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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kuyilukku Koo Koo Koovida

From Friends · 2001

Lyricist
Pazhani Bharathi
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Friends2001

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kuyilukku yaaraavudhuWould anyone teach a cuckoo bird...
Paattu sollik koduppaangalaa...how to sing a song?
Naanum en friends-um serndhaaIf me and my friends come together,
Kuyilukku paattu sollikkoduppomWe will teach the cuckoo how to sing!
Mayilukku aadavum kathukkoduppom (Dialogue)We will also teach the peacock how to dance! (Dialogue)
Chorus
Oooolululululu…Oooolululululu…
Yaee….Yae…
Sirikkum kadalula seraTo join the smiling sea,
Muththu sedharudhuPearls scatter.
Yae yaeyae yae yaeYae yaeyae yae yae
Chorus
Virikkum valaiyilaeIn the net spread out,
Manasellaam ViriyudhuThe heart expands completely.
Yae yaeyae yae yaeYae yaeyae yae yae
Chorus
Soththukku paadu padumFor the poor who labor for food,
Ezhaikkonnum illai illaiThere is no worry or sadness.
Sogamaai iruppadhukkuTo remain in sorrow,
Paadunaa thollai illaiIf we sing, there is no trouble.
Kaigalai kotti kottiClap your hands together,
Suththi suththi gummi adiSpin around and dance the gummi!
Yae yaeyae yae yaeYae yaeyae yae yae
Male
Kuyilukku koo koo koovidaTo teach the cuckoo how to coo 'koo koo',
SollikkoduppomWe will teach it!
Ada aamaa…Oh yes, indeed...
Mayilukku thai thai thaalangalRhythms for the peacock to dance 'thai thai',
SollikkoduppomWe will teach it!
Ada aamaa…Oh yes, indeed...
Male
Nadhi nadandhu nadai pazhagiThe river walked, learned its gait,
Kadaludan kalandhadhu inneramAnd merged with the sea by this time.
Kadandhadhellaam marandhuvittuForgetting everything of the past,
Alaikadal isaiyinil vilaiyaadumIt plays in the music of the ocean waves.
Male
Neerai pirindhaalumEven if separated from water,
Veraagi pogaadhuIt will not become different.
Inbam karaimeeraJoy overflows the shores,
Ini endrum kurayaadhuFrom now on, it will never diminish.
Male
Kuyilukku koo koo koovidaTo teach the cuckoo how to coo 'koo koo',
SollikkoduppomWe will teach it!
Chorus :Ada aamaa…Chorus: Oh yes, indeed...
Male :Mayilukku thai thai thaalangalMale: Rhythms for the peacock to dance 'thai thai',
SollikkoduppomWe will teach it!
Chorus :Ada aamaa…Chorus: Oh yes, indeed...
Male
Nilavu valarumThe moon grows,
Malarndhu thalarumIt blooms and wanes,
Anbil yedhu theipiraiWhere is the waning phase in love?
Anbukkoru ellai illai kannamaaThere is no boundary for love, my dear!
Male
Malargal udhiraAs flowers drop,
Kilaiyil kudhikkumJumping from branch to branch,
Kurivukkendrum vidumuraiThe bird always enjoys a holiday,
Kollai inbam natpil undu kannamaaBountiful happiness resides in friendship, my dear!
Male
Vaanil thiranda megathin minnalThe lightning in the clouds gathered in the sky,
Vaanai kizhikkaadhuWill not tear the sky apart.
Engal idaiyil yaar vandha podhumNo matter who comes between us,
Nenjam piriyaadhuOur hearts will never separate.
Thuyar ponadhu netroduSorrow ended yesterday;
Ini endrum aanandham kondaaduCelebrate happiness forever from now on!
Male
Kuyilukku koo koo koovidaTo teach the cuckoo how to coo 'koo koo',
SollikkoduppomWe will teach it!
Chorus :Ada aamaa…Chorus: Oh yes, indeed...
Male :Mayilukku thai thai thaalangalMale: Rhythms for the peacock to dance 'thai thai',
SollikkoduppomWe will teach it!
Chorus :Ada aamaa…Chorus: Oh yes, indeed...
Female
Achchu vellam pachcharisi choruMoulded jaggery and raw rice dish,
Chorus :Achchu vellam pachcharisi choruChorus: Moulded jaggery and raw rice dish,
Female :Karuppanchaaru thaen kalandhu paaruFemale: Mix sugarcane juice and honey and see,
