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Ethir Kaatru album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Koondai Vittu

From Ethir Kaatru · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ethir Kaatru
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
25 Feb 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu
Koovugindra poonguyilae
Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu
Koovugindra poonguyilae
Anbu ennum paattisaithu
Kandadhenna vaazhkkayilae
Paarvaiyil yaarumae
Manidha jaadhi thaan
Pazhagi paar paadhi per
Miruga jaadhi thaan
Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu
Naan valarkkum poo chediyil
Mutkal mattum pooppadhenna
Paavamaa saabamaa kaalathin kolamaa
Kaal nadakkum paadhai ellaam
Karkal kuthi valippadhenna
Yaar idhan kaaranam
Dheivam thaan kooranum
Vaira kallai naan koduthaal
Vaangi kollum ulagamae
Uppu kallai enakkalithu
Oppu kolla chollumae
Neiyai vittu dheepam yetrinaal
Kaiyai chuttu nandri kaattudhae o…
Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu
Koovugindra poonguyilae
Anbu ennum paattisaithu
Kandadhenna vaazhkkayilae
Paarvaiyil yaarumae
Manidha jaadhi thaan
Pazhagi paar paadhi per
Miruga jaadhi thaan
Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu
Koovugindra poonguyilae
Dheivathukku aaru mugam
Maanidarkku nooru mugam
Mei yedhu poi yedhu
Yaar adhai kandadhu
Paalum ingu vellai niram
Kallum ingu vellai niram
Paal yedhu kal yedhu
Baedham yaar kandadhu
Naesam vaitha yaarukkumae
Nenjam ellaam kaayam thaan
Paasam vaitha kangalilae
Paarppadhellaam maayam thaan
Yeri chendra kaalgal udhaikkudhu
Yetri vitta yeni sirikkudhu
Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu
Koovugindra poonguyilae
Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu
Koovugindra poonguyilae
Anbu ennum paattisaithu
Kandadhenna vaazhkkayilae
Paarvaiyil yaarumae
Manidha jaadhi thaan
Pazhagi paar paadhi per
Miruga jaadhi thaan
Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu
Koovugindra poonguyilae
Coming out of your cage,
O sweet singing cuckoo,
Coming out of your cage,
O sweet singing cuckoo,
Singing a song of love,
What did you find in this life?
To our eyes, everyone looks
Like humankind,
But get to know them, half of them
Are just wild beasts!
Coming out of your cage...
On the flowering plant I nurture,
Why do only thorns bloom?
Is it a sin, a curse, or the cruel game of time?
On every path where my feet tread,
Why do sharp stones pierce and hurt?
Who is the reason for this?
Only God must give the answer.
If I offer a diamond,
This world takes it eagerly,
Yet handing me a rock of salt in return,
It expects me to accept it.
If I pour ghee and light a lamp,
It shows its thanks by burning my hand, oh...
Coming out of your cage,
O sweet singing cuckoo,
Singing a song of love,
What did you find in this life?
To our eyes, everyone looks
Like humankind,
But get to know them, half of them
Are just wild beasts!
Coming out of your cage,
O sweet singing cuckoo...
God has six faces,
Yet human beings have a hundred faces!
What is true and what is false?
Who has ever figured it out?
Milk is white here,
Limestone too is white here,
Which is milk and which is stone?
Who could tell the difference?
For anyone who gives their heart in love,
The whole soul is left with wounds.
Through eyes filled with affection,
Everything you see turns out to be an illusion.
The feet that climbed up kick down,
And the ladder that lifted them just laughs.
Coming out of your cage,
O sweet singing cuckoo,
Coming out of your cage,
O sweet singing cuckoo,
Singing a song of love,
What did you find in this life?
To our eyes, everyone looks
Like humankind,
But get to know them, half of them
Are just wild beasts!
Coming out of your cage,
O sweet singing cuckoo...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This philosophical song from the 1990 Tamil movie 'Ethir Kaatru' explores the deceptive nature of human society and the disillusionment that comes with trusting others blindly. Using the metaphor of a cuckoo stepping out of its cage to sing songs of love, the protagonist laments that innocence and love are met with cruelty, betrayal, and ingratitude. The lyrics sharply critique double standards, pointing out how people present themselves as noble on the surface but harbor dark, beastly motives beneath. Through vivid imagery—such as flowers turning into thorns, diamonds exchanged for salt crystals, and ladders being kicked away by those who climbed them—lyricist Vaali captures the pain of betrayal and the difficulty of discerning truth from falsehood. The song serves as a poignant reflection on morality, fate, and the harsh realities of human relationships.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Alliteration)

“Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu / Koovugindra poonguyilae”

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across lines or words, such as 'Koondai' and 'Koovugindra' or 'Paalum' and 'Kallum'.

Edhukai (Assonance / Rhyme)

“Naesam vaitha yaarukkumae / Paasam vaitha kangalilae”

Matching second letters in consecutive lines, such as 'Naesam' and 'Paasam' or 'Yeri' and 'Yetri'.

Metaphor & Contrast

“Paalum ingu vellai niram / Kallum ingu vellai niram”

Comparing people's superficial appearance to humans versus their inner nature to beasts, as well as contrasting white milk with white limestone.

Personification

“Yetri vitta yeni sirikkudhu”

Attributing human emotions and actions to an inanimate object, specifically a ladder laughing after carrying someone up.

Did you know?

Trivia

Ethir Kaatru (1990) was directed by Muktha S. Sundar and featured music composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The song highlights Vaali's signature reflective lyricism which often blends existential questioning with accessible folk-yet-deep metaphors.

Keep listening

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