Kuyilaga Naan
From Selva Magal · 1967
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Suseela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Selva Magal1967
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kuyilaaga naan irundhenna | What is the point of me being a cuckoo bird, |
| Kuralaaga nee varavendum | You must come as my voice. |
| Paataga naan irunthenna | What is the point of me being a song, |
| Porulaaga nee vara vendum | You must come as its meaning. |
| Vara vendum….. | You must come... |
| Female | |
| Kuyilaaga naan irundhenna | What is the point of me being a cuckoo bird, |
| Kuralaaga nee varavendum | You must come as my voice. |
| Paataga naan irunthenna | What is the point of me being a song, |
| Porulaaga nee vara vendum | You must come as its meaning. |
| Vara vendum….. | You must come... |
| Male | |
| Paatodu porul irunthenna | What is the point of having both song and meaning, |
| Arangayrum naal vara vendum….. | The day of performance on stage must arrive... |
| Unnodu azhagirunthenna | What is the point of beauty residing with you, |
| Ennodu nee vara vendum | You must come together with me. |
| Vara vendum….. | You must come... |
| Male | |
| Paatodu porul irunthenna | What is the point of having both song and meaning, |
| Arangayrum naal vara vendum….. | The day of performance on stage must arrive... |
| Unnodu azhagirunthenna | What is the point of beauty residing with you, |
| Ennodu nee vara vendum | You must come together with me. |
| Vara vendum….. | You must come... |
| Female | |
| Senthaazhai koonthalilay | With fragrant screw-pine flowers in her hair, |
| Senthooram netriyilay | With vermilion on her forehead, |
| Sevaazhai pandhal theydi | Seeking the pavilion decorated with red bananas, |
| Mangai varuvaal | The young maiden will arrive. |
| Male | |
| Kalyana melam kotta | As the wedding drums beat, |
| Kann paarvai thaalam thatta | As the glance of the eyes beats the rhythm, |
| Penpaavai maalai soodum | Adorning the doll-like maiden with a garland, |
| Mannan varuvaan | The kingly groom will arrive. |
| Male | |
| Paatodu porul irunthenna | What is the point of having both song and meaning, |
| Arangayrum naal vara vendum….. | The day of performance on stage must arrive... |
| Unnodu azhagirunthenna | What is the point of beauty residing with you, |
| Ennodu nee vara vendum | You must come together with me. |
| Vara vendum….. | You must come... |
| Female | |
| Kuyilaaga naan irundhenna | What is the point of me being a cuckoo bird, |
| Kuralaaga nee varavendum | You must come as my voice. |
| Paataga naan irunthenna | What is the point of me being a song, |
| Porulaaga nee vara vendum | You must come as its meaning. |
| Vara vendum….. | You must come... |
| Male | |
| Ponmayni ther aasaya | Desiring the golden-bodied chariot, |
| En maeni thaangi vara | As my body comes to support it, |
| Ondrodu ondraai koodum | To unite as one together, |
| Kaalam allava | Isn't this the right time? |
| Female | |
| Nill endru naanam solla | While shyness says 'Stop', |
| Sel endru aasai thalla | While desire pushes saying 'Go', |
| Nenjodu nenjam paadum | Shall I sing the song, |
| Paadal sollavo | That heart sings to heart? |
| Female | |
| Kuyilaaga naan irundhenna | What is the point of me being a cuckoo bird, |
| Kuralaaga nee varavendum | You must come as my voice. |
| Paataga naan irunthenna | What is the point of me being a song, |
| Porulaaga nee vara vendum | You must come as its meaning. |
| Vara vendum….. | You must come... |
குயிலாக நான் இருந்தென்ன
குரலாக நீ வரவேண்டும்
பாட்டாக நான் இருந்தென்ன
பொருளாக நீ வர வேண்டும்
வர வேண்டும்.....
What is the point of me being a cuckoo bird,
You must come as my voice.
What is the point of me being a song,
You must come as its meaning.
You must come...
குயிலாக நான் இருந்தென்ன
குரலாக நீ வரவேண்டும்
பாட்டாக நான் இருந்தென்ன
பொருளாக நீ வர வேண்டும்
வர வேண்டும்......
What is the point of me being a cuckoo bird,
You must come as my voice.
What is the point of me being a song,
You must come as its meaning.
You must come...
பாட்டோடு பொருள் இருந்தென்ன
அரங்கேறும் நாள் வர வேண்டும்
உன்னோடு அழகிருந்தென்ன
என்னோடு நீ வரவேண்டும் வரவேண்டும்
What is the point of having both song and meaning,
The day of performance on stage must arrive...
What is the point of beauty residing with you,
You must come together with me.
You must come...
பாட்டோடு பொருள் இருந்தென்ன
அரங்கேறும் நாள் வர வேண்டும்
உன்னோடு அழகிருந்தென்ன
என்னோடு நீ வரவேண்டும் வரவேண்டும்
What is the point of having both song and meaning,
The day of performance on stage must arrive...
What is the point of beauty residing with you,
You must come together with me.
You must come...
செந்தாழை கூந்தலிலே
செந்தூரம் நெற்றியிலே
செவ்வாழை பந்தல் தேடி மங்கை வருவாள்
With fragrant screw-pine flowers in her hair,
With vermilion on her forehead,
Seeking the pavilion decorated with red bananas,
The young maiden will arrive.
