Maalai Karukkalil
From Neethiyin Marupakkam · 1985
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- S. Janaki, K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Neethiyin Marupakkam1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Maalai karukkalil solaikkarunguyil | Why does the black cuckoo in the grove sing in the evening twilight? |
| Yaen paadudho | Why does it sing? |
| Male | |
| Sodi kuyilonnu paadi parandhadha | Is it searching for its pair of cuckoo |
| Thaan thaedudho | that sang and flew away? |
| Female | |
| Kannukkullae vaa vaa | Come into my eyes, come come, |
| Nenjukkullae po po | Go into my heart, go go, |
| Male | |
| Kannukkullae vaa vaa | Come into my eyes, come come, |
| Nenjukkullae po po en jeevanae | Go into my heart, go go, my life! |
| Female | |
| Maalai karukkalil solaikkarunguyil | Why does the black cuckoo in the grove sing in the evening twilight? |
| Yaen paadudho | Why does it sing? |
| Male | |
| Sodi kuyilonnu paadi parandhadha | Is it searching for its pair of cuckoo |
| Thaan thaedudho | that sang and flew away? |
| Male | |
| Ponnunnaa ponnalla dheva manga | If she is gold, no, she is a divine maiden, |
| Boomikku vandhadhenna | Why did she descend to the earth? |
| Female | |
| Kannunnaa kannalla kaandhamammoi | If those are eyes, no, they are magnetic, |
| Kadhaiyonnu sonnadhenna | Why did they tell a romantic story? |
| Male | |
| Kai valaiyo naan valaikka | Should I hold your hands to embrace? |
| Nee varuvaai naan rasikka | You will come, and I will admire you, |
| Female | |
| Kannathil sendhoora kolamida | To draw a vermilion pattern on your cheek, |
| Kaiyodu kai kondu thaalamida nee odi vaa | To clap rhythm hand in hand, run and come! |
| Male | |
| Maalai karukkalil solaikkarunguyil | Why does the black cuckoo in the grove sing in the evening twilight? |
| Yaen paadudho | Why does it sing? |
| Female | |
| Sodi kuyilonnu paadi parandhadha | Is it searching for its pair of cuckoo |
| Thaan thaedudho | that sang and flew away? |
| Male | |
| Kannukkullae vaa vaa | Come into my eyes, come come, |
| Female | |
| Nenjukkullae po po en jeevanae | Go into my heart, go go, my life! |
| Male | |
| Maalai karukkalil solaikkarunguyil | Why does the black cuckoo in the grove sing in the evening twilight? |
| Yaen paadudho | Why does it sing? |
| Female | |
| Koo… koo… | Koo… koo… |
| Female | |
| Iravellaam poo maala aagathumaa | Shall I become a flower garland all night |
| Maharaasn dhegathula | On the kingly lover's body? |
| Male | |
| Marudhaani naan vandhu poosattumaa | Shall I come and apply henna |
| Maharaani paadhathula | At the queen's feet? |
| Female | |
| Un madi mael naan mayanga | For me to swoon on your lap, |
| Naal vidindhaal kan uranga | To sleep when dawn breaks, |
| Male | |
| Kaavaeri aathukku kallil ana | For the Cauvery river, a stone dam, |
| Kasthoori maanukku nenjil ana | For the musk deer, a dam across the heart, |
| Naan podavaa | Shall I build one? |
| Female | |
| Maalai karukkalil solaikkarunguyil | Why does the black cuckoo in the grove sing in the evening twilight? |
| Yaen paadudho | Why does it sing? |
| Male | |
| Ho ho ho ho | Ho ho ho ho |
| Sodi kuyilonnu paadi parandhadha | Is it searching for its pair of cuckoo |
| Thaan thaedudho | that sang and flew away? |
| Female | |
| Kannukkullae vaa vaa | Come into my eyes, come come, |
| Nenjukkullae po po | Go into my heart, go go, |
| Male | |
| Kannukkullae vaa vaa | Come into my eyes, come come, |
| Nenjukkullae po po en jeevanae | Go into my heart, go go, my life! |
| Female | |
| Maalai karukkalil solaikkarunguyil | Why does the black cuckoo in the grove sing in the evening twilight? |
| Yaen paadudho | Why does it sing? |
| Male | |
| Koo koo | Koo koo |
| Sodi kuyilonnu paadi parandhadha | Is it searching for its pair of cuckoo |
| Thaan thaedudho | that sang and flew away? |
மாலைக் கருக்கலில்
சோலைக் கருங்குயில்
ஏன் பாடுதோ
Why does the black cuckoo in the grove sing in the evening twilight?
Why does it sing?
