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Selva Magal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kuyilaga Naan

From Selva Magal · 1967

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Suseela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Selva Magal
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
28 Jul 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kuyilaaga naan irundhenna
Kuralaaga nee varavendum
Paataga naan irunthenna
Porulaaga nee vara vendum
Vara vendum…..
Kuyilaaga naan irundhenna
Kuralaaga nee varavendum
Paataga naan irunthenna
Porulaaga nee vara vendum
Vara vendum…..
Paatodu porul irunthenna
Arangayrum naal vara vendum…..
Unnodu azhagirunthenna
Ennodu nee vara vendum
Vara vendum…..
Paatodu porul irunthenna
Arangayrum naal vara vendum…..
Unnodu azhagirunthenna
Ennodu nee vara vendum
Vara vendum…..
Senthaazhai koonthalilay
Senthooram netriyilay
Sevaazhai pandhal theydi
Mangai varuvaal
Kalyana melam kotta
Kann paarvai thaalam thatta
Penpaavai maalai soodum
Mannan varuvaan
Paatodu porul irunthenna
Arangayrum naal vara vendum…..
Unnodu azhagirunthenna
Ennodu nee vara vendum
Vara vendum…..
Kuyilaaga naan irundhenna
Kuralaaga nee varavendum
Paataga naan irunthenna
Porulaaga nee vara vendum
Vara vendum…..
Ponmayni ther aasaya
En maeni thaangi vara
Ondrodu ondraai koodum
Kaalam allava
Nill endru naanam solla
Sel endru aasai thalla
Nenjodu nenjam paadum
Paadal sollavo
Kuyilaaga naan irundhenna
Kuralaaga nee varavendum
Paataga naan irunthenna
Porulaaga nee vara vendum
Vara vendum…..
What good is it if I am a cuckoo?
You must come as my voice.
What good is it if I am a song?
You must come as its meaning.
You must come...
What good is it if I am a cuckoo?
You must come as my voice.
What good is it if I am a song?
You must come as its meaning.
You must come...
What good is a song having meaning?
The day to perform it on stage must arrive...
What good is all your beauty?
You must come along with me.
You must come...
What good is a song having meaning?
The day to perform it on stage must arrive...
What good is all your beauty?
You must come along with me.
You must come...
With fragrant screw-pine flowers in her hair,
and red kumkum on her forehead,
seeking the red-banana wedding canopy,
the bride will come.
As the wedding drums beat,
and gazing eyes keep the rhythm,
to place the garland on his bride,
the groom will come.
What good is a song having meaning?
The day to perform it on stage must arrive...
What good is all your beauty?
You must come along with me.
You must come...
What good is it if I am a cuckoo?
You must come as my voice.
What good is it if I am a song?
You must come as its meaning.
You must come...
As your golden body sways like a chariot,
and my body holds you close,
isn't this the time
for us to unite as one?
While shyness tells me to stop,
and desire pushes me forward,
shall I sing the song
that heart sings to heart?
What good is it if I am a cuckoo?
You must come as my voice.
What good is it if I am a song?
You must come as its meaning.
You must come...
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Kuyilaaga Naan Irundhenna' is a classic duet from the 1967 Tamil film Selva Magal, penned by Vaali. The song uses poetic allegories from music and nature to express romantic completeness. The narrator reflects that a song is meaningless without its depth of lyric and a bird is incomplete without its melody, comparing these elements to how the lovers complete each other's existence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Metaphor / Analogy)

Paataga naan irunthenna / Porulaaga nee vara vendum

Compares the lovers to inseparable pairs: a cuckoo and its voice, a song and its inner meaning, emphasizing mutual necessity.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Senthaazhai koonthalilay / Senthooram netriyilay

The second consonant 'n' (ன்) rhymes across consecutive lines, creating a pleasing rhythmic cadence.

Monai (First-letter Alliteration)

Kalyana melam kotta / Kann paarvai thaalam thatta

The initial 'K' sound repeats across words in the line for musicality.

Maranjural / Contrast (Internal Conflict)

Nill endru naanam solla / Sel endru aasai thalla

Presents opposing emotions experienced in love—shyness telling one to stop versus desire urging one forward.

Did you know?

Trivia

Selva Magal (1967) starred Jaishankar and Rajasree in the lead roles. The music for this film was composed by B. Gopalam, and this popular romantic duet was rendered by legendary playback singers T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela with lyrics by Vaali.

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