கல்யாண மேளம் கொட்ட
கண்பார்வை தாளம் தட்ட
பெண் பாவை மாலை சூடும்
மன்னன் வருவான்
As the wedding drums beat,
As the glance of the eyes beats the rhythm,
Adorning the doll-like maiden with a garland,
The kingly groom will arrive.
பாட்டோடு பொருள் இருந்தென்ன
அரங்கேறும் நாள் வர வேண்டும்
உன்னோடு அழகிருந்தென்ன
என்னோடு நீ வரவேண்டும் வரவேண்டும்
What is the point of having both song and meaning,
The day of performance on stage must arrive...
What is the point of beauty residing with you,
You must come together with me.
You must come...
குயிலாக நான் இருந்தென்ன
குரலாக நீ வரவேண்டும்
பாட்டாக நான் இருந்தென்ன
பொருளாக நீ வர வேண்டும் வர வேண்டும்
What is the point of me being a cuckoo bird,
You must come as my voice.
What is the point of me being a song,
You must come as its meaning.
You must come...
பொன்மேனி தேர் அசைய
என் மேனி தாங்கிவர
ஒன்றோடு ஒன்றாய் கூடும் காலமல்லவா
Desiring the golden-bodied chariot,
As my body comes to support it,
To unite as one together,
Isn't this the right time?
நில் என்று நாணம் சொல்ல
செல் என்று ஆசை தள்ள
நெஞ்சோடு நெஞ்சம் பாடும் பாடல் சொல்லவோ
While shyness says 'Stop',
While desire pushes saying 'Go',
Shall I sing the song,
That heart sings to heart?
குயிலாக நான் இருந்தென்ன
குரலாக நீ வரவேண்டும்
பாட்டாக நான் இருந்தென்ன
பொருளாக நீ வர வேண்டும் வர வேண்டும்
What is the point of me being a cuckoo bird,
You must come as my voice.
What is the point of me being a song,
You must come as its meaning.
You must come...
Kuyilaaga naan irundhenna
What is the point of me being a cuckoo bird,
Kuralaaga nee varavendum
You must come as my voice.
Paataga naan irunthenna
What is the point of me being a song,
Porulaaga nee vara vendum
You must come as its meaning.
Vara vendum…..
You must come...
Kuyilaaga naan irundhenna
What is the point of me being a cuckoo bird,
Kuralaaga nee varavendum
You must come as my voice.
Paataga naan irunthenna
What is the point of me being a song,
Porulaaga nee vara vendum
You must come as its meaning.
Vara vendum…..
You must come...
Paatodu porul irunthenna
What is the point of having both song and meaning,
Arangayrum naal vara vendum…..
The day of performance on stage must arrive...
Unnodu azhagirunthenna
What is the point of beauty residing with you,
Ennodu nee vara vendum
You must come together with me.
Vara vendum…..
You must come...
Paatodu porul irunthenna
What is the point of having both song and meaning,
Arangayrum naal vara vendum…..
The day of performance on stage must arrive...
Unnodu azhagirunthenna
What is the point of beauty residing with you,
Ennodu nee vara vendum
You must come together with me.
Vara vendum…..
You must come...
Senthaazhai koonthalilay
With fragrant screw-pine flowers in her hair,
Senthooram netriyilay
With vermilion on her forehead,
Sevaazhai pandhal theydi
Seeking the pavilion decorated with red bananas,
Mangai varuvaal
The young maiden will arrive.
Kalyana melam kotta
As the wedding drums beat,
Kann paarvai thaalam thatta
As the glance of the eyes beats the rhythm,
Penpaavai maalai soodum
Adorning the doll-like maiden with a garland,
Mannan varuvaan
The kingly groom will arrive.
Paatodu porul irunthenna
What is the point of having both song and meaning,
Arangayrum naal vara vendum…..
The day of performance on stage must arrive...
Unnodu azhagirunthenna
What is the point of beauty residing with you,
Ennodu nee vara vendum
You must come together with me.
Vara vendum…..
You must come...
Kuyilaaga naan irundhenna
What is the point of me being a cuckoo bird,
Kuralaaga nee varavendum
You must come as my voice.
Paataga naan irunthenna
What is the point of me being a song,
Porulaaga nee vara vendum
You must come as its meaning.
Vara vendum…..
You must come...
Ponmayni ther aasaya
Desiring the golden-bodied chariot,
En maeni thaangi vara
As my body comes to support it,
Ondrodu ondraai koodum
To unite as one together,
Kaalam allava
Isn't this the right time?
Nill endru naanam solla
While shyness says 'Stop',
Sel endru aasai thalla
While desire pushes saying 'Go',
Nenjodu nenjam paadum
Shall I sing the song,
Paadal sollavo
That heart sings to heart?
Kuyilaaga naan irundhenna
What is the point of me being a cuckoo bird,
Kuralaaga nee varavendum
You must come as my voice.
Paataga naan irunthenna
What is the point of me being a song,
Porulaaga nee vara vendum
You must come as its meaning.
Vara vendum…..
You must come...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'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.
Keep listening
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