Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Malaiyorum Kuyil

From Inaindha Kaigal · 1990

Lyricist
Aabavanan
Singers
Deepan Chakravarthy, Vidhya
Music director
Manoj Gyan Varma
Details
Inaindha Kaigal1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Malaiyoram kuyil koova kettenI heard the cuckoo cooing by the mountainside
Thunai kuyil paadum kural varuma paarthenI watched to see if a companion cuckoo's singing voice would answer
Malaiyoram kuyil koova kettenI heard the cuckoo cooing by the mountainside
Thunai kuyil paadum kural varuma paarthenI watched to see if a companion cuckoo's singing voice would answer
Poonkuyil dhinam paaduthuThe gentle cuckoo sings every day
Puthu thunaiyinai theduthuSearching for a new companion
Poonkuyil dhinam paaduthuThe gentle cuckoo sings every day
Puthu thunaiyinai theduthuSearching for a new companion
Bhathil kural tharum kuyil varum varaiUntil the cuckoo that responds with a voice arrives
Male
Malaiyoram kuyil koova kettenI heard the cuckoo cooing by the mountainside
Thunai kuyil paadum kural varuma paarthenI watched to see if a companion cuckoo's singing voice would answer
Malaiyoram kuyil koova kettenI heard the cuckoo cooing by the mountainside
Thunai kuyil paadum kural varuma paarthenI watched to see if a companion cuckoo's singing voice would answer
Female
Koodu vittu koodu paayum aattamA game of leaping from nest to nest
Kaadhal koodi pesi sernthu podum thottamA garden created together as love gathers and speaks
Koodu vittu koodu paayum aattamA game of leaping from nest to nest
Kaadhal koodi pesi sernthu podum thottamA garden created together as love gathers and speaks
Male
Koottikkullae thavikkithuIt struggles inside the nest
Koodi vaazha thudikkuthuIt longs to live together
Koottikkulle thavikkithuIt struggles inside the nest
Koodi vaazha thudikkuthuIt longs to live together
Female
Bhathil kural tharum kuyil varum varaiUntil the cuckoo that responds with a voice arrives
Female
Malaiyoram kuyil koova kettenI heard the cuckoo cooing by the mountainside
Thunai kuyil paadum kural varuma paarthenI watched to see if a companion cuckoo's singing voice would answer
Malaiyoram kuyil koova kettenI heard the cuckoo cooing by the mountainside
Thunai kuyil paadum kural varuma paarthenI watched to see if a companion cuckoo's singing voice would answer
Male
Pootti vaitha poovum vaasam veesumEven a locked away flower spreads fragrance
Nenjai pootti vaitha pothum kangal pesumEven if the heart is locked up, the eyes will speak
Pootti vaitha poovum vaasam veesumEven a locked away flower spreads fragrance
Nenjai pootti vaitha pothum kangal pesumEven if the heart is locked up, the eyes will speak
Female
Kangal thantha seethanamThe dowry given by the eyes
Kaadhal ennum moganamIs the musical enchantment called love
Kangal thantha seethanamThe dowry given by the eyes
Kaadhal ennum moganamIs the musical enchantment called love
Male
Bhathil kural tharum kuyil ival enaRealizing that this girl is the answering cuckoo
Male
Malaiyoram kuyil koova kettenI heard the cuckoo cooing by the mountainside
Thunai kuyil paadum kural varuma paarthenI watched to see if a companion cuckoo's singing voice would answer
Malaiyoram kuyil koova kettenI heard the cuckoo cooing by the mountainside
Thunai kuyil paadum kural varuma paarthenI watched to see if a companion cuckoo's singing voice would answer
Female
Poonkuyil dinam paaduthuThe gentle cuckoo sings every day
Puthu thunaiyudan seruthuJoining with its new companion
Poonkuyil dinam paaduthuThe gentle cuckoo sings every day
Puthu thunaiyudan seruthuJoining with its new companion
Bhathil kural tharum kuyil ivarenaRealizing that he is the answering cuckoo

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Malaiyoram Kuyil is a melodious romantic duet that metaphorically compares human yearning for love with a cuckoo bird calling out for its soulmate from a mountainside. Initially, the song depicts the loneliness and eager anticipation of waiting for a responding voice. As the narrative evolves, love finds a way to reveal itself despite attempts to conceal emotion, emphasizing that true affection cannot be locked away just as a flower cannot hide its fragrance. In the final verses, both lovers recognize each other as their destined companions, bringing the song to a joyful resolution as they unite and sing together.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Extended Metaphor (Uvamai)

Malaiyoram kuyil koova ketten

The cuckoo (kuyil) calling out for a mate is used throughout the song as a metaphor for a soul searching for its true love.

Personification

Nenjai pootti vaitha pothum kangal pesum

Giving human qualities to eyes and flowers, suggesting that eyes can communicate dowries and hidden hearts can speak through sight.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Koodu vittu koodu paayum aattam / Kaadhal koodi pesi sernthu podum thottam

Matching initial consonant sounds across lines (e.g., 'Koodu' and 'Kaadhal', or 'Koottikkullae' and 'Koodi').

Edukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kangal thantha seethanam / Kaadhal ennum moganam

Harmonizing second letters in adjacent words or lines, such as 'Pootti' and 'Nenjai' (with matching double 't' sounds in phrase units) or 'Kangal' and 'Kaadhal'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Inaindha Kaigal (1990) was a popular action film starring Ramki and Arun Pandian. The music was composed by the duo Manoj-Gyan, with lyrics penned by the film's producer Aabavanan. This track stands out as one of the most memorable acoustic melodies from the soundtrack.

Keep listening

More from Inaindha Kaigal