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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sakkaravalli Kanakkaa

From Eazhaiyin Sirippil · 2000

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singer
Unni Menon
Music director
Deva
Details
Eazhaiyin Sirippil2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Sakkaravalli kanakkaa sirichchaangaShe smiled as sweetly as a sweet potato.
Amma chinna chinna pottuMother adorns a small bindi,
Vachchu azhagaa irukkaangaAnd looks so beautiful wearing it.
Aiyaa manaso thanga kattiFather's heart is like a block of gold,
Aththa urukki kolusaa kattiAunt melted it and wore it as an anklet.
Male
Sakkaravalli……sakkaravalli….Sweet potato... sweet potato...
Amma sakkaravalli kanakkaa sirichchaangaMother smiled as sweetly as a sweet potato.
Male
Vaanilae….maalai polIn the sky... like a garland,
Koottamaai venpuraaWhite doves fly together in a flock.
Chorus :Haa haa ho hoChorus: Haa haa ho ho
Male :Mettuthae thamburaa haeiMale: The tanpura plays a tune, hey!
Sinungi sinungi nadhi nadakkuthu edhukkuWhy does the river walk along coyly?
Azhagu paruva pennin unarchchigal irukkuBecause it carries the emotions of a beautiful young woman.
Male
Kottaavi viduthae thaamaraiThe lotus flower yawns open,
Kuththaama saaral poomazhaiFlawless light rain falls like flowers,
Paakkuraen yaenuvaen poovilae kaaviyamI look and wonder at the poetic art inside a flower.
Male
Sakkaravalli kanakkaa sirichchaangaShe smiled as sweetly as a sweet potato.
Male
Odaiyum paadumae meengalum aadumaeThe stream will sing and the fish will dance,
Chorus :Aa haa…..oohoChorus: Aa haa... ooho
Male :Naanangal odumaeMale: Shyness will flee away.
Haei chittu chitu kuruvigalHey, the tiny sparrows,
Mettu katti padikkuthuAre composing tunes and singing them.
Vittu vittu ennudaiya nenjukkuzhi thudikkuthuMy heart throbs again and again with thrill.
Male
Saneetham therinjaa paaduraenI sing as if I know formal music well,
Santhosaththaalae paaduraenI sing purely out of sheer happiness,
Aayiram aanantham paattula thaeduraenI search for a thousand joys through song.
Male
Sakkaravalli kanakkaa sirichchaangaShe smiled as sweetly as a sweet potato.
Amma chinna chinna pottuMother adorns a small bindi,
Vachchu azhagaa irukkaangaAnd looks so beautiful wearing it.
Aiyaa manaso thanga kattiFather's heart is like a block of gold,
Aththa urukki kolusaa kattiAunt melted it and wore it as an anklet.
Male
Sakkaravalli……sakkaravalli….Sweet potato... sweet potato...
Amma sakkaravalli kanakkaa sirichchaangaMother smiled as sweetly as a sweet potato.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Sakkaravalli from the film Eazhaiyin Sirippil (2000) is a joyful, rustic Tamil song celebrating family affection and the idyllic beauty of rural nature. The speaker affectionately praises family members through charming folk imagery, comparing his mother's smile to sweet potatoes and his father's generous heart to pure gold. As the song progresses, nature itself becomes alive with celebration—flocks of white doves resemble airborne garlands, rivers flow with feminine grace, lotus flowers awaken, and sparrows compose tunes. Through simple language and infectious rhythm, the lyrics convey pure happiness, gratitude, and an innocent love for life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai Ani (Simile)

Sakkaravalli kanakkaa sirichchaanga

Compares the mother's sweet smile directly to a sweet potato using the comparative marker 'kanakkaa'.

Urvagam (Metaphor)

Aiyaa manaso thanga katti

Metaphorically equates father's noble heart directly to a solid bar of gold.

Tharkurippettra Ani (Personification)

Sinungi sinungi nadhi nadakkuthu edhukku

Attributes human behaviors such as acting coy or yawning to natural elements like rivers and lotus flowers.

Adukkuthodar / Reduplication (Repetition for emphasis)

Haei chittu chitu kuruvigal

Repeats words back-to-back to add rhythmic cadence and folk texture to the vocal delivery.

Did you know?

Trivia

Eazhaiyin Sirippil (2000) features music composed by Deva. Lyricist Na. Muthukumar utilized rustic colloquial Tamil imagery (like comparing sweetness to 'Sakkaravalli' or sweet potato) to evoke authentic village warmth and innocent joy.

Keep listening

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