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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sembaruthi Pennoruthi

From Raman Abdullah · 1997

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Raman Abdullah
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
4 Apr 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sembaruthi penn oruthi
Sempavala mun niruthi
Sirithaalae hoi hoi
Sithagaththi poo vizhikkul
Sithirathai saegarithu
Azhaithaalae hoi hoi
Naan endraal neeyae
Ini nee endraal naanae
Naam yendraal thaanae
Adhu raajaangam hoi hoi
Sembaruthi penn oruthi
Sempavala mun niruthi
Sirithaalae hoi hoi
Sithagaththi poo vizhikkul
Sithirathai saegarithu
Azhaithaalae hoi hoi
Hoohh..
Netru indha nenjathil
Maatram ondru kandenae
Maatram ondru kandenae
Ingu vandhu nindrenae
Hoohh..
Vaalibathin vaanathil
Vaanambaadi aanenae
Vaanambaadi aanenae
Gaanam paada vandhenae
Vaavendraai vandhen
Enai nil endraai nindren
Sel endraal maatten
Vazhi soll neeyae hoi hoi
Sembaruthi penn oruthi
Sempavala mun niruthi
Sirithaalae hoi hoi
Sithagaththi poo vizhikkul
Sithirathai saegarithu
Azhaithaalae hoi hoi
Ho oohh
Odugindra vellathin
Osai kooda paadal dhaan
Osai kooda paadal dhaan
Naanal podum aadal dhaan
Hooohhh
Megam pootha vaanathil
Neelam poothadheppodhu
Neelam poothadheppodhu
Kannai paarthadhappodhu
Poo polae paarthaai
Adhil poondhaenai vaarthaai
Yedhedho kettaai
Adhu ennenna hoi hoi
Sembaruthi penn oruthi
Sempavala mun niruthi
Sirithaalae hoi hoi
Sithagaththi poo vizhikkul
Sithirathai saegarithu
Azhaithaalae hoi hoi
Hooohh
Paadal kodi kettaalum
Baadhikindra paadal nee
Baadhikindra paadal nee
Rajaraajan raagam nee
Ohhh
Kolam potta kannaalae
Paalam potta paavai nee
Paalam potta paavai nee
Paadal ketta kaalai naan
Un veenai naanae
Ini vinmeenae meenae
Meetta thaan neeyae
Enai meettaayoo hoi hoi
Sembaruthi penn oruthi
Sempavala mun niruthi
Sirithaalae hoi hoi
Sithagaththi poo vizhikkul
Sithirathai saegarithu
Azhaithaalae hoi hoi
Naan endraal neeyae
Ini nee endraal naanae
Naam endraal thaanae
Adhu raajaangam hoi hoi
Sembaruthi penn oruthi
Sempavala mun niruthi
Sirithaalae hoi hoi
Sithagaththi poo vizhikkul
Sithirathai saegarithu
Azhaithaalae hoi hoi
A girl like a hibiscus flower,
Showing off her red-coral smile,
Smiled at me, hoi hoi!
In her flower-soft eyes,
Gathering a picture of me,
She called out to me, hoi hoi!
"I" means only you,
From now on, "you" means only me,
Only when it is "we",
Is it a true kingdom, hoi hoi!
A girl like a hibiscus flower,
Showing off her red-coral smile,
Smiled at me, hoi hoi!
In her flower-soft eyes,
Gathering a picture of me,
She called out to me, hoi hoi!
Ho...
Yesterday, in this heart of mine,
I felt a change,
I felt a change,
And came to stand right here.
Oh...
In the sky of youth,
I became a singing lark,
I became a singing lark,
And came here to sing a song!
You said "Come," and I came;
You told me "Stop," and I stopped;
If you say "Go," I won't!
You show me the way, hoi hoi!
A girl like a hibiscus flower,
Showing off her red-coral smile,
Smiled at me, hoi hoi!
In her flower-soft eyes,
Gathering a picture of me,
She called out to me, hoi hoi!
Oh...
Even the rush of flowing water
Has a sound like a song,
Has a sound like a song,
As the river reeds dance along!
Oh...
In a sky blooming with clouds,
When did the blue color bloom?
When did the blue color bloom?
Right when I looked into your eyes!
You looked at me like a flower,
And poured sweet honey into it;
You asked for so many things,
What were they all, hoi hoi?
A girl like a hibiscus flower,
Showing off her red-coral smile,
Smiled at me, hoi hoi!
In her flower-soft eyes,
Gathering a picture of me,
She called out to me, hoi hoi!
Ho...
Even if I hear ten million songs,
You are the song that touches my soul,
You are the song that touches my soul,
You are a melody fit for a king!
Oh...
With your artfully decorated eyes,
You are the girl who built a bridge,
You are the girl who built a bridge,
And I am the young man asking for a lesson.
I am your veena (string instrument),
From now on, my star, my shining beauty,
To pluck and play my strings,
Will you set me free, hoi hoi?
A girl like a hibiscus flower,
Showing off her red-coral smile,
Smiled at me, hoi hoi!
In her flower-soft eyes,
Gathering a picture of me,
She called out to me, hoi hoi!
"I" means only you,
From now on, "you" means only me,
Only when it is "we",
Is it a true kingdom, hoi hoi!
A girl like a hibiscus flower,
Showing off her red-coral smile,
Smiled at me, hoi hoi!
In her flower-soft eyes,
Gathering a picture of me,
She called out to me, hoi hoi!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Sembaruthi Penn Oruthi is a romantic duet from the film 'Raman Abdullah' (1997), composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vaali. The song expresses deep love and mutual admiration between two lovers, using vivid imagery of nature, flowers, music, and the sky. The protagonist compares his beloved to delicate hibiscus and sithagaththi flowers, while describing their unity where 'I' and 'you' merge into a magnificent kingdom ('raajaangam'). Throughout the verses, the lovers describe how love has transformed their perspective on the world. Ordinary sights like flowing water and swaying reeds turn into music and dance, and the sky seems bluer when looking into each other's eyes. The song celebrates complete surrender to love, comparing the dynamic to a player and a Veena musical instrument.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Mogana / Alliteration (Ethukai & Monai)

Sembaruthi penn oruthi / Sempavala mun niruthi

Vaali uses strong Tamil initial and second-letter rhyming across lines, such as 'Sembaruthi' / 'Sempavala' and 'Sithagaththi' / 'Sithirathai'.

Metaphor (Uruvagham)

Vaalibathin vaanathil / Vaanambaadi aanenae

Comparing youth to the sky ('Vaalibathin vaanam') and the lover becoming a skylark bird ('Vaanambaadi') singing songs of joy.

Personification

Odugindra vellathin osai kooda paadal dhaan

Attributing artistic qualities like song and dance to natural elements like flowing water ('odugindra vellam') and swaying reeds ('naanal').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from Balu Mahendra's 1997 drama film 'Raman Abdullah', featuring music composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The track was sung by SP Balasubrahmanyam and KS Chithra, showcasing Vaali's playful yet classically poetic lyricism.

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