- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singers
- Mano, P. Susheela
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Irumbu Pookkal
- Movie release year
- 1991
- Lyrics added on
- 2 Jun 2019
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Jamkkujam kku jajamkku jam
Kkujam kku jajamkku jamjamjam
Retta kuruvi
Retta vaalu kuruvi
Ippa koottukkulla thaan
Jhukum ku jhum
Sondha kadhaiyai
Adhu solli mudikkum
Indha paattukkulla thaan
Jhukum ku jhum
Retta kuruvi
Retta vaalu kuruvi
Ippa koottukkulla thaan
Jhukum ku jhum
Sondha kadhaiyai
Adhu solli mudikkum
Indha paattukkulla thaan
Jhukum ku jhum
Ippodhu unakku
Chorus :Jhukum ku jhum
Male :Kalyaana vayasu
Chorus :Jhukum ku jhum
Female :Sollunga enakku
Soodaachu manasu
Male :Nenjilae ulladhai chollalaama
Retta kuruvi
Retta vaalu kuruvi
Ippa koottukkulla thaan
Jhukum ku jhum
Sondha kadhaiyai
Adhu solli mudikkum
Indha paattukkulla thaan
Jhukum ku jhum
Manam engum neruppirukku
Eriyudhu eriyudhu kozhundhu vittu
Unakkum thaan poruppirukku
Nee adhai anaikkanum nerungi vandhu
Manam engum neruppirukku
Eriyudhu eriyudhu kozhundhu vittu
Unakkum thaan poruppirukku
Nee adhai anaikkanum nerungi vandhu
Kannaalae erikkaadhae
Chorus :Jukuku jumjum
Male :Sollaamal parikkaadhae
Chorus :Jukuku jumjum
Female :Onnaaga sirikkaadhae
Chorus :Jukuku jumjum
Female :En nenjai izhukkaadhae
Yedho vegam ennodu modha
Naanae thaduthum nillaadhu
Kaalam neram ippodhu saera
Bodhai ondru jivvendru yera
Retta kuruvi
Retta vaalu kuruvi
Ippa koottukkulla thaan
Jhukum ku jhum
Sondha kadhaiyai
Adhu solli mudikkum
Indha paattukkulla thaan
Jhukum ku jhum
………………………….
Poovaana vaalibam thaan
Pudhu pudhu rasanaiyai kaanattumae
Boopaalam kettadhumae
Pudhu vidha ulaginai paarkkattumae
Poovaana vaalibam thaan
Pudhu pudhu rasanaiyai kaanattumae
Boopaalam kettadhumae
Pudhu vidha ulaginai paarkkattumae
Ellorukkum vidivu varum
Chorus :Jukuku jumjum
Male :Ennaadha mudivu varaum
Chorus :Jukuku jumjum
Female :Ponnaana manangalilae
Chorus :Jukuku jumjum
Female :Ennaalum inimai varum
Chorus :Jukuku jumjum
Naalai endru ippodhu vaadum
Kozhai nenjam koodaadhu
Vaazhai pola nillaamal valarum
Inbangal malarum pon naalum pularum
Retta kuruvi
Retta vaalu kuruvi
Ippa koottukkulla thaan
Jhukum ku jhum
Sondha kadhaiyai
Adhu solli mudikkum
Indha paattukkulla thaan
Jhukum ku jhum
Ippodhu unakku
Chorus :Jhukum ku jhum
Male :Kalyaana vayasu
Chorus :Jhukum ku jhum
Female :Sollunga enakku
Soodaachu manasu
Male :Nenjilae ulladhai chollalaama
Retta kuruvi
Retta vaalu kuruvi
Ippa koottukkulla thaan
Jhukum ku jhum
Sondha kadhaiyai
Adhu solli mudikkum
Indha paattukkulla thaan
Jhukum ku jhum
Jammukku jam kku jajammukku jam
Kkujam kku jajammukku jam jam jam
A pair of sparrows,
twin-tailed sparrows,
are inside their nest right now.
Jukum ku joom
Their own story,
they will finish telling,
within this very song.
Jukum ku joom
A pair of sparrows,
twin-tailed sparrows,
are inside their nest right now.
Jukum ku joom
Their own story,
they will finish telling,
within this very song.
