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Lyrics & meaning

Salaiyoram

From Payanangal Mudivathillai · 1982

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Payanangal Mudivathillai1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Saalaiyoram solaiyondruBy the roadside, a grove...
Aadum sangeedham paadumDances and sings music.
Saalaiyoram solaiyondruBy the roadside, a grove...
Aadum sangeedham paadumDances and sings music.
Kannaalanai paarthu kannorangal vaerthuLooking at her lover, the corners of her eyes sweat with emotion.
Kannaalanai paarthu kannorangal vaerthuLooking at her lover, the corners of her eyes sweat with emotion.
Saalaiyoram solaiyondruBy the roadside, a grove...
Aadum sangeedham paadumDances and sings music.
Male
Paavai ival paarthu vittaalIf this maiden looks at it,
Paalaivanam pooththodukkumEven a desert will bloom with flowers.
Kannimaigal dhaan asaindhaalIf her eyelids merely flutter,
Nandhavana kaatradikkumA breeze from a garden of paradise blows.
Female
Neengal enai paarthaalIf you look at me,
KuliredukkumA chill sets in.
Manadhukkul yeno mazhaiyadikkumInside my heart, why does rain shower?
Male
Hae paarijaadha vaasamHey, the fragrance of Parijaatha flowers
Neram paarthu veesumWafts at the right time.
Paarijaadha vaasamThe fragrance of Parijaatha flowers
Neram paarthu veesumWafts at the right time.
Female
Mottu kadhavai pattu vandugalThe silky bumblebees
Thattuginradhae ippodhuAre knocking on the doors of the bud right now.
Female
Saalaiyoram solaiyondruBy the roadside, a grove...
Aadum sangeedham paadumDances and sings music.
Male
Kannaalanai paarthu kannorangal vaerthuLooking at her lover, the corners of her eyes sweat with emotion.
Kannaalanai paarthu kannorangal vaerthuLooking at her lover, the corners of her eyes sweat with emotion.
Saalaiyoram solaiyondruBy the roadside, a grove...
Aadum sangeedham paadumDances and sings music.
Female
Kadarkkarai eerathilaeOn the wet shore of the beach,
Kaaladigal nee padhikkaAs you leave your footprints,
Alai vandhu azhiththadhanaalBecause a wave came and erased them,
Kanni manam dhaan thudikkaThe young maiden's heart throbbed.
Male
Kadalukku kooda eeram illaiyoDoes even the ocean lack warmth and compassion?
Nyaayangalai ketka yaarumillaiyoIs there no one to demand justice?
Female
Serthu vaitha dhaagamThe thirst accumulated over time,
Kannaal indru keerrumWill be quenched today through the eyes.
Serthu vaitha dhaagamThe thirst accumulated over time,
Kannaal indru keerrumWill be quenched today through the eyes.
Male
Pesum killaiyae eera mullaiyaeOh talking parrot, oh wet jasmine flower,
Neram illaiyae ippodhuThere is no time left right now.
Male
Saalaiyoram solaiyondruBy the roadside, a grove...
Aadum sangeedham paadumDances and sings music.
Male
Kannaalanai paarthu kannorangal vaerthuLooking at her lover, the corners of her eyes sweat with emotion.
Kannaalanai paarthu kannorangal vaerthuLooking at her lover, the corners of her eyes sweat with emotion.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Saalaiyoram Solaiyondru' is a classic romantic track from the 1982 Tamil film 'Payanangal Mudivathillai'. The song expresses the blissful emotional harmony between two lovers, painting their affection through poetic comparisons to nature, such as blooming deserts, soft ocean breezes, night-blooming Parijaatha flowers, and ocean waves.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethirai (Second letter rhyme)

Saalaiyoram solaiyondru

In 'Saalaiyoram' and 'Solaiyondru', the second character 'la' (லை / ாலை) creates an elegant Tamil phonetic rhythm.

Hyperbole (Athisayokthi)

Paalaivanam pooththodukkum

Exaggerating the heroine's beauty by claiming her glance can make even a barren desert bloom with flowers.

Metaphor & Double Entendre (Sleidai / Wordplay)

Kadalukku kooda eeram illaiyo

The word 'Eeram' is cleverly used to mean both physical moisture/wetness of the ocean and emotional compassion/kindness.

Personification

Mottu kadhavai pattu vandugal

Attributes human actions like knocking on doors to bumblebees approaching a flower bud.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Payanangal Mudivathillai' (1982) was a landmark musical film directed by R. Sundarrajan, starring Mic Mohan and Poornima Bhagyaraj. Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki, the soundtrack became a cult success, winning Ilaiyaraaja the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director.

Keep listening

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