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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Santhana Punnagai Sindhiya

From Nadodi Raja · 1982

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Nadodi Raja1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Santhana punnagai sinthiya kannigaiThe maiden who spilled a sandalwood smile
Manthira malligaithaanaeIs she a magical jasmine flower?
Thaen mazhai pozhiyum idhazhgalil vazhiyumHoney rains down and overflows from her lips
Vidinthathum kaainthu vidumIt will dry up once dawn arrives
Female
Santhana punnagai sinthiya kannigaiThe maiden who spilled a sandalwood smile
Manthira malligaithaanaeIs she a magical jasmine flower?
Thaen mazhai pozhiyum idhazhgalil vazhiyumHoney rains down and overflows from her lips
Vidinthathum kaainthu vidumIt will dry up once dawn arrives
Male
Santhana punnagai sinthiya kannigaiThe maiden who spilled a sandalwood smile
Manthira malligaithaanae aaa….aa…aa….Is she a magical jasmine flower? Ah... ah... ah...
Male
Nenjoram inneram kalloorumNear the heart, sweet wine flows at this hour
Ival oru thaavani megamShe is a cloud wrapped in a half-saree
Nenjoram inneram kalloorumNear the heart, sweet wine flows at this hour
Ival oru thaavani megamShe is a cloud wrapped in a half-saree
Idhayam amuthil nanaiyum thodugaiyilThe heart drenches in nectar upon a touch
Female
Paarvai veraanathu ingu vervai aaraanathuThe gaze became different, and here the sweat cooled down
Paarvai veraanathu ingu vervai aaraanathuThe gaze became different, and here the sweat cooled down
Selai thodu maalaiyiduTouch the saree, put on the garland
Ilamaiyai thoodhu vidu paaduSend youth as a messenger and sing
Male
Santhana punnagai sinthiya kannigaiThe maiden who spilled a sandalwood smile
Manthira malligaithaanaeIs she a magical jasmine flower?
Female :Thaen mazhai pozhiyum idhazhgalil vazhiyumFemale: Honey rains down and overflows from her lips
Vidinthathum kaainthu vidumIt will dry up once dawn arrives
Female
Santhana punnagai sinthiya kannigaiThe maiden who spilled a sandalwood smile
Manthira malligaithaanaeIs she a magical jasmine flower?
Male :Thaen mazhai pozhiyum idhazhgalil vazhiyumMale: Honey rains down and overflows from her lips
Vidinthathum kaainthu vidumIt will dry up once dawn arrives
Female
Ennodu kondaadu panpaaduCelebrate with me and sing music
Dhinam dhinam raaththiri raagamDay after day, a nightly melody
Karumpum ivalai virumbum kanirasamEven sugarcane desires her fruity nectar
Ennodu kondaadu panpaaduCelebrate with me and sing music
Dhinam dhinam raaththiri raagamDay after day, a nightly melody
Karumpum ivalai virumbum kanirasamEven sugarcane desires her fruity nectar
Male
Nenjil orr vedhanaiA pleasant pain inside the heart
Ini thenil aaraathanaiFrom now on, worship in honey
Nenjil orr vedhanaiA pleasant pain inside the heart
Ini thenil aaraathanaiFrom now on, worship in honey
Koondhalilae porvaiyiduMake a blanket out of your tresses
Manmatha sedhi kodu paaduGive the news of Cupid and sing
Female
Santhana punnagai sinthiya kannigaiThe maiden who spilled a sandalwood smile
Manthira malligaithaanaeIs she a magical jasmine flower?
Male :Thaen mazhai pozhiyum idhazhgalil vazhiyumMale: Honey rains down and overflows from her lips
Vidinthathum kaainthu vidumIt will dry up once dawn arrives
Male
Aahaa haa santhana punnagai sinthiya kannigaiAha ha, the maiden who spilled a sandalwood smile
Manthira malligai thaanaeIs she a magical jasmine flower?
Female :Thaen mazhai pozhiyum idhazhgalil vazhiyumFemale: Honey rains down and overflows from her lips
Vidinthathum kaainthu vidumIt will dry up once dawn arrives

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Santhana Punnagai' from the 1982 film 'Nadodi Raja' is a romantic duet composed by Shankar Ganesh and written by Vairamuthu. The song captures the playful, intimate passion between two lovers. Through lush natural imagery—comparing the heroine's smile to fragrance and sandalwood, her lips to dripping honey, and her youthfulness to a cloud wrapped in a half-saree—the lyrics portray the fleeting yet magical enchantment of night-time romance that evaporates with the dawn.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagam)

Ival oru thaavani megam

Compares the heroine's half-saree look to a cloud ('thaavani megam') and her lips' sweetness to honey rain ('thaen mazhai').

Emoni / Rhyme (Moni & Ethirai)

Paarvai veraanathu ingu vervai aaraanathu

Alliteration and rhyming words like 'Santhana' / 'Manthira' and 'Paarvai' / 'Vervai' enhance the rhythmic musicality of the verse.

Hyperbole (Uyirvu Navirtchi)

Karumpum ivalai virumbum kanirasam

Exaggerates the lady's sweetness by stating that even sweet sugarcane yearns for her fruit-nectar ('Karumpum ivalai virumbum kanirasam').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features the iconic vocals of S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki, showcasing lyricist Vairamuthu's signature early-80s poetic style of blending sensual themes with vivid nature metaphors.

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