Kukkukkoo Ena Koovum
From Kaalaiyum Neeye Maalaiyum Neeye · 1988
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Devendran
- Details
- Kaalaiyum Neeye Maalaiyum Neeye1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kukkoo…. | Cuckoo... |
| Kukkoo ena koovum kuyilosai | The sound of the cuckoo calling 'cuckoo', |
| Thiththikkum en kannan kuzhalosai | The sweet sound of my Kannan's flute, |
| Naalum naalum kettu en thegam vaadinaen | Listening day after day, my body withered, |
| Kadhal radhai naanum kuyilaaga paadinaen | As love's Radha, I sang like a cuckoo too. |
| Koodum kaalam serum neram | The time to unite, the hour to meet, |
| Engae endru ninainthu ninainthu | Thinking and wondering where it is, |
| Male | |
| Kukkoo ena koovum kuyilosai | The sound of the cuckoo calling 'cuckoo', |
| Naalum naalum kettaal un thegam vaadumo | If you listen day after day, will your body wither? |
| Kadhal radhai paadum kuyilosai ketkumo | Will you hear the song of the cuckoo sung by love's Radha? |
| Koodum kaalam serum neram | The time to unite, the hour to meet, |
| Engae endru ninainthu ninainthu | Thinking and wondering where it is, |
| Female | |
| Kukkoo en koovum kuyilosai….. | The sound of the cuckoo calling 'cuckoo'... |
| Female | |
| Unnodu naan sera urakkamillai | I have no sleep thinking of joining you, |
| Kannaa en mael yaeno irakkamillai | Oh Kannan, why do you have no mercy on me? |
| Unnodu naan sera urakkamillai | I have no sleep thinking of joining you, |
| Kannaa en mael yaeno irakkamillai | Oh Kannan, why do you have no mercy on me? |
| Male | |
| Palliyaraikku poojai naan podavaa | Shall I prepare the decor for the bedchamber? |
| Alli anaikka anbae en koodavaa | To embrace me tightly, my beloved, come with me, |
| Female | |
| Ullavaraikkum alli vazhakku | It is the custom to give generously as long as one has, |
| Vellam anai thaandaathu vittuvidakoodaathu | The flood will not overflow the dam, so do not let go. |
| Female | |
| Kukkoo en koovum kuyilosai….. | The sound of the cuckoo calling 'cuckoo'... |
| Male | |
| Aa aa aa…. | Aa aa aa.... |
| Female :Aa aa aa…. | Female: Aa aa aa.... |
| Male :Aa aa aahaa aahaa…. | Male: Aa aa aahaa aahaa.... |
| Female :Aa aa aa aa…. | Female: Aa aa aa aa.... |
| Male | |
| Nilavukku nee enna ilaiyavalo | Are you younger than the moon? |
| En nilavaram theriyatha pudhiyavalo | Or are you new and unaware of my condition? |
| Nilavukku nee enna ilaiyavalo | Are you younger than the moon? |
| En nilavaram theriyatha pudhiyavalo | Or are you new and unaware of my condition? |
| Female | |
| Thalaivanai naan nenjil thaalaattuvaen | I will lull my leader in my heart, |
| Thaniyidaththil unnai paaraattuven | I will praise you in a secluded place. |
| Male :Kottum aruvi…….thottu thazhuvi | Male: The gushing waterfall, gently touching and caressing, |
| Patta idaththil indru…..katti anaiththae paadum | Holding tightly today at the touched spot, it sings, |
| Male | |
| Kukkoo ena koovum kuyilosai | The sound of the cuckoo calling 'cuckoo', |
| Female :Thiththikkum en kannan kuzhalosai | Female: The sweet sound of my Kannan's flute, |
| Male :Naalum naalum kettaal en thegam vaadumo | Male: If you listen day after day, will my body wither? |
| Kadhal radhai naanum kuyilaaga paadinaen | I too sang like a cuckoo, as love's Radha, |
| Female | |
| Koodum kaalam serum neram | The time to unite, the hour to meet, |
| Engae endru ninainthu ninainthu | Thinking and wondering where it is, |
| Kukkoo ena koovum kuyilosai | The sound of the cuckoo calling 'cuckoo', |
| Male :Thiththikkum un kannan kuzhalosai | Male: The sweet sound of your Kannan's flute. |
குக்குக்கூ........
