Nikkattumaa Pogattuma
From Periya Veetu Pannakkaran · 1990
- Lyricist
- Mu. Metha
- Singers
- Mano, K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Periya Veetu Pannakkaran1990
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nikkattumaa pogattumaa | Should I stay or should I go, |
| Neela karunguyilae neela karunguyilae | Oh blue-black cuckoo, oh blue-black cuckoo? |
| Dhaavani poi saelai vandhu | As the half-saree phase ends and full saree arrives, |
| Saelai thodum vaelai vandhu thaavudhadi | The moment of wearing a saree arrives and leaps with joy! |
| Female | |
| Sollattumaa thallattumaa | Should I reveal it or should I push it aside, |
| Solai karunguyilae solai karunguyilae | Oh cuckoo of the grove, oh cuckoo of the grove? |
| Chorus | |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… |
| Female | |
| Odaiyil naan amarndhaen | I sat beside the stream, |
| Adhil en mugam paarthirundhaen | And was looking at my reflection in it. |
| Odaiyil paartha mugam | The face I saw in the stream— |
| Adhu un mugam aanadhenna | Why did it turn into your face? |
| Vaadaiiyl vaadidum poovinai pol | Like a flower wilting in the chilly northern wind, |
| En nenjamum aanadhenna | Why has my heart become like that too? |
| Male | |
| Thaeradi veedhiyilae | On the temple chariot street, |
| Oru thoranam naan thoduthaen | I strung a decorative garland. |
| Thorana vaasalilae | At the festooned entrance, |
| Oru thozhiyai kai pidithaen | I held hands with a female friend. |
| Piditha karam inaindhidumaa | Will the hand I held unite with mine? |
| Inaindhidum naal varumaa | Will the day of our union arrive? |
| Female | |
| Sollattumaa thallattumaa | Should I reveal it or should I push it aside, |
| Solai karunguyilae solai karunguyilae | Oh cuckoo of the grove, oh cuckoo of the grove? |
| Dhaavani poi saelai varum | The half-saree phase will pass and saree will arrive, |
| Saelaiyudan maalai varum naal varattum | Let the day come when the wedding garland comes along with the saree. |
| Male | |
| Nikkattumaa pogattumaa | Should I stay or should I go, |
| Neela karunguyilae neela karunguyilae | Oh blue-black cuckoo, oh blue-black cuckoo? |
| Chorus | |
| Thuguthutthu thutthutthu thutthutthuthoo… | Thuguthutthu thutthutthu thutthutthuthoo… |
| Thuguthutthu thutthutthu thutthutthuthoo… | Thuguthutthu thutthutthu thutthutthuthoo… |
| Male | |
| Raathiri naerathilae | In the quiet of the night, |
| Oru raagamum kettadhadi | A sweet melody was heard. |
| Kettadhu kidaikkum endru | Promising that what you desire will be attained, |
| Oru saedhiyum sonnadhadi | It delivered a comforting message. |
| Malligai poo chedi poothadhu pol | Just like a jasmine bush blooming in full bloom, |
| En ullamum poothadhadi | My heart too blossomed with joy! |
| Female | |
| Ammanin kovililae | At the temple of the Goddess, |
| Andru aasaiyil naan nadandhaen | On that day, I walked with deep longing. |
| Un mana kovililae | Towards the temple of your heart, |
| Metti osaiyil pin thodarndhaen | I followed the tinkling sound of toe-rings. |
| Naadiyadhu nadandhidumaa | Will what my heart desires come true? |
| Nadandhidum naal varumaa | Will the day it happens arrive? |
| Male | |
| Nikkattumaa pogattumaa | Should I stay or should I go, |
| Neela karunguyilae neela karunguyilae | Oh blue-black cuckoo, oh blue-black cuckoo? |
| Female :Dhaavani poi saelai vanrum | [Female]: The half-saree phase will pass and saree will arrive, |
| Saelaiyudan maalai varum naal varattum | Let the day come when the wedding garland comes along with the saree. |
| Male | |
| Nikkattumaa pogattumaa | Should I stay or should I go, |
| Neela karunguyilae neela karunguyilae | Oh blue-black cuckoo, oh blue-black cuckoo? |
| Female :Solai karunguyilae solai karunguyilae | [Female]: Oh cuckoo of the grove, oh cuckoo of the grove! |
நிக்கட்டுமா போகட்டுமா
நீலக்கருங்குயிலே நீலக்கருங்குயிலே
தாவணி போய் சேலை வந்து
சேலைத் தொடும் வேளை வந்து தாவுதடி....
