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Muthu Kaalai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Punnai Vanathu Kuyile

From Muthu Kaalai · 1995

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Muthu Kaalai
Movie release year
1995
Lyrics added on
17 Nov 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Punnai vanaththu kuyilae nee
Ennai ninaiththu isai paadu
Female :Mullai vanaththu kulirae nee
Ennai anaiththu uravaadu
Vaenguzhalin osai ezha
Female :Paai virikkum aasai ezha
Male :Maarmeedhum tholmeedhum saainthirukka
Female :Paalaarum thaenaarum paainthirukka
Punnai vanaththu kuyilae nee
Ennai ninaiththu isai paadu
Mai poosum kannodum pesum neram indru
Adhai poi pesa vaikkaathae ingu naanam endru
Female :Ammaadi aagaathaa vegam nenjil kondu
Ennai allaathae aavaaram poovum naanum ondru
Kann vaiththa pinnaalae kai vaikka koodaathaa
Female :Kai vaiththaal angangae minsaaram odaathaa
Male :Ennenna aanaal enna aaval konda pothu
Female :Endraalum ellaikkullae nindraal thaanae maadhu
Male :Maarmeedhum tholmeedhum saainthirukka
Female :Oo….paalaarum thaenaarum paainthirukka
Punnai vanaththu kuyilae nee
Ennai ninaiththu isai paadu
Female :Mullai vanaththu kulirae nee
Ennai anaiththu uravaadu
En meedhu thooralgal poda megam vara
Ada appothu raasaavae unthan mogam vara
Male :Muppaalukkappaalum pogum ennangalae
Oru muththaaram vaiththaalum pothum kannaththilae
Nee ondru vaiththaalae naan ondru vaippaenae
Male :Nenjaththai nenjodu naan vaiththu thaippanae
Female :Michchaththai meedham thannai maalai ittu paarppom
Male :Inbaththai naanum neeyum alli alli saerppom
Female :Maarmeedhum tholmeedhum saainthirukka
Male :Oo….paalaarum thaenaarum paainthirukka
Mullai vanaththu kulirae nee
Ennai anaiththu uravaadu
Male :Vaenguzhalin osai ezha
Female :Paai virikkum aasai ezha
Male :Maarmeedhum tholmeedhum saainthirukka
Female :Paalaarum thaenaarum paainthirukka
Punnai vanaththu kuyilae nee
Ennai ninaiththu isai paadu
Female :Mullai vanaththu kulirae nee
Ennai anaiththu uravaadu….
Oh cuckoo of the punnai grove,
sing a song thinking of me!
Oh cool breeze of the jasmine grove,
embrace me and share your love!
As the sound of the bamboo flute rises,
as the desire to spread the mat awakens,
to rest upon my chest and shoulders,
as rivers of milk and honey flow...
Oh cuckoo of the punnai grove,
sing a song thinking of me!
Today is the time to speak with kohl-lined eyes;
do not make them tell lies in the name of modesty.
Oh dear, isn't such impatience in your heart too much?
Do not gather me up roughly; the delicate aavaaram flower and I are the same.
Having set my eyes on you, can I not lay my hands on you too?
If you lay your hands on me, won't electric sparks rush all over?
Come what may, when deep longing takes hold!
Even so, isn't a woman graceful only when she stays within her bounds?
Resting upon my chest and shoulders,
ooh... as rivers of milk and honey flow...
Oh cuckoo of the punnai grove,
sing a song thinking of me!
Oh cool breeze of the jasmine grove,
embrace me and share your love!
As the clouds gather to shower drizzles on me,
ah, right then, my king, your desire awakens!
My thoughts go far beyond Muppaal (the three classic realms of virtue, wealth, and love);
is it enough to just leave a string of kisses on your cheek?
If you place one, I will place one back on you!
I will hold your heart against mine and stitch them into one!
Let us save the rest for after we exchange our wedding garlands.
You and I will gather endless joy together!
Resting upon your chest and shoulders,
ooh... as rivers of milk and honey flow...
Oh cool breeze of the jasmine grove,
embrace me and share your love!
As the sound of the bamboo flute rises,
as the desire to spread the mat awakens,
to rest upon my chest and shoulders,
as rivers of milk and honey flow...
Oh cuckoo of the punnai grove,
sing a song thinking of me!
Oh cool breeze of the jasmine grove,
embrace me and share your love...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Did you know?

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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