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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Saram Saramai Shenbagapoo

From Porter Ponnusamy · 1979

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Porter Ponnusamy
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
31 May 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Saram saramaai shenbagapoo
Tharai ellaam thazhampoo
Saram saramaai shenbagapoo
Tharai ellaam thazhampoo
Sadaiyila manakkudhu shenbagapoo
Tharaiyila kedakkudhu thaazhampoo
Thaazhampoo.. thaazhampoo
Sadaiyila manakkudhu shenbagapoo
Tharaiyila kedakkudhu thaazhampoo
Thaazhampoo.. thaazhampoo
Mangala vaathiyam
Sangugal muzhanga muzhanga
Mangala vaathiyam
Sangugal muzhanga
Manavarai yeri kanavarai kaanum
Mangaiyin manamae manamae
Manamae manamae
Sadaiyil manakkudhu shenbagapoo
Tharaiyila kedakkudhu thaazhampoo
Thaazhampoo.. thaazhampoo
Mottavizha madhi vadhanam
Thottuvittal pani vadhanam
Mottavizha madhi vadhanam
Thottuvittal pani vadhanam
Yen andha nei viklakku
Yettrivittaan mei vilakku
Yen andha nei viklakku
Yettrivittaan mei vilakku
Manamae manamae manamae manamae
Sadaiyil manakkudhu shenbagapoo
Tharaiyila kedakkudhu thaazhampoo
Thaazhampoo.. thaazhampoo
Saram saramaai shenbagapoo
Tharai ellaam thazhampoo
Saram saramaai shenbagapoo
Tharai ellaam thazhampoo
Strand after strand of champak flowers,
And screwpine flowers all across the floor.
Strand after strand of champak flowers,
And screwpine flowers all across the floor.
In her braided hair, champak flowers smell sweet,
While screwpine flowers lie across the floor.
Screwpine flowers... screwpine flowers...
In her braided hair, champak flowers smell sweet,
While screwpine flowers lie across the floor.
Screwpine flowers... screwpine flowers...
Auspicious wedding music plays,
As the conch shells echo and resound,
Auspicious wedding music plays,
As the conch shells resound,
Stepping onto the wedding stage to see her groom,
Oh, the fluttering heart of the young bride!
Her heart... oh, her heart!
In her braided hair, champak flowers smell sweet,
While screwpine flowers lie across the floor...
Screwpine flowers... screwpine flowers...
Her moon-like face opens like a blooming bud,
Turning cool as morning dew to the touch.
Her moon-like face opens like a blooming bud,
Turning cool as morning dew to the touch.
Why do you need a ghee lamp anymore,
When he has lit the living lamp of her body?
Why do you need a ghee lamp anymore,
When he has lit the living lamp of her body?
Oh heart, oh heart, oh heart... oh heart!
In her braided hair, champak flowers smell sweet,
While screwpine flowers lie across the floor.
Screwpine flowers... screwpine flowers...
Strand after strand of champak flowers,
And screwpine flowers all across the floor.
Strand after strand of champak flowers,
And screwpine flowers all across the floor.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Saram Saramaai Shenbagapoo is a festive wedding song sung by Vani Jayaram, composed by M. S. Vishwanathan for the 1979 film Porter Ponnusamy. The song captures the fragrant and auspicious atmosphere of a traditional Tamil marriage hall decorated with strands of champak and screwpine flowers. It depicts the emotions of the young bride as she ascends the wedding altar amidst the sounding of auspicious instruments and conch shells. The song beautifully expresses the blossoming of love, describing the bride's glowing moon-like face and the symbolic lighting of the soul's lamp through marital union.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhyme / Monai-Edhukai

Sadaiyila manakkudhu shenbagapoo / Tharaiyila kedakkudhu thaazhampoo

Repetition of sound patterns between 'Sadaiyila' and 'Tharaiyila' creates a melodious rhythm.

Metaphor

Mottavizha madhi vadhanam

Comparing the bride's face (vadhanam) directly to a blossoming moon (madhi).

Wordplay / Juxtaposition

Yen andha nei viklakku / Yettrivittaan mei vilakku

Play on similar sounding words 'Nei vilakku' (ghee lamp) and 'Mei vilakku' (lamp of truth/body/soul) to highlight spiritual devotion over ritualistic lighting.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the legendary M. S. Vishwanathan, this song relies on rich traditional imagery of flowers, conch shells (sangu), and ritual lamps to evoke the authentic ambiance of a South Indian wedding ceremony.

Keep listening

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Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.