Sembaruthi Poovae
From Kadhal Solla Vandhen · 1999
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Semparuthi poovae | O Hibiscus flower, |
| Semparuthi poovae | O Hibiscus flower, |
| Ullam alli ponaai | You stole my heart and went away, |
| Ninaivillaiyaa | Don't you remember? |
| Male | |
| Kangal ariyaamal | Unbeknownst to my eyes, |
| Kanavukkul vandhaai | You came into my dreams, |
| Manasukkul nulaindhaai | You entered inside my heart, |
| Ninaivillaiyaa | Don't you remember? |
| Male | |
| Unai suttri suttri vandhen | I came circling around you, |
| Ninaivillaiyaa | Don't you remember? |
| Ennai suthamaaga marandhen | I completely forgot myself, |
| Ninaivillaiyaa | Don't you remember? |
| Male | |
| Adhai sollathaan | To express that, |
| Ninaikkindren | I keep thinking, |
| Naan sollaamal | Without saying it, |
| Thavikkindren | I am struggling. |
| Male | |
| Semparuthi poovae | O Hibiscus flower, |
| Semparuthi poovae | O Hibiscus flower, |
| Ullam alli ponaai | You stole my heart and went away, |
| Ninaivillaiyaa | Don't you remember? |
| Male | |
| Poo enna sollum | What the flower will say, |
| Endru kaatrairyum | The breeze knows. |
| Kaatru enna sollum | What the breeze will say, |
| Endru poo ariyum | The flower knows. |
| Male | |
| Naan enna solla | What I came to say, |
| Vandhen nenjil | In my heart, |
| Enna alli vandhen | What I brought gathered together, |
| Oru nenjam thaan ariyum | Only one heart knows. |
| Male | |
| Vaanavil enna solla | Why the rainbow came to express, |
| Vandhathendru | What it came for, |
| Megamae unakkenna | O cloud, don't you, |
| Theriyaadhaa | Know it? |
| Male | |
| Allipoo malarandhadhu | Why the lily bloomed, |
| Yaen endru vennilavae | O silver moon, |
| Unakenna theriyaadhaa | Don't you know? |
| Male | |
| Oh valiyaa sugamaa | Oh, is it pain or pleasure? |
| Theriyavillai | I do not know. |
| Siragaa siraiyaa | Is it wings or a prison? |
| Puriyavillai. | I do not understand. |
| Male | |
| Adhai sollathaan | To express that, |
| Ninaikkindren | I keep thinking, |
| Naan sollaamal | Without saying it, |
| Thavikkindren | I am struggling. |
| Male | |
| Semparuthi poovae | O Hibiscus flower, |
| Semparuthi poovae | O Hibiscus flower, |
| Ullam alli ponaai | You stole my heart and went away, |
| Ninaivillaiyaa | Don't you remember? |
| Chorus | |
| …………… | |
| Male | |
| Jannalil theiryum | Visible in the window, |
| Nilavudanae | With the moon, |
| Sandai pottadhu | Having a fight, |
| Ninaivillaiyaa | Don't you remember? |
| Male | |
| Maram sedi kodiyidam | To the trees, plants, and vines, |
| Manasukkul iruppadhu | What was inside my heart, |
| Solliyadhu ninaivillaiyaa | Telling them—don't you remember? |
| Male | |
| Enbadhu pakkam ulla | An eighty-page, |
| Buthagam engum | Book entirely, |
| Kavaithai ezhudhiya | Writing poetry, |
| Ninaivillaiyaa | Don't you remember? |
| Male | |
| Ezhudhum kavidhaiyai | The poetry written, |
