Thoodhu Sellum Kogilam
From Guna Sundari · 1955
- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Music director
- Ghantasala
- Details
- Guna Sundari1955
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kooo….koooo | Coo... coo... |
| Female | |
| Thoodhu sellum kokilam | The messenger cuckoo bird, |
| Oru seidhi solla koovuthae | Calls out to deliver a message. |
| Thoodhu sellum kokilam | The messenger cuckoo bird, |
| Oru seidhi solla koovuthae | Calls out to deliver a message. |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal yogam vandhathaalae | Because the auspicious time for love has arrived, |
| Kavidhai paadi thaavuthae | It leaps around singing poetry. |
| Kaadhal yogam vandhathaalae | Because the auspicious time for love has arrived, |
| Kavidhai paadi thaavuthae | It leaps around singing poetry. |
| Female | |
| Udhaya chandhrikai | Like the rising moonlight, |
| Kumutham polavae | And the night lily flower, |
| Uravu thaan kondaaduthae..ae…ae…. | It celebrates their sweet relationship... |
| Udhaya chandhrikai | Like the rising moonlight, |
| Kumutham polavae | And the night lily flower, |
| Uravu thaan kondaaduthae.. | It celebrates their sweet relationship. |
| Female | |
| Ulavum thendral alaiyil premai | In the waves of the wandering breeze, love's |
| Odamae magizhndhoduthae | Boat glides along with joy. |
| Female | |
| Madhu nilai maaradha malar mel | Upon the flower where nectar remains pure, |
| Pudhu nilai pera venduthae…ae….ae…ae… | It desires to attain a new blissful state... |
| Ae…ae…ae….. | Ah... ah... ah... |
| Madhu nilai maaradha malar mel | Upon the flower where nectar remains pure, |
| Pudhu nilai pera venduthae.. | It desires to attain a new blissful state. |
| Female | |
| Manadhil yedho maraithu maaran | Hiding something in the heart, Cupid (Maaran) |
| Kanaiyai thoovida thoonduthae | Is urged to shower his romantic arrows. |
கூ....கூ.....
Coo... coo...
தூது செல்லும் கோகிலம்
ஒரு செய்தி சொல்லக் கூவுதே
தூது செல்லும் கோகிலம்
ஒரு செய்தி சொல்லக் கூவுதே
The messenger cuckoo bird,
Calls out to deliver a message.
The messenger cuckoo bird,
Calls out to deliver a message.
காதல் யோகம் வந்ததாலே
கவிதை பாடி தாவுதே
காதல் யோகம் வந்ததாலே
கவிதை பாடி தாவுதே
Because the auspicious time for love has arrived,
It leaps around singing poetry.
Because the auspicious time for love has arrived,
It leaps around singing poetry.
பெண்கள் :
கவிதை பாடி தாவுதே
தூது செல்லும் கோகிலம்
ஒரு செய்தி சொல்லக் கூவுதே
Like the rising moonlight,
And the night lily flower,
It celebrates their sweet relationship...
Like the rising moonlight,
And the night lily flower,
It celebrates their sweet relationship.
உதய சந்திரிகை
குமுதம் போலவே
உறவுதான் கொண்டாடுதே...ஏ....ஏ.....
உதய சந்திரிகை
குமுதம் போலவே
உறவுதான் கொண்டாடுதே
In the waves of the wandering breeze, love's
Boat glides along with joy.
உலவும் தென்றல் அலையில் பிரேமை
ஓடமே மகிழ்ந்தோடுதே
Upon the flower where nectar remains pure,
It desires to attain a new blissful state...
Ah... ah... ah...
Upon the flower where nectar remains pure,
It desires to attain a new blissful state.
பெண்கள் :
ஓடமே மகிழ்ந்தோடுதே
தூது செல்லும் கோகிலம்
ஒரு செய்தி சொல்லக் கூவுதே
Hiding something in the heart, Cupid (Maaran)
Is urged to shower his romantic arrows.
