Koondai Vittu
From Ethir Kaatru · 1990
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Ethir Kaatru1990
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu | Coming out of the cage, |
| Koovugindra poonguyilae | Oh sweet cuckoo that sings! |
| Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu | Coming out of the cage, |
| Koovugindra poonguyilae | Oh sweet cuckoo that sings! |
| Anbu ennum paattisaithu | Singing a song named love, |
| Kandadhenna vaazhkkayilae | What did you gain in life? |
| Paarvaiyil yaarumae | At first glance, everyone |
| Manidha jaadhi thaan | Appears to be of the human race. |
| Pazhagi paar paadhi per | Interact with them, and half of them |
| Miruga jaadhi thaan | Turn out to be of the beastly race. |
| Male | |
| Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu | Coming out of the cage... |
| Male | |
| Naan valarkkum poo chediyil | In the flower plant that I nurture, |
| Mutkal mattum pooppadhenna | Why do only thorns bloom? |
| Paavamaa saabamaa kaalathin kolamaa | Is it a sin, a curse, or the play of destiny? |
| Kaal nadakkum paadhai ellaam | Every path where my feet walk, |
| Karkal kuthi valippadhenna | Why do sharp stones pierce and cause pain? |
| Yaar idhan kaaranam | Who is the reason for this? |
| Dheivam thaan kooranum | Only God must answer. |
| Vaira kallai naan koduthaal | If I offer a diamond stone, |
| Vaangi kollum ulagamae | The world accepts it eagerly. |
| Uppu kallai enakkalithu | Giving me a salt stone in return, |
| Oppu kolla chollumae | It asks me to accept it. |
| Neiyai vittu dheepam yetrinaal | If I light a lamp using ghee, |
| Kaiyai chuttu nandri kaattudhae o… | It burns my hand in return of gratitude, oh... |
| Male | |
| Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu | Coming out of the cage, |
| Koovugindra poonguyilae | Oh sweet cuckoo that sings! |
| Anbu ennum paattisaithu | Singing a song named love, |
| Kandadhenna vaazhkkayilae | What did you gain in life? |
| Paarvaiyil yaarumae | At first glance, everyone |
| Manidha jaadhi thaan | Appears to be of the human race. |
| Pazhagi paar paadhi per | Interact with them, and half of them |
| Miruga jaadhi thaan | Turn out to be of the beastly race. |
| Male | |
| Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu | Coming out of the cage, |
| Koovugindra poonguyilae | Oh sweet cuckoo that sings! |
| Male | |
| Dheivathukku aaru mugam | God has six faces, |
| Maanidarkku nooru mugam | Human beings have a hundred faces. |
| Mei yedhu poi yedhu | What is true and what is lie? |
| Yaar adhai kandadhu | Who has ever found out? |
| Paalum ingu vellai niram | Milk is white in color here, |
| Kallum ingu vellai niram | Limestone too is white in color here. |
| Paal yedhu kal yedhu | Which is milk and which is stone? |
| Baedham yaar kandadhu | Who could discern the difference? |
| Naesam vaitha yaarukkumae | For anyone who showered affection, |
| Nenjam ellaam kaayam thaan | The heart is completely wounded. |
| Paasam vaitha kangalilae | In eyes that held love, |
| Paarppadhellaam maayam thaan | Everything seen is just a illusion. |
| Yeri chendra kaalgal udhaikkudhu | The feet that climbed kick back, |
| Yetri vitta yeni sirikkudhu | The ladder that raised them up laughs! |
| Male | |
| Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu | Coming out of the cage, |
| Koovugindra poonguyilae | Oh sweet cuckoo that sings! |
| Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu | Coming out of the cage, |
| Koovugindra poonguyilae | Oh sweet cuckoo that sings! |
| Anbu ennum paattisaithu | Singing a song named love, |
| Kandadhenna vaazhkkayilae | What did you gain in life? |
| Paarvaiyil yaarumae | At first glance, everyone |
| Manidha jaadhi thaan | Appears to be of the human race. |
| Pazhagi paar paadhi per | Interact with them, and half of them |
| Miruga jaadhi thaan | Turn out to be of the beastly race. |
| Male | |
| Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu | Coming out of the cage, |
| Koovugindra poonguyilae | Oh sweet cuckoo that sings! |
கூண்டை விட்டு
வெளியில் வந்து
கூவுகின்ற பூங்குயிலே
Coming out of the cage,
Oh sweet cuckoo that sings!
