Andha Poongkuyil Vandhu
From Nee Thodum Pothu · 1984
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- S. Janaki, Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Nee Thodum Pothu1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Antha poonguyil | Will that sweet cuckoo |
| Vanthu paadaatho paadaatho…. | Not come and sing? Will it not sing? |
| Antha poonguyil | Will that sweet cuckoo |
| Vanthu paadaatho paadaatho…. | Not come and sing? Will it not sing? |
| Manam poraaduthae | My heart struggles |
| Kannil neeroduthae | Tears stream from my eyes |
| Manam poraaduthae | My heart struggles |
| Kannil neeroduthae uyirae….ae….ae… | Tears stream from my eyes, oh my life... |
| Male | |
| Antha poonguyil | Will that sweet cuckoo |
| Vanthu paadaatho paadaatho…. | Not come and sing? Will it not sing? |
| Male | |
| Siraiyirunthathum yaen yaen yaen | Why was it imprisoned, why, why, why? |
| Sirakodinthathum yaen yaen yaen | Why were its wings broken, why, why, why? |
| Siraiyirunthathum yaen yaen yaen | Why was it imprisoned, why, why, why? |
| Sirakodinthathum yaen yaen yaen | Why were its wings broken, why, why, why? |
| Uyirae thaandu udaiyum poondu | Beyond life itself, the fragile sprout breaks |
| En veenai engae….. | Where is my veena? |
| Arunthae ponatho uyirae….ae….ae… | Has its string snapped, oh my life? |
| Male | |
| Antha poonguyil | Will that sweet cuckoo |
| Vanthu paadaatho paadaatho…. | Not come and sing? Will it not sing? |
| Male | |
| Manam thudikkuthu thee thee thee | My heart throbs like fire, fire, fire |
| Uyir nadunguthu yaen yaen yaen | Why does my soul tremble, why, why, why? |
| Manam thudikkuthu thee thee thee | My heart throbs like fire, fire, fire |
| Uyir nadunguthu yaen yaen yaen | Why does my soul tremble, why, why, why? |
| Idhayam vaadum imaigal moodum | The heart wilts, eyelids close |
| Un paadal thedum….. | Searching for your song... |
| Anbae jeevitham uyirae….ae….ae…. | Love is life itself, my soul... |
| Female | |
| Intha poonguyil | This sweet cuckoo |
| Ini thaalaathu thaalaathu | Will no longer sing a lullaby, no longer... |
| Intha poonguyil | This sweet cuckoo |
| Ini thaalaathu thaalaathu | Will no longer sing a lullaby, no longer... |
| Manam poraaduthae kannil neeroduthe | My heart struggles, tears stream from my eyes |
| Manam poraaduthae kannil neeroduthe uyirae…ae…ae… | My heart struggles, tears stream from my eyes, oh my life... |
| Female | |
| Intha poonguyil | This sweet cuckoo |
| Ini thaalaathu thaalaathu | Will no longer sing a lullaby, no longer... |
| Female | |
| Unnai ninaikkuthu nenjam | My heart remembers you |
| Uyir iruppathu konjam | Only a little life remains |
| Unnai ninaikkuthu nenjam | My heart remembers you |
| Uyir iruppathu konjam | Only a little life remains |
| Oruvan paavam adhuve paaram | One person's sin becomes a heavy burden |
| Indruthaan ennai meerum | Today it overflows beyond my control |
| Isaiyae jeevitham uyirae….ae…ae.. | Music is life itself, my soul... |
| Female | |
| Intha poonguyil | This sweet cuckoo |
| Ini thaalaathu thaalaathu | Will no longer sing a lullaby, no longer... |
| Intha poonguyil | This sweet cuckoo |
| Ini thaalaathu thaalaathu | Will no longer sing a lullaby, no longer... |
| Manam poraaduthae kannil neeroduthe | My heart struggles, tears stream from my eyes |
| Manam poraaduthae kannil neeroduthe uyirae…ae…ae… | My heart struggles, tears stream from my eyes, oh my life... |
| Female | |
| Intha poonguyil | This sweet cuckoo |
| Ini thaalaathu thaalaathu | Will no longer sing a lullaby, no longer... |
அந்த பூங்குயில்
வந்து பாடாதோ பாடாதோ.....
அந்த பூங்குயில்
வந்து பாடாதோ பாடாதோ.....
மனம் போராடுதே
கண்ணில் நீரோடுதே
மனம் போராடுதே
கண்ணில் நீரோடுதே உயிரே...ஏ.....ஏ....
Will that sweet cuckoo
Not come and sing? Will it not sing?