| Evar kannum kaanum munbu | Before anyone's eyes could see, |
| Kilithathu ninaivillaiyaa | Tearing it up—don't you remember? |
| Male | |
| Iravil iravil kanavillaiyaa | In the night, in the night, weren't there dreams? |
| Kanavum kanavaaa | Is the dream also just a dream, |
| Ninaivillaiya | Don't you remember? |
| Male | |
| Adhai sollathaan | To express that, |
| Ninaikkindren | I keep thinking, |
| Naan sollaamal | Without saying it, |
| Thavikkindren | I am struggling. |
| Male | |
| Semparuthi poovae | O Hibiscus flower, |
| Semparuthi poovae | O Hibiscus flower, |
| Ullam alli ponaai | You stole my heart and went away, |
| Ninaivillaiyaa | Don't you remember? |
| Male | |
| Kangal ariyaamal | Unbeknownst to my eyes, |
| Kanavukkul vandhaai | You came into my dreams, |
| Manasukkul nulaindhaai | You entered inside my heart, |
| Ninaivillaiyaa | Don't you remember? |
| Male | |
| Unai suttri suttri vandhen | I came circling around you, |
| Ninaivillaiyaa | Don't you remember? |
| Ennai suthamaaga marandhen | I completely forgot myself, |
| Ninaivillaiyaa | Don't you remember? |
| Male | |
| Adhai sollathaan | To express that, |
| Ninaikkindren | I keep thinking, |
| Naan sollaamal | Without saying it, |
| Thavikkindren | I am struggling. |
செம்பருத்தி பூவே செம்பருத்தி பூவே
உள்ளம் அள்ளி போனாய் நினைவில்லையா
கண்கள் அறியாமல் கனவுக்குள் வந்தாய்
மனசுக்குள் நுளைந்தாய் நினைவில்லையா
O Hibiscus flower,
O Hibiscus flower,
You stole my heart and went away,
Don't you remember?
உன்னை சுத்தி சுத்தி வந்தேன்
நினைவில்லையா
என்னை சுத்தமாக மறந்தேன்
நினைவில்லையா
Unbeknownst to my eyes,
You came into my dreams,
You entered inside my heart,
Don't you remember?
அதை சொல்லத்தான் நினைக்கின்றேன்
நான் சொல்லாமல் தவிக்கின்றேன்
I came circling around you,
Don't you remember?
I completely forgot myself,
Don't you remember?
செம்பருத்தி பூவே செம்பருத்தி பூவே
உள்ளம் அள்ளி போனாய் நினைவில்லையா
To express that,
I keep thinking,
Without saying it,
I am struggling.
பூ என்ன சொல்லும் என்று காத்தறியும்
காற்று-என்ன சொல்லும் என்று பூவறியும்
நான் என்ன சொல்ல வந்தேன்
நெஞ்சில் என்ன அள்ளி வந்தேன்
ஒரு நெஞ்சம் தான் அறியும்
O Hibiscus flower,
O Hibiscus flower,
You stole my heart and went away,
Don't you remember?
வானவில் என்ன சொல்ல வந்ததென்று
மேகமே உனக்கென்ன தெரியாதா
அல்லி பூ மலர்ந்தது
ஏன் என்று வெண்ணிலவே
உனக்கென்ன தெரியாதா
What the flower will say,
The breeze knows.
What the breeze will say,
The flower knows.
ஓ ஓ வலியா சுகமா தெரியவில்லை
சிலையா சிதையா புரியவில்லை
What I came to say,
In my heart,
What I brought gathered together,
Only one heart knows.
அதை சொல்லத்தான் நினைக்கின்றேன்
நான் சொல்லாமல் தவிக்கின்றேன்
Why the rainbow came to express,
What it came for,
O cloud, don't you,
Know it?
செம்பருத்தி பூவே செம்பருத்தி பூவே
உள்ளம் அள்ளி போனாய் நினைவில்லையா
Why the lily bloomed,
O silver moon,
Don't you know?
......................
Oh, is it pain or pleasure?
I do not know.
Is it wings or a prison?
I do not understand.
