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Kadhal Oviyam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kuyile Kuyile

From Kadhal Oviyam · 1982

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Kadhal Oviyam
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
2 Sept 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kuyilae kuyilae
Undhan geedhangal ketkaatho
Kuyilae kuyilae
Undhan geedhangal ketkaatho
Kuyilae kuyilae
Undhan geedhangal ketkaatho
Uyirae uravae
Andha kaalangal vaaratho
Kuyilae kuyilae
Undhan geedhangal ketkaatho
Aaaa….aaa….aaa…
{Vaanaththu nilavai thannerilae
Siraivaitha kadhai than
Un kadhaiyae} (2)
Vizhigal irundhum
Unai kaanamal sugam yethu
Azagae malarae varuvaaiyaa
Female :Aaa….aaa….
Kuyilae kuyilae
Undhan geedhangal ketkaatho
Seerkonda kavithai
Kalaindhadhamma
Naan kanda kanavum
Maranindhadhamma
Seerkonda kavithai
Kalaindhadhamma
Naan kanda kanavum
Maranindhadhamma
Salangai isayai
Naan ketkindra kaalam yethu
Female :Ninaivil unai naan
Marapena…aa…
Aaa…..aaa….
Kuyilae kuyilae
Undhan geedhangal ketkaatho
Uyirae uravae
Andha kaalangal vaaratho
Kuyilae kuyilae
Undhan geedhangal ketkaatho
O cuckoo, o cuckoo,
won't I hear your songs?
O cuckoo, o cuckoo,
won't I hear your songs?
O cuckoo, o cuckoo,
won't I hear your songs?
My life, my beloved,
won't those days return?
O cuckoo, o cuckoo,
won't I hear your songs?
Aaa... Aaa... Aaa...
{Like trapping the moon of the sky
inside the water,
such is your story} (2)
Even with eyes to see,
what joy is there without seeing you?
My beauty, my flower, will you come?
Female: Aaa... Aaa...
O cuckoo, o cuckoo,
won't I hear your songs?
A graceful poem
has fallen apart, my love,
and the dream I had
has vanished away.
A graceful poem
has fallen apart, my love,
and the dream I had
has vanished away.
The music of your ankle bells,
when will the time come for me to hear it?
Female: In my thoughts, could I ever
forget you... ah...
Aaa... Aaa...
O cuckoo, o cuckoo,
won't I hear your songs?
My life, my beloved,
won't those days return?
O cuckoo, o cuckoo,
won't I hear your songs?
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Kuyilae Kuyilae' from the movie Kadhal Oviyam expresses deep grief, nostalgia, and yearning for a lost lover. The protagonist metaphorically addresses his beloved as a sweet cuckoo bird, pleading to hear her songs and see her return. He compares her elusive, tragic life to an impossible attempt to capture the moon's reflection in water. He laments how a beautifully structured poem of life has dissolved and how the bright dreams they once shared have vanished into thin air. He eagerly awaits the day he can hear her dancing anklets again, while she emotionally questions if she could ever forget him.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Apostrophe / Metaphor

“Kuyilae kuyilae Undhan geedhangal ketkaatho”

Addressing the beloved metaphorically as 'Kuyil' (cuckoo bird) to symbolize music, gentleness, and beauty.

Visual Imagery & Metaphor

“{Vaanaththu nilavai thannerilae Siraivaitha kadhai than Un kadhaiyae}”

Comparing the tragic futility of her situation to capturing the moon's reflection trapped inside water.

Ethukai (Tamil Second-Letter Rhyme)

“Seerkonda kavithai / Naan kanda kanavum”

Matching the second consonant sound across consecutive stanzas ('rk' sound in Seerkonda and 'nk' sound in Naan kanda).

Did you know?

Trivia

Kadhal Oviyam (1982) is a classic Tamil musical drama directed by Bharathiraja with a celebrated soundtrack composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. The story revolves around a blind singer and a dancer, making musical elements like cuckoo songs (geedhangal) and anklets (salangai) core thematic motifs throughout the film's lyrics.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Kanne Kalaimaane (Sad)1982
Moondram PiraiLongingMelancholic
Kannamma Kanavillaiya2004
Vishwa ThulasiLongingSeparation
Yaar Azhuthu Yaar1991
Kannukkoru VannakiliSeparationGrief
Unnoduthaan Kanaavile Sad1998
KondattamLongingSeparation
Oru Raagam Sad1982
Aanandha RaagamLongingGrief
Vizhiyorathu Kanavum1981
Raaja PaarvaiSeparationGrief

From the same album

More songs from Kadhal Oviyam

View album
Sangeetha Jaathi Mullai1982
Kadhal OviyamMelancholic
Poojaikkaga Vazhum1982
Kadhal OviyamMournful
Amma Azhage1982
Kadhal OviyamDevotional
Naatham En Jeevanae1982
Kadhal OviyamDevotional
Nadhiyil Aadum1982
Kadhal OviyamRomantic
Poovil Vandu Koodum1982
Kadhal OviyamRomantic

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