Kaya Kurunji Malai
From Naan Nanethan · 1980
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Naan Nanethan1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kaayaa kurinji malai | The mountain of unwithering Kurinji flowers, |
| Kaaththellaam manakkum malai | The mountain where the whole breeze is fragrant, |
| Ooyaatha pani adikkum | Where the unceasing mist blows, |
| Oththakkallu muththumalai | The pearl-like mountain with a solitary rock. |
| Female | |
| Muththumalai mela mullai poo maalai | A jasmine garland upon the pearl mountain, |
| Mullai poo maaliyila | In that jasmine flower garland, |
| Mudichchikkaiyaen velai | Is the craft of my hands tying it. |
| Thodhuvaa aahaa thodhuvaa | Touch it gently, ah touch it, |
| Aahaa thodhuvaa thodhuvaa thodhuvaa | Ah, touch it gently, touch, touch... |
| Female | |
| Kaayaa kurinji malai | The mountain of unwithering Kurinji flowers, |
| Kaaththellaam manakkum malai | The mountain where the whole breeze is fragrant, |
| Ooyaatha pani adikkum | Where the unceasing mist blows, |
| Oththakkallu muththumalai | The pearl-like mountain with a solitary rock. |
| Female | |
| Pooveduththu naan thoduththaen rompa naalaa | I have been stringing flowers for a long time, |
| Antha poovaikkaana niyaayam kandaen rendu naalaa | But found the true purpose for those flowers just two days ago. |
| Thaavi vantha maankuttikku intha aalaa | Is this man meant for the leaping fawn? |
| Nee thazhuvumpothu enna sugam pommumela | What bliss overflows when you embrace me! |
| Female | |
| Thodhuvaa aahaa thodhuvaa | Touch it gently, ah touch it, |
| Aahaa thodhuvaa thodhuvaa thodhuvaa | Ah, touch it gently, touch, touch... |
| Female | |
| Mainaakuruvi polae | Like Myna birds, |
| Konjam paranthu povom | Let us fly a little, |
| Antha maraththu melae rendu perum | Atop that tree, the two of us, |
| Irunthu paarppom | Shall sit and look around. |
| Female | |
| Thai maasaththil malaiyai vittu | In the month of Thai, leaving the mountain, |
| Pattanam povom | We shall go to the town, |
| Enga saami perai solli solli | Uttering the name of our deity again and again, |
| Thottil aattuvom | We shall rock the cradle. |
| Female | |
| Thodhuvaa aahaa thodhuvaa | Touch it gently, ah touch it, |
| Aahaa thodhuvaa thodhuvaa thodhuvaa | Ah, touch it gently, touch, touch... |
| Female | |
| Kaayaa kurinji malai | The mountain of unwithering Kurinji flowers, |
| Kaaththellaam manakkum malai | The mountain where the whole breeze is fragrant, |
| Ooyaatha pani adikkum | Where the unceasing mist blows, |
| Oththakkallu muththumalai | The pearl-like mountain with a solitary rock. |
| Female | |
| Ippadiyaa sugam irukkum | Is bliss truly like this, |
| Kannai vaikkaiyilae | When you fix your eyes on me? |
| Aiyyaa idhuvaraiyil theriyalaiyae | Oh sir, I never knew this until now, |
| Poovai vikkaiyilae | While selling flowers. |
| Female | |
| Eppadiyo irukkuthaiyyaa | I feel somehow strange and overwhelmed, sir, |
| Pakkam nikkaiyilae | When standing next to you. |
| Nenju ennennavo ninaikkuthaiyyaa | My heart thinks of all kinds of things, sir, |
| Vekkam michchamillae | There is no shyness left in me! |
| Female | |
| Thodhuvaa aahaa thodhuvaa | Touch it gently, ah touch it, |
| Aahaa thodhuvaa thodhuvaa thodhuvaa | Ah, touch it gently, touch, touch... |
| Female | |
| Kaayaa kurinji malai | The mountain of unwithering Kurinji flowers, |
| Kaaththellaam manakkum malai | The mountain where the whole breeze is fragrant, |
| Ooyaatha pani adikkum | Where the unceasing mist blows, |
| Oththakkallu muththumalai | The pearl-like mountain with a solitary rock. |
காயா குறிஞ்சி மலை
காத்தெல்லாம் மணக்கும் மலை
ஓயாத பனி அடிக்கும்
ஒத்தக்கல்லு முத்துமலை
The mountain of unwithering Kurinji flowers,
The mountain where the whole breeze is fragrant,
Where the unceasing mist blows,
The pearl-like mountain with a solitary rock.
