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Koyil Yaanai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Koyil Yaanai

From Koyil Yaanai · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Koyil Yaanai
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
6 Jan 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Koyil yaanai kaaval irukku
Konji pesa aaval irukku
Aasaithaan enna thoonduthu
Ongitta onnu venduthu
Vaamma ooo….oohhoi…..
Koyil yaanai kaaval irukku
Konji pesa aaval irukku
Aasaithaan enna thoonduthu
Ongitta onnu venduthu
Vaaiyyaa ooo…oohhoi…..
Jodi thedum chinna vayasu
Soodu yaerum nallaa orasu
Female :Podhum saami unga kurumbu
Thaangidaatha naadi narambu
Male :Yaendi aaththaa unna paaththaa
Yaedho enna pannuthu
Female :Maelum keezhum nottam vittaa
Koochcham enna kolluthu
Koyil yaanai kaaval irukku
Female :Konji pesa aaval irukku
Male :Aasaithaan enna thoonduthu
Female :Ongitta onnu venduthu
Male :Vaamma
Female :Ooo….oohhoiyya….
Yaedham poda keni irukku
Yaeru pootta kaani irukku
Female :Kaaththu kaaththu yaengiyirukku
Kadhal moochchu vaangirukku
Thennag keeththum thendral kaaththum
Saernthaa enna kuththamma
Female :Poga poga podhai vanthaa
Naanae thaaraen moththamma
Koyil yaanai kaaval irukku
Konji pesa aaval irukku
Aasaithaan enna thoonduthu
Ongitta onnu venduthu
Vaamma ooo….oohhoi…..
Koyil yaanai kaaval irukku
Konji pesa aaval irukku
Aasaithaan enna thoonduthu
Ongitta onnu venduthu
Vaaiyyaa ooo…oohhoi…..
The temple elephant stands guard
There is a longing to talk sweet
Desire keeps stirring me up
It wants something from you
Come, my girl, oh-oh... ohoy...
The temple elephant stands guard
There is a longing to talk sweet
Desire keeps stirring me up
It wants something from you
Come, my man, oh-oh... ohoy...
Young age is searching for its match
The heat will rise when you brush close
Enough of your mischief, mister
My nerves just cannot take it
Hey girl, whenever I look at you
Something strange happens to me
When you look me up and down
This shyness is killing me
The temple elephant stands guard
There is a longing to talk sweet
Desire keeps stirring me up
It wants something from you
Come, my girl
Oh-oh... ohoy-yaa...
There is a well ready to draw water
There is land ready to hitch the plow
Waiting and waiting, it has longed for this
Love has been left breathless
When coconut leaves and the gentle breeze
Come together, what is wrong with that, my girl?
As moments pass, when the passion takes over
I will give you everything myself
The temple elephant stands guard
There is a longing to talk sweet
Desire keeps stirring me up
It wants something from you
Come, my girl, oh-oh... ohoy...
The temple elephant stands guard
There is a longing to talk sweet
Desire keeps stirring me up
It wants something from you
Come, my man, oh-oh... ohoy...
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Koyil Yaanai' is a playful and romantic rural duet written by the legendary lyricist Vaali. The song captures a flirtatious banter between a young man and woman expressing their deep attraction and romantic yearning for each other. Using rustic folk metaphors—such as water wells, land ready for plowing, and temple elephants standing guard—the lovers playfully tease each other about their growing passion, warmth, and bashfulness. As the song progresses, the male lead urges his beloved to cast aside her shyness, while the female lead coyly responds that her delicate nerves cannot take his mischief yet, but promises to surrender completely once romantic intoxication takes over. Overall, the song is a vibrant celebration of youthful love set in a traditional Tamil village backdrop.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Yaedham poda keni irukku / Yaeru pootta kaani irukku

Agricultural imagery like a well ready for a water-lift ('yaedham poda keni') and land yoked for plowing ('yaeru pootta kaani') are used metaphorically to represent romantic readiness and intimacy.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Podhum saami unga kurumbu / Thaangidaatha naadi narambu

The lines end with rhyming words ('kurumbu' and 'narambu'), giving a rhythmic folk cadence typical of rural duets.

Personification

Kadhal moochchu vaangirukku

Love ('Kadhal') is personified as breathing heavily ('moochchu vaangirukku') due to intense yearning.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Koyil Yaanai' (1986) showcases lyricist Vaali's mastery in infusing Tamil folk tropes, local dialects ('aaththaa', 'nottam vittaa'), and agricultural motifs seamlessly into popular cinema music.

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