Samakozhi
From Ponnu Oorukku Pudhusu · 1979
- Lyricist
- Panchu Arunachalam
- Singers
- Ilayaraja, S. P. Sailaja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Ponnu Oorukku Pudhusu1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Mm…mmm….mmm….mmm…. | Mmm... mmm... mmm... mmm... |
| Mm…mmm….mmm….mmm…. | Mmm... mmm... mmm... mmm... |
| Female | |
| Saamakkozhi yae koovudhammaa | The midnight rooster is crowing. |
| Saamakkozhi yae koovudhammaa | The midnight rooster is crowing. |
| Aasaiyulla saeval oorukkenna kaaval | Why does the longing rooster guard the village? |
| Pakkathil vandhu sollavaa vekkathai vittu | Shall I come close and tell you, leaving all shyness behind? |
| Saamakkozhi yae koovudhammaa | The midnight rooster is crowing. |
| Female | |
| Yaekkathilae thookkamindri | Sleepless in yearning, |
| Koovudhammaa paavam | It crows, poor thing! |
| Ennamellaam solli vaikka | To express all its thoughts, |
| Thaedudhammaa mogam | Passion goes searching. |
| Mogathilae.. hey thaedi thaedi | In passion... hey, searching and searching, |
| Jodiyaithaan paarthuvittaal | Once it finds its partner, |
| Saerthukkolla thaavum | It leaps to embrace. |
| Dhaagam indru theerum nerammammaa | Today is the time the thirst shall be quenched, my dear! |
| Saamakkozhi yae koovudhammaa | The midnight rooster is crowing. |
| Female | |
| Paadalukku raagamindri | Without a melody for my song, |
| Kaathirundhaen naanum | I too was waiting. |
| Male | |
| Raagathudan bhaavam kondu | With melody and emotion, |
| Odivandhaai neeyum | You came running. |
| Female | |
| Neeyum undu.. | You are here... |
| Hey naanum undu | Hey, I am here too, |
| Male | |
| Kaadhalukku paadhai undu | There is a path for love. |
| Kaigalukkul vaadi | Come into my arms, |
| Kattikkolla poren paerazhaghaa | I am going to embrace you, oh handsome one! |
| Saamakkozhi yae koovudhammaa | The midnight rooster is crowing. |
| Aasaiyulla saeval oorukkenna kaaval | Why does the longing rooster guard the village? |
| Pakkathil vandhu sollumaa vekkathai vittu | Come close and tell me, leaving all shyness behind! |
| Male | |
| Poonjiragil kolamidum | Making patterns with soft flower-like wings, |
| Jaadai sollum kangal | Eyes that speak through subtle gestures, |
| Thaenidhazhil saerthu vaitha | Gathered on honey-sweet lips, |
| Moga rasam pongum | The essence of desire overflows. |
| Saerthukkolla naan saaindhukkolla | For me to embrace, for me to lean on, |
| Tholgalilae pottu vaithaai | Upon your shoulders you have prepared, |
| Ponnazhaghu manjam | A golden bed of beauty. |
| Sollithara venum paadangalai | You must teach me the lessons of love. |
| Female | |
| Saamakkozhi | The midnight rooster, |
| Male | |
| Hey | Hey! |
| Female | |
| Koovudhammaa | Is crowing, |
| Male | |
| Hey | Hey! |
| Female | |
| Aasaiyulla saeval oorukkenna kaaval | Why does the longing rooster guard the village? |
| Pakkathil vandhu sollavaa vekkathai vittu | Shall I come close and tell you, leaving all shyness behind? |
| Female | |
| Saamakkozhi | The midnight rooster, |
| Male | |
| Hey | Hey! |
| Female | |
| Koovudhammaa | Is crowing. |
ம்ம்.....ம்ம்ம்.....ம்ம்ம்......ம்ம்ம்.....
ம்ம்......ம்ம்ம்......ம்ம்ம்ம்.......