மது நிலை மாறாத மலர்மேலே
புது நிலை பெற வேண்டுதே...ஏ.....ஏ.....ஏ.....
ஏ.....ஏ....ஏ........
மது நிலை மாறாத மலர்மேலே
புது நிலை பெற வேண்டுதே
மனதில் ஏதோ மறைந்து மாறன்
கணையைத் தூவிடத் தூண்டுதே
பெண்கள் :
கணையைத் தூவிடத் தூண்டுதே
தூது செல்லும் கோகிலம்
ஒரு செய்தி சொல்லக் கூவுதே
ஒரு செய்தி சொல்லக் கூவுதே
Kooo….koooo
Coo... coo...
Thoodhu sellum kokilam
The messenger cuckoo bird,
Oru seidhi solla koovuthae
Calls out to deliver a message.
Thoodhu sellum kokilam
The messenger cuckoo bird,
Oru seidhi solla koovuthae
Calls out to deliver a message.
Kaadhal yogam vandhathaalae
Because the auspicious time for love has arrived,
Kavidhai paadi thaavuthae
It leaps around singing poetry.
Kaadhal yogam vandhathaalae
Because the auspicious time for love has arrived,
Kavidhai paadi thaavuthae
It leaps around singing poetry.
Udhaya chandhrikai
Like the rising moonlight,
Kumutham polavae
And the night lily flower,
Uravu thaan kondaaduthae..ae…ae….
It celebrates their sweet relationship...
Udhaya chandhrikai
Like the rising moonlight,
Kumutham polavae
And the night lily flower,
Uravu thaan kondaaduthae..
It celebrates their sweet relationship.
Ulavum thendral alaiyil premai
In the waves of the wandering breeze, love's
Odamae magizhndhoduthae
Boat glides along with joy.
Madhu nilai maaradha malar mel
Upon the flower where nectar remains pure,
Pudhu nilai pera venduthae…ae….ae…ae…
It desires to attain a new blissful state...
Ae…ae…ae…..
Ah... ah... ah...
Madhu nilai maaradha malar mel
Upon the flower where nectar remains pure,
Pudhu nilai pera venduthae..
It desires to attain a new blissful state.
Manadhil yedho maraithu maaran
Hiding something in the heart, Cupid (Maaran)
Kanaiyai thoovida thoonduthae
Is urged to shower his romantic arrows.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song expresses the sweet awakening of romantic feelings using vivid natural imagery. A cuckoo acts as a messenger of love, singing joyfully as the right time for romance blossoms. The relationship is compared to the enchanting bond between the rising moonlight and the night lily flower, while love itself floats like a boat gliding over gentle breeze waves. The lyrics convey deep emotional longings, picturing a pure flower filled with nectar seeking a new state of fulfillment. Finally, Cupid (Maaran) is depicted as secretly urging the hearts of lovers by showering his arrows, capturing the playful and mystical onset of love.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification
“Thoodhu sellum kokilam / Kavidhai paadi thaavuthae”
The cuckoo bird (kokilam) is personified as a messenger delivering news and singing poetic verses.
Simile (Upamai)
“Udhaya chandhrikai / Kumutham polavae / Uravu thaan kondaaduthae”
The relationship is explicitly compared to the union of moonlight (chandhrikai) and the night lily (kumutham).
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Ulavum thendral alaiyil premai / Odamae magizhndhoduthae”
Love (premai) is metaphorically framed as a boat (odam) sailing across waves of breeze.
Rhyme & Assonance (Edhukai/Monai)
“Madhu nilai maaradha malar mel / Pudhu nilai pera venduthae”
The words 'Madhu nilai' and 'Pudhu nilai' use internal rhyme to create a pleasant rhythmic cadence.
Did you know?
Trivia
Guna Sundari (1955) was a Tamil feature film adapted with songs penned by the legendary lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, famous for his rich folk and classical poetry in early South Indian cinema.
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