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Ingeyum Oru Gangai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Santhanakiliye Senbagapoove

From Ingeyum Oru Gangai · 1984

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
S. P. Shailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ingeyum Oru Gangai
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
18 Sept 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Santhanakiliyae senbaga poovae
Kannula yaenthaan kalakkamo
Pen malarae nee valarnthaa kanneeru thevappadam
Kannula neeru vaenaa kannu
Santhanakiliyae senbaga poovae
Kannula yaenthaan kalakkamo
Ennenna naalila ennaenna nadakkum
Enbathu yaarukkum theriyaathammaa
Boomiyil nee oru pennaaga poranthaa
Onakunnu aasaiyum koodaathammaa
Penn manaso pon manasu solavatha nee kelu
Peththavar perunkadan ponnaala theeerum
Uththaman manakkora eppothum maarum
Santhanakiliyae senbaga poovae
Kannula yaenthaan kalakkamo
Pen malarae nee valarnthaa kanneeru thevappadam
Kannula neeru vaenaa kannu….
Santhanakiliyae senbaga poovae
Kannula yaenthaan kalakkamo…
My sandalwood parrot, my champak flower,
why is there sorrow in your eyes?
Little flower, when you grow up, tears will become your lot.
Do not shed tears, my dear child...
My sandalwood parrot, my champak flower,
why is there sorrow in your eyes?
What will happen on which day,
is something no one knows, my child.
If you are born as a woman in this world,
you should not even have desires of your own, my child.
A woman's heart is a heart of gold, listen to what I say.
A parent's great burden is cleared through a daughter,
yet when will that good man's heartache ever heal?
My sandalwood parrot, my champak flower,
why is there sorrow in your eyes?
Little flower, when you grow up, tears will become your lot.
Do not shed tears, my dear child...
My sandalwood parrot, my champak flower,
why is there sorrow in your eyes?...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Ingeyum Oru Gangai features this soothing yet poignant song where a tender young girl is consoled with deep affection. The speaker lovingly addresses her using tender metaphors like 'sandalwood parrot' and 'champak flower', asking why her eyes are filled with anxiety and sadness. The lyricist reflects on the traditional, hard truths of womanhood, explaining that life's future is uncertain and societal obligations often demand that women compromise their personal desires. Despite acknowledging the hardship inherent in life, the singer gently urges the child not to weep, offering emotional solace and hope that distress will ultimately clear away.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Santhanakiliyae senbaga poovae

The young girl is affectionately addressed as 'Santhanakili' (sandalwood parrot) and 'Senbaga poov' (champak flower), symbolizing purity, innocence, and delicate beauty.

Ethukai (Second-Letter Assonance)

Penn manaso pon manasu solavatha nee kelu / Peththavar perunkadan ponnaala theeerum

Tamil poetic device where the second letter of consecutive lines match ('Penn' / 'Peththavar').

Paradox / Emotional Contrast

Pen malarae nee valarnthaa kanneeru thevappadam / Kannula neeru vaenaa kannu

Acknowledges that tears are an inevitable part of growing up as a woman, yet immediately pleads with her not to shed a single tear.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ingeyum Oru Gangai' (1984) was directed by Manivannan, starring Murali and Tara. The film's musical score was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, featuring lyrics penned by his brother Gangai Amaran, who captured traditional familial sentiments in this song.

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