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Lyrics & meaning

Sandhai Kadai Chellaayi

From Ninaive Oru Sangeetham · 1987

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ninaive Oru Sangeetham1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Sandhai kadai chellaayiO Chellaayi of the market store
Un sarakku inga sellathuYour goods will not sell here
Male
Sandhai kadai chellaayiO Chellaayi of the market store
Un sarakku inga sellathuYour goods will not sell here
Enthappakkam ponaalumWherever I go
Un thontharavu thaangaathuI cannot bear your nuisance
Male
Pottikkulla pootti adhai vatchchukkadiLock it up inside a box and keep it, girl
Vera aalukitta un sarakka viththukkadiSell your goods to someone else, girl
Hae pottikkulla pootti adhai vatchchukkadiHey, lock it up inside a box and keep it, girl
Vera aalukitta un sarakka viththukkadiSell your goods to someone else, girl
Male
Sandhai kadai chellaayiO Chellaayi of the market store
Un sarakku inga sellathu haeiYour goods will not sell here, hey!
Male
Mookka mattum neettikkittuSticking only your nose out
Kayi rendum aattikkittuWaving both your hands
Vanthu vanthu nikkuraiyae mamankitaYou keep coming and standing before this uncle
Intha mamankittaBefore this uncle
Male
Paakkuratha paarththuputtuHaving seen what you saw
Ketkuratha kettuputtuHaving heard what you heard
Vaththi vaikka paarkkuraiyaeYou are trying to set a fire and instigate trouble
Akkaakitta enga akkaakittaTo my elder sister, to our elder sister
Male
Ennapaaru aambalaLook at me, I am a real man
Etti podi yae pullaKeep your distance, girl
Eppa paaru un thollaiAlways your trouble
Vera enna naan sollaWhat else can I say?
Male
Ponnu puththi pinnaalthaanA woman's wisdom comes only later
Un kannu rendum emmelathaanYet both your eyes are fixed on me
Illaathatha pollaathatha yaendi pullaWhy, girl, are you coming to talk about
Solla vanthaFalse and malicious things?
Male
Sandhai kadai chellaayiO Chellaayi of the market store
Un sarakku inga sellathuYour goods will not sell here
Enthappakkam ponaalumWherever I go
Un thontharavu thaangaathuI cannot bear your nuisance
Male
Pottikkulla pootti adhai vatchchukkadiLock it up inside a box and keep it, girl
Vera aalukitta un sarakka viththukkadiSell your goods to someone else, girl
Hae pottikkulla pootti adhai vatchchukkadiHey, lock it up inside a box and keep it, girl
Vera aalukitta un sarakka viththukkadiSell your goods to someone else, girl
Male
Adi sandhai kadai chellaayiHey Chellaayi of the market store
Un sarakku inga sellathu haeiYour goods will not sell here, hey!
Male
Sandhaiyil vaangi vanthaBought from the weekly market
Saaya selai kattikittuWearing a dyed saree
Saanju saanju paarkkuriyae ennathukkuWhy are you leaning and looking at me repeatedly?
Adhu ennaththukkuWhy is that?
Male
Panthiyila paaya eduththuTaking a mat in the feast row
Pottu vaikkum munnaalaeBefore even spreading it out
Paayaasam ketkuriyae ennaththukkuWhy are you asking for sweet kheer?
Adhu ennaththukkuWhy is that?
Male
Kattazhagu maappillaiI am a handsome groom
Enna pola yaarum illaiThere is no one like me
Kettuppaaru oorukkullaAsk around in the town
Odi varum nooru pullaA hundred girls will come running for me
Male
Ponnu iva ponnu illaThis girl is not a proper girl
Kali mannirukku mandaikkullaThere is only clay inside her brain
Soodu onnu pottuputtaenI branded her with hot iron
Sollaathatha sollipputtaenI said what shouldn't have been said
Male
Sandhai kadai chellaayiO Chellaayi of the market store
Un sarakku inga sellathuYour goods will not sell here
Enthappakkam ponaalumWherever I go
Un thontharavu thaangaathuI cannot bear your nuisance
Male
Pottikkulla pootti adhai vatchchukkadiLock it up inside a box and keep it, girl
Vera aalukitta un sarakka viththukkadiSell your goods to someone else, girl
Pottikkulla pootti adhai vatchchukkadiLock it up inside a box and keep it, girl
Vera aalukitta un sarakka viththukkadiSell your goods to someone else, girl
Male
Adi sandhai kadai chellaayiHey Chellaayi of the market store
Un sarakku inga sellathu haeiYour goods will not sell here, hey!
Enthappakkam ponaalumWherever I go
Un thontharavu thaangaathu haeiI cannot bear your nuisance, hey!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and teasing folk-style track from Ninaive Oru Sangeetham features a protagonist humorously rejecting a woman's unwanted overtures and gossip. Using market metaphors where her charm and tricks are referred to as 'goods' that won't sell, the male character lightheartedly dismisses her attempts to instigate drama or win his affection. Through vivid village imagery—such as wearing dyed sarees bought from the market, asking for sweet dessert before even laying down the dining mat, and having clay inside her brain—the song presents a energetic, theatrical rural banter composed rhythmically by Ilaiyaraaja.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Un sarakku inga sellathu

The protagonist metaphorically compares the woman's charm, tricks, and flirting tactics to market goods ('sarakku') that have no demand or value here ('sellathu').

Monai (Alliteration)

Sandhaiyil vaangi vantha / Saaya selai kattikittu

Repetition of the initial 'S' consonant sound across words creates a rhythmic and melodic flow typical of folk poetry.

Proverbial Metaphor (Cultural Imagery)

Panthiyila paaya eduththu pottu vaikkum munnaalae paayaasam ketkuriyae

Uses a humorous cultural expression about asking for sweet paayaasam before even laying down the mat for a feast, symbolizing extreme impatience and premature expectations.

Did you know?

Trivia

Ninaive Oru Sangeetham (1987) stars Vijayakanth and Radha, with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics penned by his brother Gangai Amaran. Malaysia Vasudevan's rustic, vibrant vocal delivery paired with K. S. Chithra's playful responses made this dynamic folk track a popular hit.

Keep listening

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