Will that sweet cuckoo
Not come and sing? Will it not sing?
My heart struggles
Tears stream from my eyes
My heart struggles
Tears stream from my eyes, oh my life...
அந்த பூங்குயில்
வந்து பாடாதோ பாடாதோ......
Will that sweet cuckoo
Not come and sing? Will it not sing?
சிறையிருந்ததும் ஏன் ஏன் ஏன்
சிறகொடிந்ததும் ஏன் ஏன் ஏன்
சிறையிருந்ததும் ஏன் ஏன் ஏன்
சிறகொடிந்ததும் ஏன் ஏன் ஏன்
உயிரே தாண்டு உடையும் பூண்டு
என் வீணை எங்கே......
அறுந்தே போனதோ உயிரே.....ஏ....ஏ.....
Why was it imprisoned, why, why, why?
Why were its wings broken, why, why, why?
Why was it imprisoned, why, why, why?
Why were its wings broken, why, why, why?
Beyond life itself, the fragile sprout breaks
Where is my veena?
Has its string snapped, oh my life?
அந்த பூங்குயில்
வந்து பாடாதோ பாடாதோ......
Will that sweet cuckoo
Not come and sing? Will it not sing?
மனம் துடிக்குது தீ தீ தீ
உயிர் நடுங்குது ஏன் ஏன் ஏன்
மனம் துடிக்குது தீ தீ தீ
உயிர் நடுங்குது ஏன் ஏன் ஏன்
இதயம் வாடும் இமைகள் மூடும்
உன் பாடல் தேடும்......
அன்பே ஜீவிதம் உயிரே....ஏ....ஏ....
My heart throbs like fire, fire, fire
Why does my soul tremble, why, why, why?
My heart throbs like fire, fire, fire
Why does my soul tremble, why, why, why?
The heart wilts, eyelids close
Searching for your song...
Love is life itself, my soul...
இந்த பூங்குயில்
இனி தாளாது தாளாது
இந்த பூங்குயில்
இனி தாளாது தாளாது
மனம் போராடுதே கண்ணில் நீரோடுதே
மனம் போராடுதே கண்ணில் நீரோடுதே உயிரே.....ஏ...ஏ...
This sweet cuckoo
Will no longer sing a lullaby, no longer...
This sweet cuckoo
Will no longer sing a lullaby, no longer...
My heart struggles, tears stream from my eyes
My heart struggles, tears stream from my eyes, oh my life...
இந்த பூங்குயில்
இனி தாளாது தாளாது
This sweet cuckoo
Will no longer sing a lullaby, no longer...
உன்னை நினைக்குது நெஞ்சம்
உயிர் இருப்பது கொஞ்சம்
உன்னை நினைக்குது நெஞ்சம்
உயிர் இருப்பது கொஞ்சம்
ஒருவன் பாவம் அதுவே பாரம்
இன்றுதான் என்னை மீறும்
இசையே ஜீவிதம் உயிரே.....ஏ....ஏ.....
My heart remembers you
Only a little life remains
My heart remembers you
Only a little life remains
One person's sin becomes a heavy burden
Today it overflows beyond my control
Music is life itself, my soul...
இந்த பூங்குயில்
இனி தாளாது தாளாது
இந்த பூங்குயில்
இனி தாளாது தாளாது
மனம் போராடுதே கண்ணில் நீரோடுதே
மனம் போராடுதே கண்ணில் நீரோடுதே உயிரே.....ஏ...ஏ...
This sweet cuckoo
Will no longer sing a lullaby, no longer...
This sweet cuckoo
Will no longer sing a lullaby, no longer...
My heart struggles, tears stream from my eyes
My heart struggles, tears stream from my eyes, oh my life...
இந்த பூங்குயில்
இனி தாளாது தாளாது
This sweet cuckoo
Will no longer sing a lullaby, no longer...
Antha poonguyil
Will that sweet cuckoo
Vanthu paadaatho paadaatho….
Not come and sing? Will it not sing?
Antha poonguyil
Will that sweet cuckoo
Vanthu paadaatho paadaatho….
Not come and sing? Will it not sing?
Manam poraaduthae
My heart struggles
Kannil neeroduthae
Tears stream from my eyes
Manam poraaduthae
My heart struggles
Kannil neeroduthae uyirae….ae….ae…
Tears stream from my eyes, oh my life...
Antha poonguyil
Will that sweet cuckoo
Vanthu paadaatho paadaatho….
Not come and sing? Will it not sing?
Siraiyirunthathum yaen yaen yaen
Why was it imprisoned, why, why, why?
Sirakodinthathum yaen yaen yaen
Why were its wings broken, why, why, why?
