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Sivagamiyin Selvan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ethanai Azhagu

From Sivagamiyin Selvan · 1974

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Sivagamiyin Selvan
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
10 Jan 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ethanai azhagu kotti kidakkudhu
Eppadi manasai thatti parikkudhu
Ethanai azhagu kotti kidakkudhu
Eppadi manasai thatti parikkudhu
Ammammaa udalengum silirkkudhu
Angangae ilamaiyum thudikkudhu
Ethanai azhagu kotti kidakkudhu
Eppadi manasai thatti parikkudhu
Ammammaa udalengum silirkkudhu
Angangae ilamaiyum thudikkudhu
Dhinam vandhu konjum
Malar konda manjam
Dhinam vandhu konjum
Malar konda manjam
Idhazh ketkum inbam irundhaalum anjum
Ammammaa udalengum silirkkudhu
Aanaalum acham thaan thadukkudhu
Ethanai azhagu kotti kidakkudhu
Eppadi manasai thatti parikkudhu
Ethanai azhagu kotti kidakkudhu
Eppadi manasai thatti parikkudhu
Udhattu kanikkul
Aa irukkum sivappu oho
Udhattu kanikkul
Irukkum sivappu
Vizhikkul nadakkum
Virundhai padaikkum
Vizhikkul nadakkum
Virundhai padaikkum
Senthaazham poo malaravum
Sindhaamal thaen parugavum ae… hae…
Senthaazham poo malaravum
Sindhaamal thaen parugavum
Orae sugam dhinam dhinam varum varum
Orae sugam dhinam dhinam varum varum
Ethanai azhagu kotti kidakkudhu
Eppadi manasai thatti parikkudhu
Ethanai azhagu kotti kidakkudhu
Eppadi manasai thatti parikkudhu
Anaithu chuvaikkum
Ninaippil thudikkum oho
Anaithu chuvaikkum
Ninaippil thudikkum
Manathil nadukkam vilakki thadukkum
Manathil nadukkam vilakki thadukkum
Pen paavai thaan kani rasam
Kan paarvai thaan madhu rasam ae… hae…
Pen paavai thaan kani rasam
Kan paarvai thaan madhu rasam
Orae sugam dhinam dhinam varum varum
Orae sugam dhinam dhinam varum varum
Ethanai azhagu kotti kidakkudhu
Eppadi manasai thatti parikkudhu
Ethanai azhagu kotti kidakkudhu
Eppadi manasai thatti parikkudhu hoo
So much beauty is overflowing!
How it snatches my heart away!
So much beauty is overflowing!
How it snatches my heart away!
Ah, my whole body shivers with delight!
Youth throbs in every part!
So much beauty is overflowing!
How it snatches my heart away!
Ah, my whole body shivers with delight!
Youth throbs in every part!
Coming each day to caress,
a bed adorned with flowers...
Coming each day to caress,
a bed adorned with flowers...
The heart longs for her lips, yet hesitates in fear!
Ah, my whole body shivers with delight!
And yet, fear holds me back!
So much beauty is overflowing!
How it snatches my heart away!
So much beauty is overflowing!
How it snatches my heart away!
Within the fruit of her lips,
ah, the rich redness,
Within the fruit of her lips,
the rich redness,
plays within the eyes,
serving a feast!
Plays within the eyes,
serving a feast!
As the red screw-pine flower blossoms,
and its nectar is sipped without spilling a drop, eh... hey...
As the red screw-pine flower blossoms,
and its nectar is sipped without spilling a drop,
pure pleasure will arrive day after day!
Pure pleasure will arrive day after day!
So much beauty is overflowing!
How it snatches my heart away!
So much beauty is overflowing!
How it snatches my heart away!
Longing to embrace and taste,
trembling at the very thought,
longing to embrace and taste,
trembling at the very thought,
a tremor in the heart pushes away and holds back!
A tremor in the heart pushes away and holds back!
This lovely girl is sweet fruit juice,
and the look in her eyes is intoxicating wine, eh... hey...
This lovely girl is sweet fruit juice,
and the look in her eyes is intoxicating wine!
Pure pleasure will arrive day after day!
Pure pleasure will arrive day after day!
So much beauty is overflowing!
How it snatches my heart away!
So much beauty is overflowing!
How it snatches my heart away!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a sensual, romantic expression of beauty, passion, and bashful longing. The speaker describes how overwhelming physical beauty steals the heart and causes an involuntary shiver of thrill throughout the body. While there is a deep yearning for intimacy, a natural shyness and playful fear temporarily hold the lover back from fully indulging. Through poetic imagery of blooming flowers, sweet fruit lips, and intoxicating glances, legendary lyricist Kannadasan captures the thrilling rush of youthful love. The song balances intense physical attraction with gentle, modest restraint, promising that the bliss of their bond will continuously endure day after day.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Ammammaa udalengum silirkkudhu / Angangae ilamaiyum thudikkudhu

The lines end with matching rhyming verbs 'silirkkudhu' (shivers) and 'thudikkudhu' (throbs), providing a rhythmic flow.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Udhattu kanikkul

Compares soft, red lips directly to ripe fruit ('Udhattu kani') without explicit comparison words.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Pen paavai thaan kani rasam / Kan paarvai thaan madhu rasam

Equates the young woman to sweet fruit juice ('kani rasam') and her glance to intoxicating nectar ('madhu rasam').

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Vizhikkul nadakkum / Virundhai padaikkum

Both lines share the same starting consonant sound ('Vi-'), creating auditory harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

This romantic track is from the 1974 Tamil film 'Sivagamiyin Selvan', starring Sivaji Ganesan, Latha, and Vanisri. The music for the film was composed by the legendary maestro M. S. Viswanathan, featuring lyrics penned by the iconic Kavinar Kannadasan.

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