Should I stay or should I go,
Oh blue-black cuckoo, oh blue-black cuckoo?
As the half-saree phase ends and full saree arrives,
The moment of wearing a saree arrives and leaps with joy!
சொல்லட்டுமா தள்ளட்டுமா
சோலைக் கருங்குயிலே....
சோலைக் கருங்குயிலே....
Should I reveal it or should I push it aside,
Oh cuckoo of the grove, oh cuckoo of the grove?
ஆ......ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ....
ஆ......ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ....
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
ஓடையில் நான் அமர்ந்தேன்
அதில் என் முகம் பார்த்திருந்தேன்
ஓடையில் பார்த்த முகம்
அது உன் முகம் ஆனதென்ன
வாடையில் மாறிடும் பூவினைப்போல்
என் நெஞ்சமும் ஆனதென்ன
I sat beside the stream,
And was looking at my reflection in it.
The face I saw in the stream—
Why did it turn into your face?
Like a flower wilting in the chilly northern wind,
Why has my heart become like that too?
தேரடி வீதியிலே ஒரு
தோரணம் நான் தொடுத்தேன்
தோரண வாசலிலே
ஒரு சோடியை கைப்பிடித்தேன்
பிடித்த கரம் இணைந்திடுமா
இணைந்திடும் நாள் வருமா
On the temple chariot street,
I strung a decorative garland.
At the festooned entrance,
I held hands with a female friend.
Will the hand I held unite with mine?
Will the day of our union arrive?
சொல்லட்டுமா தள்ளட்டுமா
சோலைக் கருங்குயிலே....
சோலைக் கருங்குயிலே....
தாவணி போய் சேலை வரும்
சேலையுடன் மாலை வரும் நான் வரட்டும்
Should I reveal it or should I push it aside,
Oh cuckoo of the grove, oh cuckoo of the grove?
The half-saree phase will pass and saree will arrive,
Let the day come when the wedding garland comes along with the saree.
நிக்கட்டுமா போகட்டுமா
நீலக்கருங்குயிலே நீலக்கருங்குயிலே
Should I stay or should I go,
Oh blue-black cuckoo, oh blue-black cuckoo?
...............................
Thuguthutthu thutthutthu thutthutthuthoo…
Thuguthutthu thutthutthu thutthutthuthoo…
ராத்திரி நேரத்திலே
ஒரு ராகமும் கேட்டதடி
கேட்டது கிடைக்குமென்று
ஒரு சேதியும் சொன்னதடி
மல்லிகை பூச்செடி பூத்தது போல்
என் உள்ளமும் பூத்ததடி
In the quiet of the night,
A sweet melody was heard.
Promising that what you desire will be attained,
It delivered a comforting message.
Just like a jasmine bush blooming in full bloom,
My heart too blossomed with joy!
அம்மனின் கோவிலிலே
அன்று ஆசையில் நான் நடந்தேன்
உன் மனக் கோவிலிலே
மெட்டி ஓசையில் பின் தொடர்ந்தேன்
நாடியது நடந்திடுமா
நடந்திடும் நாள்வருமா
At the temple of the Goddess,
On that day, I walked with deep longing.
Towards the temple of your heart,
I followed the tinkling sound of toe-rings.
Will what my heart desires come true?
Will the day it happens arrive?
நிக்கட்டுமா போகட்டுமா
நீலக்கருங்குயிலே நீலக்கருங்குயிலே
தாவணி போய் சேலை வந்து
சேலையுடன் மாலை வரும் நான் வரட்டும்
Should I stay or should I go,
Oh blue-black cuckoo, oh blue-black cuckoo?
[Female]: The half-saree phase will pass and saree will arrive,
Let the day come when the wedding garland comes along with the saree.
நிக்கட்டுமா போகட்டுமா
நீலக்கருங்குயிலே நீலக்கருங்குயிலே
சோலை கருங்குயிலே.....
சோலை கருங்குயிலே.....
Should I stay or should I go,
Oh blue-black cuckoo, oh blue-black cuckoo?
[Female]: Oh cuckoo of the grove, oh cuckoo of the grove!
Nikkattumaa pogattumaa
Should I stay or should I go,
Neela karunguyilae neela karunguyilae
Oh blue-black cuckoo, oh blue-black cuckoo?
Dhaavani poi saelai vandhu
As the half-saree phase ends and full saree arrives,
Saelai thodum vaelai vandhu thaavudhadi
The moment of wearing a saree arrives and leaps with joy!
Sollattumaa thallattumaa
Should I reveal it or should I push it aside,
Solai karunguyilae solai karunguyilae
Oh cuckoo of the grove, oh cuckoo of the grove?
