Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Geethanjali album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thulli Ezhunthathu

From Geethanjali · 1985

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Geethanjali
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
24 Jul 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thulli yezhundhadhu paattu
Chinna kuyilisai kettu
Sandha varigala pottu
Solli koduthathu kaattru
Uravodu thaan
Adha paadanum
Iravodu thaan
Arangeranum
Thulli yezhundhadhu paattu
Chinna kuyilisai kettu
Uyirae oru vaanam paadi
Unakkaaga koovudhu
Azhagae pudhu aasai vellam
Anai thaandi thaavudhu
Malarae dhinam
Maalai neram
Manam thaanae nogudhu
Maalai mudhal…
Maalai mudhal kaalai varai
Sonnaal yenna kaadhal kadhai
Kaaman kanai enai vadhaikkudhae
Thulli yezhundhadhu paattu
Chinna kuyilisai kettu
Adiyae oru thookkam pottu
Nedu naal thaan aanadhu
Kiliyae pasum paalum thaenum
Veruppaagi ponadhu
Nilavae pagal neram polae
Neruppaaga kaayudhu
Naan thedidum…hmmm
Naan thedidum …hmm..
Naan thedidum raasaathiyae
Nee povadhaa yemaathiyae
Vaa vaa kannae idho azhaikkudhu
Thulli yezhundhadhu paattu
Chinna kuyilisai kettu
Sandha varigala pottu
Solli koduthathu kaattru
Uravodu thaan
Adha paadanum
Iravodu thaan
Arangeranum
Thulli yezhundhadhu paattu
Chinna kuyilisai kettu
A song sprang to life,
Hearing the melody of a little cuckoo.
Setting rhythmic verses to it,
The breeze taught it to me.
Only in our togetherness
Must I sing it.
Only with the night
Should it make its debut.
A song sprang to life,
Hearing the melody of a little cuckoo.
My love, like a skylark,
It is singing out for you.
My beauty, a fresh flood of desire
Is overflowing past the dam.
Oh flower, every single day
When evening arrives,
My heart just aches.
From evening...
From evening until morning,
Why not share a tale of love?
The arrows of Kama (the god of love) torment me.
A song sprang to life,
Hearing the melody of a little cuckoo.
My girl, having a good night's sleep—
It has been such a long time.
My sweet parrot, fresh milk and honey
Have lost all taste to me.
The moon, just like the daytime,
Burns hot like fire.
The one I search for... mmm...
The one I search for... mmm...
Oh princess I am searching for,
Will you deceive me and walk away?
Come, come, my darling, it calls you here!
A song sprang to life,
Hearing the melody of a little cuckoo.
Setting rhythmic verses to it,
The breeze taught it to me.
Only in our togetherness
Must I sing it.
Only with the night
Should it make its debut.
A song sprang to life,
Hearing the melody of a little cuckoo.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song expresses the deep longing, romantic anguish, and ecstasy of a lover whose emotions are awakened by the melodies of nature. The breeze and the cuckoo serve as catalysts for a song born from the soul. As night approaches, the protagonist feels the painful pangs of passion, comparing love's intensity to a flooding river breaching its dam and the gentle night moon scorching like the midday sun. The imagery highlights the irresistible pull of love and the restlessness that accompanies separation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Tharkurippetroani)

“Solli koduthathu kaattru”

The wind is personified as a music teacher that crafts rhythmic lines and teaches the song.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Uravodu thaan / Iravodu thaan”

The second consonant 'ra' matches across 'Uravodu' and 'Iravodu'.

Hyperbole (Uruvagandhu / Yeoruvagam)

“Nilavae pagal neram polae / Neruppaaga kaayudhu”

Describing the cool moonlight as scorching like fire to reflect the internal pain of separation.

Metaphor

“Azhagae pudhu aasai vellam / Anai thaandi thaavudhu”

Surging romantic desire is compared to a flood breaking past a dam.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Enna Idhu1999
RojavanamRomanticDesire
Mazhai Kuruvi2018
Chekka Chivantha VaanamNatureLonging
Naetru Aval2013
MaryanLongingNature
Kaanal Neer Pol1982
Ninaivellam NithyaSeparationLonging
Naan Paadum Mouna Raagam1985
Idhaya KovilLongingSeparation
Paravaiye Engu Irukkiraai2007
Kattradhu ThamizhLongingNature

From the same album

More songs from Geethanjali

View album
Otharooba Thaaya1985
GeethanjaliCelebratory
Malare Pesu1985
GeethanjaliRomantic
Kiliye Kiliye1985
GeethanjaliTender
Oru Jeevan Azhaithadhu Sad1985
GeethanjaliMelancholic
Oru Jeevan Azhaithathu1985
GeethanjaliTender

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.