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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sandiyarae Sandiyarae

From Virumaandi · 2004

Lyricist
Kamal Haasan
Singer
Shreya Ghoshal
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Virumaandi2004

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Eesa eesaanae eesa karaiyaanaeOh winged termite, oh termite!
Ungappanum aathaalumYour father and mother,
Thanni karaiyoramNear the edge of the water,
Seththu kidakkaangaAre lying dead.
Angittu poneennaIf you go over there,
Rekkaiya pippaangaThey will tear off your wings.
Enkitta odiya enkitaa odiyaRun to me, run to me!
Female
Sandiyare sandiyareOh rogue, oh rogue!
Kannupotten unga melaI have set my eyes on you.
Sandiyare sandiyareOh rogue, oh rogue!
Kannupotten unga melaI have set my eyes on you.
Ondiyila nikkirenae kandukollungaI stand alone here, please take notice of me.
Female
Andhiyila sandhiyilaIn dusk and twilight,
Angha angha unga moghamEverywhere I look, your face...
Vandhu vandhu vaattudhennaiComes repeatedly to torment me,
Vaarthai sollungaSpeak a word to me.
Female
Oorum oru maadhiridhanThe village views us in a strange way,
Unnai ennai paakudhaiyaLooking at you and me,
Kannu kaadhu mookku vechuExaggerating stories with eyes, ears, and nose,
Kandapadi pesudhaiyaGossip relentlessly.
Kavalai ila kaathulavidu badhila solluDon't worry, throw it to the wind and give me an answer.
Female
Sandiyare sandiyareOh rogue, oh rogue!
Kannupotten unga melaI have set my eyes on you.
Ondiyila nikkirenae kandukollungaI stand alone here, please take notice of me.
Female
Veeraappu pesi ninnaTalking bravely and proudly,
Virattum ennaiYou chase me away,
Veettukullae un uruvam verattuthuBut inside my house, your image haunts me.
Adangadha kaalayai pol adimanasuLike an untamed bull, my deep heart...
Athanaiyum un nenaippil adanguthuSubdues completely at the mere thought of you.
Female
Eesalaipol naan parandhuLike a winged moth flying,
Velichatha thedaIn search of light,
Eesana pol nee izhuthuDraw me in like Lord Shiva,
Un oliyil poduAnd take me into your light.
Siragodu parandhaalumEven if I fly with wings,
Sirupozhudhu unai sera aasaI long to reach you even for a short moment.
Verenna pesaWhat else is there to say?
Female
Sandiyare sandiyareOh rogue, oh rogue!
Kannupotten unga melaI have set my eyes on you.
Ondiyila nikkirenae kandukollungaI stand alone here, please take notice of me.
Oorum oru maadhiridhanThe village views us in a strange way,
Unnai ennai paakudhaiyaLooking at you and me,
Kannu kaadhu mookku vechuExaggerating stories with eyes, ears, and nose,
Kandapadi pesudhaiyaGossip relentlessly.
Kavalai ila kaathulavidu badhila solluDon't worry, throw it to the wind and give me an answer.
Female
Sandiyare sandiyareOh rogue, oh rogue!
Kannupotten unga melaI have set my eyes on you.
Sandiyare sandiyareOh rogue, oh rogue!
Kannupotten unga melaI have set my eyes on you.
Ondiyila nikkirenae kandukollungaI stand alone here, please take notice of me.
Female
Andhiyila sandhiyilaIn dusk and twilight,
Angha angha unga moghamEverywhere I look, your face...
Vandhu vandhu vaattudhennaiComes repeatedly to torment me,
Vaarthai sollungaSpeak a word to me.
Chorus
Eesa eesaanae eesa karaiyaanaeOh winged termite, oh termite!
Ungappanum aathaalumYour father and mother,
Thanni karaiyoramNear the edge of the water,
Seththu kidakkaangaAre lying dead.
Angittu poneennaIf you go over there,
Rekkaiya pippaangaThey will tear off your wings.
Enkitta odiya enkitaa odiyaRun to me, run to me!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song expresses the intense yearning and passionate affection of a woman (Annalakshmi) for a rugged, rebellious man ('Sandiyar'). Framing her deep romantic desires through traditional rural folk rhymes about winged termites drawn to flame, she describes how her mind—usually as untamed as a bull—surrenders completely whenever she thinks of him. Despite the villagers gossiping and exaggerating their relationship, she remains unfazed, urging him to dismiss public opinion and return her love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Adangadha kaalayai pol adimanasu

Compares the speaker's wild, restless heart to an untamed bull that becomes subdued only in the hero's thoughts.

Extended Metaphor

Eesalaipol naan parandhu / Velichatha theda

Compares the speaker's soul and attraction to a moth/winged termite ('Eesal') drawn irresistibly to light.

Idiom (Tamil Folk Idiom)

Kannu kaadhu mookku vechu

'Kannu kaadhu mookku vechu' is a classic Tamil idiom meaning adding exaggerated details to gossip.

Repetition (Adukku Thodar)

Vandhu vandhu vaattudhennai

Repetition of words like 'Vandhu vandhu' and 'Sandiyare sandiyare' builds emotional emphasis and rhythmic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Virumaandi (2004) was written, directed, and starring Kamal Haasan, with a acclaimed score by Ilaiyaraaja. The opening and closing lines ('Eesa eesaanae') adapt a traditional Tamil rural children's rhyme sung around swarming termites after monsoon rains, repurposing it as a thematic motif for passionate love.

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