Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Santhiya Santhiya

From Ninaivirukkum Varai · 1999

Lyricist
Nandalala
Singer
Unnikrishnan
Music director
Deva
Details
Ninaivirukkum Varai1999

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Santhiya santhiyaSanthiya, Santhiya,
Sammatham solvaayaaWill you give your consent?
Santhiya santhiyaSanthiya, Santhiya,
Sanjalam kolvaayaaWill you feel anxious and conflicted?
En nenjin aasai sollavaaShall I reveal the desire of my heart?
Oo…ooh….oo….ooh…..oo…..ooh…Oo…ooh….oo….ooh…..oo…..ooh…
Nenjodu moodi kollavaaOr shall I keep it concealed within my chest?
Male
Santhiya santhiyaSanthiya, Santhiya,
Sammatham solvaayaaWill you give your consent?
En nenjin aasai sollavaaShall I reveal the desire of my heart?
Male
Gangaiyaa nee kaanaalaaAre you the holy Ganges or a mere mirage?
Idhu kadhalaa erum veshamaaIs this genuine love or a staged disguise?
Verkalaa nee pookkalaaAre you the roots or the blossoms?
En vennilaa padhil pesumaaWill my moonlight speak a response?
Male
Sollaatha sollukkuFor a word that remains unspoken,
Porul ondrukku kidaiyaathuThere is no single definitive meaning.
Naan konda nesaththinThe true measure of the love I hold,
Thiran enna theriyaathuIts power remains unknown to you.
Oo…ooh….oo….ooh…..oo…..ooh…Oo…ooh….oo….ooh…..oo…..ooh…
Male
Santhiya santhiyaSanthiya, Santhiya,
Sammatham solvaayaaWill you give your consent?
En nenjin aasai sollavaaShall I reveal the desire of my heart?
Male
Kaadhalae en kadhalaeO love, my sweet love,
Oru oomaiyaai ennai maattrinaaiYou have transformed me into a mute person.
Megamaai naan vaazhnthavanI, who once lived freely like a cloud,
Thani theevilae ennai poottinaaiYou locked me away on a deserted island.
Male
Vidikaalai neraththilIn the quiet hours of early dawn,
Kuyilukku ursaagamThe cuckoo bird sings with enthusiasm.
Edhir kooval kelaamalYet without hearing an answering call,
En nenjil oru sogamA deep sorrow settles within my heart.
Oo…ooh….oo….ooh…..oo…..ooh…Oo…ooh….oo….ooh…..oo…..ooh…
Male
Santhiya santhiyaSanthiya, Santhiya,
Sammatham solvaayaaWill you give your consent?
Santhiya santhiyaSanthiya, Santhiya,
Sanjalam kolvaayaaWill you feel anxious and conflicted?
En nenjin aasai sollavaaShall I reveal the desire of my heart?
Oo…ooh….oo….ooh…..oo…..ooh…Oo…ooh….oo….ooh…..oo…..ooh…
Nenjodu moodi kollavaaOr shall I keep it concealed within my chest?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Santhiya Santhiya is a poignant romantic song from the film Ninaivirukkum Varai (1999). In this song, the protagonist pours out his soul to his beloved, Santhiya, pleading for her acceptance while agonizing over whether his love will bring joy or turmoil. He ponders whether her presence in his life is as enduring as the sacred Ganges or as fleeting as a mirage, feeling suspended between hope and despair.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moni / Initial Alliteration

“Santhiya santhiya / Sammatham solvaayaa”

Repetition of the 'S' sound in consecutive words creating melodic flow.

Metaphor & Contrast

“Gangaiyaa nee kaanaalaa”

Contrasts the Ganges (life-giving reality) with a mirage (illusion) to express doubt about the beloved's true feelings.

Rhetorical Question

“Idhu kadhalaa erum veshamaa”

The protagonist questions whether his experience is genuine love or an illusion/facade.

Visual & Emotional Imagery

“Megamaai naan vaazhnthavan / Thani theevilae ennai poottinaai”

Compares former freedom to a wandering cloud and present emotional isolation to being trapped on a solitary island.

Did you know?

Trivia

Ninaivirukkum Varai (1999) stars Prabhu Deva and Keerthi Reddy in the lead roles. The film's soundtrack was composed by Deva, and this romantic track features lyrics written by Nandalala.

Keep listening

More from Ninaivirukkum Varai