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Lyrics & meaning

Saetril Oru Sengazhani

From Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi · 1977

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi1977

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Saetril oru sengazhani…A red lily in the mud…
Thingaloru poo malarumA flower blooms once a month.
Saetril oru sengazhaniA red lily in the mud,
Thingaloru poo malarumA flower blooms once a month.
Nootril oru poo parithuPlucking one flower out of a hundred,
Potri unnai thudhithiduvaen kannaaI shall praise and worship you, my beloved.
Naan yaetri vaitha dheepam undhan kannaaThe lamp I lit is in your eyes, my dear.
Female
Saetril oru sengazhaniA red lily in the mud,
Thingaloru poo malarumA flower blooms once a month.
Nootril oru poo parithuPlucking one flower out of a hundred,
Potri unnai thudhithiduvaen kannaaI shall praise and worship you, my beloved.
Naan yaetri vaitha dheepam undhan kannaaThe lamp I lit is in your eyes, my dear.
Male
Paalai virithaar polLike spreading out milk,
Kallam illaa sirippilIn a guileless smile,
Aalai valaikkindra sugam ennavoWhat is this pleasure that sways a person?
Maalai thoduthaar polLike weaving a garland,
Kaigal tharum anaippilIn the embrace given by hands,
Naalum purigindra nayam ennavaoWhat is this beauty that reveals itself every day?
Female
Vaazhai kuruthaattamLike tender banana leaves,
Vanjam indri valarndha pennaiA woman who grew up without any deceit,
Vaazhvil thunaiyaagaAs a companion in life,
Sondham kondu nanmai seivaaiClaiming her as your own, do good unto her.
Anbae endrum aiyaa endrumCalling out 'my love' and 'my lord',
Solla solla kollai inbam yaenoWhy does saying it repeatedly bring immense joy?
Adhil suvaippadhu thaan oori varum thaenoIs it sweet honey oozing out when tasted?
Male
Saetril oru sengazhaniA red lily in the mud,
Thingaloru poo malarumA flower blooms once a month.
Saetril oru sengazhaniA red lily in the mud,
Thingaloru poo malarumA flower blooms once a month.
Nootril oru poo parithuPlucking one flower out of a hundred,
Potri unnai thudhithiduvaen kannaeI shall praise and worship you, my dear.
Naan yaetri vaitha dheepam undhan kannaeThe lamp I lit is in your eyes, my dear.
Male
Naadham pirakkaadhaWithout generating sound,
Veenai enna veenaiWhat good is a Veena?
Naesam pirakkaamal uravillaiyaeWithout affection being born, there is no relationship.
Paasa kodi pola ondrai ondru pinnumEntwining like vines of love,
Mogam valaraamal sugam illaiyaeWithout growing passion, there is no joy.
Female
Naethu ariyaadha inbam ellaamAll the bliss I didn't know yesterday,
Kandaen indruI discovered today.
Naalai manam kolvaen innum innumTomorrow my heart will rejoice more and more,
Kalaigal solvaaiTeach me the arts of love.
Kattil thandhu thottil kanduGiving a bed and witnessing a cradle,
Mangai undhan nizhalil nindru vaazhvaenAs a woman, I shall live standing in your shadow.
Endrum mannan undhan madiyil indru vaazhvaenForever, my king, I shall live in your lap today.
Male
Saetril oru sengazhaniA red lily in the mud,
Thingaloru poo malarumA flower blooms once a month.
Saetril oru sengazhaniA red lily in the mud,
Thingaloru poo malarumA flower blooms once a month.
Female
Nootril oru poo parithuPlucking one flower out of a hundred,
Potri unnai thudhithiduvaen kannaaI shall praise and worship you, my beloved.
Male :Naan yaetri vaitha dheepam undhan kannaeMale: The lamp I lit is in your eyes, my dear.
Female
Naan yaetri vaitha dheepam undhan kannaaThe lamp I lit is in your eyes, my beloved.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic romantic duet expresses pure love, devotion, and matrimonial bonding between lovers. The song uses metaphors of nature—a lily blooming in mud, flowing milk, tender banana shoots, and musical instruments like the Veena—to illustrate how affection brings harmony and life to human existence. The lovers praise each other's innocent joy and envision a happy family life filled with passion, mutual respect, and lifelong companionship.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Paalai virithaar pol

Compares innocence and embrace to milk being spread ('Paalai virithaar pol') and weaving a garland ('Maalai thoduthaar pol').

Uruvagaim (Metaphor)

Naan yaetri vaitha dheepam undhan kannaa

Compares the beloved's eyes to a burning lamp lit with devotion ('Naan yaetri vaitha dheepam undhan kannaa').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Kattil thandhu thottil kandu

Rhyming of the second character 'tt' in 'Kattil' and 'thottil' to enhance musical rhythm.

Anafora / Repetition

Solla solla kollai inbam yaeno

Repetition of words like 'Solla solla' and 'Innum innum' for poetic emphasis on intensifying emotions.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by renowned Tamil lyricist and producer Panchu Arunachalam, this song highlights his ability to blend traditional Tamil metaphors with gentle, melodious folk-classical sensibilities for 1970s cinema.

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