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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Kudagu Malai

From Karagattakaran · 1989

Lyricist: Gangai Amaran
Singers: Mano, K. S. Chithra
Music director: Ilayaraja
Movie name: Karagattakaran
Movie release year: 1989
Lyrics added on: 16 Jan 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

{ Kudagu malai kaatril varum paatu kekudha en paingili } (2)

Edho ninaivu thaan unna chuthi parakudhu

Ennoda manasu thaan kandapadi thavikudhu

Oththa vazhi en vazhi thaanae maanae

Kudagu malai kaatril varum paatu kekudha en paingili

Maanae mayilae maragadha kuyilae

Thaenae naan paadum themaangae

Poovae pozhudhae pongi varum amudhae

Kaadhil kettayo en vaakae

Unna enni naan thaan oru oorgolam ponen

Thannandhaniyaga nikum ther polae aanen

Poo pootha solaiyilae ponnana maalaiyilae

Nee vandha velaiyilae mayilae

Neer pootha kannu rendu

Neengaadha dhagam kondu paadum paatu

{ Kudagu malai kaatril oru paatu paaduthu indha paingili } (2)

Marandhal thaanae nenaikanum mama

Ninaivae needhaanae needhaanae

Manasum manasum inainjadhu mama

Nenachu thavichenae naandhaanae

Solli vitta paatu theku kaathoda keten

Thoodhu vitta raasa manam thadumaara maten

Oorenna sonna enna onnaaga ninna enna

Un perai paadi nipen mama

Thoongama unna enni thudichalae

Indha kanni vaa mama

Kudagu malai kaatril varum paatu kekudha en paingili

Edho ninaivu thaan unna chuthi parakudhu

Ennoda manasu thaan kandapadi thavikidhu

Oththa vazhi en vazhi thaanae maanae

Kudagu malai kaatril oru paatu paaduthu indha paingili

Kudagu malai kaatril varum paatu kekudha en paingili

Can you hear the song coming in the breeze from the Kodagu hills, my sweet parrot?

Some thought keeps fluttering around you,

And my heart is yearning restlessly!

There is only one path for me, my darling.

Can you hear the song coming in the breeze from the Kodagu hills, my sweet parrot?

My deer, my peacock, my emerald cuckoo,

My sweet honey, my lovely folk song,

My flower, my dawn, my overflowing nectar,

Did your ears hear the promise I made?

Lost in thoughts of you, I walked as if in a festival procession,

Only to end up standing all alone, like a temple chariot.

In the blossoming grove, on a golden evening,

The moment you arrived, my peacock,

With eyes welling up with tears,

Here is a song sung with an unquenchable longing.

This sweet parrot sings a song in the breeze from the Kodagu hills.

I would only need to remember you if I had forgotten you, my love,

When every single thought is you and you alone!

Our hearts have united as one, my love,

And it was I who pined away, constantly thinking of you!

I heard the song you sent riding the southern breeze,

My king who sent this message, my heart will never waver.

Whatever the town may say, what does it matter if we stand together?

I will always stand by, singing your name, my love.

Staying awake and longing for you with an aching heart,

This young girl calls out—come to me, my love!

Can you hear the song coming in the breeze from the Kodagu hills, my sweet parrot?

Some thought keeps fluttering around you,

And my heart is yearning restlessly!

There is only one path for me, my darling.

This sweet parrot sings a song in the breeze from the Kodagu hills.

Can you hear the song coming in the breeze from the Kodagu hills, my sweet parrot?

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Female

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Female

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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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