Vaai Thiravai Poongkuyile
From Nee Thodum Pothu · 1984
- Lyricist
- Mu. Metha
- Singers
- S. Janaki, Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Nee Thodum Pothu1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Vaai thiravaai…. | Open your mouth... |
| Vaai thiravaai poonguyilae | Open your mouth, sweet cuckoo bird |
| Oru geetham unnai thedum | A melody searches for you |
| Thaniyae….ae….neeyae…. | All alone... you... |
| Male | |
| Vaai thiravaai poonguyilae | Open your mouth, sweet cuckoo bird |
| Male | |
| Poongaavanam unthan gaanam | The garden of flowers is your song |
| Nee moganam enna mounam | You are enchantment itself, why this silence? |
| Male | |
| Unthan naavil isai kovil | There is a temple of music on your tongue |
| Bakthan ingae paadal engae | The devotee is here, where is the song? |
| Unthan naavil isai kovil | There is a temple of music on your tongue |
| Bakthan ingae paadal engae | The devotee is here, where is the song? |
| Thendral kaatrum aalai maatrum | Even the gentle breeze sways a person |
| Allippoovum kaalai neettum | The water lily stretches itself in the morning |
| Female | |
| Vaai thiravaai poonguyilae | Open your mouth, sweet cuckoo bird |
| Oru geetham unnai thedum | A melody searches for you |
| Thaniyae….ae….neeyae…. | All alone... you... |
| Female | |
| Vaai thiravaai poonguyilae…. | Open your mouth, sweet cuckoo bird... |
| Female | |
| Aaraathanai thantha naalae | On the day worship was offered |
| Geedhaanjali untha maelae | An offering of songs rests upon you |
| Female | |
| Unthan sogam enthan raagam | Your sorrow is my melody |
| Anbin veenai ingu oomai | The veena of love is mute here |
| Unthan sogam enthan raagam | Your sorrow is my melody |
| Anbin veenai ingu oomai | The veena of love is mute here |
| Kannan vanthaan kadhal paadhai | Krishna arrived on the path of love |
| Kannil dheepam vaiththaal raadhai | Radha lit a lamp in her eyes |
| Female | |
| Vaai thiravaai poonguyilae | Open your mouth, sweet cuckoo bird |
| Oru geetham unnai thedum | A melody searches for you |
| Thaniyae….ae….neeyae…. | All alone... you... |
| Female | |
| Vaai thiravaai poonguyilae…. | Open your mouth, sweet cuckoo bird... |
வாய் திறவாய்.....
வாய் திறவாய் பூங்குயிலே
ஒரு கீதம் உன்னைத் தேடும்
தனியே....ஏ......நீயே.....
Open your mouth...
Open your mouth, sweet cuckoo bird
A melody searches for you
All alone... you...
வாய் திறவாய் பூங்குயிலே....
Open your mouth, sweet cuckoo bird
பூங்காவனம் உந்தன் கானம்
நீ மோகனம் என்ன மௌனம்
The garden of flowers is your song
You are enchantment itself, why this silence?
உந்தன் நாவில் இசைக் கோவில்
பக்தன் இங்கே பாடல் எங்கே
உந்தன் நாவில் இசைக் கோவில்
பக்தன் இங்கே பாடல் எங்கே
தென்றல் காற்றும் ஆளை மாற்றும்
அல்லிப்பூவும் காலை நீட்டும்
There is a temple of music on your tongue
The devotee is here, where is the song?
There is a temple of music on your tongue
The devotee is here, where is the song?
Even the gentle breeze sways a person
The water lily stretches itself in the morning
வாய் திறவாய் பூங்குயிலே
ஒரு கீதம் உன்னைத் தேடும்
தனியே.....ஏ.....நீயே....
Open your mouth, sweet cuckoo bird
A melody searches for you
All alone... you...
வாய் திறவாய் பூங்குயிலே...
Open your mouth, sweet cuckoo bird...
