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Isaimozhi
Vaimaye Vellum album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kuyil Paattu

From Vaimaye Vellum · 1997

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Krishnaraj, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Deva
Movie name
Vaimaye Vellum
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
19 Mar 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kukkukoo…..Kukkukoo
Kuyil paattu ketkkuthu
Kuyil paattai kulir kaattru
Seviyoram searkkuthu
Adi chinna manikkuyilae
Enthan sinthai mayanguthu paar
Intha sindhu padiththidaththaan
Ingu solli koduththathu yaar
Isai thaen vanthu thaen vanthu
Paayuthu paayuthu kuyilae
Theemtha theemtha thiranaa thira
Theematha theematha thiranaa thira
Theemtha theemtha thiranaa thira theem thira
Theematha theematha thiranaa thira
Theematha theematha thiranaa thira
Theemtha theemtha thiranaa thira theem
Theemtha theemtha thiranaa thira
Theematha theematha thiranaa thira
Theemtha theemtha thiranaa thira theem
Vinnai vittu
Nilaththil irangividum
Mannai thottu
Nadanam purinthidum
Thooral mazhai thuliyai
Theliththidum eera mugilae
Pachchai payil ulagil thazhaippathum
Pattamaram thirumpa kilaippathum
Thaagangalai nodiyil
Thanippathum ungal seiyalae
Entha verukkum neer vidum manathu
Ingu yaarukkum vaaippathu arithu
Ammammaa makkal thaagangal theernthida
Paadadi paadadi kuyilae
Theemtha theemtha thiranaa thira
Theematha theematha thiranaa thira
Theemtha theemtha thiranaa thira theem
Then pothigai
Madiyil piranthaval
Then madurai nagaril pugunthaval
Senthamizhar unarvil kalanthaval
Thendral magalae
Unnai ingu thadukka mudiyumaa
Aanai ittu odukka mudiyumaa
Koottukkullae adaikka mudiyumaa
Sollu magalae
Theemtha theemtha thiranaa thira
Theematha theematha thiranaa thira
Theemtha theemtha thiranaa thira theem
Kukkukoo…..Kukkukoo
Kuyil paattu ketkkuthu
Kuyil paattai kulir kaattru
Seviyoram searkkuthu
Adi chinna manikkuyilae
Enthan sinthai mayanguthu paar
Intha sindhu padiththidaththaan
Ingu solli koduththathu yaar
Isai thaen vanthu thaen vanthu
Paayuthu paayuthu kuyilae
Theemtha theemtha thiranaa thira
Theematha theematha thiranaa thira
Theemtha theemtha thiranaa thira theem
Theemtha theemtha thiranaa thira
Theematha theematha thiranaa thira
Theemtha theemtha thiranaa thira theem
Cuckoo... cuckoo...
The cuckoo's song is heard,
and the cool breeze carries the cuckoo's song
gently to my ears.
Hey, little precious cuckoo,
look how my heart is enchanted!
To sing this lovely melody,
who taught you here?
Like sweet honey, the music
comes flowing and flowing, oh cuckoo!
Dheemtha dheemtha thirana thira
Dheematha dheematha thirana thira
Dheemtha dheemtha thirana thira dheem thira
Dheematha dheematha thirana thira
Dheematha dheematha thirana thira
Dheemtha dheemtha thirana thira dheem
Dheemtha dheemtha thirana thira
Dheematha dheematha thirana thira
Dheemtha dheemtha thirana thira dheem
Leaving the sky,
coming down to the earth,
touching the soil,
and dancing with joy,
sprinkling gentle drops of rain,
oh moist cloud!
Green crops flourishing across the earth,
a withered tree putting forth fresh branches,
and quenching every thirst in a moment—
these are all your doing!
A heart that pours water for every root
is rare to find in anyone here.
Oh, so that the people's thirst may be quenched,
sing, oh sing, little cuckoo!
Dheemtha dheemtha thirana thira
Dheematha dheematha thirana thira
Dheemtha dheemtha thirana thira dheem
Born in the lap
of the southern Podhigai hills,
entering the southern city of Madurai,
blending into the spirit of the Tamil people,
oh daughter of the gentle breeze!
Can anyone ever stop you here?
Can anyone command and suppress you?
Can anyone lock you inside a cage?
Tell me, oh daughter!
Dheemtha dheemtha thirana thira
Dheematha dheematha thirana thira
Dheemtha dheemtha thirana thira dheem
Cuckoo... cuckoo...
The cuckoo's song is heard,
and the cool breeze carries the cuckoo's song
gently to my ears.
Hey, little precious cuckoo,
look how my heart is enchanted!
To sing this lovely melody,
who taught you here?
Like sweet honey, the music
comes flowing and flowing, oh cuckoo!
Dheemtha dheemtha thirana thira
Dheematha dheematha thirana thira
Dheemtha dheemtha thirana thira dheem
Dheemtha dheemtha thirana thira
Dheematha dheematha thirana thira
Dheemtha dheemtha thirana thira dheem
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kuyil Paattu Ketkkuthu from Vaimaye Vellum (1997) is a joyful, nature-centric song that connects the sweetness of a cuckoo's voice and rain with the rich legacy of the Tamil language. The lyrics celebrate nature's unconditional generosity—how clouds bring rain to nourish crops and revive dead trees without expecting anything in return, drawing a parallel to noble souls who treat even foes with kindness. In the second verse, lyricist Vaali personifies the Tamil language and the southern breeze as a daughter born in the Pothigai mountains, nurtured in Madurai, and living in the hearts of Tamils. He asserts that true freedom, music, and language can never be caged or suppressed by decrees, celebrating artistic and linguistic freedom.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

“Isai thaen vanthu thaen vanthu”

Compares music directly to sweet flowing honey ('Isai thaen').

Personification (Thanithanmai Aakuthal)

“Then pothigai madiyil piranthaval... Thendral magalae”

Addresses the southern breeze/Tamil language as a daughter born in the Pothigai hills.

Monaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Pachchai payil ulagil thazhaippathum / Pattamaram thirumpa kilaippathum”

Repetition of the initial 'Pa' sound in consecutive words ('Pachchai', 'Pattamaram').

Anaphora (Adukku Thodar)

“Paayuthu paayuthu kuyilae”

Rhythmic repetition of 'Paayuthu' and 'Paadadi' for melodic emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Deva for the 1997 film Vaimaye Vellum, this song beautifully blends folk melody ('Sindhu' style) with rhythmic konnakol/solkattu syllables. Lyricist Vaali incorporates classical Sangam motifs—referencing the Pothigai mountains and the city of Madurai, traditionally revered as the cradles of Tamil language and literature.

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