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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Rettai Kuruvi

From Irumbu Pookkal · 1991

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Mano, P. Susheela
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Irumbu Pookkal1991

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Jamkkujam kku jajamkku jamJamkkujam kku jajamkku jam (Rhythmic beat vocalization)
Kkujam kku jajamkku jamjamjamKkujam kku jajamkku jamjamjam (Rhythmic beat vocalization)
Male
Retta kuruviTwin birds
Retta vaalu kuruviTwin-tailed birds
Ippa koottukkulla thaanAre inside the nest right now
Chorus
Jhukum ku jhumJhukum ku jhum (Rhythmic refrain)
Male
Sondha kadhaiyaiTheir own life story
Adhu solli mudikkumIt will finish narrating
Indha paattukkulla thaanRight within this song
Chorus
Jhukum ku jhumJhukum ku jhum (Rhythmic refrain)
Female
Retta kuruviTwin birds
Retta vaalu kuruviTwin-tailed birds
Ippa koottukkulla thaanAre inside the nest right now
Chorus
Jhukum ku jhumJhukum ku jhum (Rhythmic refrain)
Male
Sondha kadhaiyaiTheir own life story
Adhu solli mudikkumIt will finish narrating
Indha paattukkulla thaanRight within this song
Chorus
Jhukum ku jhumJhukum ku jhum (Rhythmic refrain)
Male
Ippodhu unakkuRight now for you
Chorus :Jhukum ku jhumChorus: Jhukum ku jhum
Male :Kalyaana vayasuMale: It is marriageable age
Chorus :Jhukum ku jhumChorus: Jhukum ku jhum
Female :Sollunga enakkuFemale: Tell me now
Soodaachu manasuMy heart has grown warm with longing
Male :Nenjilae ulladhai chollalaamaMale: Shall I express what is in my heart?
Female
Retta kuruviTwin birds
Retta vaalu kuruviTwin-tailed birds
Ippa koottukkulla thaanAre inside the nest right now
Chorus
Jhukum ku jhumJhukum ku jhum (Rhythmic refrain)
Male
Sondha kadhaiyaiTheir own life story
Adhu solli mudikkumIt will finish narrating
Indha paattukkulla thaanRight within this song
Chorus
Jhukum ku jhumJhukum ku jhum (Rhythmic refrain)
Male
Manam engum neruppirukkuThere is a fire burning all across the mind
Eriyudhu eriyudhu kozhundhu vittuIt is burning and blazing in full flames
Female
Unakkum thaan poruppirukkuYou too share a responsibility here
Nee adhai anaikkanum nerungi vandhuYou must come closer and extinguish it
Male
Manam engum neruppirukkuThere is a fire burning all across the mind
Eriyudhu eriyudhu kozhundhu vittuIt is burning and blazing in full flames
Female
Unakkum thaan poruppirukkuYou too share a responsibility here
Nee adhai anaikkanum nerungi vandhuYou must come closer and extinguish it
Male
Kannaalae erikkaadhaeDo not burn me with your eyes
Chorus :Jukuku jumjumChorus: Jukuku jumjum
Male :Sollaamal parikkaadhaeMale: Do not pluck without telling
Chorus :Jukuku jumjumChorus: Jukuku jumjum
Female :Onnaaga sirikkaadhaeFemale: Do not laugh together teasingly
Chorus :Jukuku jumjumChorus: Jukuku jumjum
Female :En nenjai izhukkaadhaeFemale: Do not pull my heart away
Male
Yedho vegam ennodu modhaSome kind of speed collides with me
Naanae thaduthum nillaadhuEven if I try to stop it, it does not hold back
Female
Kaalam neram ippodhu saeraAs the time and moment come together now
Bodhai ondru jivvendru yeraAn intoxication rises up rapidly
Male
Retta kuruviTwin birds
Retta vaalu kuruviTwin-tailed birds
Ippa koottukkulla thaanAre inside the nest right now
Chorus
Jhukum ku jhumJhukum ku jhum (Rhythmic refrain)
Male
Sondha kadhaiyaiTheir own life story
Adhu solli mudikkumIt will finish narrating
Indha paattukkulla thaanRight within this song
Chorus
Jhukum ku jhumJhukum ku jhum (Rhythmic refrain)
Chorus
………………………….(Instrumental Interlude)
Male
Poovaana vaalibam thaanMay this flower-like youth
Pudhu pudhu rasanaiyai kaanattumaeExperience new and fresh tastes
Female
Boopaalam kettadhumaeAs soon as the morning raga Boopaalam is heard
Pudhu vidha ulaginai paarkkattumaeMay it behold a new kind of world
Male
Poovaana vaalibam thaanMay this flower-like youth
Pudhu pudhu rasanaiyai kaanattumaeExperience new and fresh tastes
Female
Boopaalam kettadhumaeAs soon as the morning raga Boopaalam is heard
Pudhu vidha ulaginai paarkkattumaeMay it behold a new kind of world
Male
Ellorukkum vidivu varumDawn will break for everyone
Chorus :Jukuku jumjumChorus: Jukuku jumjum
Male :Ennaadha mudivu varaumMale: What a wonderful resolution will arrive
Chorus :Jukuku jumjumChorus: Jukuku jumjum
Female :Ponnaana manangalilaeFemale: In golden hearts
Chorus :Jukuku jumjumChorus: Jukuku jumjum
Female :Ennaalum inimai varumFemale: Sweetness will blossom every day
Chorus :Jukuku jumjumChorus: Jukuku jumjum
Male
Naalai endru ippodhu vaadumA timid heart that languishes thinking of tomorrow
Kozhai nenjam koodaadhuShould not exist
Female
Vaazhai pola nillaamal valarumGrowing endlessly like a banana plant
Inbangal malarum pon naalum pularumJoys will blossom and a golden day will dawn
Male
Retta kuruviTwin birds
Retta vaalu kuruviTwin-tailed birds
Ippa koottukkulla thaanAre inside the nest right now
Chorus
Jhukum ku jhumJhukum ku jhum (Rhythmic refrain)
Female
Sondha kadhaiyaiTheir own life story
Adhu solli mudikkumIt will finish narrating
Indha paattukkulla thaanRight within this song
Chorus
Jhukum ku jhumJhukum ku jhum (Rhythmic refrain)
Male
Ippodhu unakkuRight now for you
Chorus :Jhukum ku jhumChorus: Jhukum ku jhum
Male :Kalyaana vayasuMale: It is marriageable age
Chorus :Jhukum ku jhumChorus: Jhukum ku jhum
Female :Sollunga enakkuFemale: Tell me now
Soodaachu manasuMy heart has grown warm with longing
Male :Nenjilae ulladhai chollalaamaMale: Shall I express what is in my heart?
Female
Retta kuruviTwin birds
Retta vaalu kuruviTwin-tailed birds
Ippa koottukkulla thaanAre inside the nest right now
Chorus
Jhukum ku jhumJhukum ku jhum (Rhythmic refrain)
Male
Sondha kadhaiyaiTheir own life story
Adhu solli mudikkumIt will finish narrating
Indha paattukkulla thaanRight within this song
Chorus
Jhukum ku jhumJhukum ku jhum (Rhythmic refrain)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

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