Chorus :Karuppanchaaru thaen kalandhu paaruChorus: Mix sugarcane juice and honey and see,
Chorus
Aadi varum ammanodu thaeruThe chariot of Goddess coming with dance,
Ammanukku padayalonnu poduOffer a feast for the Goddess,
Oor sezhikka osandhu pogum peruOur reputation will rise so the village prospers!
Oohh… oohhh… oooohhhh…Oohh… oohhh… oooohhhh…
Male
Idhaya vayalilIn the field of the heart,
Kulirndha kaattruA cool breeze,
Inikka inikka veesudhaeBlows sweetly and sweetly!
Vinnai thoda rakkaikkodu kuyilaeGive wings to touch the sky, oh cuckoo bird!
Male
Iravu muzhudhumAll night long,
Simittum vinmeenThe twinkling star,
Sirippu kadhaigal pesudhaeSpeaks smiling stories!
Pakkam vandhu ennai thodu mughilaeCome close and touch me, oh cloud!
Male
Jenmam nooru endraana podhumEven if a hundred lifetimes pass,
Serndhu pirappomaeWe will be born together!
Thalaiyil vaanam vizhugindra podhumEven if the sky falls upon our heads,
Thuyaram marappomaeWe will forget our sorrow!
Thuyar ponadhu netroduSorrow ended yesterday;
Ini endrum aanandham kondaaduCelebrate happiness forever from now on!
Male
Kuyilukku kooTo the cuckoo, koo...
Female :Koo koovidaFemale: ...to coo 'koo',
Male :SollikkoduppomMale: We will teach it!
Ada aamaa…Oh yes, indeed...
Mayilukku thaiTo the peacock, thai...
Female :Thai thaalangalFemale: ...'thai' rhythm,
Male :SollikkoduppomMale: We will teach it!
Ada aamaa…Oh yes, indeed...
Male
Nadhi nadandhu nadai pazhagiThe river walked, learned its gait,
Kadaludan kalandhadhu inneramAnd merged with the sea by this time.
Kadandhadhellaam marandhuvittuForgetting everything of the past,
Alaikadal isaiyinil vilaiyaadumIt plays in the music of the ocean waves.
Male
Neerai pirindhaalumEven if separated from water,
Veraagi pogaadhuIt will not become different.
Inbam karaimeeraJoy overflows the shores,
Ini endrum kurayaadhuFrom now on, it will never diminish.
Male
{Kuyilukku koo{To the cuckoo, koo...
Female :Koo koovidaFemale: ...to coo 'koo',
Male :SollikkoduppomMale: We will teach it!
Chorus :Ada aamaa…Chorus: Oh yes, indeed...
Male :Mayilukku thaiMale: To the peacock, thai...
Female :Thai thaalangalFemale: ...'thai' rhythm,
Male :SollikkoduppomMale: We will teach it!
Chorus :Ada aamaa…} (2)Chorus: Oh yes, indeed...} (2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Kuyilukku Yaaraavudhu' is a joyful, celebratory track from the movie 'Friends' (2001) composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The song celebrates deep friendship, rural festivities, and carefree happiness. Through playful metaphors—such as teaching a cuckoo bird to sing or a peacock to dance—the lyrics emphasize the irrepressible joy and bond shared between true friends.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Hyperbole

Kuyilukku paattu sollikkoduppom / Mayilukku aadavum kathukkoduppom

Suggesting that friends can teach nature's master performers (cuckoos and peacocks) how to sing and dance exaggerates their boundless cheer.

Analogy

Nadhi nadandhu nadai pazhagi / Kadaludan kalandhadhu inneram

Compares friendship and love to a river merging into the ocean, signifying unity that forgets past trials.

Contrast / Antithesis

Anbil yedhu theipirai / Anbukkoru ellai illai kannamaa

Contrasts the waning moon with true love/friendship, which has no waning phase or boundaries.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Pazhani Bharathi, this track from the 2001 blockbuster film 'Friends' (starring Vijay, Suriya, and Ramesh Aravind) captures the lighthearted camaraderie of the lead characters during village festivities.

Keep listening

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