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Lyrics & meaning

Nandhavana Kuyile

From Ponnu Veettukkaran · 1999

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Hariharan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ponnu Veettukkaran
Movie release year
1999
Lyrics added on
2 Apr 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nandhavana kuyilae
Pudhu innisai nee paadu
Pippee peeppeeppee
Pibi peeppee peeppeeppee
Nandhavana kuyilae
Pudhu innisai nee paadu
Kunguma dhevadhaiyae
Pudhu malligai nee soodu
Sollu kiliyae sogam edharkku
Parandhu thiriya vaanam irukku
Mani osai ingae poongaatril ulavudhae
Nandhavana kuyilae
Pudhu innisai nee paadu
Kunguma dhevadhaiyae
Pudhu malligai nee soodu
Nadandhadhellaam kanavu thaan
Kanavukku yaen nee azhudhaai
Nee azhudhaai
Udhirndhadhellaam sarugu thaan
Vasantha magal yaen azhudhaai
Yevarodu yevar vaazhkkai
Adhai aandavan ezhudhi vaithaan
Uravenna varavenna
Adhai avanae nadathi vaippaan
Vaazhkkai endraal naalum irukkum
Purindhu kol kannae
Veen sogam yaenammaa
Nandhavana kuyilae
Pudhu innisai nee paadu
Kunguma dhevadhaiyae
Pudhu malligai nee soodu
Nalladhaiyae ninaikkalaam
Nenjam ingae vaeredharkku vaeredharkku
Sendradhellaam marakkalaam
Innum ingae uravirukku
Idhu dhevan arasaangam
Idhil yaarukkum thunbam illai
Alai paayum manam thaanae
Indha manidharkku perun thollai
Tholil maalai soodavillai
Soodaadha maalai veezhndhaal
Sogam yaenammaa
Nandhavana kuyilae
Pudhu innisai nee paadu
Hoi hoi kunguma dhevadhaiyae
Pudhu malligai nee soodu
Sollu kiliyae sogam edharkku
Parandhu thiriya vaanam irukku
Mani osai ingae poongaatril ulavudhae
Nandhavana kuyilae
Pudhu innisai nee paadu
Hoi hoi kunguma dhevadhaiyae
Pudhu malligai nee soodu
Nandhavana kuyilae…
Pudhu innisai nee paadu…
O garden cuckoo,
Sing a fresh, sweet song!
Peepee peepeepee
Peepee peepee peepeepee
O garden cuckoo,
Sing a fresh, sweet song!
O goddess adorned with kumkum (red forehead powder),
Wear fresh jasmine in your hair!
Tell me, little parrot, why are you sad?
You have the whole open sky to fly around in!
The ringing of bells drifts on the gentle breeze here!
O garden cuckoo,
Sing a fresh, sweet song!
O goddess adorned with kumkum (red forehead powder),
Wear fresh jasmine in your hair!
Everything that happened was just a dream;
Why did you weep over a dream?
Why did you cry?
All that fell was only withered leaves;
Why did you weep, daughter of spring?
Who is meant to live with whom,
God has already written that down.
Whatever bonds and fortunes come your way,
He himself will make it happen.
Life always has its ups and downs;
Understand this, my dear.
Why hold on to needless sorrow?
O garden cuckoo,
Sing a fresh, sweet song!
O goddess adorned with kumkum (red forehead powder),
Wear fresh jasmine in your hair!
Let us think only good thoughts;
What else is our heart here for?
We can forget all that is past;
There is still family and love here.
This world is God's realm;
No one here is meant to suffer.
It is only a restless, wandering mind
That brings great trouble to mankind.
The wedding garland was never placed upon your shoulders;
If an unworn garland falls away,
Why be sad, dear girl?
O garden cuckoo,
Sing a fresh, sweet song!
Hoy hoy, O goddess adorned with kumkum (red forehead powder),
Wear fresh jasmine in your hair!
Tell me, little parrot, why are you sad?
You have the whole open sky to fly around in!
The ringing of bells drifts on the gentle breeze here!
O garden cuckoo,
Sing a fresh, sweet song!
Hoy hoy, O goddess adorned with kumkum (red forehead powder),
Wear fresh jasmine in your hair!
O garden cuckoo...
Sing a fresh, sweet song...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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