Jukum ku joom
Right now, for you,
Chorus: Jukum ku joom
Male: It is the age to get married.
Chorus: Jukum ku joom
Female: Tell me,
my heart has grown warm with longing.
Male: Shall I speak what is in my heart?
A pair of sparrows,
twin-tailed sparrows,
are inside their nest right now.
Jukum ku joom
Their own story,
they will finish telling,
within this very song.
Jukum ku joom
There is a fire burning everywhere in my heart,
it blazes and blazes in high flames.
You share the responsibility too,
you must come close and put it out.
There is a fire burning everywhere in my heart,
it blazes and blazes in high flames.
You share the responsibility too,
you must come close and put it out.
Do not scorch me with your eyes,
Chorus: Jukkukku joom joom
Male: Do not pluck away my heart without a word,
Chorus: Jukkukku joom joom
Female: Do not laugh at me together like that,
Chorus: Jukkukku joom joom
Female: Do not pull at my heart.
Some wild rush collides with me,
and it will not stop even if I hold it back.
As the time and moment come together now,
a sweet intoxication rises with a rush.
A pair of sparrows,
twin-tailed sparrows,
are inside their nest right now.
Jukum ku joom
Their own story,
they will finish telling,
within this very song.
Jukum ku joom
...
This flower-like youth,
let it discover brand-new tastes of joy!
As soon as the morning raga (Boopaalam) is heard,
let it behold a whole new world!
This flower-like youth,
let it discover brand-new tastes of joy!
As soon as the morning raga (Boopaalam) is heard,
let it behold a whole new world!
A bright dawn will come for everyone,
Chorus: Jukkukku joom joom
Male: An unexpected good outcome will arrive,
Chorus: Jukkukku joom joom
Female: In pure golden hearts,
Chorus: Jukkukku joom joom
Female: sweetness will always stay.
Chorus: Jukkukku joom joom
Worrying about tomorrow and wilting away today—
one should not have such a timid heart!
Growing endlessly like a plantain tree,
joys will blossom, and golden days will dawn!
A pair of sparrows,
twin-tailed sparrows,
are inside their nest right now.
Jukum ku joom
Their own story,
they will finish telling,
within this very song.
Jukum ku joom
Right now, for you,
Chorus: Jukum ku joom
Male: It is the age to get married.
Chorus: Jukum ku joom
Female: Tell me,
my heart has grown warm with longing.
Male: Shall I speak what is in my heart?
A pair of sparrows,
twin-tailed sparrows,
are inside their nest right now.
Jukum ku joom
Their own story,
they will finish telling,
within this very song.
Jukum ku joom
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Female
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Male
Female
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song 'Retta Kuruvi' from the 1991 Tamil movie Irumbu Pookkal uses the metaphor of two birds ('Retta kuruvi') tucked safely inside a nest to symbolize a couple sharing their personal love story. Through catchy rhythmic beats and upbeat duets, the lovers express their budding romance, playful tension, and mutual desire to be united in marriage.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Retta kuruvi / Retta vaalu kuruvi / Ippa koottukkulla thaan”
Comparing the lovers to 'Retta kuruvi' (twin birds) resting inside a nest.
Metaphor / Imagery
“Manam engum neruppirukku / Eriyudhu eriyudhu kozhundhu vittu”
Describing passionate emotional longing as a flame/fire burning in the mind ('Manam engum neruppirukku').
Simile (Upamai)
“Vaazhai pola nillaamal valarum”
Comparing continuous joy and emotional growth to the flourishing growth of a banana plant ('Vaazhai pola').
Onomatopoeia (Oliyoppam)
“Jhukum ku jhum”
Use of rhythmic syllables like 'Jhukum ku jhum' and 'Jukuku jumjum' to mimic bird sounds and lively drum beats.
Monoreyme / Second-letter Rhyme (Edukku)
“Poovaana vaalibam thaan / Boopaalam kettadhumae”
In Tamil poetry, matching the second letter across lines creates rhythm, such as 'Poovaana' / 'Boopaalam'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Irumbu Pookkal (1991) is a crime drama film starring Prabhu and Karthik, directed by Pa. Kalaimani. The film features music composed jointly by legendary composers M. S. Viswanathan and Ilaiyaraaja, making it a rare collaborative project between the two maestro composers.
Keep listening
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