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Lyrics & meaning

Adhikalaiyil Kuyil Koovudhu

From Thambathyam · 1987

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, K. S. Chitra
Music director
Manoj – Gyan
Movie name
Thambathyam
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
15 Feb 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Adhikaalayil kuyil koovuthu
Adhai ketuththaan thuyil neengudhu
Male :Panivaadaiyum nadai poduthu
Pasuncholail vilayaaduthu
Thullugindra thullalum enna
Chinanchiru pookkalae
Male :Sollugindra sangathi enna
Ennudaya kaadhilae
Female :Thendral ula varum neram
Adhikaalayil kuyil koovuthu
Adhai ketuththaan thuyil neengudhu
Neerodayil alaigalil ezhum keerthanam
Naan ketkayil enakadhu oru moganam
Male :Aagaayam bhoomi aanandha kolam
Yaegaathamaana ilavenirkaalam
Orraayiram unarchigal tharum vaalibam
Oyaamale ninaivinil pala naadagam
Male :Ponaana thegam poopola verkka
Keezhvaanil mella poobaalam ketka
Female :kukukukukoo kukukukukoo
Kukukukukoo….
Oo….adhikaalayil kuyil koovuthu
Adhai ketuththaan thuyil neengudhu
Thoongaamalae vizhiththathu pala raathiri
Thirumeniyum kothithathu anal mathiri
Female :Devaathi devan thunai sera vendum
Kaanatha katchi kannodu thondrum
Thaangaamalae thavithathu siru poongkodi
Senthooram pol sivanthadhu iru maan vizhi
Female :Viragangal polae naragangal yaedhu
Melaadai kooda sumaiyaagum pothu
Male :Kukukukukoo kukukukukoo
Kukukukukoo….
Aa….adhikaalayil kuyil koovuthu
Adhai ketuththaan thuyil neengudhu
Male :Panivaadaiyum nadai poduthu
Pasuncholaiyil vilayaaduthu
Thullugindra thullalum enna
Chinanchiru pookkalae
Male :Sollugindra sangathi enna
Ennudaya kaadhilae
Female :Thendral ula varum neram
The cuckoo sings in the early morning,
And hearing it, I wake from sleep.
Male: The cool morning breeze strolls along,
Playing in the green grove.
Why this joyful leaping,
O tiny little flowers?
Male: What is the secret you whisper
Softly into my ear?
Female: At this hour when the gentle breeze wanders by...
The cuckoo sings in the early morning,
And hearing it, I wake from sleep.
The melody rising from the rippling stream,
Sounds like enchanting music to my ears.
Male: The sky and the earth are filled with joyful beauty,
In this serene and lovely springtime.
Youth brings thousands of sweet feelings,
Playing endless dreams in the mind without a pause.
Male: As your golden body sweats like dew on a flower,
And the morning song echoes softly across the eastern sky...
Female: Koo-koo-koo-koo, koo-koo-koo-koo,
Koo-koo-koo-koo...
Oh... the cuckoo sings in the early morning,
And hearing it, I wake from sleep.
I stayed awake without sleep for so many nights,
And my body burned hot like a flame.
Female: Longing to unite with my beloved,
Unseen visions appear before my eyes.
Unable to bear the longing, this tender vine pined,
As my deer-like eyes turned red like crimson powder.
Female: What hell compares to the ache of longing,
When even light clothing feels like a heavy burden?
Male: Koo-koo-koo-koo, koo-koo-koo-koo,
Koo-koo-koo-koo...
Ah... the cuckoo sings in the early morning,
And hearing it, I wake from sleep.
Male: The cool morning breeze strolls along,
Playing in the green grove.
Why this joyful leaping,
O tiny little flowers?
Male: What is the secret you whisper
Softly into my ear?
Female: At this hour when the gentle breeze wanders by...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Adhikaalayil Kuyil Koovuthu is a melodious duet from the 1987 Tamil film Thambathyam. The song captures the serene atmosphere of dawn intertwined with the romantic awakening and passionate longing between two lovers. Vaali's evocative lyrics paint a vivid picture of nature—cuckoos singing, cool morning breeze walking through lush gardens, and waves making music—all mirroring the internal feelings of youth, passion, and sweet torment caused by separation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Panivaadaiyum nadai poduthu / Pasuncholail vilayaaduthu

Attributes human characteristics like walking and playing to the morning wind and flowers.

Simile (Upamai)

Thirumeniyum kothithathu anal mathiri

Compares the heat of longing in the body directly to fire (anal mathiri).

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Thullugindra thullalum enna / Sollugindra sangathi enna

The second letter 'llu' matches in consecutive lines (Thullugindra / Sollugindra).

Metaphor (Urvakam)

Thaangaamalae thavithathu siru poongkodi

The delicate young woman is metaphorically referred to as a small flowering creeper (siru poongkodi).

Did you know?

Trivia

The musical duo Manoj–Gyan composed the soundtrack for Thambathyam (1987). Manoj–Gyan were known for bringing refreshing classical-pop fusion melodies to Tamil cinema in the late 1980s, and this track highlights the vocal chemistry between Mano and K. S. Chithra during a peak phase in their playback careers.

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