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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sembaruthi Poovu

From Chembaruthi · 1992

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
K. S. Chitra, Mano, Bhanumathi
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Chembaruthi1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Hey hey eyyyy…Hey hey eyyyy...
Eyy eyy eyy eyyyEyy eyy eyy eyyy
Hey hey eyyyy…Hey hey eyyyy...
Eyy eyy eyy eyyy…Eyy eyy eyy eyyy...
Ulululululululu…….Ulululululululu.......
Female
Sembaruthi poovuThe hibiscus flower
Sithiratha polaLike a beautiful painting
Ambalathil aadudhingaeDances in the open courtyard here
Sembaruthi poovuThe hibiscus flower
Sithiratha polaLike a beautiful painting
Ambalathil aadudhingaeDances in the open courtyard here
Chorus
Kuppathilae vaazhumLiving in the fishing hamlet
Gundumani paaruLook at this red jequerity bead girl
Kothumalar soodumWearing a bunch of flowers
Muthumani thaeruShe is a pearl chariot
Azhagai paarthaaIf you look at her beauty
Asanthu poganumYou will be completely stunned
Adadae adadae adadadaeOh my, oh my, oh my goodness
Male
Seemathorai polaLike a noble lord from afar
Maaman vara paarthuSeeing her maternal uncle arrive
Sembaruthi paaduthingaeThe hibiscus sings here
Seemathorai polaLike a noble lord from afar
Maaman vara paarthuSeeing her maternal uncle arrive
Sembaruthi paaduthingaeThe hibiscus sings here
Chorus
Akkaraiyil vaazhumLiving on the opposite bank
Aanazhagan paaruLook at this handsome man
Ikkaraiyil eedaaiTo equal him on this bank
Innoruvar yaaruWho else is there?
Azhagai paarthaIf you look at his handsomeness
Asanthu poganumYou will be completely stunned
Adadae adadae adadadaeOh my, oh my, oh my goodness
Male
Seemathorai polaLike a noble lord from afar
Maaman vara paarthuSeeing her maternal uncle arrive
Sembaruthi paaduthingaeThe hibiscus sings here
Chorus
Hoi hoi hoi hoiHoi hoi hoi hoi
Hoi hoi hoi hoiHoi hoi hoi hoi
Hoi hoi hoi hoiHoi hoi hoi hoi
Hoi hoi hoi hoiHoi hoi hoi hoi
Female
Kai valaiyil maattugindraA saltwater ocean fish
Uppukkadal meenuCaught in a hand net
Kan valaiyil vaangi vanthaA young innocent deer
Kanni ila maanuCaught in the net of eyes
Female
Kattumaram yerugindraBelonging to the fisherfolk community
Meenavarin saadhiWho row the wooden catamarans
Kandedutha pennarasiA queen among women discovered here
Vennilavin sodhiThe radiant glow of the full moon
Chorus
Enga magaraani… ilameniOur princess... with a youthful body
Oru maanganiShe is a sweet mango fruit
Chinna idai aadi….isaippaadiSwaying her slim waist... singing music
Varum poonkodiHere comes the flowering creeper
Yaar thaan ingu eeduWho could ever match her here?
Iva kombuthaenin kooduShe is a comb of pure wild honey
Udal vanappum…. thalathalappumHer physical grace... and vibrant glow
Azhagu surangam thaaaan….She is a veritable mine of beauty...
Male
Heyyy…seemathorai polaHey... like a noble lord from afar
Maaman vara paarthuSeeing her maternal uncle arrive
Sembaruthi paaduthingaeThe hibiscus sings here
Female
Sembaruthi poovuThe hibiscus flower
Sithiratha polaLike a beautiful painting
Ambalathil aaduthingae…aeDances in the open courtyard here...
Chorus
Hei hei hei ahei aheiHei hei hei ahei ahei
Hei hei hei ahei aheiHei hei hei ahei ahei
Hei hei hei ahei aheiHei hei hei ahei ahei
Hei hei hei ahei aheiHei hei hei ahei ahei
Aaaa….aaa….aaaa…aaaa…Aaaa....aaa....aaaa...aaaa...
Aaaa….aaa….aaaa…aaaa…Aaaa....aaa....aaaa...aaaa...
Chorus
Hei hei hei ahei aheiHei hei hei ahei ahei
Hei hei hei ahei aheiHei hei hei ahei ahei
Hei hei hei ahei aheiHei hei hei ahei ahei
Hei hei hei ahei aheiHei hei hei ahei ahei
Male
Ettadukku maaligayilA person who lives
Vaazhugira aaluIn an eight-story mansion
Sothu sugam kodi unduHas millions in wealth and comforts
Akkam pakkam keluJust ask around the neighborhood
Male
Pattanathu paattiyammaaHe is the beloved grandson born to
Pethedutha peranThe urban grandmother
Mukkadalil moochadakkiHolding his breath in the three seas
Muthedukkum veeranHe is a hero who retrieves pearls
Chorus
Mandi idum paaruLook, the entire town
Indha ooruBows down to him
Magaraasan thaanHe is indeed a king of kings
Manmadhanum koodaEven Lord Manmadhan (Cupid)
Pugazh paadaTo sing his praise
Ivan thaasan thaanIs merely his humble servant
Yaarum eedu illaNobody can match him
Ivan enga veettu pillaiHe is the son of our house
Ivan uruvam… ilamparuvamHis handsome form... and youthful age
Oruthi anaikka thaanIs meant for a maiden to embrace
Female
Sembaruthi poovuThe hibiscus flower
Pennoruthi polaeLike a young maiden
Selai katti aadattumaeLet her drape a saree and dance
Seemathorai polaeLike a noble lord from afar
Maaman vara paarthuSeeing her maternal uncle arrive
Maalai katti podattumaeLet her weave a garland and put it on him
Chorus
Onnum onnum sernthuJoining together as one and one
Othumaiyaa vaazhaTo live in harmony and unity
Illarathil naalumIn domestic life every single day
Nallarangal soozhaSurrounded by good virtues and righteousness
Melam thaalam muzhanga poguthuThe drums and beats are going to resound
Oorae vaazhthai vazhanga poguthuThe whole town is going to shower blessings
Chorus
Sembaruthi poovuThe hibiscus flower
Pennoruthi polaeLike a young maiden
Selai katti aadattumaeLet her drape a saree and dance
Seemathorai polaeLike a noble lord from afar
Maaman vara paarthuSeeing her maternal uncle arrive
Maalai katti podattumaeLet her weave a garland and put it on him

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Sembaruthi Poovu from the movie Chembaruthi (1992) is a celebratory folk-style song praising the beauty and virtues of the young lead couple. The villagers compare the heroine to a vibrant hibiscus flower, a precious pearl chariot, and a graceful deer raised in the fishing community, celebrating her natural beauty and charm.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Sithiratha pola

Compares the heroine (hibiscus flower) to a painting ('Sithiratha pola') dancing in the open space.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Iva kombuthaenin koodu

Refers to the heroine as a nest of honey from the treetops ('kombuthaenin koodu') and a mine of beauty ('azhagu surangam').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Akkaraiyil vaazhum / Ikkaraiyil eedaai

Rhyming of the second letter 'k' across consecutive lines (Akkaraiyil / Ikkaraiyil).

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

Manmadhanum kooda / Pugazh paada / Ivan thaasan thaan

Exaggerates the hero's charm by declaring that even Cupid (Manmadhan) is his servant.

Did you know?

Trivia

Chembaruthi (1992) marked the silver screen debut of actor Prashanth alongside Roja. The hit music was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by legendary poet Vaali.

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