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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Gaana Kuyile Male

From Pooncholai · 1997

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Pooncholai1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Hoo oo oo hoo …hooo hoo hoo ooHoo oo oo hoo …hooo hoo hoo oo
Male
Gaana kuyilaeO singing cuckoo,
Kan urakkam ponadhadiMy eyes have lost their sleep.
Kaadhal kavidhaiA love poem,
Nenjezhudhi paadudhadiMy heart writes and sings.
Mannanidam poi varaTo go meet my king,
Mangai nilai kooridaAnd tell him this maiden's state,
Thendral indru thoodhu sellumaaWill the gentle breeze go as a messenger today?
Solladi en thozhiyae oo…Tell me, my dear friend, oh...
Solladi en thozhiyaeTell me, my dear friend.
Male
Gaana kuyilaeO singing cuckoo,
Kan urakkam ponadhadiMy eyes have lost their sleep.
Kaadhal kavidhaiA love poem,
Nenjezhudhi paadudhadi1My heart writes and sings.
Male
Maadam maaligai koodam gopuramPalaces, mansions, grand halls, and temple towers,
Engum idhayam sellavillaiyaeMy heart did not wander to any of those places.
Kaadhal thondrinaal kaanum paarvaiyilWhen love blossoms, in the eyes that behold it,
Ezhai elimai enbadhillaiyaeThere is no distinction of rich or poor.
Male
Yaarai yaaridam kaalam serthidumWhom time will unite with whom,
Yaarum kooruvaaroIs there anyone who can say?
Paruva dhevadhai podum aanaiyaiThe command issued by the goddess of youth,
Yaarum meeruvaaroIs there anyone who can break it?
Yekkam theera inaigal seraTo ease the longing and unite as a pair,
Thendral indru thoodhu sellumaaWill the gentle breeze go as a messenger today?
Solladi en thozhiyaeTell me, my dear friend.
Male
Gaana kuyilaeO singing cuckoo,
Kan urakkam ponadhadiMy eyes have lost their sleep.
Kaadhal kavidhaiA love poem,
Nenjezhudhi paadudhadiMy heart writes and sings.
Male
Aasai poothadhu yaarai kettadhuDesire bloomed without asking anyone's permission;
Thaanaai ponadhadi en manamMy heart simply wandered away on its own.
Kaalam koodumo neram vaaikkumoWill time align? Will the right moment arrive?
Ennaal serumadi sangamamOn which day will our union happen?
Male
Kaattil vaazhndhidumLike a flock of parrots,
Killai koottam polLiving free in the forest,
Koottil vaazha vendumWe ought to live together in a nest.
Kaalai velaiyum maalai velaiyumIn the morning hours and the evening hours,
Inbam soozha vendumHappiness must surround us.
Paadhi sonnaen meedhi kooraI have told half, to convey the rest,
Thendral indru thoodhu sellumaaWill the gentle breeze go as a messenger today?
Solladi en thozhiyaeTell me, my dear friend.
Male
Gaana kuyilaeO singing cuckoo,
Kan urakkam ponadhadiMy eyes have lost their sleep.
Kaadhal kavidhaiA love poem,
Nenjezhudhi paadudhadiMy heart writes and sings.
Mannanidam poi varaTo go meet my king,
Mangai nilai kooridaAnd tell him this maiden's state,
Thendral indru thoodhu sellumaaWill the gentle breeze go as a messenger today?
Solladi en thozhiyae ooo…Tell me, my dear friend, oh...
Solladi en thozhiyaeTell me, my dear friend.
Male
Gaana kuyilaeO singing cuckoo,
Kan urakkam ponadhadiMy eyes have lost their sleep.
Kaadhal kavidhaiA love poem,
Nenjezhudhi paadudhadiMy heart writes and sings.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a tender, romantic expression of a young woman deeply in love, yearning for her beloved whom she affectionately addresses as her 'king'. Sharing her inner turmoil with a singing cuckoo and her close friend, she reveals how sleepless nights have inspired her heart to compose sweet love poetry. She wonders if the gentle southern breeze can serve as a messenger to carry her feelings across to him. She reflects on the nature of true love, observing that love transcends material wealth, status, and luxury. It sees no difference between the rich and the poor, yielding only to destiny and youth's divine call. Dreaming of a simple, harmonious life together—resembling parrots nesting peacefully in nature—she eagerly awaits the day destiny grants them their complete union.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Thendral Thoodhu (Personification / Classical Motif)

Thendral indru thoodhu sellumaa

Personifying the gentle southern breeze as a messenger ('Thoodhu') sent to convey love messages to her lover, drawing directly from traditional Tamil Sangam literary motifs.

Simile (Upamai)

Killai koottam pol / Koottil vaazha vendum

Compares her ideal peaceful life with her lover to a flock of parrots ('killai koottam') living together happily in a nest.

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Mannanidam poi vara / Mangai nilai koorida

The second letter 'n' (ன/ங class consonant) rhymes across the consecutive lines ('Ma-n-nanidam' and 'Ma-n-gai').

Monai (Initial Letter Alliteration)

Maadam maaligai koodam gopuram

The repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Ma' in 'Maadam' and 'maaligai'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie 'Pooncholai' (1997) was written and directed by Gangai Amaran, who also penned the lyrics for this song. The music for the film was composed by his brother, maestro Ilaiyaraaja. Although the film suffered delays in its theatrical release, the album remains a fond memory for fans of late 90s Tamil melodies.

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