Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Kaalaiyum Neeye Maalaiyum Neeye album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kukkukkoo Ena Koovum

From Kaalaiyum Neeye Maalaiyum Neeye · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Devendran
Movie name
Kaalaiyum Neeye Maalaiyum Neeye
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
26 Feb 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kukkoo….
Kukkoo ena koovum kuyilosai
Thiththikkum en kannan kuzhalosai
Naalum naalum kettu en thegam vaadinaen
Kadhal radhai naanum kuyilaaga paadinaen
Koodum kaalam serum neram
Engae endru ninainthu ninainthu
Kukkoo ena koovum kuyilosai
Naalum naalum kettaal un thegam vaadumo
Kadhal radhai paadum kuyilosai ketkumo
Koodum kaalam serum neram
Engae endru ninainthu ninainthu
Kukkoo en koovum kuyilosai…..
Unnodu naan sera urakkamillai
Kannaa en mael yaeno irakkamillai
Unnodu naan sera urakkamillai
Kannaa en mael yaeno irakkamillai
Palliyaraikku poojai naan podavaa
Alli anaikka anbae en koodavaa
Ullavaraikkum alli vazhakku
Vellam anai thaandaathu vittuvidakoodaathu
Kukkoo en koovum kuyilosai…..
Aa aa aa….
Female :Aa aa aa….
Male :Aa aa aahaa aahaa….
Female :Aa aa aa aa….
Nilavukku nee enna ilaiyavalo
En nilavaram theriyatha pudhiyavalo
Nilavukku nee enna ilaiyavalo
En nilavaram theriyatha pudhiyavalo
Thalaivanai naan nenjil thaalaattuvaen
Thaniyidaththil unnai paaraattuven
Male :Kottum aruvi…….thottu thazhuvi
Patta idaththil indru…..katti anaiththae paadum
Kukkoo ena koovum kuyilosai
Female :Thiththikkum en kannan kuzhalosai
Male :Naalum naalum kettaal en thegam vaadumo
Kadhal radhai naanum kuyilaaga paadinaen
Koodum kaalam serum neram
Engae endru ninainthu ninainthu
Kukkoo ena koovum kuyilosai
Male :Thiththikkum un kannan kuzhalosai
Cuckoo...
The cooing call of the cuckoo bird
Is like the sweet melody of my Kannan's flute.
Listening to it day after day, my body pines for you.
Like your loving Radha, I too sang like a cuckoo.
When will the time come for us to unite?
Wondering where and when, thinking of it again and again...
The cooing call of the cuckoo bird...
If you listen day after day, will your body pine away?
Can you hear the cuckoo song sung by loving Radha?
When will the time come for us to unite?
Wondering where and when, thinking of it again and again...
The cooing call of the cuckoo bird...
Longing to be with you, I cannot sleep.
Oh Kannan, why do you show no mercy to me?
Longing to be with you, I cannot sleep.
Oh Kannan, why do you show no mercy to me?
Shall I prepare our bedroom for a night of love?
Come with me, my darling, to hold me tight in your arms!
Give and share all the love in your heart,
This rushing flood won't break the dam, so don't hold back!
The cooing call of the cuckoo bird...
Aa... aa... aa...
Female: Aa... aa... aa...
Male: Aa... aa... aaha... aaha...
Female: Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Are you a younger sister to the moon?
Or a newcomer unaware of what I am going through?
Are you a younger sister to the moon?
Or a newcomer unaware of what I am going through?
I will cradle my beloved in my heart like a lullaby,
And pamper you with love in our secret place.
Male: Like a cascading waterfall touching and caressing,
Wherever it touches today, it embraces tight and sings...
The cooing call of the cuckoo bird...
Female: Is like the sweet melody of my Kannan's flute.
Male: If I hear it day after day, will my body pine away?
Like your loving Radha, I too sang like a cuckoo.
When will the time come for us to unite?
Wondering where and when, thinking of it again and again...
The cooing call of the cuckoo bird...
Male: Is like the sweet melody of your Kannan's flute.
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Kaalaiyum Neeye Maalaiyum Neeye

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.