Mmm... mmm... mmm... mmm...
Mmm... mmm... mmm... mmm...
சாமக்கோழி ஏ கூவுதம்மா
சாமக்கோழி ஏ கூவுதம்மா
ஆசையுள்ள சேவல் ஊருக்கென்ன காவல்
பக்கத்தில் வந்து சொல்லவா வெக்கத்தை விட்டு
சாமக்கோழி ஏ கூவுதம்மா
The midnight rooster is crowing.
The midnight rooster is crowing.
Why does the longing rooster guard the village?
Shall I come close and tell you, leaving all shyness behind?
The midnight rooster is crowing.
ஏக்கத்திலே தூக்கமின்றி
கூவுதம்மா பாவம்
எண்ணமெல்லாம் சொல்லி வைக்க
தேடுதம்மா மோகம்
மோகத்திலே ஹே தேடித் தேடி
ஜோடியைத்தான் பார்த்துவிட்டால்
சேர்த்துக்கொள்ள தாவும்
தாகம் இன்று தீரும் நேரமம்மா
சாமக்கோழி ஏ கூவுதம்மா
Sleepless in yearning,
It crows, poor thing!
To express all its thoughts,
Passion goes searching.
In passion... hey, searching and searching,
Once it finds its partner,
It leaps to embrace.
Today is the time the thirst shall be quenched, my dear!
The midnight rooster is crowing.
பாடலுக்கு ராகமின்றி
காத்திருந்தேன் நானும்
Without a melody for my song,
I too was waiting.
ராகத்துடன் பாவம் கொண்டு
ஓடிவந்தாய் நீயும்
With melody and emotion,
You came running.
நீயும் உண்டு
ஹேய் நானும் உண்டு
You are here...
Hey, I am here too,
காதலுக்கு பாதை உண்டு
கைகளுக்குள் வாடி
கட்டிக்கொள்ள போறேன் பேரழக
சாமக்கோழி ஏ கூவுதம்மா
ஆசையுள்ள சேவல் ஊருக்கென்ன காவல்
பக்கத்தில் வந்து சொல்லவா வெக்கத்தை விட்டு
There is a path for love.
Come into my arms,
I am going to embrace you, oh handsome one!
The midnight rooster is crowing.
Why does the longing rooster guard the village?
Come close and tell me, leaving all shyness behind!
பூஞ்சிறகில் கோலமிடும்
ஜாடை சொல்லும் கண்கள்
தேனிதழில் சேர்த்து வைத்த
மோக ரசம் பொங்கும்
சேர்த்துக்கொள்ள நான் சாய்ந்துகொள்ள
தோள்களிலே போட்டு வைத்தாய் பொன்னழகு மஞ்சம்
சொல்லித்தர வேணும் பாடங்களை
Making patterns with soft flower-like wings,
Eyes that speak through subtle gestures,
Gathered on honey-sweet lips,
The essence of desire overflows.
For me to embrace, for me to lean on,
Upon your shoulders you have prepared,
A golden bed of beauty.
You must teach me the lessons of love.
சாமக்கோழி
The midnight rooster,
ஹேய்
Hey!
கூவுதம்மா
Is crowing,
ஹே
Hey!
ஆசையுள்ள சேவல் ஊருக்கென்ன காவல்
பக்கத்தில் வந்து சொல்லவா வெக்கத்தை விட்டு
Why does the longing rooster guard the village?
Shall I come close and tell you, leaving all shyness behind?
சாமக்கோழி
The midnight rooster,
ஹே
Hey!
கூவுதம்மா
Is crowing.
Mm…mmm….mmm….mmm….
Mmm... mmm... mmm... mmm...
Mm…mmm….mmm….mmm….
Mmm... mmm... mmm... mmm...
Saamakkozhi yae koovudhammaa
The midnight rooster is crowing.
Saamakkozhi yae koovudhammaa
The midnight rooster is crowing.
