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Thangamani Rangamani album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sembaruthi Poovidhu

From Thangamani Rangamani · 1989

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Thangamani Rangamani
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
4 May 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
………………..
Sembaruththi poovithu poovithu veliyoram
Etti etti yaarai paakkutho
Poomaeni eera mazhai neerai kekkutho
Thodu thodunnu ila malar thudikka
Kodu kodunnu vandu sirakadikka…
Sembaruththi poovithu poovithu veliyoram
Etti etti yaarai paakkutho
Poomaeni eera mazhai neerai kekkutho
Thodu thodunnu ila malar thudikka
Kodu kodunnu vandu sirakadikka…
Sembaruththi poovithu poovithu veliyoram
Etti etti yaarai paakkutho
Female :Poomaeni eera mazhai neerai kekkutho
Thannaanaa…..thanthana thaanaa
Thannaanaa…..thanthana thaanaa
Kai viral nagangal theenda
Innum koochcham edharkku idhu koottal kanakku
Kai viral nagangal theenda
Innum koochcham edharkku idhu koottal kanakku
Thendralthaan nerunga
Thennaiththaan kulungum
Ondruthaan irukka ovvondraai vilangum
Male :Uchchi velai veyyil polae ushnam yaera
Female :Unnai naanum ennai neeyum pinnum neramo…
Sembaruththi poovithu poovithu veliyoram
Etti etti yaarai paakkutho
Female :Poomaeni eera mazhai neerai kekkutho
…………………
Anthiyil arumbum aasai
Ennai paadaai paduththa pattu paayum uruththa
Anthiyil arumbum aasai
Ennai paadaai paduththa pattu paayum uruththa
Unnai naan edupaen oththadam koduppean
Ottu maanj sedi pol otti naaniruppaen
Female :antha thaedhi anthi maalai unnai saera
Male :Antha neram arththa jaamam anbin vellamo
Sembaruththi poovithu poovithu veliyoram
Etti etti yaarai paakkutho
Male :Poomaeni eera mazhai neerai kekkutho
Thodu thodunnu ila malar thudikka
Male :Kodu kodunnu vandu sirakadikka…
Both :Lalala laallaa….lalala laallaa
Lalala laallaa laallaa laa
Lalala laallaa laallaa laa
...
This hibiscus flower by the hedge,
Whom is it peeking out to see?
Is its flower-soft body asking for the cool rain?
The tender blossom trembles, saying, 'Touch me, touch me!'
The honeybee flutters its wings, saying, 'Give me, give me!'
This hibiscus flower by the hedge,
Whom is it peeking out to see?
Is its flower-soft body asking for the cool rain?
The tender blossom trembles, saying, 'Touch me, touch me!'
The honeybee flutters its wings, saying, 'Give me, give me!'
This hibiscus flower by the hedge,
Whom is it peeking out to see?
Female: Is its flower-soft body asking for the cool rain?
Thannaanaa... thanthana thaanaa
Thannaanaa... thanthana thaanaa
When fingertips brush softly against you,
Why still feel shy? This is just coming together!
When fingertips brush softly against you,
Why still feel shy? This is just coming together!
When the gentle breeze draws near,
The coconut palm sways in delight.
When we are alone together, everything will become clear.
Male: As the heat rises like the midday sun,
Female: Is this the moment you and I entwine?
This hibiscus flower by the hedge,
Whom is it peeking out to see?
Female: Is its flower-soft body asking for the cool rain?
...
The longing that buds at dusk
Torments me so, even the soft silk mat feels rough.
The longing that buds at dusk
Torments me so, even the soft silk mat feels rough.
I will take you in my arms and soothe your pain,
I will cling tight to you like a grafted mango shoot.
Female: On that day at twilight when I join you,
Male: In that midnight hour, will our love overflow like a flood?
This hibiscus flower by the hedge,
Whom is it peeking out to see?
Male: Is its flower-soft body asking for the cool rain?
The tender blossom trembles, saying, 'Touch me, touch me!'
Male: The honeybee flutters its wings, saying, 'Give me, give me!'
Both: Lalala laalla... lalala laalla
Lalala laalla laalla laa
Lalala laalla laalla laa
Chorus
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Chorus
Female
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Sembaruththi Poovithu is a romantic duet from the 1989 Tamil film Thangamani Rangamani, written by legendary lyricist Vaali. The song uses rich natural imagery—specifically a hibiscus flower blossoming by a fence waiting for rain, and a honeybee hovering near it—as an allegory for a woman's physical and emotional longing for her partner. The couple playfully dialogues about letting go of shyness, comparing union to simple addition and passion to the intense heat of midday. In the second movement, the lovers express their impatience for twilight and midnight rendezvous, comparing intimacy to a grafted plant that holds on tight. Vaali cleverly combines pastoral metaphors with sensual undertones to portray youthful passion and deep companionship.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Metaphor / Allegory)

“Sembaruththi poovithu poovithu veliyoram”

The hibiscus flower ('Sembaruththi poovithu') and honeybee ('Vandu') serve as central metaphors for the heroine blooming with youth and the hero drawn to her.

Adukkuthodar (Repetitive Words for Sound Mimicry)

“Etti etti yaarai paakkutho”

'Etti etti' and 'Thodu thodunnu' use doubled words to create rhythmic intensity and reflect physical actions vividly.

Uvamai (Simile)

“Uchchi velai veyyil polae ushnam yaera”

'Veyyil polae ushnam yaera' compares the rising temperature of romantic passion to the intensity of midday sunlight.

Uvamai (Simile / Imagery)

“Ottu maanj sedi pol otti naaniruppaen”

'Ottu maanj sedi pol' uses the simile of a grafted mango plant to represent tight physical and emotional closeness.

Did you know?

Trivia

Thangamani Rangamani is a 1989 comedy-drama film. Lyricist Vaali was famed for using botanical and agricultural metaphors—such as hibiscus flowers, coconut trees, breeze, and grafted plants—to convey romantic and sensual themes gracefully in Tamil cinema while keeping within censorial decorum.

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