Sahara
From Sivaji · 2007
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Vijay Yesudas, Gomathishree
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Sivaji2007
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Sahara pookkal poothadho | Did flowers bloom in the Sahara desert? |
| Sahaana saaral thoovudho | Is a gentle drizzle of Sahaana raga falling? |
| Male | |
| En vinn veli thalaikku mel | Above my head, did the cosmic sky |
| Thiranthadho adadaa | Open up, oh wow! |
| Antha vennnila veettukkul | Did that bright white moon |
| Nuzhainthadho | Enter into the house? |
| Athu ennudan thaeneer kondadho | Did it have tea along with me? |
| Male | |
| Oraayiram aandugal | For a thousand years |
| Semitha kaadhal idhu | This is love that has been accumulated |
| Nooraayiram aandugal | Even past a hundred thousand years |
| Thaandiyum vaazhum idhu | This love will endure and live on |
| Female | |
| Maali mani vanna | Oh jewel-toned Lord! |
| Maarkazhi neeraduvan | To take the holy bath in the sacred month of Margazhi |
| Meelaiyar seivanagal | Following the traditional rites performed by our ancestors |
| Venduvana keettiyel | If you listen to the items we request |
| Female | |
| Nyaalathai ellaam | Causing the entire world |
| Nadunga muralvana | To tremble with their deep resonance |
| Paal anna vannathul | In the pure white color of milk |
| Paanjajanyam nee | Like your divine conch Panchajanya |
| Female | |
| Polvana sangangal | Splendid conches that resound gloriously |
| Poyi paadudayanavae | Singing loudly across the land |
| Saala perum parayae | Immense and magnificent drums |
| Pallaandu isaipaarae | Singers who chant hymns for long life |
| Kola vilakkae | Ornamental bright lamps |
| Kodiyae vidhaanamae | Flags and decorative canopies |
| Aalin ilayaai | Oh Lord who slumbers on a banyan leaf! |
| Arullelor empaavai | Bestow your grace upon us, our deity! |
| Chorus | |
| Hmmm..mmm……. | Hmmm..mmm……. |
சஹாரா பூக்கள்
பூத்ததோ சஹானா சாரல்
தூவுதோ
Did flowers bloom in the Sahara desert?
Is a gentle drizzle of Sahaana raga falling?
என் விண்வெளி
தலைக்குமேல் திறந்ததோ
அடடா அந்த வெண்ணிலா
வீட்டுக்குள் நுழைந்ததோ
அது என்னுடன் தேநீர்
கொண்டதோ
Above my head, did the cosmic sky
Open up, oh wow!
Did that bright white moon
Enter into the house?
Did it have tea along with me?
ஓராயிரம் ஆண்டுகள்
சேமித்த காதலிது நூறாயிரம்
ஆண்டுகள் தாண்டியும்
வாழும் இது
For a thousand years
This is love that has been accumulated
Even past a hundred thousand years
This love will endure and live on
மாளி மணி
வண்ண மார்கழி
நீராடுவான் மேலையர்
செய்வனகல் வேண்டுவன
கேட்டியேள்
Oh jewel-toned Lord!
To take the holy bath in the sacred month of Margazhi
Following the traditional rites performed by our ancestors
If you listen to the items we request
ஞாலத்தை
எல்லாம் நடுங்க
முரள்வன பால்
அன்ன வண்ணத்துள்
பாஞ்சஜன்யம் நீ
Causing the entire world
To tremble with their deep resonance
In the pure white color of milk
Like your divine conch Panchajanya
போல்வன சங்கங்கள்
போயி பாடுடையனவே சால
பெரும் பறையே பல்லாண்டு
இசைப்பாரே கொல விளக்கே
கொடியே விதானமே ஆளின்
இலையாய் அருள்லெள்லோர்
எம்பாவை
Splendid conches that resound gloriously
Singing loudly across the land
Immense and magnificent drums
Singers who chant hymns for long life
Ornamental bright lamps
Flags and decorative canopies
Oh Lord who slumbers on a banyan leaf!
Bestow your grace upon us, our deity!
ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
Hmmm..mmm…….
Sahara pookkal poothadho
Did flowers bloom in the Sahara desert?
Sahaana saaral thoovudho
Is a gentle drizzle of Sahaana raga falling?
En vinn veli thalaikku mel
Above my head, did the cosmic sky
Thiranthadho adadaa
Open up, oh wow!
Antha vennnila veettukkul
Did that bright white moon
Nuzhainthadho
Enter into the house?
Athu ennudan thaeneer kondadho
Did it have tea along with me?
Oraayiram aandugal
For a thousand years
Semitha kaadhal idhu
This is love that has been accumulated
Nooraayiram aandugal
Even past a hundred thousand years
Thaandiyum vaazhum idhu
This love will endure and live on
Maali mani vanna
Oh jewel-toned Lord!
Maarkazhi neeraduvan
To take the holy bath in the sacred month of Margazhi
Meelaiyar seivanagal
Following the traditional rites performed by our ancestors
Venduvana keettiyel
If you listen to the items we request
Nyaalathai ellaam
Causing the entire world
Nadunga muralvana
To tremble with their deep resonance
Paal anna vannathul
In the pure white color of milk
Paanjajanyam nee
Like your divine conch Panchajanya
Polvana sangangal
Splendid conches that resound gloriously
Poyi paadudayanavae
Singing loudly across the land
Saala perum parayae
Immense and magnificent drums
Pallaandu isaipaarae
Singers who chant hymns for long life
Kola vilakkae
Ornamental bright lamps
Kodiyae vidhaanamae
Flags and decorative canopies
Aalin ilayaai
Oh Lord who slumbers on a banyan leaf!
Arullelor empaavai
Bestow your grace upon us, our deity!
Hmmm..mmm…….
Hmmm..mmm…….
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Sahana' from the film Sivaji captures the ecstatic and surreal feeling of falling in love. The protagonist describes love through hyperbolic, wondrous imagery, such as flowers blooming in the barren Sahara, outer space opening up, or sharing a cup of tea with the moon inside one's room. It emphasizes that the love being experienced is eternal, gathered over thousands of years and capable of lasting for centuries to come. The second part of the lyrics weaves in classical verses from Andal's Thiruppavai (Pasuram 26), where devotees pray to the Divine for grand sacred instruments, lamps, and blessings during the holy month of Margazhi. This blending elevates romantic affection into a sacred, transcendent realm.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Wordplay / Paronomasia
“Sahara pookkal poothadho / Sahaana saaral thoovudho”
Clever juxtaposition of 'Sahara' (the dry desert) and 'Sahaana' (a melodious, soothing Carnatic raga associated with rain/drizzle).
Hyperbole & Surreal Imagery
“Antha vennnila veettukkul / Nuzhainthadho / Athu ennudan thaeneer kondadho”
Exaggeration of everyday reality to express the magical impact of love, such as drinking tea with the moon.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Oraayiram aandugal / Nooraayiram aandugal”
Tamil poetic rhyme where the second letter matches across consecutive lines ('raa' in Oraayiram / Nooraayiram).
Allusion / Classical Quotation
“Maali mani vanna / Maarkazhi neeraduvan...”
Direct incorporation of 8th-century Sangam/Bhakti literature (Andal's Thiruppavai) into modern film music.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by A. R. Rahman for the blockbuster 'Sivaji: The Boss' (2007), this track seamlessly transitions from modern romantic lyrics written by Vairamuthu into ancient Tamil Bhakti verses from Andal's 'Thiruppavai' (specifically Pasuram 26, 'Maale Manivanna'). The song was rendered by Udit Narayan, Chinmayi, and Vijay Yesudas.
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