Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaana Karunkuyile

From Sethu · 1999

Lyricist
Ponnadiyan
Singer
Kovai Kamala
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Sethu1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Adiraaa……Play it loud!
Kilinchudhu lambaadi lungi…..The Lambadi lungi tore apart...
Ada ada daaa…..Ah ah ah...
Nee adichi kelappu aathaYou stir things up, mother!
Female
Kaana karunguyilaeOh wild black cuckoo
Kacherikku variya variyaAre you coming to the concert, coming?
Male :Variya variyaMale: Coming, coming
Chorus :Variya variya..Chorus: Coming, coming..
Male :Varenae.. varenae..Male: I am coming.. I am coming..
Male :Ada unna illada madayaaMale: Hey, not you, you fool!
Female
Kann mayakkum paatu solliChanting an enchanting song
Paatu onnu thariya thariyaWill you give me a song, give me?
Male :Thariya thariyaMale: Give, give
Chorus :Thariya thariyaChorus: Give, give
Female
Manasil idam pudichaWinning a place in the heart
Electionula jeyichaaWinning in the election
Ooru sanam mookkulaWill make the village folk
Verala vaikkumPut their finger on their nose in awe
Chorus
Ye takku mukkuHey, rhythm and beat
Takku thaalamRhythmic beat
Adi takku mukku takku melamTap to the beat of the drum
Aha kichu kichu ekka chakkaAha, playful tickles and abundance
Takku mukku takku melamBeat of the drum
Female
Kaana karunguyilaeOh wild black cuckoo
Kacherikku variya variyaAre you coming to the concert, coming?
Male :Variya variyaMale: Coming, coming
Chorus :Variya variya..Chorus: Coming, coming..
Female :Kann mayakkum paatu solliFemale: Chanting an enchanting song
Paatu onnu thariya thariyaWill you give me a song, give me?
Male :Thariya thariyaMale: Give, give
Chorus :Thariya thariyaChorus: Give, give
Female
Pottum vechu poovum vechuAdorned with bindi and flowers
Ponnu onnu ponaaWhen a girl walks by
Chorus :{Hey chittaan jinukkuChorus: {Hey chittaan jinukku, chittaan jinukku chaan} (2)
Chittaan jinukku chaan} (2)Chorus: {Hey chittaan jinukku, chittaan jinukku chaan}
Female :Ila vattam ellaam kettuFemale: Distracting all the young minds
Manam suthi varum thaanaaThe heart wanders around on its own
Female
Ilasugala thaduthaaIf you try to stop the youth
Athu ketkaathuIt won't listen
Chorus :Heyy adadadadaaaChorus: Hey adadadadaaa
Female :Pazhasugala thirumbiFemale: Looking back at old things
Athu paarkaathuIt won't care to look
Chorus :Heyy adadadadaaaChorus: Hey adadadadaaa
Female
Saetai ellaam seiyurathuDoing all kinds of mischief
Chinna chinna paruvamIs natural in youth
Chorus :HeyyyyyChorus: Heyyyyy
Female :Aatchi ellaam ungalukkuFemale: The rule belongs to you
Kalvi ennum selvamWith the treasure called education
Chorus :HeyyyyyChorus: Heyyyyy
Female :Kaalam irukkuthu vaayaaFemale: Time is on your side, come on
Intha mannoda mannargalaeKings of this land
Female
Kaana karunguyilaeOh wild black cuckoo
Kacherikku variya variyaAre you coming to the concert, coming?
Kann mayakkum paatu solliChanting an enchanting song
Paatu onnu thariya thariyaWill you give me a song, give me?
Chorus
{Onnumae nallalaeNothing is good
Thangamae thillaalae…My precious golden rhythm…
Onnumae nallalae} (2)Nothing is good (2)
Hei hei hei heii….Hei hei hei heii….
Female
Anthiyila panthadichuPlaying ball in the evening
Aadi vilaiyaaduPlay and enjoy
Chorus :{Hey chittaan jinukkuChorus: {Hey chittaan jinukku, chittaan jinukku chaan} (2)
Chittaan jinukku chaan} (2)Chorus: {Hey chittaan jinukku, chittaan jinukku chaan}
Female :Nee thandi onna neettikittuFemale: Extending your stride forward
Munthi vanthu paaruStep ahead and see
Female
Pozhuthirukkum pothaeWhile time is still on your side
Pugazh theduSeek fame
Chorus :Heyy adadadadaaChorus: Hey adadadadaa
Female :Ilamai athu ponaFemale: Once youth is gone
ThirumbaathuIt will not return
Chorus :Heyy adadadadaaChorus: Hey adadadadaa
Female
Kalloorikkul kanda kanaaDreams envisioned in college
Nalla kanavaagaMay they turn into good dreams
Chorus :Heyy yyyChorus: Heyy yyy
Female :Kan muzhichu katrathellamFemale: Everything learned with open eyes
Nallathanam maagaMay it turn into goodness
Chorus :Heyy yyyChorus: Heyy yyy
Female :Kaalam irukkuthu vaayaaFemale: Time is on your side, come on
Intha mannoda mannargalaeKings of this land
Female
Kaana karunguyilaeOh wild black cuckoo
Kacherikku variya variyaAre you coming to the concert, coming?
Kann mayakkum paatu solliChanting an enchanting song
Paatu onnu thariya thariyaWill you give me a song, give me?
Manasil idam pudichaWinning a place in the heart
Chorus :AhaaChorus: Ahaa
Female :Electionula jeyichaaFemale: Winning in the election
Chorus :OhooChorus: Ohoo
Female :Ooru sanam mookkulaFemale: Will make the village folk
Verala vaikkumPut their finger on their nose in awe
Chorus
Ye takku mukkuHey, rhythm and beat
Takku thaalamRhythmic beat
Adi takku mukku takku melamAdi, tap to the beat of the drum
Aha kichu kichu ekka chakkaAha, playful tickles and abundance
Takku mukku takku melamBeat of the drum
Chorus
Kaana karunguyilaeOh wild black cuckoo
Kacherikku variya variyaAre you coming to the concert, coming?
Kann mayakkum paatu solliChanting an enchanting song
Paatu onnu thariya thariyaWill you give me a song, give me?
Male :Variya variyaMale: Coming, coming
Chorus :Variya variya..Chorus: Coming, coming..
Male :Variya variyaMale: Coming, coming
Chorus :Variya variya..Chorus: Coming, coming..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kaana Karunguyilae is an energetic folk-infused college celebration song from the 1999 Tamil film Sethu. The song captures the lively banter, enthusiasm, and spirit of college students expressing their youthful energy through dance, rhythm, and song.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamu)

Kalvi ennum selvam

Comparing education directly to wealth/treasure ('Kalvi ennum selvam').

Idiom (Marabuthodar)

Ooru sanam mookkula verala vaikkum

Using 'mookula verala vaikkum' (putting a finger on one's nose) as a traditional Tamil idiom for expressing utter shock or astonishment.

Onomatopoeia & Rhythm (Eshai)

Ye takku mukku Takku thaalam

Use of rhythmic folk soundscapes like 'takku mukku takku melam' to mimic drum beats.

Did you know?

Trivia

Sethu (1999) was the directorial debut of Bala and served as the major career breakthrough for Vikram, earning him critical acclaim. The iconic soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja.

Keep listening

More from Sethu