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Isaimozhi
December Pookal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sambonu

From December Pookal · 1986

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
December Pookal
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
27 Nov 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sambonnu solli vandha saami
Rambaannu odi varuvaan
Sambonnu solli vandha saami
Rambaannu odi varuvaan
Nambaadhae ada vembaadhae
Nambaadhae ada vembaadhae
Ambonnu vittu viduvaan
Sambonnu solli vandha saami
Rambaannu odi varuvaan
Sambonnu solli vandha saami
Rambaannu odi varuvaan
Thottu thaan pattaa podu
Appuram vittaa paaru
Chittu thaan honda car-ruu
Thottuttaa kondaa nooru
{Aalaana annaththukkum
Azhagaana kinnathukkum
Male Chorus :Bodha
Female:Poovaana kannaththukkum
Puriyaadha chinnathukkum
Male Chorus :Paadha} (2)
Raagam thadumaarum
Female :Neeyum vaa porukkala
Sambonnu solli vandha saami
Rambaannu odi varuvaan
Ponnunnaa ponnu naanu
Enninaa engum thaenu
Kannilae rendu meenu
Kanni thaan thullum maanu
{Thaanaaga thaththalichu
Thaniyaaga koppalikkum
Male Chorus :Aasa
Female :Neeyaaga endhirichu
Nejamaaga oththuzhaichu
Male Chorus :Pesa} (2)
Neram idhu neram
Female :Neeyum vaa marukkala
Sambonnu solli vandha saami
Rambaannu odi varuvaan
Sambonnu solli vandha saami
Rambaannu odi varuvaan
Nambaadhae ada vembaadhae
Hey nambaadhae ada vembaadhae
Ambonnu vittu viduvaan
Sambonnu solli vandha saami
Rambaannu odi varuvaan
Sambonnu solli vandha saami
Rambaannu odi varuvaan haan
The holy man who arrived chanting "Sambo!"
will come running, calling for Rambha!
The holy man who arrived chanting "Sambo!"
will come running, calling for Rambha!
Don't believe him, hey, don't fret!
Don't believe him, hey, don't fret!
He will shoot an arrow at you!
The holy man who arrived chanting "Sambo!"
will come running, calling for Rambha!
The holy man who arrived chanting "Sambo!"
will come running, calling for Rambha!
Touch me and claim your right,
and just see what happens if you let go!
This little bird is like a Honda car,
if you touch her, hand over a hundred!
For this full-grown swan,
and for this lovely cup,
Male Chorus: Is that enough?
Female: For these flower-soft cheeks,
and this mysterious beauty mark,
Male Chorus: Shall we look?
The melody begins to falter...
Female: Come to me, I cannot wait!
The holy man who arrived chanting "Sambo!"
will come running, calling for Rambha!
What a stunning girl I am,
wherever you imagine, it is pure honey!
Two darting fish in my eyes,
this young girl is a leaping deer!
Restlessly tossing all on its own,
bubbling up in secret,
Male Chorus: Is that desire?
Female: If you step up yourself,
and truly play along,
Male Chorus: Speak up!
This is the time, the right time!
Female: Come to me, I won't refuse!
The holy man who arrived chanting "Sambo!"
will come running, calling for Rambha!
The holy man who arrived chanting "Sambo!"
will come running, calling for Rambha!
Don't believe him, hey, don't fret!
Hey, don't believe him, don't fret!
He will shoot an arrow at you!
The holy man who arrived chanting "Sambo!"
will come running, calling for Rambha!
The holy man who arrived chanting "Sambo!"
will come running, calling for Rambha, haan!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful and rhythmic song from December Pookal (1986) warns against trusting deceptive, charming men who promise grand things but leave women stranded once their motives are served. The lyricist uses playful metaphors, comparing feminine beauty to swans, fish-like eyes, and leaping deer, while cautioning about the illusory nature of attraction and material allure like fast cars. Overall, it is a dance-oriented track filled with high energy, catching rhythm, and allegorical expressions of desire, youth, and caution.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Kannilae rendu meenu / Kanni thaan thullum maanu

Comparing the eyes to fish (Kannilae rendu meenu) and the young woman to a leaping deer (Kanni thaan thullum maanu).

Rhyme / Monai and Ethirai

Sambonnu solli vandha saami / Rambaannu odi varuvaan

Use of internal rhyming words like Sambonnu, Rambaannu, Nambaadhae, Vembaadhae, and Ambonnu.

Alliteration (Moonaai)

Thottu thaan pattaa podu / Chittu thaan honda car-ruu

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across lines (Thottu, Thaan, Chittu, Honda).

Did you know?

Trivia

December Pookal is a 1986 Tamil thriller film starring Mohan and Nalini. The music for the film was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with Gangai Amaran contributing catchy, street-style playful lyrics to this fun rhythm-heavy track.

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