila maarbuku mathiyila | Kissing on the forehead, in the middle of the chest, |
| Sethuvida thonuthadi…..eeeee … hey.ey..ey | I feel like dying... eeeee... hey! |
| Male | |
| Oh.. oda kara mela oru onaan pidippomaa | Oh, shall we catch a garden lizard on the bank of the stream? |
| Kaakaa kadi kadichu siru maangaa thimbomaa | Shall we bite off a small green mango with crow-nibbles? |
தேன்மொழியே...
லலலல லைலை...........
லலலல லைலை...........
லலலல லைலை...........
லலலல லைலை...........
Oh sweet-spoken one...
Lalalala lailai....lalalala lailai … lalalala …..lailai….lalalala …lailai
உப்புக் கருவாடு
ஊரவெச்ச சோறு ஏ உப்புக்
கருவாடு ஊரவெச்ச சோறு
ஊட்டிவிட நீ போதும் எனக்கு
முத்தமிட்ட நெத்தியில மாா்புக்கு
மத்தியில செத்துவிடத் தோணுதடி
எனக்கு
Hey, salted dry fish and soaked rice - it is enough if you feed me!
On the forehead that you kissed,
In the middle of your chest,
I feel like dying... hey!
ஏ உப்புக்
கருவாடு ஊரவெச்ச சோறு
ஊட்டிவிட நீ போதும் எனக்கு
முத்தமிட்ட நெத்தியில மாா்புக்கு
மத்தியில செத்துவிடத்
தோணுதடி யே.... ஹே
Oh, shall we catch a garden lizard on the bank of the stream?
Shall we bite off a small green mango with crow-nibbles?
ஓ ஒடக் கர மேல
ஒரு ஓணான் பிடிப்போமா
காக்கா கடி கடிச்சு சிறு
மாங்கா திம்போமா
{Kolaaka kolaaka kolaak kalaa
{ கோலாக்க கோலாக்க
கோலாக்கலா கோலாக்க
கோலாக்க கோலாக்கலா } (2)
In the river where the Koravai fish leaps,
In the mud where Korai grass sprouts,
Play in the mud together with me,
Dance to the beat thai thai thai thai thai!
Hey girl, shall we bathe wearing just a single cloth?
Put your shyness aside!
{ கோலாக்க கோலாக்க
கோலாக்கலா கோலாக்க
கோலாக்க கோலாக்கலா } (2)
Lai lai lai lai lai lai … lai la lai lai lai lai
Birth and arrival are all a lie, lie, lie!
The present moment alone is truth, truth, truth!
கொரவ மீனு
குதிக்கிற ஆத்துக்குள்ள
கோரப்புல்லு முளைக்கிற
சேத்துக்குள்ள என் கூட
சகதிக்கூத்து ஆடு
தைதைதைதைதை அடி
ஒத்தத் துணி உடுத்திக்
குளிப்போமா வெக்கம்
தள்ளி வை வை
Serve yourself as a feast on a plantain leaf!
லைலைலை
லைலைலை லைலைலை
லைலைலை போறதும்
வருவதும் பொய் பொய்
பொய் இருக்கிற நிமிஷம்
மெய் மெய் மெய்
Look at the desire, ah ah ah!
What illness can affect love inside the forest?
வாழை இலையில
ஒன்னா விருந்த வை வை
வை வை வை
Perform all the romantic services of an eighteen-year-old!
ஆசையப்பாரு ஐ
ஐ ஐ காதுக்குள்ளென்ன
நொய் நொய் நொய்
{Kolaaka kolaaka kolaak kalaa
பதினெட்டு வயசு
சேவையெல்லாம் செய்
செய் செய் செய் செய் செய்
Hey, salted dry fish and soaked rice - it is enough if you feed me!
On the forehead that you kissed,
In the middle of your chest,
I feel like dying, my dear!
{ கோலாக்க கோலாக்க
கோலாக்கலா கோலாக்க
கோலாக்க கோலாக்கலா } (2)
Oh sweet-spoken one... sweet-spoken one...
Oh... lailalai lailalai sweet-spoken one...
Lelelele lele le lelelele lele
ஏ உப்புக்
கருவாடு ஊரவெச்ச சோறு
ஊட்டிவிட நீ போதும் எனக்கு
முத்தமிட்ட நெத்தியில மாா்புக்கு
மத்தியில செத்துவிடத்
தோணுதடி எனக்கு
Lai… lai… lai…. lai … lai … lai
ஓ தேன்மொழியே...
தேன்மொழியே... ஓ லைலலை
லைலலை தேன்மொழியே...
லேலேலேலே லேலே லே
லேலேலேலே லேலே
Inside the thick forest where only the wind enters,
Inside the nest of a weaver bird,
Let me reside for just one day!