Coming out of the cage,
Oh sweet cuckoo that sings!
Singing a song named love,
What did you gain in life?
At first glance, everyone
Appears to be of the human race.
Interact with them, and half of them
Turn out to be of the beastly race.
கூண்டை விட்டு
வெளியில் வந்து
கூவுகின்ற பூங்குயிலே
அன்பு எனும் பாட்டிசைத்து
கண்டதென்ன வாழ்க்கையிலே
Coming out of the cage...
பார்வையில் யாருமே
மனித ஜாதிதான்
பழகிப் பார் பாதிப் பேர்
மிருக ஜாதிதான்
In the flower plant that I nurture,
Why do only thorns bloom?
Is it a sin, a curse, or the play of destiny?
Every path where my feet walk,
Why do sharp stones pierce and cause pain?
Who is the reason for this?
Only God must answer.
If I offer a diamond stone,
The world accepts it eagerly.
Giving me a salt stone in return,
It asks me to accept it.
If I light a lamp using ghee,
It burns my hand in return of gratitude, oh...
கூண்டை விட்டு
வெளியில் வந்து
Coming out of the cage,
Oh sweet cuckoo that sings!
Singing a song named love,
What did you gain in life?
At first glance, everyone
Appears to be of the human race.
Interact with them, and half of them
Turn out to be of the beastly race.
நான் வளர்க்கும் பூச்செடியில்
முட்கள் மட்டும் பூப்பதென்ன
பாவமா சாபமா காலத்தின் கோலமா
Coming out of the cage,
Oh sweet cuckoo that sings!
கால் நடக்கும் பாதை எல்லாம்
கற்கள் குத்தி வலிப்பதென்ன
யார் இதன் காரணம்
தெய்வம்தான் கூறணும்
God has six faces,
Human beings have a hundred faces.
What is true and what is lie?
Who has ever found out?
Milk is white in color here,
Limestone too is white in color here.
Which is milk and which is stone?
Who could discern the difference?
For anyone who showered affection,
The heart is completely wounded.
In eyes that held love,
Everything seen is just a illusion.
The feet that climbed kick back,
The ladder that raised them up laughs!
வைரக் கல்லை
நான் கொடுத்தால்
வாங்கிக் கொள்ளும் உலகமே
உப்புக் கல்லை எனக்களித்து
ஒப்புக் கொள்ளச் சொல்லுமே
Coming out of the cage,
Oh sweet cuckoo that sings!
Coming out of the cage,
Oh sweet cuckoo that sings!
Singing a song named love,
What did you gain in life?
At first glance, everyone
Appears to be of the human race.
Interact with them, and half of them
Turn out to be of the beastly race.
நெய்யை விட்டு
தீபம் ஏற்றினால்
கையைச் சுட்டு நன்றி
காட்டுதே ஓ......
Coming out of the cage,
Oh sweet cuckoo that sings!
கூண்டை விட்டு
வெளியில் வந்து
கூவுகின்ற பூங்குயிலே
அன்பு எனும் பாட்டிசைத்து
கண்டதென்ன வாழ்க்கையிலே
பார்வையில் யாருமே
மனித ஜாதிதான்
பழகிப் பார் பாதிப் பேர்
மிருக ஜாதிதான்
கூண்டை விட்டு
வெளியில் வந்து
கூவுகின்ற பூங்குயிலே
தெய்வத்துக்கு ஆறு முகம்
மானிடர்க்கு நூறு முகம்
மெய் எது பொய் எது
யார் அதைக் கண்டது
பாலும் இங்கு வெள்ளை நிறம்
கள்ளும் இங்கு வெள்ளை நிறம்
பால் எது கள் எது
பேதம் யார் கண்டது
நேசம் வைத்த யாருக்குமே
நெஞ்சம் எல்லாம் காயம் தான்
பாசம் வைத்த கண்களிலே
பார்ப்பதெல்லாம் மாயம்தான்
ஏறிச் சென்ற
கால்கள் உதைக்குது
ஏற்றி விட்ட ஏணி சிரிக்குது ஓ.....
