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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Gaana Kuyile Duet

From Pooncholai · 1997

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Unnikrishnan, Bhavatharani
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Pooncholai1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Hoo oo oo hoo …hooo hoo hoo ooHoo oo oo hoo …hooo hoo hoo oo
Female
Gaana kuyilaeOh singing cuckoo bird,
Kan urakkam ponadhadiSleep has vanished from my eyes.
Kaadhal kavidhaiA poem of love,
Nenjezhudhi paadudhadiMy heart writes and sings!
Mannanidam poi varaTo go to my king and return,
Mangai nilai kooridaTo describe this young maiden's state,
Thendral indru thoodhu sellumaaWill the gentle breeze go as a messenger today?
Solladi en thozhiyae oo…Tell me, my dear friend... oo…
Solladi en thozhiyaeTell me, my dear friend.
Female
Gaana kuyilaeOh singing cuckoo bird,
Kan urakkam ponadhadiSleep has vanished from my eyes.
Kaadhal kavidhaiA poem of love,
Nenjezhudhi paadudhadi1My heart writes and sings!
Female
Maadam maaligai koodam gopuramMansions, palaces, large halls, and temple towers—
Engum idhayam sellavillaiyaeMy heart did not wander towards any of those.
Kaadhal thondrinaal kaanum paarvaiyilWhen love blossoms, in the eyes that behold it,
Ezhai elimai enbadhillaiyaeThere is no distinction of rich or poor.
Female
Yaarai yaaridam kaalam serthidumWhom time will unite with whom,
Yaarum kooruvaaroCan anyone ever tell?
Paruva dhevadhai podum aanaiyaiThe command decreed by the goddess of youth,
Yaarum meeruvaaroCan anyone ever disobey?
Yekkam theera inaigal seraTo end this longing and unite the soulmates,
Thendral indru thoodhu sellumaaWill the gentle breeze go as a messenger today?
Solladi en thozhiyaeTell me, my dear friend.
Male
Gaana kuyilaeOh singing cuckoo bird,
Kan urakkam ponadhadiSleep has vanished from my eyes.
Kaadhal kavidhaiA poem of love,
Nenjezhudhi paadudhadiMy heart writes and sings!
Male
Aasai poothadhu yaarai kettadhuDid my blooming desires ask anyone for permission?
Thaanaai ponadhadi en manamMy heart simply drifted away on its own.
Kaalam koodumo neram vaaikkumoWill the time come? Will the right moment present itself?
Ennaal serumadi sangamamOn which day will our sweet union happen, my friend?
Male
Kaattil vaazhndhidumLike a flock of parrots
Killai koottam polLiving freely in the forest,
Koottil vaazha vendumWe must live together in our cozy nest.
Kaalai velaiyum maalai velaiyumIn the morning hours and in the evening hours,
Inbam soozha vendumJoy must envelop our lives.
Paadhi sonnaen meedhi kooraI have told you half; to tell him the rest,
Thendral indru thoodhu sellumaaWill the gentle breeze go as a messenger today?
Solladi en thozhiyaeTell me, my dear friend.
Male
Gaana kuyilaeOh singing cuckoo bird,
Kan urakkam ponadhadiSleep has vanished from my eyes.
Kaadhal kavidhaiA poem of love,
Nenjezhudhi paadudhadiMy heart writes and sings!
Female
Mannanidam poi varaTo go to my king and return,
Mangai nilai kooridaTo describe this young maiden's state,
Thendral indru thoodhu sellumaaWill the gentle breeze go as a messenger today?
Solladi en thozhiyae ooo…Tell me, my dear friend... ooo…
Solladi en thozhiyaeTell me, my dear friend.
Male
Gaana kuyilaeOh singing cuckoo bird,
Kan urakkam ponadhadiSleep has vanished from my eyes.
Kaadhal kavidhaiA poem of love,
Nenjezhudhi paadudhadiMy heart writes and sings!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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