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Lyrics & meaning

Punnai Vanathu Kuyile

From Muthu Kaalai · 1995

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Muthu Kaalai1995

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Punnai vanaththu kuyilae neeOh cuckoo bird of the Alexandrian laurel forest,
Ennai ninaiththu isai paaduSing a melody thinking of me.
Female :Mullai vanaththu kulirae neeOh cool breeze of the jasmine grove,
Ennai anaiththu uravaaduEmbrace me and kindle our intimate bond.
Male
Vaenguzhalin osai ezhaAs the sound of the bamboo flute arises,
Female :Paai virikkum aasai ezhaA desire to spread the mat arises.
Male :Maarmeedhum tholmeedhum saainthirukkaLeaning against my chest and shoulders,
Female :Paalaarum thaenaarum paainthirukkaAs rivers of milk and honey flow.
Male
Punnai vanaththu kuyilae neeOh cuckoo bird of the Alexandrian laurel forest,
Ennai ninaiththu isai paaduSing a melody thinking of me.
Male
Mai poosum kannodum pesum neram indruToday is the time to speak with kohl-lined eyes,
Adhai poi pesa vaikkaathae ingu naanam endruDo not let shyness turn those words into lies.
Female :Ammaadi aagaathaa vegam nenjil konduOh my, shouldn't you hold back such speed in your heart?
Ennai allaathae aavaaram poovum naanum ondruDo not gather me like that; the Aavaaram flower and I are delicate and one.
Male
Kann vaiththa pinnaalae kai vaikka koodaathaaAfter setting eyes on me, shouldn't you set your hands on me too?
Female :Kai vaiththaal angangae minsaaram odaathaaIf hands touch, won't electricity flow everywhere?
Male :Ennenna aanaal enna aaval konda pothuWhatever happens, happens, when yearning takes over!
Female :Endraalum ellaikkullae nindraal thaanae maadhuEven so, a woman is truly respectable only if she stays within limits.
Male :Maarmeedhum tholmeedhum saainthirukkaLeaning against my chest and shoulders,
Female :Oo….paalaarum thaenaarum paainthirukkaOh... as rivers of milk and honey flow.
Male
Punnai vanaththu kuyilae neeOh cuckoo bird of the Alexandrian laurel forest,
Ennai ninaiththu isai paaduSing a melody thinking of me.
Female :Mullai vanaththu kulirae neeOh cool breeze of the jasmine grove,
Ennai anaiththu uravaaduEmbrace me and kindle our intimate bond.
Female
En meedhu thooralgal poda megam varaAs clouds arrive to sprinkle light drizzles over me,
Ada appothu raasaavae unthan mogam varaAh, right then my king, your desire rushes in.
Male :Muppaalukkappaalum pogum ennangalaeMy thoughts cross beyond the three divisions of life (Aram, Porul, Inbam),
Oru muththaaram vaiththaalum pothum kannaththilaeIt is enough to place a single row of pearl-like kisses on the cheek.
Female
Nee ondru vaiththaalae naan ondru vaippaenaeIf you place one kiss, I will place one back,
Male :Nenjaththai nenjodu naan vaiththu thaippanaeI will stitch my heart close to yours.
Female :Michchaththai meedham thannai maalai ittu paarppomLet us see the remaining romance after tying the wedding garland.
Male :Inbaththai naanum neeyum alli alli saerppomYou and I will gather and accumulate bliss together.
Female :Maarmeedhum tholmeedhum saainthirukkaLeaning against my chest and shoulders,
Male :Oo….paalaarum thaenaarum paainthirukkaOh... as rivers of milk and honey flow.
Female
Mullai vanaththu kulirae neeOh cool breeze of the jasmine grove,
Ennai anaiththu uravaaduEmbrace me and kindle our intimate bond.
Male :Vaenguzhalin osai ezhaAs the sound of the bamboo flute arises,
Female :Paai virikkum aasai ezhaA desire to spread the mat arises.
Male :Maarmeedhum tholmeedhum saainthirukkaLeaning against my chest and shoulders,
Female :Paalaarum thaenaarum paainthirukkaAs rivers of milk and honey flow.
Male
Punnai vanaththu kuyilae neeOh cuckoo bird of the Alexandrian laurel forest,
Ennai ninaiththu isai paaduSing a melody thinking of me.
Female :Mullai vanaththu kulirae neeOh cool breeze of the jasmine grove,
Ennai anaiththu uravaadu….Embrace me and kindle our intimate bond...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This romantic duet from the film Muthu Kaalai (1995) captures the playful flirtation and affectionate exchange between two lovers. The hero compares the heroine to a sweet cuckoo bird in a serene forest setting, asking her to sing for him, while the heroine addresses him as the cool breeze of a jasmine garden, inviting his romantic embrace. The lyrics weave metaphors of nature, music, and sweet river flows to depict their growing passion and playful banter about boundaries and intimacy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Punnai vanaththu kuyilae nee / Ennai ninaiththu isai paadu

Matching second consonants in adjacent lines ('Punnai' and 'Ennai').

Metaphor (Uruvagham)

Paalaarum thaenaarum paainthirukka

Comparing sweet romantic bliss to flowing rivers of milk and honey ('Paalaarum thaenaarum').

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

Kai vaiththaal angangae minsaaram odaathaa

Describing physical touch as electricity running through the body ('minsaaram odaathaa').

Allusion (Kurippu)

Muppaalukkappaalum pogum ennangalae

Reference to 'Muppaal' (Tirukkural's three sections: Aram, Porul, Inbam) to state that thoughts transcend worldly categories.

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Trivia

Muthu Kaalai is a 1995 Tamil rural drama film directed by Gokula Krishnan, starring Prabhu and Soundarya in lead roles. The film's musical score was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by the legendary poet Vaali.

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