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Vairamalai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Koovamal Koovum

From Vairamalai · 1954

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Trichy Loganathan, M. L. Vasanthakumari
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Vairamalai
Movie release year
1954
Lyrics added on
27 Nov 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Humming……………
Male :Humming…………..
Koovamal koovum kokilam
Koovamal koovum kokilam
Ponn kondaadum kaadhal komalam
Yaarum kaanamal naam paadum geethamae
Kalaimaevum thamizh koorum nalvaedhamae
Koovamal koovum kokilam
Ponn kondaadum kaadhal komalam
Yaarum kaanamal naam paadum geethamae
Kalaimaevum thamizh koorum nalvaedhamae
Kann meedhil paavai pol saerndhu nindraale
Kaadhal ellai baedhamillai
Kann meedhil paavai pol saerndhu nindraale
Kaadhal ellai baedhamillai
Anbu thaenodum neerodai naamae
Yaarum kaanamal naam paadum geethamae
Kalaimaevum thamizh koorum nalvaedhamae
Kannaadi polae ennangal yaavum
Paarvaiyilae inghu kaanugindren
Anbae vaarthaigal yaeno
Female :Veenaiyin naadham maevum sangeedham
Naaldhorum naam kaanum aanandha isaiyaagum
Veenaiyin naadham maevum sangeedham
Naaldhorum naam kaanum aanandha isaiyaagum
Inba velai
Female :Namadhu vaazhvai
Both :Yaarum kandaalum naam paadum geethamae
Ennaalum azhiyaadhae en jeevanae
Inneram ooril ennenna kolamoo
Manamaganoo ingae manamagalo angae
Vaedikkai aanadhae
Inneram ooril ennenna kolamoo
Manamaganoo ingae manamagalo angae
Vaedikkai aanadhae
Manamagal ingae manamagan angae
Naam kaanum aanandham thaai thandhai arivaaroo?
Inba velai
Female :Namadhu vaazhvai
Both :Yaarum kandaalum naam paadum geethamae
Ennaalum azhiyaadhae en jeevanae
Haaaa..aa
Male :Koovamal koovum kokilam
Ponn kondaadum kaadhal komalam
Both :Yaarum kandaalum naam paadum geethamae
Ennaalum azhiyaadhae en jeevanae
[Humming...]
Male: [Humming...]
A cuckoo singing without a sound,
A cuckoo singing without a sound,
A golden, tender darling of love,
This is the song we sing unseen by anyone,
A sacred wisdom spoken by artistic Tamil!
A cuckoo singing without a sound,
A golden, tender darling of love,
This is the song we sing unseen by anyone,
A sacred wisdom spoken by artistic Tamil!
She stays united with me like the pupil of an eye,
In love, there are no boundaries or differences.
She stays united with me like the pupil of an eye,
In love, there are no boundaries or differences.
We are a stream flowing with the honey of love!
This is the song we sing unseen by anyone,
A sacred wisdom spoken by artistic Tamil!
Just like a mirror reflecting every thought,
I see it all in your eyes right here,
My love, why do we even need words?
Female: The sweet melody rising from the veena (traditional lute)
Becomes the joyful music of our everyday lives.
The sweet melody rising from the veena (traditional lute)
Becomes the joyful music of our everyday lives.
In this moment of joy,
Female: Our life...
Both: Even if anyone sees, this is the song we sing,
It will never fade away, my life!
Who knows what drama is unfolding in the town right now?
The groom is right here, and the bride is over there,
What an amusing turn of events it has become!
Who knows what drama is unfolding in the town right now?
The groom is right here, and the bride is over there,
What an amusing turn of events it has become!
The bride is here, and the groom is there,
Would our parents ever know the happiness we share?
In this moment of joy,
Female: Our life...
Both: Even if anyone sees, this is the song we sing,
It will never fade away, my life!
Haa... aa...
Male: A cuckoo singing without a sound,
A golden, tender darling of love,
Both: Even if anyone sees, this is the song we sing,
It will never fade away, my life!
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Koovamal Koovum Kokilam from the 1954 film Vairamalai is a sweet romantic duet depicting the intimate connection between two lovers. The male protagonist describes his beloved as a silent cuckoo and a golden maiden of love whose presence transcends all boundaries, comparing their emotional unity to a pupil inside an eye and their bond to a sweet stream of honey. The song celebrates their private world of unspoken understanding where words are redundant, as feelings are mirrored in each other's eyes.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Paradox / Oxymoron (Muran)

“Koovamal koovum kokilam”

The phrase 'Koovamal koovum' literally means 'cooing without cooing', representing silent emotional expression.

Alliteration (Monai)

“Koovamal koovum kokilam”

Repetition of the initial 'Ko' consonant sound across 'Koovamal', 'koovum', and 'kokilam'.

Simile (Upamai)

“Kannaadi polae ennangal yaavum”

Comparing thoughts to a clear mirror ('Kannaadi polae ennangal') to depict total transparency between lovers.

Metaphor (Urvagam)

“Anbu thaenodum neerodai naamae”

Describing their affectionate bond as a flowing stream of honey ('Anbu thaenodum neerodai').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the legendary music director duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, this early 1950s duet brings together Carnatic vocal titan M. L. Vasanthakumari and Trichy Loganathan, featuring poetic lyrics penned by Kannadasan.

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