ஆராதனை தந்த நாளே
கீதாஞ்சலி உந்தன் மேலே
On the day worship was offered
An offering of songs rests upon you
உந்தன் சோகம் எந்தன் ராகம்
அன்பின் வீணை இங்கு ஊமை
உந்தன் சோகம் எந்தன் ராகம்
அன்பின் வீணை இங்கு ஊமை
கண்ணன் வந்தான் காதல் பாதை
கண்ணில் தீபம் வைத்தாள் ராதை
Your sorrow is my melody
The veena of love is mute here
Your sorrow is my melody
The veena of love is mute here
Krishna arrived on the path of love
Radha lit a lamp in her eyes
வாய் திறவாய் பூங்குயிலே
ஒரு கீதம் உன்னைத் தேடும்
தனியே.....ஏ.....நீயே....
Open your mouth, sweet cuckoo bird
A melody searches for you
All alone... you...
வாய் திறவாய் பூங்குயிலே.....
Open your mouth, sweet cuckoo bird...
Vaai thiravaai….
Open your mouth...
Vaai thiravaai poonguyilae
Open your mouth, sweet cuckoo bird
Oru geetham unnai thedum
A melody searches for you
Thaniyae….ae….neeyae….
All alone... you...
Vaai thiravaai poonguyilae
Open your mouth, sweet cuckoo bird
Poongaavanam unthan gaanam
The garden of flowers is your song
Nee moganam enna mounam
You are enchantment itself, why this silence?
Unthan naavil isai kovil
There is a temple of music on your tongue
Bakthan ingae paadal engae
The devotee is here, where is the song?
Unthan naavil isai kovil
There is a temple of music on your tongue
Bakthan ingae paadal engae
The devotee is here, where is the song?
Thendral kaatrum aalai maatrum
Even the gentle breeze sways a person
Allippoovum kaalai neettum
The water lily stretches itself in the morning
Vaai thiravaai poonguyilae
Open your mouth, sweet cuckoo bird
Oru geetham unnai thedum
A melody searches for you
Thaniyae….ae….neeyae….
All alone... you...
Vaai thiravaai poonguyilae….
Open your mouth, sweet cuckoo bird...
Aaraathanai thantha naalae
On the day worship was offered
Geedhaanjali untha maelae
An offering of songs rests upon you
Unthan sogam enthan raagam
Your sorrow is my melody
Anbin veenai ingu oomai
The veena of love is mute here
Unthan sogam enthan raagam
Your sorrow is my melody
Anbin veenai ingu oomai
The veena of love is mute here
Kannan vanthaan kadhal paadhai
Krishna arrived on the path of love
Kannil dheepam vaiththaal raadhai
Radha lit a lamp in her eyes
Vaai thiravaai poonguyilae
Open your mouth, sweet cuckoo bird
Oru geetham unnai thedum
A melody searches for you
Thaniyae….ae….neeyae….
All alone... you...
Vaai thiravaai poonguyilae….
Open your mouth, sweet cuckoo bird...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poetic song from the film 'Nee Thodum Pothu' (1984), penned by lyricist Mu. Metha, is a deeply emotional call to a beloved who has fallen silent. Metaphorically addressing her as a sweet cuckoo bird ('poonguyil'), the singer urges her to break her silence and sing once again. He compares her voice to a temple of music and himself to a humble devotee waiting for her song. The lyrics mix classical romantic imagery with devotional allegories, comparing their love to that of Lord Krishna and Radha. The lover acknowledges her pain, stating that her sorrow becomes his melody, and yearns for the 'veena of love' to resonate once more.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Vaai thiravaai poonguyilae / Unthan naavil isai kovil”
Addressing the beloved as 'poonguyil' (flower cuckoo) and describing her tongue as 'isai kovil' (temple of music).
Rhyme / Rhyming Assonance (Iyaibu & Edhugai)
“Nee moganam enna mounam / Unthan sogam enthan raagam”
Use of end rhymes and internal rhyming pairs such as 'Moganam' / 'Mounam' and 'Sogam' / 'Raagam'.
Allusion / Mythology Imagery
“Kannan vanthaan kadhal paadhai / Kannil dheepam vaiththaal raadhai”
Evoking the divine archetype of Krishna and Radha to represent romantic devotion and emotional lighting.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by renowned Tamil poet and Sahitya Akademi award-winning lyricist Mu. Metha, this song showcases his signature style of blending high literary Tamil metaphors with delicate emotional romanticism.
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