Kattu Kuyilu
From Thalapathi · 1991
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Thalapathi1991
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| { Kattu kuyilu manasukulla | Inside the heart of a wild cuckoo, |
| Paatukendrum panjamilla paada thaan | There is never a shortage of songs to sing! |
| Thavilai thattu thulli kitu | Beat the drums and bounce with joy, |
| Kavalai vitu katchai kattu aada thaan } (2) | Leave your worries, tuck in your clothes, and dance! |
| Male | |
| Kattu kuyilu manasukulla | Inside the heart of a wild cuckoo, |
| Paatukendrum panjamilla paada thaan | There is never a shortage of songs to sing! |
| Thavilai thattu thulli kitu | Beat the drums and bounce with joy, |
| Kavalai vitu katchai kattu aada thaan | Leave your worries, tuck in your clothes, and dance! |
| Male | |
| Poda ellam vitu thallu | Go on, leave everything behind and throw it away, |
| Pazhasai ellam suttu thallu | Burn down all the old past memories, |
| Puthusa ippa porandhomunu | Consider yourself as if born anew today, |
| Ennikollada doi | Just count it that way, my friend! |
| Male | |
| Payanam engae ponaal enna | So what wherever this journey leads? |
| Paathai nooru aanalenna | So what if the path splits into a hundred ways? |
| Thottam vechavan thanneer viduvan | The one who planted the garden will water it, |
| Summa nillada doi | Just stand still without worrying, my friend! |
| Male | |
| Oodha kaathu veesa | As the chilly wind blows, |
| Odambukulla koosa | Making the body shiver within, |
| Kuppa koolam patha vachu kaayalam | Let us light up trash and dry leaves to warm ourselves! |
| Male | |
| Thai porakum naalai | Tomorrow when the month of Thai dawns, |
| Vidiyum nalla velai | A good morning will break, |
| Ponga paalu vellam polae paayalam | Let us flow like overflowing milk and jaggery payasam! |
| Male | |
| Achu vellam pacharisi | Molded jaggery and raw rice, |
| Vetti vecha sengarumbu | Freshly harvested sweet sugarcane, |
| Athanaiyum thithikira | All of these bring sweet joy, |
| Naal thaan hoi | Today is that sweet day, oh! |
| Male | |
| Kattu kuyilu manasukulla | Inside the heart of a wild cuckoo, |
| Paatukendrum panjamilla paada thaan | There is never a shortage of songs to sing! |
| Thavilai thattu thulli kitu | Beat the drums and bounce with joy, |
| Kavalai vitu katchai kattu aada thaan | Leave your worries, tuck in your clothes, and dance! |
| Chorus | |
| Ellorum mothathilae | Everyone altogether, |
| Sandhosa theppathilae haha | On the float of happiness, haha! |
| Male | |
| Bantham enna sontham enna | What is attachment? What is relation? |
| Pona enna vandha enna | What if something goes? What if something comes? |
| Uravukellam kavala patta | Worrying about every earthly relationship, |
| Jenmam naan illa haha | Mine is not such a life, haha! |
| Male | |
| Pasam veika nesam veika | To shower affection and extend true love, |
| Thozhan undu vaazha veika | I have a friend who keeps me alive! |
| Avanai thavira uravukaaran | Except for him, a true relative, |
| Yaarum ingillae | There is no one else here for me! |
| Male | |
| Ullam matum nanae | Not just my heart, |
| Usira kooda thaanae | But even my very soul, |
| En nanban ketta vaangikanu solluven | If my friend asks, I will tell him to take it! |
| Male | |
| En nanban potta soru | The food provided by my friend, |
| Nidhamum thinnen paru | Look, I eat it every single day! |
| Natpai kooda karpai polae ennuven | I revere this friendship as sacred as chastity! |
| Male | |
| Kattu kuyilu manasukulla | Inside the heart of a wild cuckoo, |
| Paatukendrum panjamilla paada thaan | There is never a shortage of songs to sing! |
| Thavilai thattu thulli kitu | Beat the drums and bounce with joy, |
| Kavalai vitu katchai kattu aada thaan | Leave your worries, tuck in your clothes, and dance! |
| Chorus | |
| Ellorum mothathilae | Everyone altogether, |
| Sandhosa theppathilae | On the float of happiness, |
| Thalladum nerathilae | In this moment of swaying joy, |
| Ullasa nenjathilae hey | With a cheerful heart, hey! |
{ காட்டுக்குயிலு
மனசுக்குள்ள பாட்டுக்
கென்றும் பஞ்சமில்ல
பாடத்தான் தவிலைத்
தட்டு துள்ளிக்கிட்டு
கவலை விட்டு கச்சைக்
கட்டு ஆடத்தான் } (2)
Inside the heart of a wild cuckoo,
There is never a shortage of songs to sing!
