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Sivappu Malli album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Rendu Kannam

From Sivappu Malli · 1981

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
K. J. Jesudass, P. Suseela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Sivappu Malli
Movie release year
1981
Lyrics added on
6 Oct 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Holi holi holi holi
Holi holi holi holi
Female :Thaanaanana thaanaanaa naanaa
Thaanaa thaanana thaanaa thaanana thaanananaanaa
Thaanaa thaanana thaanaa thaanana thaanananaanaa
Rendu kannam santhana kinnam
Thottu kolla aasaigal thullum
Rendu kannam santhana kinnam
Thottu kolla aasaigal thullum
Poovai kayil poovai alli koduththa pinnum
Thottu thantha kayil manam veesuthu innum
Eduththu kodukkaiyilae iru viral mothum
Nagangal urasi kondaal anal uruvaagum
Eduththu kodukkaiyilae iru viral mothum
Nagangal urasi kondaal anal uruvaagum
Ullangai soodupattu malar konjam vaadum
Ullangai soodupattu malar konjam vaadum
Mangai nee soodi kondaal athu konjam aarum
Rendu kannam santhana kinnam
Thottu kolla aasaigal thullum
Male :Poovai kayil poovai alli koduththa pinnum
Thottu thantha kayil manam veesuthu innum
……………………
Ilam piraiyae ilam piraiyae valarnthu vidaathae
Irulae ivalin thunaiyae
Ilam piraiyae ilam piraiyae valarnthu vidaathae
Irulae ivalin thunaiyae
Dhinam thiththikkum raaththirigal nilavae sudaathae
Ada thoongiya sooriyanae iravai thodaathae
Thodaathae thodaathae….
Rendu kannam santhana kinnam
Thottu kolla aasaigal thullum
Male :Poovai kayil poovai alli koduththa pinnum
Thottu thantha kayil manam veesuthu innum
Thaagam Edukaiyilae mazhaiyadikkatho
Vaanam irangi vanthu kudai pidikkaatho
Thaagam Edukaiyilae mazhaiyadikkatho
Vaanam irangi vanthu kudai pidikkaatho
Nanaintha malarkalukku kuliredukkaatho
Nanaintha malarkalukku kuliredukkaatho
Vandugal paranthu vanthu thalai thuvattaatho
Rendu kannam santhana kinnam
Thottu kolla aasaigal thullum
Female :Poovai kayil poovai alli koduththa pinnum
Thottu thantha kayil manam veesuthu innum
Male :Thottu thantha kayil manam veesuthu innum
Holi, Holi, Holi, Holi
Holi, Holi, Holi, Holi
Female: Thaananana thaanaanaa naanaa
Thaanaa thaanana thaanaa thaanana thaanananaanaa
Thaanaa thaanana thaanaa thaanana thaanananaanaa
Both your cheeks are bowls of sandalwood,
desires leap up to touch them!
Both your cheeks are bowls of sandalwood,
desires leap up to touch them!
Even after giving a handful of flowers into the girl's hands,
the hand that touched and gave them still smells of fragrance!
When picking and giving them, our fingers brush together,
and when our nails rub, a spark of fire is born!
When picking and giving them, our fingers brush together,
and when our nails rub, a spark of fire is born!
From the heat of the palm, the flower withers a little,
from the heat of the palm, the flower withers a little,
but if you wear it in your hair, my girl, it will cool down.
Both your cheeks are bowls of sandalwood,
desires leap up to touch them!
Male: Even after giving a handful of flowers into the girl's hands,
the hand that touched and gave them still smells of fragrance!
...
Young crescent moon, young crescent moon, do not grow,
for darkness is her companion.
Young crescent moon, young crescent moon, do not grow,
for darkness is her companion.
Nights are sweet every day; oh moon, do not scorch us!
Hey sleeping sun, do not touch this night!
Do not touch it, do not touch it...
Both your cheeks are bowls of sandalwood,
desires leap up to touch them!
Male: Even after giving a handful of flowers into the girl's hands,
the hand that touched and gave them still smells of fragrance!
When thirst strikes, won't the rain pour down?
Won't the sky come down and hold an umbrella?
When thirst strikes, won't the rain pour down?
Won't the sky come down and hold an umbrella?
Will the drenched flowers feel cold?
Will the drenched flowers feel cold?
Won't the honeybees fly in to dry them off?
Both your cheeks are bowls of sandalwood,
desires leap up to touch them!
Female: Even after giving a handful of flowers into the girl's hands,
the hand that touched and gave them still smells of fragrance!
Male: The hand that touched and gave them still smells of fragrance!
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Female
Chorus
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This romantic duet, 'Rendu Kannam Santhana Kinnam', expresses the sensual and delicate longing between two lovers. Comparing the lover's soft cheeks to bowls of fragrant sandalwood paste, the lyricist paints poetic imagery of subtle physical touch—finger tips brushing against each other, generating a figurative warmth that wilts a flower. The lovers call upon nature, pleading with the moon not to brighten the night and asking the sun to stay asleep, so that their intimate twilight sanctuary remains undisturbed.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile / Metaphor)

Rendu kannam santhana kinnam

The lover's smooth, fragrant cheeks are compared to bowls filled with sandalwood paste ('santhana kinnam').

Personification / Hyperbole

Ilam piraiyae ilam piraiyae valarnthu vidaathae / Ada thoongiya sooriyanae iravai thodaathae

Addressing the crescent moon and sun as sentient beings, asking the moon not to grow and the sun not to wake up to preserve the night.

Monaich Chol (Alliteration)

Thottu thantha kayil manam veesuthu innum

Repetition of initial phonetic sounds across words within the line ('Thottu' / 'thantha').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Viswanathan for the revolutionary political film 'Sivappu Malli' (1981) starring Vijayakanth and Chandrasekhar, this track stands out as a highly celebrated romantic melody amidst the film's intense socio-political themes. Lyricist Vairamuthu used rich nature imagery and romantic tropes early in his iconic songwriting career.

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