Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Koyil Yaanai

From Koyil Yaanai · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Music director
Chandrabose
Details
Koyil Yaanai1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Koyil yaanai kaaval irukkuThe temple elephant stands guard,
Konji pesa aaval irukkuThere is a deep desire to speak affectionately,
Aasaithaan enna thoonduthuDesire keeps spurring me on,
Ongitta onnu venduthuAsking for just one thing from you,
Vaamma ooo….oohhoi…..Come on, my lady... ooo... oohhoi...
Female
Koyil yaanai kaaval irukkuThe temple elephant stands guard,
Konji pesa aaval irukkuThere is a deep desire to speak affectionately,
Aasaithaan enna thoonduthuDesire keeps spurring me on,
Ongitta onnu venduthuAsking for just one thing from you,
Vaaiyyaa ooo…oohhoi…..Come on, my man... ooo... oohhoi...
Male
Jodi thedum chinna vayasuA young age searching for a partner,
Soodu yaerum nallaa orasuAs heat rises, close rubbing grows nice,
Female :Podhum saami unga kurumbuFemale: Enough of your mischief, my lord,
Thaangidaatha naadi narambuMy nerves and veins cannot bear it!
Male :Yaendi aaththaa unna paaththaaMale: Hey girl, looking at you,
Yaedho enna pannuthuSomething happens to me deep inside,
Female :Maelum keezhum nottam vittaaFemale: If you check me out up and down,
Koochcham enna kolluthuShyness is killing me completely,
Male
Koyil yaanai kaaval irukkuThe temple elephant stands guard,
Female :Konji pesa aaval irukkuFemale: There is a deep desire to speak affectionately,
Male :Aasaithaan enna thoonduthuMale: Desire keeps spurring me on,
Female :Ongitta onnu venduthuFemale: Asking for just one thing from you,
Male :VaammaMale: Come on, my lady,
Female :Ooo….oohhoiyya….Female: Ooo....oohhoiyya....
Male
Yaedham poda keni irukkuThere is a well ready for the water-lift,
Yaeru pootta kaani irukkuThere is a plot of land ready for plowing,
Female :Kaaththu kaaththu yaengiyirukkuFemale: Waiting and yearning for long,
Kadhal moochchu vaangirukkuLove is breathing heavily,
Male
Thennag keeththum thendral kaaththumWhen coconut fronds and the southern breeze,
Saernthaa enna kuththammaCome together, does it hurt, my dear?
Female :Poga poga podhai vanthaaFemale: As time goes on and intoxication sets in,
Naanae thaaraen moththammaI will give everything to you myself,
Male
Koyil yaanai kaaval irukkuThe temple elephant stands guard,
Konji pesa aaval irukkuThere is a deep desire to speak affectionately,
Aasaithaan enna thoonduthuDesire keeps spurring me on,
Ongitta onnu venduthuAsking for just one thing from you,
Vaamma ooo….oohhoi…..Come on, my lady... ooo... oohhoi...
Female
Koyil yaanai kaaval irukkuThe temple elephant stands guard,
Konji pesa aaval irukkuThere is a deep desire to speak affectionately,
Aasaithaan enna thoonduthuDesire keeps spurring me on,
Ongitta onnu venduthuAsking for just one thing from you,
Vaaiyyaa ooo…oohhoi…..Come on, my man... ooo... oohhoi...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'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.

Keep listening

More from Koyil Yaanai