Beat the drums and bounce with joy,
Leave your worries, tuck in your clothes, and dance!
எல்லோரும்
மொத்தத்திலே சந்தோஷ
தெப்பத்திலே தள்ளாடும்
நேரத்திலே உல்லாச
நெஞ்சத்திலே ஹேய்
Inside the heart of a wild cuckoo,
There is never a shortage of songs to sing!
Beat the drums and bounce with joy,
Leave your worries, tuck in your clothes, and dance!
காட்டுக்குயிலு
மனசுக்குள்ள பாட்டுக்
கென்றும் பஞ்சமில்ல
பாடத்தான் தவிலைத்
தட்டு துள்ளிக்கிட்டு
கவலை விட்டு கச்சைக்
கட்டு ஆடத்தான்
Go on, leave everything behind and throw it away,
Burn down all the old past memories,
Consider yourself as if born anew today,
Just count it that way, my friend!
போடா எல்லாம்
விட்டுத் தள்ளு பழசை
எல்லாம் சுட்டுத் தள்ளு
புதுசா இப்போ
பொறந்தோமுன்னு
எண்ணிக்கொள்ளடா
டோய்
So what wherever this journey leads?
So what if the path splits into a hundred ways?
The one who planted the garden will water it,
Just stand still without worrying, my friend!
பயணம் எங்கே
போனால் என்ன பாதை
நூறு ஆனால் என்ன
தோட்டம் வெச்சவன்
தண்ணீர் விடுவான்
சும்மா நில்லடா டோய்
As the chilly wind blows,
Making the body shiver within,
Let us light up trash and dry leaves to warm ourselves!
ஊத காத்து
வீச உடம்புக்குள்ள
கூச குப்ப கூலம்
பத்தவச்சு காயலாம்
Tomorrow when the month of Thai dawns,
A good morning will break,
Let us flow like overflowing milk and jaggery payasam!
தை பொறக்கும்
நாளை விடியும் நல்ல
வேளை பொங்கப்பாலு
வெள்ளம் போலே பாயலாம்
Molded jaggery and raw rice,
Freshly harvested sweet sugarcane,
All of these bring sweet joy,
Today is that sweet day, oh!
அச்சு வெல்லம்
பச்சரிசி வெட்டி வெச்ச
செங்கரும்பு அத்தனையும்
தித்திக்கிற நாள் தான்
ஹோய்
Inside the heart of a wild cuckoo,
There is never a shortage of songs to sing!
Beat the drums and bounce with joy,
Leave your worries, tuck in your clothes, and dance!
காட்டுக்குயிலு
மனசுக்குள்ள பாட்டுக்
கென்றும் பஞ்சமில்ல
பாடத்தான் தவிலைத்
தட்டு துள்ளிக்கிட்டு
கவலை விட்டு கச்சைக்
கட்டு ஆடத்தான்
Everyone altogether,
On the float of happiness, haha!
எல்லோரும்
மொத்தத்திலே சந்தோஷ
தெப்பத்திலே ஹாஹா
What is attachment? What is relation?
What if something goes? What if something comes?
Worrying about every earthly relationship,
Mine is not such a life, haha!
