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Lyrics & meaning

Nikkattumaa Pogattuma

From Periya Veetu Pannakkaran · 1990

Lyricist
Mu. Metha
Singers
Mano, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Periya Veetu Pannakkaran
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
13 Jan 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nikkattumaa pogattumaa
Neela karunguyilae neela karunguyilae
Dhaavani poi saelai vandhu
Saelai thodum vaelai vandhu thaavudhadi
Sollattumaa thallattumaa
Solai karunguyilae solai karunguyilae
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
Odaiyil naan amarndhaen
Adhil en mugam paarthirundhaen
Odaiyil paartha mugam
Adhu un mugam aanadhenna
Vaadaiiyl vaadidum poovinai pol
En nenjamum aanadhenna
Thaeradi veedhiyilae
Oru thoranam naan thoduthaen
Thorana vaasalilae
Oru thozhiyai kai pidithaen
Piditha karam inaindhidumaa
Inaindhidum naal varumaa
Sollattumaa thallattumaa
Solai karunguyilae solai karunguyilae
Dhaavani poi saelai varum
Saelaiyudan maalai varum naal varattum
Nikkattumaa pogattumaa
Neela karunguyilae neela karunguyilae
Thuguthutthu thutthutthu thutthutthuthoo…
Thuguthutthu thutthutthu thutthutthuthoo…
Raathiri naerathilae
Oru raagamum kettadhadi
Kettadhu kidaikkum endru
Oru saedhiyum sonnadhadi
Malligai poo chedi poothadhu pol
En ullamum poothadhadi
Ammanin kovililae
Andru aasaiyil naan nadandhaen
Un mana kovililae
Metti osaiyil pin thodarndhaen
Naadiyadhu nadandhidumaa
Nadandhidum naal varumaa
Nikkattumaa pogattumaa
Neela karunguyilae neela karunguyilae
Female :Dhaavani poi saelai vanrum
Saelaiyudan maalai varum naal varattum
Nikkattumaa pogattumaa
Neela karunguyilae neela karunguyilae
Female :Solai karunguyilae solai karunguyilae
Should I stay, or should I go?
Oh dark blue cuckoo, oh dark blue cuckoo!
The half-saree has given way to a saree,
And now that it is time to touch your saree, my heart leaps!
Should I say it, or should I hold it back?
Oh dark cuckoo of the grove, oh dark cuckoo of the grove!
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
I sat beside the stream,
And looked at my own reflection in it...
But the face I saw in the water,
How did it turn into yours?
Like a flower wilting in the chilly breeze,
Why has my heart withered too?
Along the temple chariot street,
I hung a festive garland.
Right at that decorated doorway,
I held the hand of my beloved.
Will these hands we held stay united forever?
Will that day of our union arrive?
Should I say it, or should I hold it back?
Oh dark cuckoo of the grove, oh dark cuckoo of the grove!
The half-saree will give way to a saree,
Let the day come when the wedding garland comes along with it!
Should I stay, or should I go?
Oh dark blue cuckoo, oh dark blue cuckoo!
Thukuthuthu thuthuthu thuthuthuthoo...
Thukuthuthu thuthuthu thuthuthuthoo...
In the quiet of the night,
I heard a sweet melody...
And it brought me a promise,
Saying that what I wished for will come true!
Just like a jasmine bush in full bloom,
My heart blossomed too!
Inside the temple of the goddess,
That day, I walked with longing in my heart...
Into the temple of your heart,
I followed you to the clinking sound of toe-rings!
Will what I yearned for really happen?
Will that day finally arrive?
Should I stay, or should I go?
Oh dark blue cuckoo, oh dark blue cuckoo!
Female: The half-saree will give way to a saree,
Let the day come when the wedding garland comes along with it!
Should I stay, or should I go?
Oh dark blue cuckoo, oh dark blue cuckoo!
Female: Oh dark cuckoo of the grove, oh dark cuckoo of the grove!
Male
Female
Chorus
Female
Male
Female
Male
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'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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