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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chinna Kuyil Paadum

From Poove Poochooda Vaa · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Poove Poochooda Vaa1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Laa laa laalala … laa laa laalalaLaa laa laalala … laa laa laalala
Female
Chinna kuyil paadum paatu kekudhaaDo you hear the song sung by the little cuckoo?
Kukkoo kukkoo koo koo kukkoo kukkoo koo kooCuckoo, cuckoo, koo koo, cuckoo, cuckoo, koo koo
Thambigalae thangaigalae theril ennai yetrungalYounger brothers and sisters, seat me on the chariot!
Ullaasamaai urchaagamaai oorai sutri kaatungalShow me around the town with joy and enthusiasm!
Female
Chinna kuyil paadum paatu kekudhaaDo you hear the song sung by the little cuckoo?
Kukkoo kukkoo koo koo kukkoo kukkoo koo kooCuckoo, cuckoo, koo koo, cuckoo, cuckoo, koo koo
Female
Yengum manimelae thannandhaniyaaWandering all alone everywhere like a precious gem,
Gangai nadhikenna kattuthariyaaIs there a hitching post to tie down the River Ganges?
Ada vaanam yengu pogum angu naanum povenaeAh, wherever the sky goes, I shall go there too!
Yeppam vidum odaiyai ippodhudhaan paarkirenOnly now am I seeing the gurgling, bubbling stream,
Mainaakalin bhaasaiyai ippodhudhaan ketkirenOnly now am I hearing the language of the mynah birds,
Brindhavanam ingae paarthenae la la la lalalaaI found my Vrindavan right here, la la la lalalaa!
Female
Chinna kuyil paadum paatu kekudhaaDo you hear the song sung by the little cuckoo?
Female
Aha indha boomi putham pudhusu paasam vandhadhaalae pongum manasuAha, this earth feels brand new; my heart overflows as love arrives!
Ini vaasam veesum poovil naanum vaasam seivenaeFrom now on, I too shall reside inside the fragrant flowers!
Thaavi yengum odinen thaayin madi thedinenI leaped and ran everywhere, searching for a mother's lap,
Poovanangal yengilum poojai seiya pogirenI am going to offer worship across all the flower gardens,
En solaiyil naanum poovaven la la la lalalaaIn my garden, I too will become a flower, la la la lalalaa!
Female
Chinna kuyil paadum paatu kekudhaaDo you hear the song sung by the little cuckoo?
Kukkoo kukkoo koo koo koo koo kukkoo kukkoo koo koo koo kooCuckoo, cuckoo, koo koo koo koo cuckoo, cuckoo, koo koo koo koo
Thambigalae thangaigalae theril yennai yetrungalYounger brothers and sisters, seat me on the chariot!
Ullaasamaai urchaagamaai oorai suttri kaatungalShow me around the town with joy and enthusiasm!
Female
Chinna kuyil paadum paatu kekudhaaDo you hear the song sung by the little cuckoo?
Kukkoo kukkoo koo koo kukkoo kukkoo koo kooCuckoo, cuckoo, koo koo, cuckoo, cuckoo, koo koo
Kukkoo kukkoo koo koo kukkoo kukkoo koo kooCuckoo, cuckoo, koo koo, cuckoo, cuckoo, koo koo

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Chinna Kuyil Paadum Paatu is a joyful and vibrant track from the 1985 film Poove Poochooda Vaa. It depicts a young woman brimming with exuberance, celebrating her newly found emotional warmth, affection, and boundless freedom. Comparing herself to a uninhibited cuckoo and the untamed River Ganges, she joyfully wanders through nature, experiencing the world around her with childlike wonder and renewed affection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia (Oli-kurippu)

Kukkoo kukkoo koo koo kukkoo kukkoo koo koo- Line 3/7/21/25/26 - Kukkoo kukkoo koo koo kukkoo kukkoo koo koo - Imitating the bird call of the cuckoo to establish a joyful, naturalistic musicality tone.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Gangai nadhikenna kattuthariyaa - Line 9 - Gangai nadhikenna kattuthariyaa - Comparing her unbounded youth and spirit to the mighty Ganges River which cannot be tethered to a post.

Rhyme / Edugai (Second letter agreement)

Yeppam vidum odaiyai ippodhudhaan paarkiren / Mainaakalin bhaasaiyai ippodhudhaan ketkiren - Lines 11-12 - Edugai agreement between Yeppam and Mainaakalin along with structural repetition (ippodhudhaan).

Personification

En solaiyil naanum poovaven - Line 19 - En solaiyil naanum poovaven - Expressing the poetic imagination of merging with nature by becoming a flower herself in her own garden.

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic song fetched singer K. S. Chithra her very first National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer in 1985. The immense popularity of this track composed by Ilaiyaraaja permanently earned Chithra the beloved title 'Chinna Kuyil' (Little Cuckoo) across Tamil cinema and music history.

Keep listening

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