காட்டுக்குயிலு
மனசுக்குள்ள பாட்டுக்
கென்றும் பஞ்சமில்ல
பாடத்தான் தவிலைத்
தட்டு துள்ளிக்கிட்டு
கவலை விட்டு கச்சைக்
கட்டு ஆடத்தான்
To shower affection and extend true love,
I have a friend who keeps me alive!
Except for him, a true relative,
There is no one else here for me!
பந்தம் என்ன
சொந்தம் என்ன போனா
என்ன வந்தா என்ன
உறவுக்கெல்லாம்
கவலைப்பட்ட ஜென்மம்
நான் இல்லை ஹாஹா
Not just my heart,
But even my very soul,
If my friend asks, I will tell him to take it!
பாசம் வைக்க
நேசம் வைக்க தோழன்
உண்டு வாழ வைக்க
அவனைத் தவிர
உறவுக்காரன்
யாரும் இங்கில்லே
The food provided by my friend,
Look, I eat it every single day!
I revere this friendship as sacred as chastity!
உள்ளம் மட்டும்
நானே உசிரைக் கூடத்தானே
என் நண்பன் கேட்டா
வாங்கிக்கன்னு சொல்லுவேன்
Inside the heart of a wild cuckoo,
There is never a shortage of songs to sing!
Beat the drums and bounce with joy,
Leave your worries, tuck in your clothes, and dance!
என் நண்பன்
போட்ட சோறு நிதமும்
தின்னேன் பாரு நட்பைக்
கூட கற்பைப்போல
எண்ணுவேன்
Everyone altogether,
On the float of happiness,
In this moment of swaying joy,
With a cheerful heart, hey!
ஆண் & குழு :
சோகம்
விட்டு சொர்க்கம் தொட்டு
ராகம் இட்டு தாளம் இட்டு
பாட்டு பாடும் வானம்பாடி
நாம் தான் ஹேய்
காட்டுக்குயிலு
மனசுக்குள்ள பாட்டுக்
கென்றும் பஞ்சமில்ல
பாடத்தான் தவிலைத்
தட்டு துள்ளிக்கிட்டு
கவலை விட்டு கச்சைக்
கட்டு ஆடத்தான்
எல்லோரும்
மொத்தத்திலே சந்தோஷ
தெப்பத்திலே தள்ளாடும்
நேரத்திலே உல்லாச
நெஞ்சத்திலே ஹேய்
காட்டுக்குயிலு
மனசுக்குள்ள பாட்டுக்
கென்றும் பஞ்சமில்ல
பாடத்தான் தவிலைத்
தட்டு துள்ளிக்கிட்டு
கவலை விட்டு கச்சைக்
கட்டு ஆடத்தான்
{ Kattu kuyilu manasukulla
Inside the heart of a wild cuckoo,
Paatukendrum panjamilla paada thaan
There is never a shortage of songs to sing!
Thavilai thattu thulli kitu
Beat the drums and bounce with joy,
Kavalai vitu katchai kattu aada thaan } (2)
Leave your worries, tuck in your clothes, and dance!
Kattu kuyilu manasukulla
Inside the heart of a wild cuckoo,
Paatukendrum panjamilla paada thaan
There is never a shortage of songs to sing!
Thavilai thattu thulli kitu
Beat the drums and bounce with joy,
Kavalai vitu katchai kattu aada thaan
Leave your worries, tuck in your clothes, and dance!
Poda ellam vitu thallu
Go on, leave everything behind and throw it away,
Pazhasai ellam suttu thallu
Burn down all the old past memories,
Puthusa ippa porandhomunu
Consider yourself as if born anew today,
Ennikollada doi
Just count it that way, my friend!
Payanam engae ponaal enna
So what wherever this journey leads?
Paathai nooru aanalenna
So what if the path splits into a hundred ways?
Thottam vechavan thanneer viduvan
The one who planted the garden will water it,
Summa nillada doi
Just stand still without worrying, my friend!
