Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Koovurakuyilu

From Solaiyamma · 1992

Lyricist
Kasthuri Raja
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Deva
Details
Solaiyamma1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Koovura kuyilu sevala paarthuThe cooing cuckoo looks at the rooster
Padikkudhu paattuAnd sings a song
Male
Avvalavu thaana ..ippa paaruIs that all... now look
Female
Sari thaanAlright then
Male
Mela paaduSing further
Female
Neeyum padhil sollu kettuListen and give me an answer too
Male
Chchch ohoo haaChchch ohoo haa
Female
Mmm paravaayillaiyaeMmm, not bad
Male
Hae paecha maathadha paatta padiHey, don't change the topic, sing the song
Female
Maama myangidalamaaUncle, shall I fall in love and swoon?
Female
Koovura kuyilu sevala paarthuThe cooing cuckoo looks at the rooster
Padikkudhu paattuAnd sings a song
Neeyum padhil sollu kettuListen and give me an answer too
Maama myangidalaamaUncle, shall I fall in love and swoon?
En maama mayangidalaamaMy uncle, shall I fall in love and swoon?
Female
Yen manasu oru raagathulaMy heart is set to a tune
Dhinam paadi paadi mella parakkudhuSinging daily, it slowly flies away
Maama nee vilagum andha nerathulaUncle, during the moment when you step away
Unnai thaedi thaedi thaanae kerangudhuIt endlessly searches for you and feels dizzy
Male
Achuvellam paechula achuvellamJaggery sweet, sweet words pure as sugarcane juice
Kitta varum nerathula acham varumWhen you come nearby, fear creeps in
Female
Naan odaatha neeru neeI am still water, you
Thaanaga serum aaruAre the river that flows to merge on its own
MaamaUncle
Male :HoiMale: Hoi
Female :MayangidalaamaFemale: Shall I swoon?
Ada maama mayangidalaamaOh uncle, shall I fall in love and swoon?
Male
Hoi koovura kuyilu sevala paarthuHoi, looking at the rooster, the cooing cuckoo
Padikkudhu paattuSings a song
Naanum mayanguren kettuListening to it, I am swooning too
MaanaeMy sweet doe
Female :HmmFemale: Mmm
Male :Manasukkul thaenaeMale: Honey in my heart
En maanae manasukkul thaenaeMy sweet doe, honey in my heart
Male
Naan arugae varum nerathulaWhen I come close to you
Manmelae thaane kolam podudhu maanaeMy sweet doe, you shyly draw patterns on the ground
Female
Oor urangum saamathulaIn the midnight hour when the village sleeps
Kann moodi moodi thaalam podudhu maamaClosing my eyes, my heart keeps beat, uncle
Male
Vathaathamma aasai nadhi vathaathammaThe river of desire will never dry up
Female
Kuthaalama neeyum ennai kuthaalamaWill you shower me like the Courtallam falls?
Male
Nee aadatha naathuYou are the gently swaying sapling
Naan aalolam paadum kaathuI am the protective breeze singing a lullaby
MaanaeMy sweet doe
Female :HmmFemale: Mmm
Male :Mayunguren naanaeMale: I am swooning too
Female :HuhumFemale: Huhum
Male :En maanae mayanguren naanaeMale: My sweet doe, I am swooning too
Female
Koovura kuyilu sevala paarthuThe cooing cuckoo looks at the rooster
Padikkudhu paattuAnd sings a song
Neeyum padhil sollu kettuListen and give me an answer too
Female
Maama myangidalamaaUncle, shall I fall in love and swoon?
Male :HmmMale: Mmm
Female :MayangidalaamaFemale: Shall I swoon?
En maama mayangidalaamaMy uncle, shall I fall in love and swoon?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from Solaiyamma (1992) is a playful, romantic duet between two lovers expressing their affection and longing for one another in a rural Tamil setting. The heroine teasingly initiates the song comparing their romantic banter to nature's music, asking her beloved if she can surrender to love and swoon in his embrace. The lover reciprocates her affection, admiring her bashful charm and comparing their bond to nature. Using natural metaphors such as rivers merging, birds singing, and breezes protecting saplings, the lyrics celebrate the warmth, intimacy, and sweetness of rustic romance. The exchange alternates between playful teasing, nervous hesitation, and deep emotional devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaal / Alliteration (Tamil Moonaal)

Koovura kuyilu sevala paarthu

Repetition of the initial 'k' sound ('Koovura kuyilu') creates a soft, musical cadence imitating bird sounds.

Adukku Thodar (Repetition for emphasis)

Dhinam paadi paadi mella parakkudhu

Doubling words like 'paadi paadi' and 'thaedi thaedi' adds rhythm and highlights continuous action.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Nee aadatha naathu / Naan aalolam paadum kaathu

Comparing the female lover to a delicate crop ('naathu') and the male lover to a protective breeze ('kaathu').

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Vathaathamma aasai nadhi vathaathamma

Rhyming ends in 'vathaathamma' and 'kuthaalama' creating a poetic flow across rural metaphors.

Did you know?

Trivia

Solaiyamma (1992) features music composed by Deva with lyrics written by the film's director Kasthuri Raja. Known for its distinct folk flavor, this song captures traditional Tamil village romantic tropes using nature imagery and conversational banter.

Keep listening

More from Solaiyamma