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Lyrics & meaning

Moongil Kaattoram

From Pookkal Vidum Thoothu · 1987

Lyricist
T. Rajendar
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
T. Rajendar
Details
Pookkal Vidum Thoothu1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Moongil kaattoram….mmm…mmNear the edge of the bamboo forest... mmm... mm
Kuzhalin naadham naan ketkiraenI hear the sound of the flute
Mugilin oorgolam…mmm..The procession of clouds... mmm...
Vaanil niththam naan paarkkiraenI see daily in the sky
Male
Kuyilae en kaadhodu nee paada vaaO Cuckoo, come sing near my ears
Malarae un idhazh kondu nee pesa vaaO Flower, come speak with your lips
Male
Moongil kaattoram….mmm…mmNear the edge of the bamboo forest... mmm... mm
Kuzhalin naadham naan ketkiraenI hear the sound of the flute
Male
Alaigalin naattiyamThe dance of the waves
Karai meedhuthaan aaha haahaaUpon the shore, ahahaahaa
Ilaigalin naattiyam kilai meethuthaanThe dance of the leaves upon the branches
Ivaigalum aada…..aaa….aa…As these dance... aaa... aa...
Iyarkkaiyum paada…..aa…..aa…And as Nature sings... aa... aa...
Iraivaa un karpanai….ee….Oh God, your imagination... ee...
Viyakkum en sinthanaiLeaves my thoughts in total awe
Male
Paasaththai vaiththaalIf affection is bestowed upon them
Pazhangathai sollum sarugugalaeEven the dry fallen leaves tell old tales
Paravaiyai paarththaalWhen watching a bird
Manathinil mulaikkuthu siragugalaeWings begin to sprout inside my heart
Male
Moongil kaattoram….mmm…mmNear the edge of the bamboo forest... mmm... mm
Kuzhalin naadham naan ketkiraenI hear the sound of the flute
Male
Megamenum penn oruththiA maiden named Cloud
Mogam konda nearaththilaeAt a time when she was filled with desire
Kaattrennum kaalai vaanthaan thediA bull named Wind came searching for her
Kalyaanam nadanthathadi koodiAnd their grand wedding took place together
Male
Malaiyo petra pillai…ee…The child born to the mountain... ee...
adhilae pala kavithaiContains many poems within it
Hae malaigalin maelae aruvi vizha aahaahaaHey, as waterfalls cascade down the mountains, ahahaahaa
Maththalam polae oliyum ezhaResonating sound like the beating of drums
Jadhiyil pirakka….aa….Born with rhythmic beats... aa...
Nadhi athai rasikka….aa….The river relishes and enjoys it... aa...
Male
Salangai pol nelmaniPaddy grains resembling anklet bells
kulungum vayal pennmaniThe swaying field is like a young maiden
Pulveli maelae paniththuli minnum vairamDewdrops glistening like diamonds on the grassland
Kadhiravan vanthu kalavaadi sellum jaalamA magical trick where the sun arrives and steals them away
Male
Moongil kaattoram….mmm…mmNear the edge of the bamboo forest... mmm... mm
Kuzhalin naadham naan ketkiraenI hear the sound of the flute
Mugilin oorgolam…mmm..The procession of clouds... mmm...
Vaanil niththam naan paarkkiraenI see daily in the sky
Male
laalaalaalaalaa lalalalalalaLa la la la la la, la la la la la la
Laalaalaalaalaalaalaalaa…..La la la la la la la la la...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Moongil Kaattoram is a nature-centric song from the 1987 Tamil film Pookkal Vidum Thoothu, with lyrics penned by T. Rajendar. The protagonist is immersed in the serene beauty of the wilderness, interpreting the rustling bamboo as flute music, the rolling clouds as a grand procession, and the cascading waterfalls as rhythmic drumbeats. Nature is portrayed as a living canvas where dry leaves tell stories and watching birds fly inspires dreams of taking flight. The song allegorically connects elements of nature to human romance, portraying the cloud and wind as lovers whose union gives birth to streams and rivers. Through poetic imagery—comparing paddy grains to anklet bells and morning dew on grass to stolen diamonds—the lyrics celebrate God's creation and the effortless harmony found in the natural world.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Tharkurippetram)

Megamenum penn oruththi / Kaattrennum kaalai vaanthaan thedi / Kalyaanam nadanthathadi koodi

The clouds and wind are personified as a maiden and a bull getting married, giving a human narrative to weather phenomena.

Simile (Uvamai)

Maththalam polae oliyum ezha

The sound of cascading waterfalls is explicitly compared to the beating of a drum (maththalam) using 'polae'.

Simile (Uvamai)

Salangai pol nelmani

Paddy grains swaying in the breeze are compared to jingling anklet bells (salangai) using 'pol'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Pulveli maelae paniththuli minnum vairam

Morning dewdrops resting on grass blades are metaphorically described as glistening diamonds.

Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

Alaigalin naattiyam / Ilaigalin naattiyam kilai meethuthaan

The second consonant 'la' rhymes between 'Alaigalin' and 'Ilaigalin', adhering to traditional Tamil prosody.

Did you know?

Trivia

Pookkal Vidum Thoothu (1987) was written and directed by T. Rajendar, who also penned the lyrics for this track. Known for his distinct style of alliterative and rhyming Tamil poetry, T. Rajendar infused this song with traditional Tamil poetic elements, vivid personification of nature, and rich musical metaphors.

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