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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Panjara Kili Koodu

From Antharangam Oomaiyanathu · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Shailaja
Music director
K. J. Joy
Details
Antharangam Oomaiyanathu1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Panjaara kili koodu kattuthuThe caged parrot is building a nest
Paaththu kolladi thaayammaaTake a look at it, oh dear woman
Amma…..amma…..amma….Mother... mother... mother...
Panjaara kili koodu kattuthuThe caged parrot is building a nest
Paaththu kolladi thaayammaaTake a look at it, oh dear woman
Amma…..amma…..amma….Mother... mother... mother...
Female
Aa…..singaara kuyil kaaththu nikkuthuAh... the beautiful cuckoo is waiting
Thevai ennadi sollammaa oooho….oo….Tell me, dear, what do you need? Ooh...
Male
Panjaara kili koodu kattuthuThe caged parrot is building a nest
Paaththu kolladi thaayammaaTake a look at it, oh dear woman
Amma…..amma…..amma….Mother... mother... mother...
Female
Aa…..singaara kuyil kaaththu nikkuthuAh... the beautiful cuckoo is waiting
Thevai ennadi sollammaa oooho….oo….Tell me, dear, what do you need? Ooh...
Male
Paal vellam mungiya sangeetha kuyilA musical cuckoo submerged in a flood of milk
Pazhaththa kandaa kondaattamCelebrating upon seeing the fruit
Female :Thaen pongi pozhiyum singara malarFemale: A beautiful flower overflowing with honey
Kannil vizhuntha vandaattamLike a bee falling into the eye
Andhiyilae santhiyilaeIn the dusk, at twilight
Male :Arththajaama neraththilaeMale: At the midnight hour
Female
Singaara kuyil kaaththu nikkuthuThe beautiful cuckoo is waiting
Thevai ennadi sollammaaTell me, dear, what do you need?
Amma…..amma…..amma….Mother... mother... mother...
Male :Ae….panjaara kili koodu kattuthuMale: Hey... the caged parrot is building a nest
Paaththu kolladi thaayammaa…..ooo…..ooo…..Take a look at it, oh dear woman... ooh...
Female
Paadal themmaanu kadhal pallaakkuThe song is a folk melody, love is a palanquin
Male :Oodal pannaathu rendum onnaachchuMale: Without playing at feigned anger, the two have become one
Female :Paadal themmaanu kadhal pallaakkuFemale: The song is a folk melody, love is a palanquin
Male :Aa….oodal pannaathu rendum onnaachchuMale: Ah... without playing at feigned anger, the two have become one
Female
Poo meththaiyittathu maithaanaththilA bed of flowers is laid out in the open ground
Veliyila enggum sollaathaeDo not reveal it anywhere outside
Male :Un muththu sippi vaai thiranthathuMale: Your pearl-oyster mouth has opened
Anaiththu kollu thallaathaeEmbrace me, do not push me away
Female :Edukkavaa kodukkavaaFemale: Shall I take it, or shall I give it?
Male :Padikkavaa mudikkavaaMale: Shall I read it, or shall I finish it?
Female
Singaara kuyil kaaththu nikkuthuThe beautiful cuckoo is waiting
Thevai ennadi sollammaaTell me, dear, what do you need?
Amma…..amma…..amma….Mother... mother... mother...
Male :Ae….panjaara kili koodu kattuthuMale: Hey... the caged parrot is building a nest
Paaththu kolladi thaayammaa…..ooo…..ooo…..Take a look at it, oh dear woman... ooh...
Male
Oo….oo….oo….oo…..ooo….ooo….Oo... oo... oo... oo... ooh... ooh...
Female
Aaru thullaattam aasai vellottamThe river leaps like a flood of desire testing its waters
Male :Kaala ponnaattam ponnu kannaattamMale: Time is like gold, the girl's eyes shine like gold
Female :Aaru thullaattam aasai vellottamFemale: The river leaps like a flood of desire testing its waters
Male :Aa….kaala ponnaattam ponnu kannaattamMale: Ah... time is like gold, the girl's eyes shine like gold
Female
Haang….chinnanjirusu ellaam enakkuHa... the young ones and all their sweet moments bring me
Theriya theriya santhosamJoy as I understand them more and more
Male :Nee puththam pudhusuMale: You are brand new
Nallaa unakku puriya puriya sangeethamAs you understand it better and better, it becomes music
Ninaikkirom nadakkanumWhat we think of must happen
Anaikkirom nillaikkanumWhat we embrace must stay permanently
Female
Singaara kuyil kaaththu nikkuthuThe beautiful cuckoo is waiting
Thevai ennadi sollammaaTell me, dear, what do you need?
Amma…..amma…..amma….Mother... mother... mother...
Male :Ae….panjaara kili koodu kattuthuMale: Hey... the caged parrot is building a nest
Paaththu kolladi thaayammaa…..oo….oo….oo…Take a look at it, oh dear woman... ooh...
Female :Aa…..aaa…..Female: Aa... aaa...
Male :Ooo….ooh….Male: Ooo... ooh...
Female :Aa…..aaa…..Female: Aa... aaa...
Male :Ooo….ooh….Male: Ooo... ooh...
Female :Aa…..aaa…..Female: Aa... aaa...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Panjaara Kili Koodu Kattuthu from Antharangam Oomaiyanathu (1980) is a romantic folk duet penning the courtship of two lovers. Lyricist Kannadasan utilizes vivid pastoral imagery—comparing the partners to caged parrots building a home, musical cuckoos in milk, and bees hovering over honeyed flowers. The song captures the delicate anticipation, playful teasing, and emotional closeness between two lovers as night falls.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Urvagam)

Panjaara kili koodu kattuthu

Compares the beloved or heart to a caged parrot ('Panjaara kili') making a nest to symbolize preparing for a joint life.

Simile (Uvamai)

Kannil vizhuntha vandaattam

Uses '-aattam' (like/similar to) to compare a bee falling into a flower or eye to describe deep romantic fascination.

Second-Letter Rhyme (Ethirhai)

Paadal themmaanu kadhal pallaakku / Oodal pannaathu rendum onnaachchu

Rhyming of the second syllable in 'Paadal' and 'Oodal' to give rhythmic harmony to the folk structure.

Did you know?

Trivia

Antharangam Oomaiyanathu is a 1980 drama featuring lyrics by Kaviarasu Kannadasan. The track employs a traditional Tamil 'Themmaangu' folk rhythm structure combined with lyrical wordplay typical of Kannadasan's late-70s and 80s compositions.

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