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Dharma Durai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Santhaikku Vantha Kili

From Dharma Durai · 1991

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Dharma Durai
Movie release year
1991
Lyrics added on
22 May 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sandhaikku vandha kili
Jaadai solli pesudhadi
Sandhaikku vandha kili
Jaadai solli pesudhadi
Muthammaa muthammaa….
Pakkam vara vekkamaa
Muthammaa muthammaa
Pakkam vara vekkamaa
Kuthaalathu maanae
Kothu poovaadidum thaenae
Kuthaalathu maanae
Kothu poovaadidum thaenae
Sandhaikku vandha kili
Jaadai solli pesudhadi
Sandhaikku vandha kili
Jaadai solli pesudhadi
Kaanaadha kaatchi ellaam
Kandenae unnazhagil
Poopola kolamellaam
Pottaiyae un vizhiyil
Maanaamaduraiyilae
Malligai poo vaangi vandhu
Mai pottu mayakkuniyae
Kai therndha machaanae
Thamaraiyum poothiruchu
Thakkaali pazhuthiruchu
Thangamae un manasu
Innum pazhukkalaiyae
Female :Ippavae sontham kondu nee
Kaiyil alli kollu maamaa
Sandhaikku vandha machaan
Jaadai solli pesuvadhaen
Sandhaikku vandha machaan
Jaadai solli pesuvadhaen
Sollava sollava
Onnu naan sollavaa
Sollava sollava
Onnu naan sollavaa
Kalyaanathai pesi
Nee katta venum thaali
Kalyaanathai pesi
Nee katta venum thaali
Sandhaikku vandha machaan
Jaadai solli pesuvadhaen
Sandhaikku vandha machaan
Jaadai solli pesuvadhaen
Ulululululululu…..
Ulululululululu….
Vandhadhu vandhadhu pongal endru
Ingu mangala gummi kottungadi
Engengum mangalam pongidavae
Ingu mangaiyar ellorum varungadi
Mangala kungumam kaiyil kondu
Ammanai paadida vaarungadi
Ammanai paadida vaarungadi
Thanthana thom solli paadungadi…..
Ulululululululu
…………………………………….
Aalaana naal mudhalaa
Unnaidhaan naan ninaichen
Noolaagathaan ilaichu
Noyil dhinam vaadi ninnen
Poo mudikkum koondhalilae
Em manasa nee mudichae
Nee mudicha mudipinilae
En usiru dhinam thavikka
Poovil nalla thaenirukku
Ponvandu paathirukku
Innum enna thaamathamo
Maamanukku sammadhamo
Ippavae sondham kollavae
Konjam en arugil vaammaa
Sandhaikku vandha kili
Jaadai solli pesudhadi
Female :Sandhaikku vandha machaan
Jaadai solli pesuvadhaen
Male :Muthammaa muthammaa….
Pakkam vara vekkamaa
Female :Sollava sollava
Onnu naan sollavaa
Kalyaanathai pesi
Nee katta venum thaali
Male :Hey hoi kuthaalathu maanae
Kothu poovaadidum thaenae
The parrot that came to the market
Is speaking in hints and gestures!
The parrot that came to the market
Is speaking in hints and gestures!
Muthamma, oh Muthamma...
Are you shy to come close?
Muthamma, oh Muthamma...
Are you shy to come close?
Oh deer of Courtallam,
Oh sweet honey of blooming flowers!
Oh deer of Courtallam,
Oh sweet honey of blooming flowers!
The parrot that came to the market
Is speaking in hints and gestures!
The parrot that came to the market
Is speaking in hints and gestures!
Sights I had never seen before,
I saw them in your beauty!
Flower-like lovely patterns,
You drew them with your eyes!
In Manamadurai,
Buying jasmine flowers,
You captivated me with your kohl-lined eyes,
Oh my skillful sweetheart!
The lotus has bloomed,
The tomato has ripened,
But my precious, your heart
Has not yet softened with love!
Female: Claim me as your own right now,
And take me into your arms, my sweetheart!
Why is my sweetheart who came to the market
Talking only in hints and gestures?
Why is my sweetheart who came to the market
Talking only in hints and gestures?
Shall I say it, shall I say it,
Shall I tell you something?
Shall I say it, shall I say it,
Shall I tell you something?
Talk about the wedding,
And you must tie the sacred knot (thali)!
Talk about the wedding,
And you must tie the sacred knot (thali)!
Why is my sweetheart who came to the market
Talking only in hints and gestures?
Why is my sweetheart who came to the market
Talking only in hints and gestures?
Ulululululu...
Ulululululu...
Singing that Pongal has arrived, has arrived,
Clap your hands and dance the festive Kummi!
So that joy overflows everywhere,
Come here, all you women!
Holding auspicious kumkum in your hands,
Come along to sing the folk song (ammanai)!
Come along to sing the folk song (ammanai)!
Sing out with the rhythm of thandhana thom...
Ulululululu...
...
Ever since the day I came of age,
You were the only one on my mind!
Wasting away as thin as a thread,
I suffered daily in lovesickness!
In your hair adorned with flowers,
You tied up my heart!
In that knot you tied,
My soul aches with longing every day!
There is sweet nectar in the flower,
And the golden beetle is watching it!
Why is there any more delay,
Does my sweetheart agree?
To make you mine right now,
Come a little closer to me, my dear!
The parrot that came to the market
Is speaking in hints and gestures!
Female: Why is my sweetheart who came to the market
Talking only in hints and gestures?
Male: Muthamma, oh Muthamma...
Are you shy to come close?
Female: Shall I say it, shall I say it,
Shall I tell you something?
Talk about the wedding,
And you must tie the sacred knot (thali)!
Male: Hey hoy, oh deer of Courtallam,
Oh sweet honey of blooming flowers!
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Chorus
Chorus
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Sandhaikku Vandha Kili' is a playful rural duet from the 1991 Tamil film Dharma Durai. The song features a lighthearted exchange between two lovers against the backdrop of a village festival. The male lead affectionately compares his beloved to a parrot and a graceful deer, flirting with subtle gestures. In response, the female lead playfully chides him for making hints in public and directly challenges him to move past flirting and proposal to marriage by tying the auspicious mangalsutra (thali). The track blends romance with traditional Tamil folk elements such as Gummi dance and Ammanai songs.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Sandhaikku vandha kili

Comparing the beloved female lead to a parrot ('Kili') visiting the village market.

Initial Alliteration (Monai)

Thamaraiyum poothiruchu / Thakkaali pazhuthiruchu / Thangamae...

Repetition of the 'Tha' starting consonant sound across lines 25-27.

Folk Motifs (Naatupura Koorugal)

Ingu mangala gummi kottungadi / Ammanai paadida vaarungadi

Use of traditional village cultural forms like Gummi dance and Ammanai folk songs.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki. Set in a rural festival atmosphere, it highlights traditional Tamil cultural practices like Gummi dance and sound motifs like ululation ('kulavai').

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