Oodha kaathu veesa
As the chilly wind blows,
Odambukulla koosa
Making the body shiver within,
Kuppa koolam patha vachu kaayalam
Let us light up trash and dry leaves to warm ourselves!
Thai porakum naalai
Tomorrow when the month of Thai dawns,
Vidiyum nalla velai
A good morning will break,
Ponga paalu vellam polae paayalam
Let us flow like overflowing milk and jaggery payasam!
Achu vellam pacharisi
Molded jaggery and raw rice,
Vetti vecha sengarumbu
Freshly harvested sweet sugarcane,
Athanaiyum thithikira
All of these bring sweet joy,
Naal thaan hoi
Today is that sweet day, oh!
Kattu kuyilu manasukulla
Inside the heart of a wild cuckoo,
Paatukendrum panjamilla paada thaan
There is never a shortage of songs to sing!
Thavilai thattu thulli kitu
Beat the drums and bounce with joy,
Kavalai vitu katchai kattu aada thaan
Leave your worries, tuck in your clothes, and dance!
Ellorum mothathilae
Everyone altogether,
Sandhosa theppathilae haha
On the float of happiness, haha!
Bantham enna sontham enna
What is attachment? What is relation?
Pona enna vandha enna
What if something goes? What if something comes?
Uravukellam kavala patta
Worrying about every earthly relationship,
Jenmam naan illa haha
Mine is not such a life, haha!
Pasam veika nesam veika
To shower affection and extend true love,
Thozhan undu vaazha veika
I have a friend who keeps me alive!
Avanai thavira uravukaaran
Except for him, a true relative,
Yaarum ingillae
There is no one else here for me!
Ullam matum nanae
Not just my heart,
Usira kooda thaanae
But even my very soul,
En nanban ketta vaangikanu solluven
If my friend asks, I will tell him to take it!
En nanban potta soru
The food provided by my friend,
Nidhamum thinnen paru
Look, I eat it every single day!
Natpai kooda karpai polae ennuven
I revere this friendship as sacred as chastity!
Kattu kuyilu manasukulla
Inside the heart of a wild cuckoo,
Paatukendrum panjamilla paada thaan
There is never a shortage of songs to sing!
Thavilai thattu thulli kitu
Beat the drums and bounce with joy,
Kavalai vitu katchai kattu aada thaan
Leave your worries, tuck in your clothes, and dance!
Ellorum mothathilae
Everyone altogether,
Sandhosa theppathilae
On the float of happiness,
Thalladum nerathilae
In this moment of swaying joy,
Ullasa nenjathilae hey
With a cheerful heart, hey!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kattu Kuyilu is a high-energy celebratory song from the 1991 Tamil classic Thalapathi, directed by Mani Ratnam, with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics written by Vaali. The song captures the spirit of carefree living, resilience, and deep brotherhood between the lead characters portrayed by Rajinikanth and Mammootty, set against the backdrop of the Pongal festival celebrations. The lyrics encourage letting go of past regrets, living in the present moment, and trusting that life will take care of itself. Vaali poetically weaves theme of unconditional friendship, describing it as supreme above all blood relations and sacred enough to be revered like virtue itself.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Poda ellam vitu thallu / Pazhasai ellam suttu thallu”
The lines end with identical rhyming structures 'vitu thallu' and 'suttu thallu' to maintain rhythmic flow and energy.
Simile (Upamai)
“Ponga paalu vellam polae paayalam”
Compares the joy and warmth of the festival to the overflowing of milk during Pongal celebrations.
Hyperbole / Cultural Metaphor
“Natpai kooda karpai polae ennuven”
Compares the purity and devotion of friendship to 'karpu' (chastity/purity), elevating loyalty to a sacred status.
Monai (Alliteration)
“Paatukendrum panjamilla paada thaan”
Repetition of initial consonant sound 'Pa' creates musicality across the line.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and written by Vaali, 'Kattu Kuyilu' features a legendary vocal duet between legendary playback singers S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. J. Yesudas, representing Rajinikanth and Mammootty respectively on screen. The song remains one of the most famous male duets in South Indian cinema history.
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