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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kuyile Kuyile Duet

From En Bommakutty Ammavukku · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
En Bommakutty Ammavukku1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kuyilae kuyilae kuyilakkaaO cuckoo, cuckoo, sister cuckoo
Female 2 :Kuyilae kuyilae kuyilakkaaO cuckoo, cuckoo, sister cuckoo
Female
Koottukkullae yaarakkaaWho is inside the nest, sister?
Female 2 :Koottukkullae yaarakkaaWho is inside the nest, sister?
Female
Kuyilae kuyilae kuyilakkaaO cuckoo, cuckoo, sister cuckoo
Koottukkullae yaarakkaaWho is inside the nest, sister?
Kuyilae kuyilae kuyilakkaaO cuckoo, cuckoo, sister cuckoo
Koottukkullae yaarakkaaWho is inside the nest, sister?
Solladi solladi munnaeTell me, tell me up front
En sundhara senthamizh pennaeMy beautiful, classic Tamil maiden
Mellisai paadadi kannaeSing a soft melody, my dear
En muthu muthu pasum ponnaeMy pearl-like, pure golden girl
Female
Kuyilae kuyilae kuyilakkaaO cuckoo, cuckoo, sister cuckoo
Koottukkullae yaarakkaaWho is inside the nest, sister?
Kuyilae kuyilae…O cuckoo, cuckoo...
Female
{Kaatru vandhu meetti vidumThe wind comes and strums notes
Aatril pala nooru swaramCreating hundreds of musical notes in the river
Male :Kettu ilam kaadhal manamHearing this, the young loving heart
Vaanam varai yeri varum} (2)Soars all the way up to the sky
Female
Onnaa rendaa sangeethamMusic is not just one or two notes
Kandaal sugam undaagumExperiencing it brings pure bliss
Male :Undhan isai poovaagumYour music turns into a flower
Endhan manam vandaagumAnd my heart becomes a bee
Female
Kanmani pennaeMy precious darling maiden
Male :Vandhidu munnaeCome forward to me
Female :Kanmani pennae paaradiyoMy darling girl, look at me
En nilai konjam keladiyoListen a bit to my state of mind
Indru varai unnai vittaalUntil today, apart from you
En thunai yaaradiyoWho else is my true companion?
Female
Kuyilae kuyilae kuyilakkaaO cuckoo, cuckoo, sister cuckoo
Koottukkullae yaarakkaaWho is inside the nest, sister?
Kuyilae kuyilae…O cuckoo, cuckoo...
Male
{Raagam thottu maalai kattiWeaving a garland out of musical ragas
Thollil dhinam pottu vaippenI will place it on your shoulders every day
Female :Thaalam thatti nenjukkullaeTapping the rhythm inside my heart
Naanum unnai pootti vaippen} (2)I will lock you safely within me
Male
Paadum kuyil paattellaamAll the songs sung by the cuckoo bird
Paavai kural pol yedhuCannot match the voice of this maiden
Female :Naalum isai kettaalaeIf one listens to music daily
Male :Dhaagam pasi thonaadhuNeither thirst nor hunger will ever arise
Male
Kukkukku kukkooKukkukku kukkoo
Female :Mettu kalandhuBlending with the tune
Male :Sonnadhu enna raagathilaeIn what raga did you speak to me?
Sokki vizhundhen mogathilaeI fell mesmerized in passion
Kan maniyae pon maniyaeMy precious gem, my golden treasure
En ullam sorgatthilaeMy heart resides in heaven
Female
Kuyilae kuyilae kuyilakkaaO cuckoo, cuckoo, sister cuckoo
Koottukkullae yaarakkaaWho is inside the nest, sister?
Male :Solladi solladi munnaeTell me, tell me up front
Female :En sundhara senthamizh pennaeMy beautiful, classic Tamil maiden
Male :Mellisai paadadi kannaeSing a soft melody, my dear
Female :En muthu muthu pasum ponnaeMy pearl-like, pure golden girl

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Kuyilae Kuyilae' is a playful and joyful duet celebrating love, nature, and the heavenly bliss of music. The lovers address a cuckoo bird as a sister and confidante, using nature as a metaphor for their emerging romantic feelings and musical connection. They express how music elevates the human spirit beyond physical needs like hunger or thirst.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Kuyilae kuyilae kuyilakkaa

Addressing the cuckoo bird as 'Kuyilakkaa' (sister cuckoo), treating the bird as a human confidante.

Metaphor

Undhan isai poovaagum / Endhan manam vandaagum

Comparing her music to a blooming flower ('poovaagum') and his yearning heart to a honeybee ('vandaagum').

Etugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kaatru vandhu meetti vidum / Aatril pala nooru swaram

Tamil poetic device where the second letter of consecutive lines match ('Kaatru' and 'Aatril').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Kuyilae Kuyilae' belongs to the 1988 Tamil feature film 'En Bommakutty Ammavukku', directed by Fazil. The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Gangai Amaran. The film was a remake of Fazil's own Malayalam blockbuster 'Ente Mamattukkuttiyammakku'.

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