குக்குக்கூ என கூவும் குயிலோசை
தித்திக்கும் என் கண்ணன் குழலோசை
நாளும் நாளும் கேட்டு என் தேகம் வாடினேன்
காதல் ராதை நானும் குயிலாக பாடினேன்
கூடும் காலம் சேரும் நேரம்
எங்கே என்று நினைந்து நினைந்து
Cuckoo...
The sound of the cuckoo calling 'cuckoo',
The sweet sound of my Kannan's flute,
Listening day after day, my body withered,
As love's Radha, I sang like a cuckoo too.
The time to unite, the hour to meet,
Thinking and wondering where it is,
குக்குக்கூ என கூவும் குயிலோசை
நாளும் நாளும் கேட்டால் உன் தேகம் வாடுமோ
காதல் ராதை பாடும் குயிலோசை கேட்குமோ
கூடும் காலம் சேரும் நேரம்
எங்கே என்று நினைந்து நினைந்து
The sound of the cuckoo calling 'cuckoo',
If you listen day after day, will your body wither?
Will you hear the song of the cuckoo sung by love's Radha?
The time to unite, the hour to meet,
Thinking and wondering where it is,
குக்குக்கூ என கூவும் குயிலோசை.....
The sound of the cuckoo calling 'cuckoo'...
உன்னோடு நான் சேர உறக்கமில்லை
கண்ணா என் மேல் ஏனோ இரக்கமில்லை
உன்னோடு நான் சேர உறக்கமில்லை
கண்ணா என் மேல் ஏனோ இரக்கமில்லை
I have no sleep thinking of joining you,
Oh Kannan, why do you have no mercy on me?
I have no sleep thinking of joining you,
Oh Kannan, why do you have no mercy on me?
பள்ளியறைக்கு பூஜை நான் போடவா
அள்ளி அணைக்க அன்பே என் கூடவா
Shall I prepare the decor for the bedchamber?
To embrace me tightly, my beloved, come with me,
உள்ளவரைக்கும் அள்ளி வழங்கு
வெள்ளம் அணை தாண்டாது விட்டுவிட கூடாது
It is the custom to give generously as long as one has,
The flood will not overflow the dam, so do not let go.
குக்குக்கூ என கூவும் குயிலோசை.....
The sound of the cuckoo calling 'cuckoo'...
ஆ ஆ ஆ.....
ஆ ஆ ஆ.....
ஆ ஆ ஆஹா ஆஹா.....
ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ......
Aa aa aa....
Female: Aa aa aa....
Male: Aa aa aahaa aahaa....
Female: Aa aa aa aa....
நிலவுக்கு நீ என்ன இளையவளோ
என் நிலவரம் தெரியாத புதியவளோ
நிலவுக்கு நீ என்ன இளையவளோ
என் நிலவரம் தெரியாத புதியவளோ
Are you younger than the moon?
Or are you new and unaware of my condition?
Are you younger than the moon?
Or are you new and unaware of my condition?
தலைவனை நான் நெஞ்சில் தாலாட்டுவேன்
தனியிடத்தில் உன்னை பாராட்டுவேன்
கொட்டும் அருவி.......தொட்டு தழுவி..
பட்ட இடத்தில் இன்று.......கட்டி அணைத்தே பாடும்
I will lull my leader in my heart,
I will praise you in a secluded place.
Male: The gushing waterfall, gently touching and caressing,
Holding tightly today at the touched spot, it sings,
குக்குக்கூ என கூவும் குயிலோசை
தித்திக்கும் என் கண்ணன் குழலோசை
நாளும் நாளும் கேட்டால் உன் தேகம் வாடுமோ
காதல் ராதை பாடும் குயிலோசை கேட்குமோ
The sound of the cuckoo calling 'cuckoo',
Female: The sweet sound of my Kannan's flute,
Male: If you listen day after day, will my body wither?
I too sang like a cuckoo, as love's Radha,
கூடும் காலம் சேரும் நேரம்
எங்கே என்று நினைந்து நினைந்து
குக்குக்கூ என கூவும் குயிலோசை
தித்திக்கும் உன் கண்ணன் குழலோசை
The time to unite, the hour to meet,
Thinking and wondering where it is,
The sound of the cuckoo calling 'cuckoo',
Male: The sweet sound of your Kannan's flute.
Kukkoo….
Cuckoo...
Kukkoo ena koovum kuyilosai
The sound of the cuckoo calling 'cuckoo',
Thiththikkum en kannan kuzhalosai
The sweet sound of my Kannan's flute,
Naalum naalum kettu en thegam vaadinaen
Listening day after day, my body withered,
Kadhal radhai naanum kuyilaaga paadinaen
As love's Radha, I sang like a cuckoo too.