முத்துமலை மேல முல்லைப்பூ மாலை
முல்லைப்பூ மாலையில
முடிச்சிக்கையேன் வேலை
தொதுவா ஆஹா தொதுவா
ஆஹா தொதுவா தொதுவா தொதுவா
A jasmine garland upon the pearl mountain,
In that jasmine flower garland,
Is the craft of my hands tying it.
Touch it gently, ah touch it,
Ah, touch it gently, touch, touch...
காயா குறிஞ்சி மலை
காத்தெல்லாம் மணக்கும் மலை
ஓயாத பனி அடிக்கும்
ஒத்தக்கல்லு முத்துமலை
The mountain of unwithering Kurinji flowers,
The mountain where the whole breeze is fragrant,
Where the unceasing mist blows,
The pearl-like mountain with a solitary rock.
பூவெடுத்து நான் தொடுத்தேன் ரொம்ப நாளா
அந்த பூவைக்கான நியாயம் கண்டேன் ரெண்டு நாளா
தாவி வந்த மான்குட்டிக்கு இந்த ஆளா
நீ தழுவும்போது என்ன சுகம் பொண்ணுமேல
I have been stringing flowers for a long time,
But found the true purpose for those flowers just two days ago.
Is this man meant for the leaping fawn?
What bliss overflows when you embrace me!
தொதுவா ஆஹா தொதுவா
ஆஹா தொதுவா தொதுவா தொதுவா
Touch it gently, ah touch it,
Ah, touch it gently, touch, touch...
மைனாக்குருவி போலே
கொஞ்சம் பறந்து போவோம்-அந்த
மரத்து மேலே ரெண்டு பேரும்
இருந்து பார்ப்போம்
Like Myna birds,
Let us fly a little,
Atop that tree, the two of us,
Shall sit and look around.
தை மாசத்தில் மலையைவிட்டு
பட்டணம் போவோம்
எங்க சாமி பேரைச் சொல்லி சொல்லி
தொட்டில் ஆட்டுவோம்
In the month of Thai, leaving the mountain,
We shall go to the town,
Uttering the name of our deity again and again,
We shall rock the cradle.
தொதுவா ஆஹா தொதுவா
ஆஹா தொதுவா தொதுவா தொதுவா
Touch it gently, ah touch it,
Ah, touch it gently, touch, touch...
காயா குறிஞ்சி மலை
காத்தெல்லாம் மணக்கும் மலை
ஓயாத பனி அடிக்கும்
ஒத்தக்கல்லு முத்துமலை
The mountain of unwithering Kurinji flowers,
The mountain where the whole breeze is fragrant,
Where the unceasing mist blows,
The pearl-like mountain with a solitary rock.
இப்படியா சுகம் இருக்கும்
கண்ணை வைக்கையிலே
ஐயா இதுவரையில் தெரியலையே
பூவை விக்கையிலே
Is bliss truly like this,
When you fix your eyes on me?
Oh sir, I never knew this until now,
While selling flowers.
எப்படியோ இருக்குதைய்யா
பக்கம் நிக்கையிலே
நெஞ்சு என்னென்னவோ நினைக்குதைய்யா
வெக்கம் மிச்சமில்லே
I feel somehow strange and overwhelmed, sir,
When standing next to you.
My heart thinks of all kinds of things, sir,
There is no shyness left in me!
தொதுவா ஆஹா தொதுவா
ஆஹா தொதுவா தொதுவா தொதுவா
Touch it gently, ah touch it,
Ah, touch it gently, touch, touch...
காயா குறிஞ்சி மலை
காத்தெல்லாம் மணக்கும் மலை
ஓயாத பனி அடிக்கும்
ஒத்தக்கல்லு முத்துமலை
The mountain of unwithering Kurinji flowers,
The mountain where the whole breeze is fragrant,
Where the unceasing mist blows,
The pearl-like mountain with a solitary rock.
Kaayaa kurinji malai
The mountain of unwithering Kurinji flowers,
Kaaththellaam manakkum malai
The mountain where the whole breeze is fragrant,
Ooyaatha pani adikkum
Where the unceasing mist blows,
Oththakkallu muththumalai
The pearl-like mountain with a solitary rock.
Muththumalai mela mullai poo maalai
A jasmine garland upon the pearl mountain,
Mullai poo maaliyila
In that jasmine flower garland,
Mudichchikkaiyaen velai
Is the craft of my hands tying it.
Thodhuvaa aahaa thodhuvaa
Touch it gently, ah touch it,
Aahaa thodhuvaa thodhuvaa thodhuvaa
Ah, touch it gently, touch, touch...