Aasaiyulla saeval oorukkenna kaaval
Why does the longing rooster guard the village?
Pakkathil vandhu sollavaa vekkathai vittu
Shall I come close and tell you, leaving all shyness behind?
Saamakkozhi yae koovudhammaa
The midnight rooster is crowing.
Yaekkathilae thookkamindri
Sleepless in yearning,
Koovudhammaa paavam
It crows, poor thing!
Ennamellaam solli vaikka
To express all its thoughts,
Thaedudhammaa mogam
Passion goes searching.
Mogathilae.. hey thaedi thaedi
In passion... hey, searching and searching,
Jodiyaithaan paarthuvittaal
Once it finds its partner,
Saerthukkolla thaavum
It leaps to embrace.
Dhaagam indru theerum nerammammaa
Today is the time the thirst shall be quenched, my dear!
Saamakkozhi yae koovudhammaa
The midnight rooster is crowing.
Paadalukku raagamindri
Without a melody for my song,
Kaathirundhaen naanum
I too was waiting.
Raagathudan bhaavam kondu
With melody and emotion,
Odivandhaai neeyum
You came running.
Neeyum undu..
You are here...
Hey naanum undu
Hey, I am here too,
Kaadhalukku paadhai undu
There is a path for love.
Kaigalukkul vaadi
Come into my arms,
Kattikkolla poren paerazhaghaa
I am going to embrace you, oh handsome one!
Saamakkozhi yae koovudhammaa
The midnight rooster is crowing.
Aasaiyulla saeval oorukkenna kaaval
Why does the longing rooster guard the village?
Pakkathil vandhu sollumaa vekkathai vittu
Come close and tell me, leaving all shyness behind!
Poonjiragil kolamidum
Making patterns with soft flower-like wings,
Jaadai sollum kangal
Eyes that speak through subtle gestures,
Thaenidhazhil saerthu vaitha
Gathered on honey-sweet lips,
Moga rasam pongum
The essence of desire overflows.
Saerthukkolla naan saaindhukkolla
For me to embrace, for me to lean on,
Tholgalilae pottu vaithaai
Upon your shoulders you have prepared,
Ponnazhaghu manjam
A golden bed of beauty.
Sollithara venum paadangalai
You must teach me the lessons of love.
Saamakkozhi
The midnight rooster,
Hey
Hey!
Koovudhammaa
Is crowing,
Hey
Hey!
Aasaiyulla saeval oorukkenna kaaval
Why does the longing rooster guard the village?
Pakkathil vandhu sollavaa vekkathai vittu
Shall I come close and tell you, leaving all shyness behind?
Saamakkozhi
The midnight rooster,
Hey
Hey!
Koovudhammaa
Is crowing.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Saamakkozhi Yaekkoovudhammaa is a classic rustic duet set against a peaceful nighttime rural backdrop. The song uses the midnight rooster's crow as a central metaphor for sleepless love, rising desire, and romantic longing that stirs in the quiet hours of the night.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Urvagam)
“Saamakkozhi yae koovudhammaa”
The 'midnight rooster' (Saamakkozhi) serves as a metaphor for the lover's restless, awake heart longing for closeness.
Sensory Imagery (Pulankal Katchi)
“Poonjiragil kolamidum / Jaadai sollum kangal”
Uses vivid visual and tactile imagery like flower-wings creating patterns and honeyed lips overflowing with desire.
Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)
“Paadalukku raagamindri / Kaathirundhaen naanum”
The Tamil poetic tradition of matching consonants in the second syllable of consecutive lines (e.g., Paadalukku / Raagathudan).
Did you know?
Trivia
Although listed with unknown metadata in some archives, this iconic track from Ponnu Oorukku Pudhusu (1979) was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by Ilaiyaraaja alongside S. P. Sailaja. The song's blend of authentic folk rhythm and ambient acoustic textures made it a major milestone in rural Tamil film music.
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