Koodum kaalam serum neram
The time to unite, the hour to meet,
Engae endru ninainthu ninainthu
Thinking and wondering where it is,
Kukkoo ena koovum kuyilosai
The sound of the cuckoo calling 'cuckoo',
Naalum naalum kettaal un thegam vaadumo
If you listen day after day, will your body wither?
Kadhal radhai paadum kuyilosai ketkumo
Will you hear the song of the cuckoo sung by love's Radha?
Koodum kaalam serum neram
The time to unite, the hour to meet,
Engae endru ninainthu ninainthu
Thinking and wondering where it is,
Kukkoo en koovum kuyilosai…..
The sound of the cuckoo calling 'cuckoo'...
Unnodu naan sera urakkamillai
I have no sleep thinking of joining you,
Kannaa en mael yaeno irakkamillai
Oh Kannan, why do you have no mercy on me?
Unnodu naan sera urakkamillai
I have no sleep thinking of joining you,
Kannaa en mael yaeno irakkamillai
Oh Kannan, why do you have no mercy on me?
Palliyaraikku poojai naan podavaa
Shall I prepare the decor for the bedchamber?
Alli anaikka anbae en koodavaa
To embrace me tightly, my beloved, come with me,
Ullavaraikkum alli vazhakku
It is the custom to give generously as long as one has,
Vellam anai thaandaathu vittuvidakoodaathu
The flood will not overflow the dam, so do not let go.
Kukkoo en koovum kuyilosai…..
The sound of the cuckoo calling 'cuckoo'...
Aa aa aa….
Aa aa aa....
Female :Aa aa aa….
Female: Aa aa aa....
Male :Aa aa aahaa aahaa….
Male: Aa aa aahaa aahaa....
Female :Aa aa aa aa….
Female: Aa aa aa aa....
Nilavukku nee enna ilaiyavalo
Are you younger than the moon?
En nilavaram theriyatha pudhiyavalo
Or are you new and unaware of my condition?
Nilavukku nee enna ilaiyavalo
Are you younger than the moon?
En nilavaram theriyatha pudhiyavalo
Or are you new and unaware of my condition?
Thalaivanai naan nenjil thaalaattuvaen
I will lull my leader in my heart,
Thaniyidaththil unnai paaraattuven
I will praise you in a secluded place.
Male :Kottum aruvi…….thottu thazhuvi
Male: The gushing waterfall, gently touching and caressing,
Patta idaththil indru…..katti anaiththae paadum
Holding tightly today at the touched spot, it sings,
Kukkoo ena koovum kuyilosai
The sound of the cuckoo calling 'cuckoo',
Female :Thiththikkum en kannan kuzhalosai
Female: The sweet sound of my Kannan's flute,
Male :Naalum naalum kettaal en thegam vaadumo
Male: If you listen day after day, will my body wither?
Kadhal radhai naanum kuyilaaga paadinaen
I too sang like a cuckoo, as love's Radha,
Koodum kaalam serum neram
The time to unite, the hour to meet,
Engae endru ninainthu ninainthu
Thinking and wondering where it is,
Kukkoo ena koovum kuyilosai
The sound of the cuckoo calling 'cuckoo',
Male :Thiththikkum un kannan kuzhalosai
Male: The sweet sound of your Kannan's flute.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This romantic track from the 1988 film Kaalaiyum Neeye Maalaiyum Neeye expresses deep romantic yearning and passionate love. The song portrays the heroine comparing herself to Radha waiting for Kannan (Krishna), using nature imagery like the cuckoo's call and the sound of the flute to depict her restless, sleepless state and yearning for union. The hero responds warmly, reassuring her of his love and admiring her beauty while drawing poetic parallels to moonlight and flowing streams.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Onomatopoeia
“Kukkoo ena koovum kuyilosai”
The word 'Kukkoo' mimics the natural sound of a cuckoo bird calling.
Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kukkoo ena koovum kuyilosai”
Repetition of the 'K' sound across 'Kukkoo', 'koovum', and 'kuyilosai' creates a melodic rhythmic flow.
Metaphor / Simile
“Kadhal radhai naanum kuyilaaga paadinaen”
The singer likens herself to Radha singing like a cuckoo bird in romantic devotion to Kannan.
Tactile Imagery
“Male :Kottum aruvi…….thottu thazhuvi”
Describes the sensory experience of a falling stream caressing and touching gently.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Devendran for the film directed by R. Sundarrajan, this romantic duet was penned by Vaali and performed by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki.
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