Even if you steal my saree and take it away,
My hands will cover and protect my modesty!
லைலைலை
லை...லை...லை...
Lailailailai …. lailailai … lailalailai … lailailai
Clothing is just a lie, lie, lie!
Only the physical form it holds is truth, truth, truth!
Place all that beauty in the hands of this artist!
Place it, place it, place it!
காத்து மட்டும்
நுழையிற காட்டுக்குள்ள
தூக்கணாங்குருவி கூட்டுகுள்ள
ஒரு நாளில் என்னை குடியிருக்க
வை வை வை வை வை நீ சேலை
திருடிக்கொண்டு போனாலும் மானம்
காக்கும் கை கை
What is heard in the heart is the rhythmic beat (thai thai thai)!
Do what you intended properly!
லைலைலைலை
லைலைலை லைலலைலை
ஆடை என்பது பொய் பொய்
பொய் அது கொண்ட பொருள்
மட்டும் மெய் மெய் மெய்
அத்தனை அழகையும் மையா
கையில் வை வை வை வை
The union of body with body is...
Truth, truth, truth, truth, truth!
நெஞ்சுக்குள் கேட்பது
தை தை தை நினைச்சத
முறைப்படி செய் செய் செய்
Salted dry fish and soaked rice,
Do you need someone to feed you?
Kissing on the forehead, in the middle of the chest,
Do you really feel like dying?
மெய்யும் மெய்யும்
கலப்பதுதான் மெய் மெய்
மெய் மெய் மெய் மெய்
Hey, salted dry fish and soaked rice - it is enough if you feed me!
It is enough if you feed me!
Kissing on the forehead, in the middle of the chest,
I feel like dying... eeeee... hey!
உப்புக் கருவாடு
ஊரவெச்ச சோறு ஊட்டிவிட
வேணுமா உமக்கு முத்தமிட்ட
நெத்தியில மாா்புக்கு மத்தியில
செத்துவிடத் தோணுதா உமக்கு
Oh, shall we catch a garden lizard on the bank of the stream?
Shall we bite off a small green mango with crow-nibbles?
ஏ உப்புக்
கருவாடு ஊரவெச்ச சோறு
ஊட்டிவிட நீ போதும் எனக்கு
முத்தமிட்ட நெத்தியில மாா்புக்கு
மத்தியில செத்துவிடத்
தோணுதடி யே.... ஹே
ஓ ஒடக் கர மேல
ஒரு ஓணான் பிடிப்போமா
காக்கா கடி கடிச்சு சிறு
மாங்கா திம்போமா
ஆண் & பெண் :
{ கோலாக்க கோலாக்க
கோலாக்கலா கோலாக்க
கோலாக்க கோலாக்கலா } (2)
Thaen mozhiyae ..ae..ae
Oh sweet-spoken one...
Lalalala lailai….lalalala lailai … lalalala …..lailai….lalalala …lailai
Lalalala lailai....lalalala lailai … lalalala …..lailai….lalalala …lailai
Ye uppu karuvaadu ooravecha soru oottivida nee pothum enaku
Hey, salted dry fish and soaked rice - it is enough if you feed me!
Muthamitta nethiyila
On the forehead that you kissed,
Maarbuku mathiyila
In the middle of your chest,
Sethuvida thonuthadi …eeee…..hey…
I feel like dying... hey!
Oh.. oda kara mela oru onaan pidippomaa
Oh, shall we catch a garden lizard on the bank of the stream?
Kaakaa kadi kadichu siru maangaa thimbomaa
Shall we bite off a small green mango with crow-nibbles?
{Kolaaka kolaaka kolaak kalaa
{Kolaaka kolaaka kolaak kalaa
Korava meenu kuthikkira aathukulla
In the river where the Koravai fish leaps,
Korapullu mulakira sethukkulla
In the mud where Korai grass sprouts,
En kooda sagathikoothu
Play in the mud together with me,
Aadu thai thai thai thai thai
Dance to the beat thai thai thai thai thai!
Adi oththa thuni uduthi kulippomaa
Hey girl, shall we bathe wearing just a single cloth?
Vetkam thalli vai vai
Put your shyness aside!
Lai lai lai lai lai lai … lai la lai lai lai lai
Lai lai lai lai lai lai … lai la lai lai lai lai
Porathum varuvathum poi poi poi
Birth and arrival are all a lie, lie, lie!
Irukkira nimisham mei mei mei
The present moment alone is truth, truth, truth!
Vaazhai ilaiyila onna virunthaa vai vai vai vai vai
Serve yourself as a feast on a plantain leaf!
Aasaiya paaru aai aai aai
Look at the desire, ah ah ah!
Kaadukullenna noi noi noi
What illness can affect love inside the forest?
