Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Kalicharan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Graamathula Kozhi Onnu

From Kalicharan · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, S. P. Shailaja
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Kalicharan
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
11 Feb 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Graamathula kozhi onnu
Kooraile yeri ninnu
Saamathula koovuthadi
Kettaayaa varamattaayaa
Kokkarikkum seval onnu
Vakkarikkum velai ithu
Sokkuratha naanariven
Raasaave thodu rosaava
Graamathula kozhi onnu
Kooraile yeri ninnu
Saamathula koovuthadi
Kettaayaa varamattaayaa
Kokkarikkum seval onnu
Vakkarikkum velai ithu
Sokkuratha naanariven
Raasaave thodu rosaava
Naan..
Kodaikkaala veyyil polathaan
Ippa Kaayuren
Naan..
Oada thanni oothu polathaan
Vanthu paayuren
Graamathula kozhi onnu
Kooraile yeri ninnu
Saamathula koovuthadi
Kettaayaa varamattaayaa
Kokkarikkum seval onnu
Vakkarikkum velai ithu
Sokkuratha naanariven
Raasaave thodu rosaava
Koondhalile poo mudichi
Koodathile paai virichi
Soodu yethura
Nee botha maathira
Dhaavaniya nee pudikka
Laavaniya naan padikka
Paathu yengura
Yen moochu vaangura
Ethukku paakkuren
Theriyaathaa
Athathaan kekkuren
Puriyathaa
Poruthaa kedaikkum
Puthusaa kelunga
Graamathula kozhi onnu
Kooraile yeri ninnu
Saamathula koovuthadi
Kettaayaa varamattaayaa
Kokkarikkum seval onnu
Vakkarikkum velai ithu
Sokkuratha naanariven
Raasaave thodu rosaava
Kodai nilaa kaayuthayya
Sudu neruppaa paayuthayyaa
Enna kaaranam machaan
Neeyum kooranum
Yekkamellaam manasukkulle
Thekki vecha payapulla
Virakathaabam thaan
Ippa velagum neranthaan
Analil veguren
Thaniyaaga
Anilai theduren
Kaniyaaga
Adiye kodiye
Anaithen naanthaan
Graamathula kozhi onnu
Kooraile yeri ninnu
Saamathula koovuthadi
Kettaayaa varamattaayaa
Kokkarikkum seval onnu
Vakkarikkum velai ithu
Sokkuratha naanariven
Raasaave thodu rosaava
Naan..
Kodaikkaala veyyil polathaan
Ippa Kaayuren
Naan..
Oada thanni oothu polathaan
Vanthu paayuren
Hey graamathula kozhi onnu
Kooraile yeri ninnu
Saamathula koovuthadi
Kettaayaa varamattaayaa
Kokkarikkum seval onnu
Vakkarikkum velai ithu
Sokkuratha naanariven
Raasaave thodu rosaava
A rooster in the village,
Standing atop the roof,
Crows in the dead of night!
Did you hear it? Won't you come?
A rooster clucks and crows,
At this hour of rising desire;
I know how enchanted you are,
My king, come touch this rose!
A rooster in the village,
Standing atop the roof,
Crows in the dead of night!
Did you hear it? Won't you come?
A rooster clucks and crows,
At this hour of rising desire;
I know how enchanted you are,
My king, come touch this rose!
I...
Just like the blazing summer sun,
Am burning with heat right now!
And I...
Just like a cool gushing spring,
Am rushing to you!
A rooster in the village,
Standing atop the roof,
Crows in the dead of night!
Did you hear it? Won't you come?
A rooster clucks and crows,
At this hour of rising desire;
I know how enchanted you are,
My king, come touch this rose!
Wearing flowers in your hair,
Spreading a mat in the living room,
You stir up the heat,
Like an intoxicating pill!
While you tug at my half-sari,
And I sing a playful song,
You stare at me and yearn;
Why are you catching your breath?
Why am I staring at you?
Don't you know?
That is what I'm asking!
Can't you understand?
Patience brings sweet rewards,
So ask me in a whole new way!
A rooster in the village,
Standing atop the roof,
Crows in the dead of night!
Did you hear it? Won't you come?
A rooster clucks and crows,
At this hour of rising desire;
I know how enchanted you are,
My king, come touch this rose!
The summer moonlight shines,
And strikes me like burning fire!
What is the reason, my love?
You must tell me!
All that longing stored inside your heart,
My sweet, precious girl,
Is only love's sweet fever,
And now is the time for it to fade!
I am burning in this heat,
All by myself!
Like a ripe sweet fruit,
Waiting for its squirrel!
Oh my slender darling,
Here I am, holding you close!
A rooster in the village,
Standing atop the roof,
Crows in the dead of night!
Did you hear it? Won't you come?
A rooster clucks and crows,
At this hour of rising desire;
I know how enchanted you are,
My king, come touch this rose!
I...
Just like the blazing summer sun,
Am burning with heat right now!
And I...
Just like a cool gushing spring,
Am rushing to you!
Hey, a rooster in the village,
Standing atop the roof,
Crows in the dead of night!
Did you hear it? Won't you come?
A rooster clucks and crows,
At this hour of rising desire;
I know how enchanted you are,
My king, come touch this rose!
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Graamathula Kozhi Onnu' from the 1988 film Kalicharan is an upbeat, sensual rural folk duet that depicts a playful nocturnal exchange between two lovers. Utilizing quintessential Tamil village metaphors—such as a rooster crowing at midnight on a thatched roof, scorching summer heat, and flowing spring water—the song highlights the intense longing, passion, and tease shared by the hero and heroine.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai Ani (Simile)

Kodaikkaala veyyil polathaan / Oada thanni oothu polathaan

Uses 'polathaan' (like/as) to compare burning passion directly to the summer heat and running stream water.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Nee botha maathira

Metaphorically compares the lover to an intoxicating pill ('botha maathira').

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Raasaave thodu rosaava

The heroine refers to herself as a rose ('rosaava') waiting to be touched by her king ('raasaave').

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Koondhalile poo mudichi / Koodathile paai virichi

The second letter consonant sound 'ndh/d' rhymes between 'Koondhalile' and 'Koodathile'.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Soodu yethura / Nee botha maathira

Both lines end with matching rhyming suffixes ('yethura' / 'maathira').

Did you know?

Trivia

The music for 'Kalicharan' (1988) was composed by Chandrabose, a popular composer of the late 1980s known for delivering catchy folk and commercial tunes. Lyricist Vaali crafted this track with authentic rural dialect and playful wordplay, executed skillfully by playback singers Mano and S. P. Shailaja.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Kalicharan

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.