சோடிக் குயிலொன்னு
பாடிப் பறந்தத தான் தேடுதோ
Is it searching for its pair of cuckoo
that sang and flew away?
கண்ணுக்குள்ளே வா வா
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ளே போ போ
Come into my eyes, come come,
Go into my heart, go go,
கண்ணுக்குள்ளே வா வா
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ளே போ போ என் ஜீவனே
Come into my eyes, come come,
Go into my heart, go go, my life!
மாலைக் கருக்கலில்
சோலைக் கருங்குயில்
ஏன் பாடுதோ
Why does the black cuckoo in the grove sing in the evening twilight?
Why does it sing?
சோடிக் குயிலொன்னு
பாடிப் பறந்தத தான் தேடுதோ
Is it searching for its pair of cuckoo
that sang and flew away?
பொண்ணுன்னா பொண்ணல்ல
தேவ மங்க பூமிக்கு வந்ததென்ன
If she is gold, no, she is a divine maiden,
Why did she descend to the earth?
கண்ணுன்னா கண்ணல்ல காந்தமம்மோய்
கதையொண்ணு சொன்னதென்ன
If those are eyes, no, they are magnetic,
Why did they tell a romantic story?
கை வளையோ நான் வளைக்க
நீ வருவாய் நான் ரசிக்க
Should I hold your hands to embrace?
You will come, and I will admire you,
கன்னத்தில் செந்தூரக் கோலமிட
கையோடு கை கொண்டு தாளமிட நீ ஓடி வா
To draw a vermilion pattern on your cheek,
To clap rhythm hand in hand, run and come!
மாலைக் கருக்கலில்
சோலைக் கருங்குயில்
ஏன் பாடுதோ
Why does the black cuckoo in the grove sing in the evening twilight?
Why does it sing?
சோடிக் குயிலொன்னு
பாடிப் பறந்தத தான் தேடுதோ
Is it searching for its pair of cuckoo
that sang and flew away?
கண்ணுக்குள்ளே வா வா
Come into my eyes, come come,
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ளே போ போ
என் ஜீவனே
Go into my heart, go go, my life!
மாலைக் கருக்கலில்
சோலைக் கருங்குயில்
ஏன் பாடுதோ
Why does the black cuckoo in the grove sing in the evening twilight?
Why does it sing?
கூ....கூ.....
Koo… koo…
இரவெல்லாம் பூ மால ஆகட்டுமா
மகாராசன் தேகத்தில
Shall I become a flower garland all night
On the kingly lover's body?
மருதாணி நான் வந்து பூசட்டுமா
மகராணி பாதத்தில
Shall I come and apply henna
At the queen's feet?
உன் மடி மேல் நான் மயங்க
நாள் விடிந்தால் கண் உறங்க
For me to swoon on your lap,
To sleep when dawn breaks,
காவேரி ஆத்துக்கு கல்லில் அண
கஸ்தூரி மானுக்கு நெஞ்சில் அண
நான் போடவா
For the Cauvery river, a stone dam,
For the musk deer, a dam across the heart,
Shall I build one?
மாலைக் கருக்கலில்
சோலைக் கருங்குயில்
ஏன் பாடுதோ
Why does the black cuckoo in the grove sing in the evening twilight?
Why does it sing?
ஹோ ஹோ ஹோ ஹோ
சோடிக் குயிலொன்னு
பாடிப் பறந்தத தான் தேடுதோ
Ho ho ho ho
Is it searching for its pair of cuckoo
that sang and flew away?
கண்ணுக்குள்ளே வா வா
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ளே போ போ
Come into my eyes, come come,
Go into my heart, go go,
கண்ணுக்குள்ளே வா வா
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ளே போ போ என் ஜீவனே
Come into my eyes, come come,
Go into my heart, go go, my life!
மாலைக் கருக்கலில்
சோலைக் கருங்குயில்
ஏன் பாடுதோ
Why does the black cuckoo in the grove sing in the evening twilight?
Why does it sing?
கூ கூ
சோடிக் குயிலொன்னு
பாடிப் பறந்தததான் தேடுதோ
Koo koo
Is it searching for its pair of cuckoo
that sang and flew away?
Maalai karukkalil solaikkarunguyil
Why does the black cuckoo in the grove sing in the evening twilight?
Yaen paadudho
Why does it sing?
Sodi kuyilonnu paadi parandhadha
Is it searching for its pair of cuckoo
Thaan thaedudho
that sang and flew away?
Kannukkullae vaa vaa
Come into my eyes, come come,
Nenjukkullae po po
Go into my heart, go go,
Kannukkullae vaa vaa
Come into my eyes, come come,
Nenjukkullae po po en jeevanae
Go into my heart, go go, my life!