ஜன்னலில் தெரியும் நிலவுடனே
சண்டை போட்டது நினைவில்லையா
மரம் செடி கொடியிடம் மனசுக்குள் இருப்பதை
சொல்லியது நினைவில்லையா
To express that,
I keep thinking,
Without saying it,
I am struggling.
எண்பது பக்கம் உள்ள புத்தகம் எங்கும்
கவிதை எழுதியது நினைவில்லையா
எழுதும் கவிதைகள் யார் கண்ணும் காணு முன்னே
கிழித்தது நினைவில்லையா
O Hibiscus flower,
O Hibiscus flower,
You stole my heart and went away,
Don't you remember?
நிலவில் இரவில் காணவில்லையா
கனவும் கனவாய் நினைவில்லையா
அதை சொல்லத்தான் நினைக்கின்றேன்
நான் சொல்லாமல் தவிக்கின்றேன்
Visible in the window,
With the moon,
Having a fight,
Don't you remember?
செம்பருத்தி பூவே செம்பருத்தி பூவே
உள்ளம் அள்ளி போனாய் நினைவில்லையா
கண்கள் அறியாமல் கனவுக்குள் வந்தாய்
மனசுக்குள் நுளைந்தாய் நினைவில்லையா
To the trees, plants, and vines,
What was inside my heart,
Telling them—don't you remember?
அதை சொல்லத்தான் நினைக்கின்றேன்
நான் சொல்லாமல் தவிக்கின்றேன்
An eighty-page,
Book entirely,
Writing poetry,
Don't you remember?
The poetry written,
Before anyone's eyes could see,
Tearing it up—don't you remember?
In the night, in the night, weren't there dreams?
Is the dream also just a dream,
Don't you remember?
To express that,
I keep thinking,
Without saying it,
I am struggling.
O Hibiscus flower,
O Hibiscus flower,
You stole my heart and went away,
Don't you remember?
Unbeknownst to my eyes,
You came into my dreams,
You entered inside my heart,
Don't you remember?
I came circling around you,
Don't you remember?
I completely forgot myself,
Don't you remember?
To express that,
I keep thinking,
Without saying it,
I am struggling.
Semparuthi poovae
O Hibiscus flower,
Semparuthi poovae
O Hibiscus flower,
Ullam alli ponaai
You stole my heart and went away,
Ninaivillaiyaa
Don't you remember?
Kangal ariyaamal
Unbeknownst to my eyes,
Kanavukkul vandhaai
You came into my dreams,
Manasukkul nulaindhaai
You entered inside my heart,
Ninaivillaiyaa
Don't you remember?
Unai suttri suttri vandhen
I came circling around you,
Ninaivillaiyaa
Don't you remember?
Ennai suthamaaga marandhen
I completely forgot myself,
Ninaivillaiyaa
Don't you remember?
Adhai sollathaan
To express that,
Ninaikkindren
I keep thinking,
Naan sollaamal
Without saying it,
Thavikkindren
I am struggling.
Semparuthi poovae
O Hibiscus flower,
Semparuthi poovae
O Hibiscus flower,
Ullam alli ponaai
You stole my heart and went away,
Ninaivillaiyaa
Don't you remember?
Poo enna sollum
What the flower will say,
Endru kaatrairyum
The breeze knows.
Kaatru enna sollum
What the breeze will say,
Endru poo ariyum
The flower knows.
Naan enna solla
What I came to say,
Vandhen nenjil
In my heart,
Enna alli vandhen
What I brought gathered together,
Oru nenjam thaan ariyum
Only one heart knows.
Vaanavil enna solla
Why the rainbow came to express,
Vandhathendru
What it came for,
Megamae unakkenna
O cloud, don't you,
Theriyaadhaa
Know it?
Allipoo malarandhadhu
Why the lily bloomed,
Yaen endru vennilavae
O silver moon,
Unakenna theriyaadhaa
Don't you know?
Oh valiyaa sugamaa
Oh, is it pain or pleasure?
Theriyavillai
I do not know.
