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Lyrics & meaning

Kukkoo Kukkoo Song Lyrics – Neeya Naana Film

From Neeya Naana – 1962 Film · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Neeya Naana – 1962 Film
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
21 Aug 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kukkoo kukkoo kuyilakka
Idhai kobam illamal kelakka
Kiki kiki kiliyakka
Idhai kettu solloru vazhiyakka akka
Kukkoo kukkoo kuyilakka
Idhai kobam illamal kelakka
Kiki kiki kiliyakka
Idhai kettu solloru vazhiyakka akka
Kukkoo kukkoo kuyilakka
Athaan endroru azhagu vaarthai
Adainthirukkirathu manadhilae
Adhai azhuthamaaga solla vandhen
Kural varavillai veliyilae
Athaan endroru azhagu vaarthai
Adainthirukkirathu manadhilae
Adhai azhuthamaaga solla vandhen
Kural varavillai veliyilae
Avar udalil vilundha kaayangalai
Theernthu vitten viraivilae
Udalil vilundha kaayangalai
Theernthu vitten viraivilae
En manadhil vilundha kaayangalai
Maattri vaikka vazhiyillae
Manadhil vilundha kaayangalai
Maattri vaikka vazhiyillae
Kukkoo kukkoo kuyilakka
Idhai kobam illamal kelakka
Kiki kiki kiliyakka
Idhai kettu solloru vazhiyakka akka
Kukkoo kukkoo kuyilakka
Noiyai kodutha manidharkku
Marundhu kodukka theriyalai
Naan paayil vilundhu padutha podhum
Paalum urakkam pidikkalai
Paarkka therindhu paarvai ellaam
Paarthu vitten kuyilakka
Therindhu paarvai ellaam
Paarthu vitten kuyilakka
Pudhu paadam yedhum therindhirundhaal
Padithu solloru vazhiyakka
Paadam yedhum therindhirundhaal
Padithu solloru vazhiyakka
Kukkoo kukkoo kuyilakka
Idhai kobam illamal kelakka
Kiki kiki kiliyakka
Idhai kettu solloru vazhiyakka akka
Kukkoo kukkoo kuyilakka
Cuckoo, cuckoo, sister cuckoo bird,
Listen to this without getting angry, sister.
Kiki, kiki, sister parrot,
Listen to this and show me a way out, sister.
Cuckoo, cuckoo, sister cuckoo bird,
Listen to this without getting angry, sister.
Kiki, kiki, sister parrot,
Listen to this and show me a way out, sister.
Cuckoo, cuckoo, sister cuckoo bird.
The sweet word 'Aththan' (my beloved),
Is locked deep within my heart.
I came forward to say it with feeling,
Yet my voice would not come out.
The sweet word 'Aththan' (my beloved),
Is locked deep within my heart.
I came forward to say it with feeling,
Yet my voice would not come out.
The wounds that marked his body,
I healed them all so quickly.
The wounds that marked his body,
I healed them all so quickly.
Yet for the wounds upon my heart,
There is no way to heal them.
For the wounds upon my heart,
There is no way to heal them.
Cuckoo, cuckoo, sister cuckoo bird,
Listen to this without getting angry, sister.
Kiki, kiki, sister parrot,
Listen to this and show me a way out, sister.
Cuckoo, cuckoo, sister cuckoo bird.
The man who gave me this lovesickness
Does not know how to cure it.
Even when I lie down on my bed,
Wretched sleep never comes.
Every loving glance I knew how to cast,
I have tried them all, sister cuckoo.
Every glance I knew how to cast,
I have tried them all, sister cuckoo.
If you know any new lessons,
Teach me and show me a way, sister.
If you know any lessons,
Teach me and show me a way, sister.
Cuckoo, cuckoo, sister cuckoo bird,
Listen to this without getting angry, sister.
Kiki, kiki, sister parrot,
Listen to this and show me a way out, sister.
Cuckoo, cuckoo, sister cuckoo bird.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song expresses the poignant emotional turmoil and unspoken love of a young woman who confides her sorrow to birds in nature. She speaks to the cuckoo and parrot as her companions, sharing how the endearing term 'Athaan' remains choked in her throat, unable to be voiced aloud. She laments that while she easily cured the physical wounds of her beloved, the emotional wounds in her own heart remain unhealable because the person who caused her heart's illness does not know how to cure it. Restless and unable to sleep or eat, she reflects on how all her affectionate glances have failed to resolve her heartache. In her vulnerability, she asks the birds if they have any wisdom or new lessons to teach her to overcome her sorrow.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia & Apostrophe

“Kukkoo kukkoo kuyilakka”

The lyrics use bird sounds ('Kukkoo', 'Kiki') to personify nature ('kuyilakka', 'kiliyakka') as intimate female confidantes.

Antithesis / Contrast

“Avar udalil vilundha kaayangalai”

Contrasting physical wounds ('udalil vilundha kaayangalai') which were cured easily with emotional wounds ('manadhil vilundha kaayangalai') which have no cure.

Paradox

“Noiyai kodutha manidharkku / Marundhu kodukka theriyalai”

Highlighting the irony that the person who inflicted the emotional pain is incapable of providing its remedy.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

“Idhai kobam illamal kelakka”

The repetitive suffix '-akka' across stanza lines creates a melodic and rhythmic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Addressing birds like the cuckoo (Kuyil) and parrot (Kili) as messengers or confidantes is a celebrated poetic convention in classical Tamil literature known as 'Thoodu' (messenger poetry). Kannadasan effectively adapted this Sangam-era trope into modern film lyricism, complemented by K. V. Mahadevan's gentle melody and P. Susheela's emotive voice.

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