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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nandhavana Kuyile

From Ponnu Veettukkaran · 1999

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Hariharan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ponnu Veettukkaran1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nandhavana kuyilaeOh cuckoo of the flower garden,
Pudhu innisai nee paaduSing a new sweet melody.
Pippee peeppeeppeePippee peeppeeppee
Pibi peeppee peeppeeppeePibi peeppee peeppeeppee
Male
Nandhavana kuyilaeOh cuckoo of the flower garden,
Pudhu innisai nee paaduSing a new sweet melody.
Kunguma dhevadhaiyaeOh goddess of divine vermilion,
Pudhu malligai nee sooduAdorn yourself with fresh jasmine flowers.
Sollu kiliyae sogam edharkkuTell me, oh parrot, why this sorrow?
Parandhu thiriya vaanam irukkuThe vast sky is there for you to fly around freely.
Mani osai ingae poongaatril ulavudhaeThe chime of bells wanders here in the gentle breeze.
Male
Nandhavana kuyilaeOh cuckoo of the flower garden,
Pudhu innisai nee paaduSing a new sweet melody.
Kunguma dhevadhaiyaeOh goddess of divine vermilion,
Pudhu malligai nee sooduAdorn yourself with fresh jasmine flowers.
Male
Nadandhadhellaam kanavu thaanEverything that happened was merely a dream,
Kanavukku yaen nee azhudhaaiWhy did you weep over a dream?
Nee azhudhaaiWhy did you weep?
Udhirndhadhellaam sarugu thaanAll that fell away was just dry leaves,
Vasantha magal yaen azhudhaaiOh daughter of spring, why did you weep?
Yevarodu yevar vaazhkkaiWho is destined to live with whom,
Adhai aandavan ezhudhi vaithaanGod has already written that fate.
Uravenna varavennaWhat relationship comes and what remains,
Adhai avanae nadathi vaippaanHe alone will guide and conduct it.
Vaazhkkai endraal naalum irukkumIf it is life, both light and shade will exist,
Purindhu kol kannaeUnderstand this, my dear one,
Veen sogam yaenammaaWhy harbor useless sorrow, my dear?
Male
Nandhavana kuyilaeOh cuckoo of the flower garden,
Pudhu innisai nee paaduSing a new sweet melody.
Kunguma dhevadhaiyaeOh goddess of divine vermilion,
Pudhu malligai nee sooduAdorn yourself with fresh jasmine flowers.
Male
Nalladhaiyae ninaikkalaamLet us think only noble thoughts,
Nenjam ingae vaeredharkku vaeredharkkuFor what else is the heart meant here?
Sendradhellaam marakkalaamLet us forget all that has passed,
Innum ingae uravirukkuRelationships and love still exist here.
Idhu dhevan arasaangamThis is the reign of God,
Idhil yaarukkum thunbam illaiNo one suffers true harm here.
Alai paayum manam thaanaeIt is only the wandering mind
Indha manidharkku perun thollaiThat poses the greatest trouble to humans.
Tholil maalai soodavillaiThe wedding garland was never placed around your neck,
Soodaadha maalai veezhndhaalIf an unworn garland falls, why mourn?
Sogam yaenammaaWhy be sad, my dear?
Male
Nandhavana kuyilaeOh cuckoo of the flower garden,
Pudhu innisai nee paaduSing a new sweet melody.
Hoi hoi kunguma dhevadhaiyaeHoi hoi, oh goddess of divine vermilion,
Pudhu malligai nee sooduAdorn yourself with fresh jasmine flowers.
Sollu kiliyae sogam edharkkuTell me, oh parrot, why this sorrow?
Parandhu thiriya vaanam irukkuThe vast sky is there for you to fly around freely.
Mani osai ingae poongaatril ulavudhaeThe chime of bells wanders here in the gentle breeze.
Male
Nandhavana kuyilaeOh cuckoo of the flower garden,
Pudhu innisai nee paaduSing a new sweet melody.
Hoi hoi kunguma dhevadhaiyaeHoi hoi, oh goddess of divine vermilion,
Pudhu malligai nee sooduAdorn yourself with fresh jasmine flowers.
Male
Nandhavana kuyilae…Oh cuckoo of the flower garden...
Pudhu innisai nee paadu…Sing a new sweet melody...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Nandhavana Kuyilae' is a comforting and philosophical track addressed to a grieving woman. The speaker compares her to a cuckoo in a flower garden and a parrot in the open sky, urging her to cast away her sorrow and sing a fresh song of hope. He reassures her that past tragic events were nothing more than bad dreams or fallen dry leaves that clear the way for new life. The lyrics emphasize themes of fate, resilience, and divine providence. It reminds the listener that human destiny is written by God, and that suffering often arises from a restless, overthinking mind rather than reality itself. By urging her to move forward and focus on positive thoughts, the song serves as an uplifting anthem of emotional healing and renewal.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Nandhavana kuyilae

Addressing the woman as 'Nandhavana kuyil' (garden cuckoo) and 'Vasantha magal' (daughter of spring) metaphorically elevates her innocence and innate beauty despite her grief.

Emoni (Anaphora / Initial Rhyme)

Nadandhadhellaam kanavu thaan

The lines 'Nadandhadhellaam kanavu thaan' and 'Udhirndhadhellaam sarugu thaan' share matching initial rhythms and structures (Nadandhadhellaam / Udhirndhadhellaam), creating a poetic flow.

Imagery

Udhirndhadhellaam sarugu thaan

The imagery of dry leaves falling ('sarugu') symbolizes lost or ruined events of the past clearing out to make way for new bloom.

Personification

Mani osai ingae poongaatril ulavudhae

The sound of temple bells ('Mani osai') is personified as wandering through the gentle breeze.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track features lyrics by veteran Tamil lyricist-filmmaker Gangai Amaran from the 1999 film 'Ponnu Veettukkaran', starring Sathyaraj and Preetha Vijayakumar. Gangai Amaran's lyrics frequently weave natural motifs like birds, flowers, and gentle breezes with deep philosophical reflections on destiny and acceptance.

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