Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kodai Kaala Kaatre

From Panneer Pushpangal · 1981

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Panneer Pushpangal1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kodai kaala kaatraeOh summer breeze
Kulir thendral paadum paattaeOh song sung by the cool gentle breeze
Manam thedum suvaiyoduWith the sweetness that the heart searches for
Dhinandhorum isai paaduSing music every day
Adhai ketkum nenjamaeOh heart that listens to it
Chorus :Laa..laa.la…lala laa…Chorus: Laa..laa.la…lala laa…
Male :Sugam kodi kaanattumMale: May it experience ten million joys
Chorus :Laa..laa.la…lala laa…Chorus: Laa..laa.la…lala laa…
Male :Ivaigal ilamaalai pookkalaeMale: These are the young evening flowers
Chorus :Lalala lala lala lala lala laa…Chorus: Lalala lala lala lala lala laa…
Male :Pudhu cholai pookkalaeMale: Flowers of a fresh grove
Chorus :Lalala lala lala lala lala laa…Chorus: Lalala lala lala lala lala laa…
Male
Kodai kaala kaatraeOh summer breeze
Kulir thendral paadum paattaeOh song sung by the cool gentle breeze
Chorus
Laa laala laa..laa…Laa laala laa..laa…
Lala la.. laalaala laalaa…Lala la.. laalaala laalaa…
Lalala laa..laa..laa..Lalala laa..laa..laa..
Laalaa…lala laa.. laalaa…lala laa..Laalaa…lala laa.. laalaa…lala laa..
Male
Vaanil pogum megam ingaeWhere is the cloud in the sky heading?
Yaarai thedudhoWhom is it searching for?
Vaasam veesum poovin raagamThe melody of the fragrant flower
Yaarai paadudhoWhom is it singing for?
Than unarvugalai mellisaiyaagaTurning its feelings into soft music
Namm uravugalai vandhu koodaadhoWon't it come and join our relationships?
Male
Thiru naalum koodattumMay auspicious days come together
Sugam thedi aadattumMay it dance seeking happiness
Ivaigal ilamaalai pookkalaeThese are the young evening flowers
Chorus :Lalala lala lala lala lala laa…Chorus: Lalala lala lala lala lala laa…
Male :Pudhu cholai pookkalaeMale: Flowers of a fresh grove
Chorus :Lalala lala lala lala lala laa…Chorus: Lalala lala lala lala lala laa…
Pudhu cholai pookkalaeFlowers of a fresh grove
Male
Kodai kaala kaatraeOh summer breeze
Kulir thendral paadum paattaeOh song sung by the cool gentle breeze
Chorus
Laa… lalala.. lala.. lala.. lala.. lala..Laa… lalala.. lala.. lala.. lala.. lala..
Laa..laa..laa.. laa..laa..laa..Laa..laa..laa.. laa..laa..laa..
Lalalala laa..laa..laa..Lalalala laa..laa..laa..
Lallaa..laa..laa..laa..Lallaa..laa..laa..laa..
Lalalala.laa.laa.laa..lala laa…Lalalala.laa.laa.laa..lala laa…
Male
Yedho ondrai thedum nenjamThe heart that searched for something
Ingae kandadhaeFound it here
Yengum kannil thondrum inbamThe bliss that appeared in the yearning eyes
Ingae endrathaeSaid it is right here
Male
Pen malaiyaruviA female mountain stream
Panneer thooviSprinkling rosewater
Pon mazhaiyazhaginOf golden rain beauty
Sugam yerkaadhoWon't it accept this bliss?
Male
Ivai yaavum paadangalAll of these are lessons
Inidhaana vedhangalSweet sacred scriptures
Ivaigal ilamaalai pookkalaeThese are the young evening flowers
Chorus :Lalala lala lala lala lala laa…Chorus: Lalala lala lala lala lala laa…
Male :Pudhu cholai pookkalaeMale: Flowers of a fresh grove
Chorus :Lalala lala lala lala lala laa…Chorus: Lalala lala lala lala lala lala laa…
Male
Kodai kaala kaatraeOh summer breeze
Kulir thendral paadum paattaeOh song sung by the cool gentle breeze
Manam thedum suvaiyoduWith the sweetness that the heart searches for
Dhinandhorum isai paaduSing music every day
Adhai ketkum nenjamaeOh heart that listens to it
Chorus :Laa..laa.la…lala laa…Chorus: Laa..laa.la…lala laa…
Male :Sugam kodi kaanattumMale: May it experience ten million joys
Chorus :Laa..laa.la…lala laa…Chorus: Laa..laa.la…lala laa…
Male :Ivaigal ilamaalai pookkalaeMale: These are the young evening flowers
Chorus :Lalala lala lala lala lala laa…Chorus: Lalala lala lala lala lala laa…
Male :Pudhu cholai pookkalaeMale: Flowers of a fresh grove
Chorus :Lalala lala lala lala lala laa…Chorus: Lalala lala lala lala lala laa…
Male
Kodai kaala kaatraeOh summer breeze
Kulir thendral paadum paattaeOh song sung by the cool gentle breeze

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Kodai Kaala Kaatrae' is a celebrated classic song from the 1981 Tamil film Panneer Pushpangal. Written by Gangai Amaran and composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja (sung by Malaysia Vasudevan), the song evokes a serene atmosphere of youthful freedom, love, and nature. It uses the metaphor of a soothing summer wind and freshly bloomed flowers to represent the innocence, beauty, and emotional awakening of young hearts in a boarding school setting. The lyrics poetically compare life's experiences to sweet scriptures and natural beauty, expressing a desire for unending joy, romance, and contentment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Alliteration)

Kodai kaala kaatrae

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'K' in 'Kodai', 'kaala', and 'kaatrae' creates an agreeable rhythmic flow.

Personification

Kulir thendral paadum paattae

Attributing the human action of singing to the cool breeze ('thendral paadum paattae').

Metaphor

Pudhu cholai pookkalae

Young students and their tender youth are metaphorically referred to as freshly bloomed grove flowers ('Pudhu cholai pookkalae').

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the prompt listed the music director and singers as unknown, this iconic song was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by Malaysia Vasudevan. The film 'Panneer Pushpangal' (1981) was directed by Santhana Bharathi and P. Vasu, marking their debut.

Keep listening

More from Panneer Pushpangal