கூண்டை விட்டு
வெளியில் வந்து
கூவுகின்ற பூங்குயிலே
கூண்டை விட்டு
வெளியில் வந்து
கூவுகின்ற பூங்குயிலே
அன்பு எனும் பாட்டிசைத்து
கண்டதென்ன வாழ்க்கையிலே
பார்வையில் யாருமே
மனித ஜாதிதான்
பழகிப் பார் பாதிப் பேர்
மிருக ஜாதிதான்
கூண்டை விட்டு
வெளியில் வந்து
கூவுகின்ற பூங்குயிலே
Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu
Coming out of the cage,
Koovugindra poonguyilae
Oh sweet cuckoo that sings!
Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu
Coming out of the cage,
Koovugindra poonguyilae
Oh sweet cuckoo that sings!
Anbu ennum paattisaithu
Singing a song named love,
Kandadhenna vaazhkkayilae
What did you gain in life?
Paarvaiyil yaarumae
At first glance, everyone
Manidha jaadhi thaan
Appears to be of the human race.
Pazhagi paar paadhi per
Interact with them, and half of them
Miruga jaadhi thaan
Turn out to be of the beastly race.
Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu
Coming out of the cage...
Naan valarkkum poo chediyil
In the flower plant that I nurture,
Mutkal mattum pooppadhenna
Why do only thorns bloom?
Paavamaa saabamaa kaalathin kolamaa
Is it a sin, a curse, or the play of destiny?
Kaal nadakkum paadhai ellaam
Every path where my feet walk,
Karkal kuthi valippadhenna
Why do sharp stones pierce and cause pain?
Yaar idhan kaaranam
Who is the reason for this?
Dheivam thaan kooranum
Only God must answer.
Vaira kallai naan koduthaal
If I offer a diamond stone,
Vaangi kollum ulagamae
The world accepts it eagerly.
Uppu kallai enakkalithu
Giving me a salt stone in return,
Oppu kolla chollumae
It asks me to accept it.
Neiyai vittu dheepam yetrinaal
If I light a lamp using ghee,
Kaiyai chuttu nandri kaattudhae o…
It burns my hand in return of gratitude, oh...
Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu
Coming out of the cage,
Koovugindra poonguyilae
Oh sweet cuckoo that sings!
Anbu ennum paattisaithu
Singing a song named love,
Kandadhenna vaazhkkayilae
What did you gain in life?
Paarvaiyil yaarumae
At first glance, everyone
Manidha jaadhi thaan
Appears to be of the human race.
Pazhagi paar paadhi per
Interact with them, and half of them
Miruga jaadhi thaan
Turn out to be of the beastly race.
Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu
Coming out of the cage,
Koovugindra poonguyilae
Oh sweet cuckoo that sings!
Dheivathukku aaru mugam
God has six faces,
Maanidarkku nooru mugam
Human beings have a hundred faces.
Mei yedhu poi yedhu
What is true and what is lie?
Yaar adhai kandadhu
Who has ever found out?
Paalum ingu vellai niram
Milk is white in color here,
Kallum ingu vellai niram
Limestone too is white in color here.
Paal yedhu kal yedhu
Which is milk and which is stone?
Baedham yaar kandadhu
Who could discern the difference?
Naesam vaitha yaarukkumae
For anyone who showered affection,
Nenjam ellaam kaayam thaan
The heart is completely wounded.
Paasam vaitha kangalilae
In eyes that held love,
Paarppadhellaam maayam thaan
Everything seen is just a illusion.
Yeri chendra kaalgal udhaikkudhu
The feet that climbed kick back,
Yetri vitta yeni sirikkudhu
The ladder that raised them up laughs!
Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu
Coming out of the cage,
Koovugindra poonguyilae
Oh sweet cuckoo that sings!
Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu
Coming out of the cage,
Koovugindra poonguyilae
Oh sweet cuckoo that sings!
Anbu ennum paattisaithu
Singing a song named love,
Kandadhenna vaazhkkayilae
What did you gain in life?
Paarvaiyil yaarumae
At first glance, everyone
Manidha jaadhi thaan
Appears to be of the human race.
Pazhagi paar paadhi per
Interact with them, and half of them
Miruga jaadhi thaan
Turn out to be of the beastly race.
Koondai vittu veliyil vandhu
Coming out of the cage,
Koovugindra poonguyilae
Oh sweet cuckoo that sings!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
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