Pathinettu vayasu sevaiyellaam sei sei sei sei sei sei
Perform all the romantic services of an eighteen-year-old!
{Kolaaka kolaaka kolaak kalaa
{Kolaaka kolaaka kolaak kalaa
Ye uppu karuvaadu ooravecha soru oottivida nee pothum enaku
Hey, salted dry fish and soaked rice - it is enough if you feed me!
Muthamitta nethiyila
On the forehead that you kissed,
Maarbuku mathiyila
In the middle of your chest,
Sethuvida thonuthadi enaku
I feel like dying, my dear!
Oh thaen mozhiyae ….thaen mozhiyae
Oh sweet-spoken one... sweet-spoken one...
Oh… lailalai lailalai thaen mozhiyae
Oh... lailalai lailalai sweet-spoken one...
Lelelele lele le lelelele lele
Lelelele lele le lelelele lele
Lai… lai… lai…. lai … lai … lai
Lai… lai… lai…. lai … lai … lai
Kaathu mattum nozhayira kaattukulla
Inside the thick forest where only the wind enters,
Thookanaanguruvi koottukulla
Inside the nest of a weaver bird,
Oru naalil enna kudiyiruka vai vai vai vai vai
Let me reside for just one day!
Nee selai thirudi kondu ponaalum
Even if you steal my saree and take it away,
Maanam kaakum kai kai
My hands will cover and protect my modesty!
Lailailailai …. lailailai … lailalailai … lailailai
Lailailailai …. lailailai … lailalailai … lailailai
Aadai enbathu poi poi poi
Clothing is just a lie, lie, lie!
Athu konda porul mattum mei mei mei
Only the physical form it holds is truth, truth, truth!
Athanai azhagaiyum maiyaa kaiyil
Place all that beauty in the hands of this artist!
Vai vai vai vai vai
Place it, place it, place it!
Nenjukkul kepathu thai thai thai
What is heard in the heart is the rhythmic beat (thai thai thai)!
Nenachatha muraipadi sei sei sei
Do what you intended properly!
Meiyum meiyum kalapathuthaan
The union of body with body is...
Mei mei mei mei mei mei
Truth, truth, truth, truth, truth!
Uppu karuvaadu ooravecha soru
Salted dry fish and soaked rice,
Oottivida venumaa umakku
Do you need someone to feed you?
Muthamittu nethiyila maarbuku mathiyila
Kissing on the forehead, in the middle of the chest,
Sethuvida thonuthaa umakku
Do you really feel like dying?
Hey uppu karuvaadu ooravecha soru
Hey, salted dry fish and soaked rice - it is enough if you feed me!
Oottivida nee pothum enaku
It is enough if you feed me!
Muthamittu nethiyila maarbuku mathiyila
Kissing on the forehead, in the middle of the chest,
Sethuvida thonuthadi…..eeeee … hey.ey..ey
I feel like dying... eeeee... hey!
Oh.. oda kara mela oru onaan pidippomaa
Oh, shall we catch a garden lizard on the bank of the stream?
Kaakaa kadi kadichu siru maangaa thimbomaa
Shall we bite off a small green mango with crow-nibbles?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Uppu Karuvaadu is a high-energy folk-pop romantic duet from the iconic 1999 Tamil film Mudhalvan, composed by A.R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu. The song features playfulness and rustic romance between lovers who celebrate simple village pleasures—such as eating salted dry fish with soaked rice, catching lizards by the stream, and playing in mud. Through evocative and grounded rural imagery, lyricist Vairamuthu weaves philosophical lines about living in the present moment ('Porathum varuvathum poi... irukkira nimisham mei'), suggesting that past and future are illusions while immediate physical love and joy are the ultimate truth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Korava meenu kuthikkira aathukulla / Korapullu mulakira sethukkulla”
Matching second consonants across successive lines, such as 'Korava' and 'Korapullu' where 'ra' matches.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme & Repetition)
“Porathum varuvathum poi poi poi / Irukkira nimisham mei mei mei”
Rhythmic repetition of words like 'poi poi poi' (lie) and 'mei mei mei' (truth) at line ends for philosophical emphasis and catchy beat syncopation.
Imagery & Local Metaphor
“Ye uppu karuvaadu ooravecha soru oottivida nee pothum enaku”
Using traditional rural food ('Uppu karuvaadu', 'ooravecha soru') as metaphors for simple, unpretentious warmth and intimacy.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by A.R. Rahman for director S. Shankar's blockbuster 'Mudhalvan', this energetic track was rendered by Shankar Mahadevan and Kavita Krishnamurthy. The song became a massive chartbuster across South India for its catchy mix of traditional Tamil folk rhythms and modern orchestrations.
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