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Thanikattu Raja album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sandhana Kaatre

From Thanikattu Raja · 1982

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Thanikattu Raja
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
12 Mar 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Santhana kaatrae
Senthamizh ootrae
Sandhosa paatae vaa vaa } (2)
Kaadhodu thaan
Nee paadum oosai
Neengaadha aasai hoi
Hoi neengaadha aasai
Santhana kaatrae
Senthamizh ootrae
Sandhosa paatae vaa vaa
Kaadhodu thaan
Nee paadum oosai
Neengaadha aasai hoi
Hoi neengaadha aasai
Neer vendum boomiyil
Nana nana
Paayum nadhiyae
Nana nana
Neengaamal tholgalil
Nana nana
Saayum radhiyae
Lala lala
Boologam dheiveegam
Boologam
Haaa maraiya maraiya
Dheiveegam
Haaa theriya theriya
Vaibogam thaan
Gopaalan saaivadho
Nana nana
Kodhai madiyil
Nana nana
Poo baanam paaivadho
Nana nana
Poovai manadhil
Nana nana
Poongaatrum soodetrum
Poongaatrum
Haa thavazha thavazha
Soodetrum
Haa thazhuva thazhuva
Yegaandham thaan
Santhana kaatrae
Senthamizh ootrae
Sandhosa paatae vaa vaa
Kaadhodu thaan nee paadum oosai
Neengaadha aasai hoi hoi neengaadha aasai
Santhana kaatrae
Senthamizh ootrae
O sandalwood breeze,
O spring of sweet Tamil,
O joyful song, come, come!
Whispered close to my ear,
the sound of your singing
is a never-ending longing, hoy!
Hoy, a never-ending longing!
O sandalwood breeze,
O spring of sweet Tamil,
O joyful song, come, come!
Whispered close to my ear,
the sound of your singing
is a never-ending longing, hoy!
Hoy, a never-ending longing!
Across the land that thirsts for water,
Na na na na,
you flow like a river!
Na na na na,
Never leaving my shoulders,
Na na na na,
O Rathi (goddess of beauty) resting against me!
La la la la,
The earthly world, the divine world...
As the earthly world...
Ah, slowly fades away,
the divine world...
Ah, comes into view,
it is a grand celebration!
Is Gopalan (Krishna) resting
Na na na na,
in his beloved's lap?
Na na na na,
Is an arrow of flowers piercing
Na na na na,
this young woman's heart?
Na na na na,
The gentle breeze stirs a warm passion,
As the gentle breeze...
Ah, drifts softly over us,
stirring warmth,
Ah, as we embrace,
it is pure, peaceful solitude!
O sandalwood breeze,
O spring of sweet Tamil,
O joyful song, come, come!
The melody you sing right into my ear
is an endless longing, hoy, hoy, an endless longing!
O sandalwood breeze,
O spring of sweet Tamil!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Santhana Kaatrae is a romantic duet that celebrates deep emotional and physical intimacy between lovers. Comparing the beloved's presence to a soothing sandalwood breeze, a sweet spring of pure Tamil, and a river quenching thirsty land, the song conveys the tender comfort and joy of love. The lovers describe their quiet togetherness as an intoxicating realm where earthly worries fade away into divine bliss. Vaali weaves classical imagery—referencing Lord Gopala resting in Kodhai's lap and Cupid's flower arrows—to elevate their tender union into a celebratory, timeless passion rendered memorably by Ilaiyaraaja's composition.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

“Senthamizh ootrae”

Compares the love or beloved to a fresh spring of pure Tamil, highlighting sweet elegance.

Allusion

“Gopaalan saaivadho... Kodhai madiyil”

References Lord Gopala (Krishna) resting on Kodhai's (Andal's) lap to frame the romance in classical, divine terms.

Imagery

“Neer vendum boomiyil... Paayum nadhiyae”

Paints vivid imagery of a river rushing across thirsty land to depict emotional fulfillment.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vaali, this popular duet from Thanikattu Raja (1982) features vocal performances by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki.

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