Siragaa siraiyaa
Is it wings or a prison?
Puriyavillai.
I do not understand.
Adhai sollathaan
To express that,
Ninaikkindren
I keep thinking,
Naan sollaamal
Without saying it,
Thavikkindren
I am struggling.
Semparuthi poovae
O Hibiscus flower,
Semparuthi poovae
O Hibiscus flower,
Ullam alli ponaai
You stole my heart and went away,
Ninaivillaiyaa
Don't you remember?
……………
Jannalil theiryum
Visible in the window,
Nilavudanae
With the moon,
Sandai pottadhu
Having a fight,
Ninaivillaiyaa
Don't you remember?
Maram sedi kodiyidam
To the trees, plants, and vines,
Manasukkul iruppadhu
What was inside my heart,
Solliyadhu ninaivillaiyaa
Telling them—don't you remember?
Enbadhu pakkam ulla
An eighty-page,
Buthagam engum
Book entirely,
Kavaithai ezhudhiya
Writing poetry,
Ninaivillaiyaa
Don't you remember?
Ezhudhum kavidhaiyai
The poetry written,
Evar kannum kaanum munbu
Before anyone's eyes could see,
Kilithathu ninaivillaiyaa
Tearing it up—don't you remember?
Iravil iravil kanavillaiyaa
In the night, in the night, weren't there dreams?
Kanavum kanavaaa
Is the dream also just a dream,
Ninaivillaiya
Don't you remember?
Adhai sollathaan
To express that,
Ninaikkindren
I keep thinking,
Naan sollaamal
Without saying it,
Thavikkindren
I am struggling.
Semparuthi poovae
O Hibiscus flower,
Semparuthi poovae
O Hibiscus flower,
Ullam alli ponaai
You stole my heart and went away,
Ninaivillaiyaa
Don't you remember?
Kangal ariyaamal
Unbeknownst to my eyes,
Kanavukkul vandhaai
You came into my dreams,
Manasukkul nulaindhaai
You entered inside my heart,
Ninaivillaiyaa
Don't you remember?
Unai suttri suttri vandhen
I came circling around you,
Ninaivillaiyaa
Don't you remember?
Ennai suthamaaga marandhen
I completely forgot myself,
Ninaivillaiyaa
Don't you remember?
Adhai sollathaan
To express that,
Ninaikkindren
I keep thinking,
Naan sollaamal
Without saying it,
Thavikkindren
I am struggling.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic romantic track captures the sweet agony of unexpressed love. The protagonist addresses his beloved tenderly as a hibiscus flower ('Semparuthi Poove'), reminiscing about how she quietly slipped into his dreams and captured his heart. Throughout the song, he wonders if she remembers his unspoken gestures, his complete self-forgetfulness in her presence, and his internal struggle to vocalize what his heart feels.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Semparuthi poovae / Semparuthi poovae”
The repetition of 'Semparuthi poovae' at the start establishes an affectionate address and musical refrain.
Vinaa Ani (Rhetorical Question)
“Ninaivillaiyaa”
The persistent question 'Ninaivillaiyaa' (Don't you remember?) serves as a poignant emotional refrain echoing nostalgic longing.
Personification (Thannuyirppaakkal)
“Jannalil theiryum Nilavudanae Sandai pottadhu”
Nature (moon, breeze, clouds, flowers) is personified as intimate confidants aware of secret feelings.
Muran Ani (Antithesis)
“Oh valiyaa sugamaa Theriyavillai Siragaa siraiyaa Puriyavillai”
Contrasting pairs like pain vs pleasure ('valiyaa sugamaa') and wings vs prison ('siragaa siraiyaa') highlight the dualities of love.
Did you know?
Trivia
Hariharan's expressive vocal style combined with Pa. Vijay's romantic imagery made this song a classic Tamil love melody. The lyrics express the endearing habit of secret lovers writing poetry in notebooks and tearing them up before anyone can read them.
Keep listening
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