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Neethiyin Marupakkam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Maalai Karukkalil

From Neethiyin Marupakkam · 1985

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. Janaki, K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Neethiyin Marupakkam
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
26 May 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Maalai karukkalil solaikkarunguyil
Yaen paadudho
Sodi kuyilonnu paadi parandhadha
Thaan thaedudho
Kannukkullae vaa vaa
Nenjukkullae po po
Kannukkullae vaa vaa
Nenjukkullae po po en jeevanae
Maalai karukkalil solaikkarunguyil
Yaen paadudho
Sodi kuyilonnu paadi parandhadha
Thaan thaedudho
Ponnunnaa ponnalla dheva manga
Boomikku vandhadhenna
Kannunnaa kannalla kaandhamammoi
Kadhaiyonnu sonnadhenna
Kai valaiyo naan valaikka
Nee varuvaai naan rasikka
Kannathil sendhoora kolamida
Kaiyodu kai kondu thaalamida nee odi vaa
Maalai karukkalil solaikkarunguyil
Yaen paadudho
Sodi kuyilonnu paadi parandhadha
Thaan thaedudho
Kannukkullae vaa vaa
Nenjukkullae po po en jeevanae
Maalai karukkalil solaikkarunguyil
Yaen paadudho
Koo… koo…
Iravellaam poo maala aagathumaa
Maharaasn dhegathula
Marudhaani naan vandhu poosattumaa
Maharaani paadhathula
Un madi mael naan mayanga
Naal vidindhaal kan uranga
Kaavaeri aathukku kallil ana
Kasthoori maanukku nenjil ana
Naan podavaa
Maalai karukkalil solaikkarunguyil
Yaen paadudho
Ho ho ho ho
Sodi kuyilonnu paadi parandhadha
Thaan thaedudho
Kannukkullae vaa vaa
Nenjukkullae po po
Kannukkullae vaa vaa
Nenjukkullae po po en jeevanae
Maalai karukkalil solaikkarunguyil
Yaen paadudho
Koo koo
Sodi kuyilonnu paadi parandhadha
Thaan thaedudho
In the evening twilight, the black cuckoo of the grove,
Why is it singing?
Did its partner bird sing and fly away?
Is it searching for its mate?
Come into my eyes, come,
Go into my heart, go,
Come into my eyes, come,
Go into my heart, go, my very life!
In the evening twilight, the black cuckoo of the grove,
Why is it singing?
Did its partner bird sing and fly away?
Is it searching for its mate?
You are not just gold, but a heavenly beauty,
Why have you descended to earth?
Those are not just eyes, but magnets, my love,
What a lovely story they tell!
As I gently hold your bangled hands,
You will come for me to admire you,
To paint a rosy glow on your cheeks,
Holding hand in hand to keep the rhythm, come running!
In the evening twilight, the black cuckoo of the grove,
Why is it singing?
Did its partner bird sing and fly away?
Is it searching for its mate?
Come into my eyes, come,
Go into my heart, go, my very life!
In the evening twilight, the black cuckoo of the grove,
Why is it singing?
Coo... coo...
Shall I become a flower garland all night long,
Resting on my king's body?
Shall I come and paint henna
On my queen's feet?
As I lose myself resting on your lap,
And drift to sleep when dawn arrives,
A dam of stone for the Cauvery river,
A dam of warm embrace for this gentle deer,
Shall I build for you?
In the evening twilight, the black cuckoo of the grove,
Why is it singing?
Ho ho ho ho
Did its partner bird sing and fly away?
Is it searching for its mate?
Come into my eyes, come,
Go into my heart, go,
Come into my eyes, come,
Go into my heart, go, my very life!
In the evening twilight, the black cuckoo of the grove,
Why is it singing?
Coo coo
Did its partner bird sing and fly away?
Is it searching for its mate?
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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From the same album

More songs from Neethiyin Marupakkam

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Naan Oru Kanni Ponnu1985
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Maalai Karukkalil Sad1985
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