- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- K. S. Chitra
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Vellaiya Thevan
- Movie release year
- 1990
- Lyrics added on
- 15 Mar 2023
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song captures a traditional rural Tamil morning routine and the affectionate bond between a sister and her brother. The singer describes the signs of dawn breaking—crows cawing, pitch darkness giving way to the bright eastern sky, and roosters crowing. She outlines customary household chores such as sweeping the courtyard, smearing it clean, and drawing intricate rice-flour patterns (Kolam). The core emotion peaks as she desires to sing as sweetly as a cuckoo bird so that her beloved elder brother gently wakes up to her music.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Kaagam karanjiruchchu / Kakkiruttu maranjiduchchu”
The first four lines end with matching phonetic endings ('karanjiruchchu', 'maranjiduchchu', 'veluththiruchchu', 'kooviduchchu'), establishing a cheerful rhythmic cadence suitable for a morning song.
Upamai (Simile)
“Chinna kuyil kanakkaa”
The singer compares her singing to that of a small cuckoo ('Chinna kuyil kanakkaa'), symbolizing sweetness, natural beauty, and purity.
Monaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kudisa vaasalaththaan / Kootti mezhugidanum”
The repetition of the 'Ka' / 'Ko' consonant sound across lines creates a harmonious flow in rural poetic phrasing.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track from the 1990 movie 'Vellaiya Thevan' highlights Ilaiyaraaja's mastery in integrating authentic Tamil folk motifs and traditional daily rituals like 'mezhugudhal' (cleansing mud floors with water/cow dung) and 'pulli kolam' into popular film music.
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