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Isaimozhi
Pooncholai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Gaana Kuyile Duet

From Pooncholai · 1997

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Unnikrishnan, Bhavatharani
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Pooncholai
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
11 Feb 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hoo oo oo hoo …hooo hoo hoo oo
Gaana kuyilae
Kan urakkam ponadhadi
Kaadhal kavidhai
Nenjezhudhi paadudhadi
Mannanidam poi vara
Mangai nilai koorida
Thendral indru thoodhu sellumaa
Solladi en thozhiyae oo…
Solladi en thozhiyae
Gaana kuyilae
Kan urakkam ponadhadi
Kaadhal kavidhai
Nenjezhudhi paadudhadi1
Maadam maaligai koodam gopuram
Engum idhayam sellavillaiyae
Kaadhal thondrinaal kaanum paarvaiyil
Ezhai elimai enbadhillaiyae
Yaarai yaaridam kaalam serthidum
Yaarum kooruvaaro
Paruva dhevadhai podum aanaiyai
Yaarum meeruvaaro
Yekkam theera inaigal sera
Thendral indru thoodhu sellumaa
Solladi en thozhiyae
Gaana kuyilae
Kan urakkam ponadhadi
Kaadhal kavidhai
Nenjezhudhi paadudhadi
Aasai poothadhu yaarai kettadhu
Thaanaai ponadhadi en manam
Kaalam koodumo neram vaaikkumo
Ennaal serumadi sangamam
Kaattil vaazhndhidum
Killai koottam pol
Koottil vaazha vendum
Kaalai velaiyum maalai velaiyum
Inbam soozha vendum
Paadhi sonnaen meedhi koora
Thendral indru thoodhu sellumaa
Solladi en thozhiyae
Gaana kuyilae
Kan urakkam ponadhadi
Kaadhal kavidhai
Nenjezhudhi paadudhadi
Mannanidam poi vara
Mangai nilai koorida
Thendral indru thoodhu sellumaa
Solladi en thozhiyae ooo…
Solladi en thozhiyae
Gaana kuyilae
Kan urakkam ponadhadi
Kaadhal kavidhai
Nenjezhudhi paadudhadi
Hoo oh oh hoo... hoo-hoo hoo hoo oh
O singing cuckoo,
sleep has left my eyes.
A love poem,
my heart writes and sings.
To go to my beloved and return,
to tell him what this girl is going through,
will the gentle breeze carry my message today?
Tell me, my friend, oh...
Tell me, my friend!
O singing cuckoo,
sleep has left my eyes.
A love poem,
my heart writes and sings.
To balconies, mansions, grand halls, or temple towers,
my heart never went to any of those.
When love is born, in the eyes that see,
there is no rich or poor.
Whom time will bring together with whom,
can anyone ever tell?
The command given by the goddess of youth,
can anyone ever defy?
To soothe the longing and unite the lovers,
will the gentle breeze carry my message today?
Tell me, my friend!
O singing cuckoo,
sleep has left my eyes.
A love poem,
my heart writes and sings.
Desire blossomed, but whom did it ask?
My heart simply drifted away on its own.
Will the time come? Will the moment arrive?
On what day will our union happen?
Living in the forest,
like a flock of parrots,
we should live together in a nest.
In the morning and in the evening,
happiness should surround us.
I have told you half; to tell the rest,
will the gentle breeze carry my message today?
Tell me, my friend!
O singing cuckoo,
sleep has left my eyes.
A love poem,
my heart writes and sings.
To go to my beloved and return,
to tell him what this girl is going through,
will the gentle breeze carry my message today?
Tell me, my friend, oh...
Tell me, my friend!
O singing cuckoo,
sleep has left my eyes.
A love poem,
my heart writes and sings.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This soulful song expresses a young woman's deep love and restless yearning for her beloved. Addressing her close female friend and a singing cuckoo, she confides that love has rendered her sleepless and inspired her heart to compose love poetry. She wonders whether the gentle breeze ('Thendral') can act as a messenger ('Thoodhu') to convey her tender state to her 'king'. In the verses, she reflects on the nature of true love, emphasizing that material grandeur like mansions or temple towers holds no value to her heart. Love sees no disparity between rich and poor, and no one can resist the irresistible call of youth and destiny. She dreams of a peaceful, joy-filled life co-existing with her lover like parrots nesting happily together.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Thoodhu / Wind Messenger)

“Thendral indru thoodhu sellumaa”

The gentle breeze (Thendral) is personified as a romantic messenger sent to convey the heroine's feelings to her lover.

Simile (Upamai)

“Killai koottam pol Koottil vaazha vendum”

The speaker compares the desired togetherness with her lover to a flock of parrots living together happily in a nest ('Killai koottam pol').

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Mannanidam poi vara / Mangai nilai koorida”

Both lines start with the matching consonant 'M' ('Mannanidam' and 'Mangai').

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Kaattil vaazhndhidum / Koottil vaazha vendum”

The second consonant 'tt' (ட்) rhymes across 'Kaattil' and 'Koottil'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Pooncholai' (1997) is an unreleased Tamil film directed by Gangai Amaran, who also penned the lyrics for this song. The film starred Prashanth and Isha Koppikar in lead roles, with music scored by Ilaiyaraaja.

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