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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Saamiyilum Saami

From Engal Thanga Raja · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Engal Thanga Raja1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Saamiyilum… saami idhu…Even among gods... this is a god...
Saamiyilum saami idhu oomai chaamiAmong all gods, this one is a mute god!
Idhu sanyaasi polirukkum aasaamiThis person behaves like an ascetic monk!
Female
Saamiyilum saami idhuEven among gods, this is a god...
Oomai chaamiA mute god!
Idhu sanyaasi polirukkum aasaamiThis person behaves like an ascetic monk!
Female
Sambo sangara mahadhevaaOh Shambo Shankara Mahadeva!
Saamba sadhaasiva gurudhevaaOh Samba Sadashiva Gurudeva!
Chorus
Sambo sangara mahadhevaaOh Shambo Shankara Mahadeva!
Saamba sadhaasiva gurudhevaaOh Samba Sadashiva Gurudeva!
Chorus
Bumchikku bumchikkuBumchikku bumchikku
Bumchikku bum bumBumchikku bum bum
Female
Boomiyaiyae paarthirukkumHe always keeps his eyes fixed on the ground,
Pudavaiyinnaa nadu nadungumYet trembles at the very sight of a saree!
Boomiyaiyae paarthirukkumHe always keeps his eyes fixed on the ground,
Pudavaiyinnaa nadu nadungumYet trembles at the very sight of a saree!
Sirikka chonnaa kaasu ketkkum seemai chaamiHe is a noble deity who charges money just to smile!
Endha seedhaikko ivar oru naal raamasaamiOne day, he will be a Lord Rama to some Sita!
Female
Sambo sangara mahadhevaaOh Shambo Shankara Mahadeva!
Saamba sadhaasiva gurudhevaaOh Samba Sadashiva Gurudeva!
Chorus
Sambo sangara mahadhevaaOh Shambo Shankara Mahadeva!
Saamba sadhaasiva gurudhevaaOh Samba Sadashiva Gurudeva!
Female
Kadharumadi kai pidichaaShe will cry out if he holds her hand,
Padharumadi kannadichaaShe will get anxious if he winks!
Kadharumadi kai pidichaaShe will cry out if he holds her hand,
PadharumadiShe will get anxious!
Ponnaga porakkaliyae ponnu chaamiThis deity wasn't born as a female!
Kaadhal bodhai vandhaaIf intoxicated by love,
Enna seiyum chinna chaamiWhat will this young deity do?
Female
Sambo sangara mahadhevaaOh Shambo Shankara Mahadeva!
Saamba sadhaasiva gurudhevaaOh Samba Sadashiva Gurudeva!
Chorus
Sambo sangara mahadhevaaOh Shambo Shankara Mahadeva!
Female :MahadhevaaFemale: Mahadeva!
Chorus :Saamba sadhaasiva gurudhevaaChorus: Samba Sadashiva Gurudeva!
Female :GurudhevaaFemale: Gurudeva!
Female
Rasa maammaammaa grae gagagagasaaRasa maammaammaa grae gagagagasaa (Swaras)
Rasaraerae maammammaa paaRasaraerae maammammaa paa (Swaras)
Female
Maalaiyittu thaaliyittuEven if a woman comes as his wife
Manaiviyinnu oruthi vandhaaBy exchanging garlands and tying the sacred thread,
Maalaiyittu thaaliyittuEven if a woman comes as his wife
Manaiviyinnu oruthi vandhaaBy exchanging garlands and tying the sacred thread,
Ennaanum ketkka maattaar ezhai chaamiThis simple deity will ask for nothing.
Chorus
Aiyo paavam…Oh, what a pity...
Female
Avalai yereduthum paarkka maattaarThis shy deity won't even glance up at her!
Kozhai chaamiA timid deity!
Female
Ooruni karaiyil irukkura saamiA deity sitting on the bank of the water tank,
Okkaandha padiyae rasikkira saamiA deity who sits back and enjoys the scene!
Chorus
Hoi hoi hoi hoiHoi hoi hoi hoi
Female
Ooruni karaiyil irukkura saamiA deity sitting on the bank of the water tank,
Okkaandha padiyae rasikkira saamiA deity who sits back and enjoys the scene!
Kalyaanatha verukkura saami endha chaamiWhich deity is this that hates marriage?
Kalyaanatha verukkura saami endha chaamiWhich deity is this that hates marriage?
Andha ganapathiyoda vaarisu thaanae indha chaamiIsn't this deity a descendant of Lord Ganesha himself?
Andha ganapathiyoda vaarisu thaanae indha chaamiIsn't this deity a descendant of Lord Ganesha himself?
Chorus
Saamiyilum saami idhu oomai chaamiAmong all gods, this one is a mute god!
Idhu sanyaasi polirukkum aasaamiThis person behaves like an ascetic monk!
Female
Harahara mahaadhevaaHara Hara Mahadeva!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This humorous song from 'Engal Thanga Raja' (1973) playfully teases a shy, reclusive, and overly modest young man who acts like a celibate monk (sanyasi). The lyrics, penned by Kannadasan, invoke religious chants of Lord Shiva and Lord Ganesha while humorously highlighting the protagonist's extreme bashfulness around women, noting how he trembles at the sight of a saree and avoids eye contact. The song playfully questions how such a reserved man will ever handle love or marriage, comparing his bachelorhood to that of Lord Ganesha.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monorhyme / Etugai (Second-letter rhyming)

Saamiyilum saami idhu oomai chaami

The repetition of second consonants ('m' sound) in 'Saamiyilum' and 'Oomai' creates an internal rhyme across lines.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Sambo sangara mahadhevaa / Saamba sadhaasiva gurudhevaa

Rhyming ending words 'mahadhevaa' and 'gurudhevaa' create rhythmic symmetry across chant lines.

Onomatopoeia

Bumchikku bumchikku / Bumchikku bum bum

Rhythmic vocal percussive sounds ('Bumchikku bumchikku') added for musical emphasis and playful mood.

Mythological Allusion

Andha ganapathiyoda vaarisu thaanae indha chaami

Referencing Lord Ganesha (Ganapathi), known as a bachelor deity, to humorously explain the protagonist's aversion to marriage.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Engal Thanga Raja' (1973) stars Sivaji Ganesan and Manjula. The film's music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, and the lyrics for this fun track were written by Kannadasan, showcasing his signature playful wit when describing human character traits through religious metaphors.

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