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Ninaive Oru Sangeetham album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sandhai Kadai Chellaayi

From Ninaive Oru Sangeetham · 1987

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ninaive Oru Sangeetham
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
4 Jul 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sandhai kadai chellaayi
Un sarakku inga sellathu
Sandhai kadai chellaayi
Un sarakku inga sellathu
Enthappakkam ponaalum
Un thontharavu thaangaathu
Pottikkulla pootti adhai vatchchukkadi
Vera aalukitta un sarakka viththukkadi
Hae pottikkulla pootti adhai vatchchukkadi
Vera aalukitta un sarakka viththukkadi
Sandhai kadai chellaayi
Un sarakku inga sellathu haei
Mookka mattum neettikkittu
Kayi rendum aattikkittu
Vanthu vanthu nikkuraiyae mamankita
Intha mamankitta
Paakkuratha paarththuputtu
Ketkuratha kettuputtu
Vaththi vaikka paarkkuraiyae
Akkaakitta enga akkaakitta
Ennapaaru aambala
Etti podi yae pulla
Eppa paaru un thollai
Vera enna naan solla
Ponnu puththi pinnaalthaan
Un kannu rendum emmelathaan
Illaathatha pollaathatha yaendi pulla
Solla vantha
Sandhai kadai chellaayi
Un sarakku inga sellathu
Enthappakkam ponaalum
Un thontharavu thaangaathu
Pottikkulla pootti adhai vatchchukkadi
Vera aalukitta un sarakka viththukkadi
Hae pottikkulla pootti adhai vatchchukkadi
Vera aalukitta un sarakka viththukkadi
Adi sandhai kadai chellaayi
Un sarakku inga sellathu haei
Sandhaiyil vaangi vantha
Saaya selai kattikittu
Saanju saanju paarkkuriyae ennathukku
Adhu ennaththukku
Panthiyila paaya eduththu
Pottu vaikkum munnaalae
Paayaasam ketkuriyae ennaththukku
Adhu ennaththukku
Kattazhagu maappillai
Enna pola yaarum illai
Kettuppaaru oorukkulla
Odi varum nooru pulla
Ponnu iva ponnu illa
Kali mannirukku mandaikkulla
Soodu onnu pottuputtaen
Sollaathatha sollipputtaen
Sandhai kadai chellaayi
Un sarakku inga sellathu
Enthappakkam ponaalum
Un thontharavu thaangaathu
Pottikkulla pootti adhai vatchchukkadi
Vera aalukitta un sarakka viththukkadi
Pottikkulla pootti adhai vatchchukkadi
Vera aalukitta un sarakka viththukkadi
Adi sandhai kadai chellaayi
Un sarakku inga sellathu haei
Enthappakkam ponaalum
Un thontharavu thaangaathu haei
Marketplace Sellayi,
your goods won't sell here!
Marketplace Sellayi,
your goods won't sell here!
Whichever way I turn,
your nuisance is unbearable!
Lock them up in your trunk, girl,
and sell your goods to someone else!
Hey, lock them up in your trunk, girl,
and sell your goods to someone else!
Marketplace Sellayi,
your goods won't sell here, hey!
Poking your nose into everything,
and swinging both your hands,
you keep coming and standing before this man,
right before this man!
Watching everything you can see,
and eavesdropping on all you hear,
you are looking to stir up trouble
with my sister, with my elder sister!
Look at me, I am a man!
Step back and stay away, girl!
Your annoyance never ends,
what else can I say?
A woman's wisdom always comes late,
yet both your eyes are glued on me!
Why did you come with wicked lies,
spreading tales that never happened?
Marketplace Sellayi,
your goods won't sell here!
Whichever way I turn,
your nuisance is unbearable!
Lock them up in your trunk, girl,
and sell your goods to someone else!
Lock them up in your trunk, girl,
and sell your goods to someone else!
Oh, marketplace Sellayi,
your goods won't sell here, hey!
Wearing that dyed saree
bought fresh from the market,
why do you keep leaning in and ogling me?
Tell me, for what reason?
Even before the dining mat
is laid out at the feast,
why are you asking for sweet payasam (sweet pudding)?
Tell me, for what reason?
I am a handsome groom,
there is no one quite like me!
Just ask around the village,
a hundred girls would come running!
She is no clever woman,
she has only clay inside her head!
I gave you a sharp rebuke,
and spoke harsh truths I shouldn't have said!
Marketplace Sellayi,
your goods won't sell here!
Whichever way I turn,
your nuisance is unbearable!
Lock them up in your trunk, girl,
and sell your goods to someone else!
Lock them up in your trunk, girl,
and sell your goods to someone else!
Oh, marketplace Sellayi,
your goods won't sell here!
Whichever way I turn,
your nuisance is unbearable, hey!
Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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From the same album

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