Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kudagu Malai

From Karagattakaran · 1989

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Mano, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Karagattakaran1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
{ Kudagu malai kaatril varum paatu kekudha en paingili } (2)Can you hear the song coming in the Coorg mountain breeze, my parrot?
Edho ninaivu thaan unna chuthi parakudhuCan you hear the song coming in the Coorg mountain breeze, my parrot?
Ennoda manasu thaan kandapadi thavikudhuSome memory flutters around you endlessly.
Oththa vazhi en vazhi thaanae maanaeMy heart suffers helplessly in longing.
Kudagu malai kaatril varum paatu kekudha en paingiliA single-minded path is my path, my deer.
Male
Maanae mayilae maragadha kuyilaeCan you hear the song coming in the Coorg mountain breeze, my parrot?
Thaenae naan paadum themaangaeMy deer, my peacock, my emerald cuckoo.
Poovae pozhudhae pongi varum amudhaeMy honey, this rustic folk song that I sing.
Kaadhil kettayo en vaakaeMy flower, my time, my overflowing nectar.
Unna enni naan thaan oru oorgolam ponenDid my word reach your ears?
Thannandhaniyaga nikum ther polae aanenThinking of you, I went on a lonely procession.
Male
Poo pootha solaiyilae ponnana maalaiyilaeI became like a temple chariot standing all alone.
Nee vandha velaiyilae mayilaeIn the flower-bloomed garden, on a golden evening.
Neer pootha kannu renduAt the moment you arrived, my peacock.
Neengaadha dhagam kondu paadum paatuTwo eyes brimming with tears like water-flowers.
Female
{ Kudagu malai kaatril oru paatu paaduthu indha paingili } (2)A song sung with an unquenchable thirst.
Female
Marandhal thaanae nenaikanum mamaThis parrot sings a song in the Coorg mountain breeze.
Ninaivae needhaanae needhaanaeThis parrot sings a song in the Coorg mountain breeze.
Manasum manasum inainjadhu mamaOnly if I forget should I need to remember you, my beloved.
Nenachu thavichenae naandhaanaeYou are my very memory, only you.
Solli vitta paatu theku kaathoda ketenHeart and heart have united, my beloved.
Thoodhu vitta raasa manam thadumaara matenThinking of you, I suffered in longing, it was me.
Female
Oorenna sonna enna onnaaga ninna ennaI heard the song sent as a message along with the southern breeze.
Un perai paadi nipen mamaMy king who sent the message, my heart will not falter.
Thoongama unna enni thudichalaeWhatever the town says, what if we stand together?
Indha kanni vaa mamaI will stand singing your name, my beloved.
Male
Kudagu malai kaatril varum paatu kekudha en paingiliWithout sleeping, thinking of you, this maiden twitched in longing.
Female
Edho ninaivu thaan unna chuthi parakudhuThis young girl twitched in pain, come my beloved.
Ennoda manasu thaan kandapadi thavikidhuCan you hear the song coming in the Coorg mountain breeze, my parrot?
Male
Oththa vazhi en vazhi thaanae maanaeSome memory flutters around you endlessly.
Female
Kudagu malai kaatril oru paatu paaduthu indha paingiliMy heart suffers helplessly in longing.
Male
Kudagu malai kaatril varum paatu kekudha en paingiliThis parrot sings a song in the Coorg mountain breeze.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kudagu Malai Kaatril is a celebrated romantic duet from the iconic 1989 Tamil film Karagattakaran. The song captures the profound emotional resonance and sweet longing between two lovers. Using vivid metaphors from nature—such as the soothing breeze from the Coorg hills, singing cuckoos, and blooming gardens—the protagonists express how their souls are intricately entwined across space and time. The hero calls out to his beloved, comparing his solitude without her to an isolated temple chariot, while she responds with unwavering devotion, assuring him that he is her very consciousness and that no societal rumors can ever tear them apart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Maanae mayilae maragadha kuyilae / Thaenae naan paadum themaangae

Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Maanae', 'Thaenae', and 'Poovae', establishing rhythmic harmony.

Moonaal / Alliteration

Poo pootha solaiyilae ponnana maalaiyilae

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'P' in words like 'Poo', 'pootha', and 'ponnana'.

Simile (Uvamai)

Thannandhaniyaga nikum ther polae aanen

The lover compares his feeling of solitary devotion to an isolated temple chariot standing alone.

Metaphor (Uvameyam)

Maanae mayilae maragadha kuyilae / Poovae pozhudhae pongi varum amudhae

Endearments addressing the beloved as nature's finest creations like 'maragadha kuyil' (emerald cuckoo) and 'amudhu' (nectar).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja in the pentatonic Carnatic raga Suddha Dhanyasi, this song was rendered by singers Mano and K. S. Chithra with lyrics penned by Gangai Amaran. The movie Karagattakaran was a historic blockbuster in Tamil cinema, running for over 1 year in theaters, largely propelled by its iconic folk-based soundtrack.

Keep listening

More from Karagattakaran