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
Odaiyil naan amarndhaen
I sat beside the stream,
Adhil en mugam paarthirundhaen
And was looking at my reflection in it.
Odaiyil paartha mugam
The face I saw in the stream—
Adhu un mugam aanadhenna
Why did it turn into your face?
Vaadaiiyl vaadidum poovinai pol
Like a flower wilting in the chilly northern wind,
En nenjamum aanadhenna
Why has my heart become like that too?
Thaeradi veedhiyilae
On the temple chariot street,
Oru thoranam naan thoduthaen
I strung a decorative garland.
Thorana vaasalilae
At the festooned entrance,
Oru thozhiyai kai pidithaen
I held hands with a female friend.
Piditha karam inaindhidumaa
Will the hand I held unite with mine?
Inaindhidum naal varumaa
Will the day of our union arrive?
Sollattumaa thallattumaa
Should I reveal it or should I push it aside,
Solai karunguyilae solai karunguyilae
Oh cuckoo of the grove, oh cuckoo of the grove?
Dhaavani poi saelai varum
The half-saree phase will pass and saree will arrive,
Saelaiyudan maalai varum naal varattum
Let the day come when the wedding garland comes along with the saree.
Nikkattumaa pogattumaa
Should I stay or should I go,
Neela karunguyilae neela karunguyilae
Oh blue-black cuckoo, oh blue-black cuckoo?
Thuguthutthu thutthutthu thutthutthuthoo…
Thuguthutthu thutthutthu thutthutthuthoo…
Thuguthutthu thutthutthu thutthutthuthoo…
Thuguthutthu thutthutthu thutthutthuthoo…
Raathiri naerathilae
In the quiet of the night,
Oru raagamum kettadhadi
A sweet melody was heard.
Kettadhu kidaikkum endru
Promising that what you desire will be attained,
Oru saedhiyum sonnadhadi
It delivered a comforting message.
Malligai poo chedi poothadhu pol
Just like a jasmine bush blooming in full bloom,
En ullamum poothadhadi
My heart too blossomed with joy!
Ammanin kovililae
At the temple of the Goddess,
Andru aasaiyil naan nadandhaen
On that day, I walked with deep longing.
Un mana kovililae
Towards the temple of your heart,
Metti osaiyil pin thodarndhaen
I followed the tinkling sound of toe-rings.
Naadiyadhu nadandhidumaa
Will what my heart desires come true?
Nadandhidum naal varumaa
Will the day it happens arrive?
Nikkattumaa pogattumaa
Should I stay or should I go,
Neela karunguyilae neela karunguyilae
Oh blue-black cuckoo, oh blue-black cuckoo?
Female :Dhaavani poi saelai vanrum
[Female]: The half-saree phase will pass and saree will arrive,
Saelaiyudan maalai varum naal varattum
Let the day come when the wedding garland comes along with the saree.
Nikkattumaa pogattumaa
Should I stay or should I go,
Neela karunguyilae neela karunguyilae
Oh blue-black cuckoo, oh blue-black cuckoo?
Female :Solai karunguyilae solai karunguyilae
[Female]: Oh cuckoo of the grove, oh cuckoo of the grove!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Nikkattumaa Pogattumaa' from Periya Veetu Pannakkaran (1990) is a tender romantic duet set against a lush rural backdrop. The lovers address a cuckoo as a symbolic confidant, expressing hesitation, deep longing, and the sweet dilemma of revealing their true feelings. The lyrics poetically mark the transition into womanhood—symbolized by moving from a half-saree (dhaavani) to a full saree—and look forward to marriage symbolized by the wedding garland (maalai) and toe-rings (metti).
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Nikkattumaa pogattumaa / Neela karunguyilae neela karunguyilae”
Repetition of the initial 'N' sound in consecutive lines creates rhythm.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Odaiyil naan amarndhaen / Adhil en mugam paarthirundhaen”
Matching of the second consonant sound 'd' ('Odaiyil' and 'Adhil').
Simile (Uvamai Ani)
“Malligai poo chedi poothadhu pol / En ullamum poothadhadi”
Explicit comparison using 'pol' comparing the blossoming of joy in the heart to a blooming jasmine plant.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Un mana kovililae”
Metaphorically comparing the lover's heart to a temple ('mana kovil' / shrine of the heart).
Did you know?
Trivia
'Nikkattumaa Pogattumaa' was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by the acclaimed poet Mu. Metha, and sung by Mano and K. S. Chithra. The song highlights rural Tamil cultural traditions surrounding coming of age, full-saree customs, and auspicious wedding signs.
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