Kaayaa kurinji malai
The mountain of unwithering Kurinji flowers,
Kaaththellaam manakkum malai
The mountain where the whole breeze is fragrant,
Ooyaatha pani adikkum
Where the unceasing mist blows,
Oththakkallu muththumalai
The pearl-like mountain with a solitary rock.
Pooveduththu naan thoduththaen rompa naalaa
I have been stringing flowers for a long time,
Antha poovaikkaana niyaayam kandaen rendu naalaa
But found the true purpose for those flowers just two days ago.
Thaavi vantha maankuttikku intha aalaa
Is this man meant for the leaping fawn?
Nee thazhuvumpothu enna sugam pommumela
What bliss overflows when you embrace me!
Thodhuvaa aahaa thodhuvaa
Touch it gently, ah touch it,
Aahaa thodhuvaa thodhuvaa thodhuvaa
Ah, touch it gently, touch, touch...
Mainaakuruvi polae
Like Myna birds,
Konjam paranthu povom
Let us fly a little,
Antha maraththu melae rendu perum
Atop that tree, the two of us,
Irunthu paarppom
Shall sit and look around.
Thai maasaththil malaiyai vittu
In the month of Thai, leaving the mountain,
Pattanam povom
We shall go to the town,
Enga saami perai solli solli
Uttering the name of our deity again and again,
Thottil aattuvom
We shall rock the cradle.
Thodhuvaa aahaa thodhuvaa
Touch it gently, ah touch it,
Aahaa thodhuvaa thodhuvaa thodhuvaa
Ah, touch it gently, touch, touch...
Kaayaa kurinji malai
The mountain of unwithering Kurinji flowers,
Kaaththellaam manakkum malai
The mountain where the whole breeze is fragrant,
Ooyaatha pani adikkum
Where the unceasing mist blows,
Oththakkallu muththumalai
The pearl-like mountain with a solitary rock.
Ippadiyaa sugam irukkum
Is bliss truly like this,
Kannai vaikkaiyilae
When you fix your eyes on me?
Aiyyaa idhuvaraiyil theriyalaiyae
Oh sir, I never knew this until now,
Poovai vikkaiyilae
While selling flowers.
Eppadiyo irukkuthaiyyaa
I feel somehow strange and overwhelmed, sir,
Pakkam nikkaiyilae
When standing next to you.
Nenju ennennavo ninaikkuthaiyyaa
My heart thinks of all kinds of things, sir,
Vekkam michchamillae
There is no shyness left in me!
Thodhuvaa aahaa thodhuvaa
Touch it gently, ah touch it,
Aahaa thodhuvaa thodhuvaa thodhuvaa
Ah, touch it gently, touch, touch...
Kaayaa kurinji malai
The mountain of unwithering Kurinji flowers,
Kaaththellaam manakkum malai
The mountain where the whole breeze is fragrant,
Ooyaatha pani adikkum
Where the unceasing mist blows,
Oththakkallu muththumalai
The pearl-like mountain with a solitary rock.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kaayaa Kurinji Malai is a romantic Tamil song set in a lush mountain landscape, composed by K. V. Mahadevan for the film Naan Nanethan (1980). Written by Kannadasan and sung playfully by Vani Jairam, the lyrics evoke the pastoral charm of hill-dwellers surrounded by fragrant breezes, misty peaks, and blooming Kurinji flowers. The song follows a young woman reflecting on her newly awakened feelings of love. She describes how her everyday task of stringing flowers took on a deeper romantic meaning once she met her partner. Expressing her longing to fly freely like birds, relocate to the town, and start a family, she candidly admits how all her bashfulness vanishes when standing beside her beloved.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Kaayaa kurinji malai / Ooyaatha pani adikkum”
The second consonant 'yaa' rhymes in consecutive lines 'Kaayaa' and 'Ooyaatha'.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Muththumalai mela mullai poo maalai”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Mu' across multiple words in the line.
Upamai (Simile)
“Mainaakuruvi polae”
Compares the lovers soaring playfully in joy to Myna birds ('Mainaakuruvi polae').
Kurinji Imagery (Thinai Imagery)
“Kaayaa kurinji malai”
Uses traditional Tamil Sangam literary symbolism of the Kurinji mountain region to represent romantic union.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song references the iconic Kurinji flower, famous in Tamil Sangam poetry as the symbol of mountain landscapes (Kurinji Thinai) and romantic union. Composed by K. V. Mahadevan, the track highlights Vani Jairam's folk-inflected vocal agility and Kannadasan's mastery of simple yet evocative imagery.
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