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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kuyilukkuppam

From En Uyir Thozhan · 1990

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
En Uyir Thozhan1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Hae… thandhaanaa naanaanaanaaHey... thandhaanaa naanaanaanaa
Thaanaanaanaa thaanaanaa thaanaanaaThaanaanaanaa thaanaanaa thaanaanaa
Thaanaanaa thaanaanaaThaanaanaa thaanaanaa
Thandhaanaa naanaanaanaaThandhaanaa naanaanaanaa
Thaanaanaanaa thaanaanaa thaanaanaaThaanaanaanaa thaanaanaa thaanaanaa
Thaanaanaa thaanaanaaThaanaanaa thaanaanaa
Chorus
Kuyilu kuppam kuyilu kuppamKuyilu Kuppam, Kuyilu Kuppam
Gopuram aanadhennaHow did it turn into a grand temple tower?
Manja veyilu pattu mann kudisaWhen touched by the golden sunlight, a mud hut
Maaligai aanadhennaHow did it turn into a grand palace?
Manasukkulla maayam ennaWhat is this illusion inside the heart?
Maayam senja kaayam ennaWhat is this wound created by magic?
Kaayam un kannu pattuTouched by your eyes, how did this wound
Pala kaaviyam aanadhennaTurn into many poetic epics?
Aayiram kambarasamA thousand sweet flavours of poetry
Ippa aarambam aanadhennaHow have they begun right now?
Male
Kuyilu kuppam kuyilu kuppamKuyilu Kuppam, Kuyilu Kuppam
Gopuram aanadhennaHow did it turn into a grand temple tower?
Female :Manja veyilu pattu mann kudisaFemale: When touched by the golden sunlight, a mud hut
Maaligai aanadhennaHow did it turn into a grand palace?
Male
Manasukkulla maayam ennaWhat is this illusion inside the heart?
Maayam senja kaayam ennaWhat is this wound created by magic?
Female :Kaayam un kannu pattuFemale: Touched by your eyes, how did this wound
Pala kaaviyam aanadhennaTurn into many poetic epics?
Male :Aayiram kambarasamMale: A thousand sweet flavours of poetry
Ippa aarambam aanadhennaHow have they begun right now?
Female
Kuyilu kuppam kuyilu kuppamKuyilu Kuppam, Kuyilu Kuppam
Gopuram aanadhennaHow did it turn into a grand temple tower?
Female
{Sammadham sonnaaIf consent is given,
Adhil sangadam ennaWhat distress could there be in that?
Onnukkul onnaaBecoming one within another,
Ippa vandhadhu enna} (2)What is this that has arrived now?
Male
Kaattoram maettoramBy the forest edge, by the ridge edge,
Paadum dhevaaramSings a divine hymn (Thevaram),
Kaiyoda kondaandhenI brought along with my hands
Mulla poovaaramA garland of jasmine flowers.
Female
Sittukkoru jodi ippaFor the little bird, a partner now
Saendhirukku thaediHas come together after searching,
Male
Ittu katti paadiComposing and singing songs,
Sogam yethum pala kodiChasing away sorrow in many millions.
Female
Muthirai ittu nithirai kettuSealed with a stamp, losing sleep,
Nikkidhunga vekka pattuThey stand overcome with bashfulness.
Male
Kuyilu kuppam kuyilu kuppamKuyilu Kuppam, Kuyilu Kuppam
Gopuram aanadhennaHow did it turn into a grand temple tower?
Female :Manja veyilu pattu mann kudisaFemale: When touched by the golden sunlight, a mud hut
Maaligai aanadhennaHow did it turn into a grand palace?
Chorus
Hmm mm mm mm mmmHmm mm mm mm mmm
Hmm mm mm mm mmmHmm mm mm mm mmm
Aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aa…Aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aa…
Aaaaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…Aaaaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…
Male
{Alli kudukkaTo give generously in heaps,
Nalla anbu irukkuThere is abundant love;
Solli kudukkaTo teach and guide,
Romba thembu irukku} (2)There is plenty of courage.
Female
Vachenae sindhooramI placed vermilion (sindhooram)
Machaan nenjoramBeside my beloved's heart,
Thandhenae achaaramI gave as an advance token
Kaadhal muthaaramA floral garland of love.
Male
Thottizhuthu paaruTouch and pull me close to see,
Idhu sondhamulla thaeruThis is a chariot of rightful belonging;
Female
Ingu vandhadhaaruWho has arrived here?
Ulla ennam enna kooruTell me what thought is inside your heart.
Male
Manjala kattu maalaiya kattuTie the turmeric thread, tie the garland,
Manmadhana thottukkittuEmbracing the God of Love (Manmadhan).
Female
Kuyilu kuppam kuyilu kuppamKuyilu Kuppam, Kuyilu Kuppam
Gopuram aanadhennaHow did it turn into a grand temple tower?
Male :Manja veyilu pattu mann kudisaMale: When touched by the golden sunlight, a mud hut
Maaligai aanadhennaHow did it turn into a grand palace?
Female
ManasukkullaChorus :Maayam ennaInside the heart... Chorus: What magic is this?
Female :Maayam senjaChorus :Kaayam ennaFemale: The magic created... Chorus: What wound is this?
Male :Kaayam un kannu pattuMale: Touched by your eyes, this wound,
Pala kaaviyam aanadhennaHow did it become many poetic epics?
Female :Aayiram kambarasamFemale: A thousand sweet flavours of poetry,
Ippa aarambam aanadhennaHow have they begun right now?
Chorus
Kuyilu kuppam kuyilu kuppamKuyilu Kuppam, Kuyilu Kuppam
Gopuram aanadhennaHow did it turn into a grand temple tower?
Manja veyilu pattu mann kudisaWhen touched by the golden sunlight, a mud hut
Maaligai aanadhennaHow did it turn into a grand palace?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This upbeat and romantic song celebrates love transforming humble surroundings into a majestic paradise. Using metaphors of a modest hamlet ('Kuyilu Kuppam') turning into a grand temple tower ('Gopuram') and a simple mud hut becoming a palace under golden sunlight, the song portrays how true affection elevates ordinary life into something sacred and extraordinary.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Manja veyilu pattu mann kudisa Maaligai aanadhenna

Compares a humble mud hut touched by golden light to a grand palace, representing how love beautifies mundane existence.

Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kuyilu kuppam... / Maayam senja...

The second consonant sound 'yy' rhymes across lines ('Kuyilu', 'Maayam', 'Kaayam').

Hyperbole

Aayiram kambarasam Ippa aarambam aanadhenna

Exaggerating a romantic glance as creating a thousand poetic epics (Kambarasam) and driving away millions of sorrows.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kuyilu Kuppam' features in the 1990 Tamil movie 'En Uyir Thozhan', directed by Bharathiraja with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics penned by Gangai Amaran. The song showcases Ilaiyaraaja's masterly folk-classical fusion arrangements.

Keep listening

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