Maalai karukkalil solaikkarunguyil
Why does the black cuckoo in the grove sing in the evening twilight?
Yaen paadudho
Why does it sing?
Sodi kuyilonnu paadi parandhadha
Is it searching for its pair of cuckoo
Thaan thaedudho
that sang and flew away?
Ponnunnaa ponnalla dheva manga
If she is gold, no, she is a divine maiden,
Boomikku vandhadhenna
Why did she descend to the earth?
Kannunnaa kannalla kaandhamammoi
If those are eyes, no, they are magnetic,
Kadhaiyonnu sonnadhenna
Why did they tell a romantic story?
Kai valaiyo naan valaikka
Should I hold your hands to embrace?
Nee varuvaai naan rasikka
You will come, and I will admire you,
Kannathil sendhoora kolamida
To draw a vermilion pattern on your cheek,
Kaiyodu kai kondu thaalamida nee odi vaa
To clap rhythm hand in hand, run and come!
Maalai karukkalil solaikkarunguyil
Why does the black cuckoo in the grove sing in the evening twilight?
Yaen paadudho
Why does it sing?
Sodi kuyilonnu paadi parandhadha
Is it searching for its pair of cuckoo
Thaan thaedudho
that sang and flew away?
Kannukkullae vaa vaa
Come into my eyes, come come,
Nenjukkullae po po en jeevanae
Go into my heart, go go, my life!
Maalai karukkalil solaikkarunguyil
Why does the black cuckoo in the grove sing in the evening twilight?
Yaen paadudho
Why does it sing?
Koo… koo…
Koo… koo…
Iravellaam poo maala aagathumaa
Shall I become a flower garland all night
Maharaasn dhegathula
On the kingly lover's body?
Marudhaani naan vandhu poosattumaa
Shall I come and apply henna
Maharaani paadhathula
At the queen's feet?
Un madi mael naan mayanga
For me to swoon on your lap,
Naal vidindhaal kan uranga
To sleep when dawn breaks,
Kaavaeri aathukku kallil ana
For the Cauvery river, a stone dam,
Kasthoori maanukku nenjil ana
For the musk deer, a dam across the heart,
Naan podavaa
Shall I build one?
Maalai karukkalil solaikkarunguyil
Why does the black cuckoo in the grove sing in the evening twilight?
Yaen paadudho
Why does it sing?
Ho ho ho ho
Ho ho ho ho
Sodi kuyilonnu paadi parandhadha
Is it searching for its pair of cuckoo
Thaan thaedudho
that sang and flew away?
Kannukkullae vaa vaa
Come into my eyes, come come,
Nenjukkullae po po
Go into my heart, go go,
Kannukkullae vaa vaa
Come into my eyes, come come,
Nenjukkullae po po en jeevanae
Go into my heart, go go, my life!
Maalai karukkalil solaikkarunguyil
Why does the black cuckoo in the grove sing in the evening twilight?
Yaen paadudho
Why does it sing?
Koo koo
Koo koo
Sodi kuyilonnu paadi parandhadha
Is it searching for its pair of cuckoo
Thaan thaedudho
that sang and flew away?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Maalai karukkalil solaikkarunguyil is a soothing romantic song expressing deep longing and passion between two lovers. Set in the quiet atmosphere of twilight, the lyricist compares the yearning heart to a solitary black cuckoo bird searching for its lost mate in a lush grove. Through vivid romantic metaphors involving divine maidens, magnetic eyes, flower garlands, and henna, the lovers express their passionate desire to surrender to each other's affection and stay united forever.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Imagery & Nature Motif
“Maalai karukkalil solaikkarunguyil”
Uses nature elements like evening twilight ('maalai karukkal') and the song of a black cuckoo ('solaikkarunguyil') to evoke romantic yearning.
Hyperbole & Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Ponnunnaa ponnalla dheva manga”
Compares the beloved's beauty beyond earthly gold, describing her as a divine angel who descended to earth.
Contrast / Antimetabole
“Kannukkullae vaa vaa / Nenjukkullae po po”
Uses contrasting motions ('vaa vaa' / come come vs. 'po po' / go go) to playfully describe welcoming the lover into the eyes and settling into the heart.
Analogy / Metaphor
“Kaavaeri aathukku kallil ana / Kasthoori maanukku nenjil ana”
Draws a poetic parallel between constructing a stone dam for the Cauvery river and placing a dam across one's heart for the beloved musk deer.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song features in the 1985 Tamil action-drama film 'Neethiyin Marupakkam', directed by S.A. Chandrasekhar and starring Sivaji Ganesan, Vijayakanth, and Radhika. The film's musical score was composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu.
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