Siraiyirunthathum yaen yaen yaen
Why was it imprisoned, why, why, why?
Sirakodinthathum yaen yaen yaen
Why were its wings broken, why, why, why?
Uyirae thaandu udaiyum poondu
Beyond life itself, the fragile sprout breaks
En veenai engae…..
Where is my veena?
Arunthae ponatho uyirae….ae….ae…
Has its string snapped, oh my life?
Antha poonguyil
Will that sweet cuckoo
Vanthu paadaatho paadaatho….
Not come and sing? Will it not sing?
Manam thudikkuthu thee thee thee
My heart throbs like fire, fire, fire
Uyir nadunguthu yaen yaen yaen
Why does my soul tremble, why, why, why?
Manam thudikkuthu thee thee thee
My heart throbs like fire, fire, fire
Uyir nadunguthu yaen yaen yaen
Why does my soul tremble, why, why, why?
Idhayam vaadum imaigal moodum
The heart wilts, eyelids close
Un paadal thedum…..
Searching for your song...
Anbae jeevitham uyirae….ae….ae….
Love is life itself, my soul...
Intha poonguyil
This sweet cuckoo
Ini thaalaathu thaalaathu
Will no longer sing a lullaby, no longer...
Intha poonguyil
This sweet cuckoo
Ini thaalaathu thaalaathu
Will no longer sing a lullaby, no longer...
Manam poraaduthae kannil neeroduthe
My heart struggles, tears stream from my eyes
Manam poraaduthae kannil neeroduthe uyirae…ae…ae…
My heart struggles, tears stream from my eyes, oh my life...
Intha poonguyil
This sweet cuckoo
Ini thaalaathu thaalaathu
Will no longer sing a lullaby, no longer...
Unnai ninaikkuthu nenjam
My heart remembers you
Uyir iruppathu konjam
Only a little life remains
Unnai ninaikkuthu nenjam
My heart remembers you
Uyir iruppathu konjam
Only a little life remains
Oruvan paavam adhuve paaram
One person's sin becomes a heavy burden
Indruthaan ennai meerum
Today it overflows beyond my control
Isaiyae jeevitham uyirae….ae…ae..
Music is life itself, my soul...
Intha poonguyil
This sweet cuckoo
Ini thaalaathu thaalaathu
Will no longer sing a lullaby, no longer...
Intha poonguyil
This sweet cuckoo
Ini thaalaathu thaalaathu
Will no longer sing a lullaby, no longer...
Manam poraaduthae kannil neeroduthe
My heart struggles, tears stream from my eyes
Manam poraaduthae kannil neeroduthe uyirae…ae…ae…
My heart struggles, tears stream from my eyes, oh my life...
Intha poonguyil
This sweet cuckoo
Ini thaalaathu thaalaathu
Will no longer sing a lullaby, no longer...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song uses a cuckoo as a metaphor for a soul, singer, or beloved who has suffered immense tragedy. Starting with a hopeful plea questioning if the bird will ever return to sing ('Antha poonguyil vanthu paadaatho'), the narrative gradually shifts into mournful acceptance that the bird's voice has been permanently silenced ('Intha poonguyil ini thaalaathu'). The lyrics capture intense grief through images of broken wings, snapped musical strings, and tears. Written by Vairamuthu, the song expresses how the consequences of another person's actions can become an overwhelming burden that extinguishes life and music. It conveys deep emotional pain, longing, and resignation in the face of insurmountable anguish.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Urvagam)
“Antha poonguyil”
The song uses 'poonguyil' (sweet cuckoo) as a central metaphor for a person or soul whose music and voice have been stifled by tragedy.
Epizeuxis / Repetition (Adukkuthodar)
“Siraiyirunthathum yaen yaen yaen”
Emphatic repetition of words like 'yaen yaen yaen' (why, why, why) and 'thee thee thee' (fire, fire, fire) emphasizes distress and emotional anguish.
Second-Letter Rhyme (Ethirai)
“Siraiyirunthathum yaen yaen yaen / Sirakodinthathum yaen yaen yaen”
The second consonant 'rai' matches across 'Siraiyirunthathum' and 'Sirakodinthathum', creating rhythmic harmony.
Visual and Auditory Imagery
“En veenai engae….. Arunthae ponatho uyirae”
The image of a veena's string snapping evokes a visceral feeling of broken music, art, and life.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Nee Thodum Pothu' is a 1984 Tamil film directed by V. C. Guhanathan, starring Sivakumar and Ambika. The soundtrack was notably composed by the legendary Hindi music duo Laxmikant–Pyarelal during their rare foray into South Indian cinema.
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