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Isaimozhi
Vasanthakala Paravai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sembaruthi Sembaruthi

From Vasanthakala Paravai · 1991

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Deva
Movie name
Vasanthakala Paravai
Movie release year
1991
Lyrics added on
21 Jul 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Koopitaa malar thedi
Vandu varum
Thethi kurippittaa koiyyavai
Kiligal koththum
Sinthithaal varukindra kavithai polae
Kangal santhithaal varavendum
Unmai kaadhal
Sembaruthi sembaruthi
Poovai pola pen oruthi
Kadhalana thedi vandhaal
Kannil vanna mai yezhuthi
Melum keelum aadukindra
Noolidaithaan..aa..
Meendum meendum naan padikkum
Noolagam dhaan
Naal ellaam
Meendum meendum naan padikkum
Noolagam dhaan
Sembaruthi sembaruthi
Poovai pola pennoruthi
Palliyarai naandhanae
Paari jatha poondhenae
Kalvi pol kaadhalai
Kattruthara vandhenae
Kattrukkodu kannalae
Kannimayil unnalae
Yennavo yennavo
Inbangalai kandaalae
Paruva kanavu
Pirakkum poozhudhu
Iragu mulaiththu
Parakkum manadhu
Unarchi alaigal
Thirandu thirandu
Karaiyai kadakkum
Nadhigal irandu
Imaidhanae
Kannai serndhadhu
Endhan ilam nenjam
Unnai serndhadhu
Sembaruthi sembaruthi
Poovai pola pen oruthi
Eppozhudhum ennaalum
Unnudaiya boopaalam
Illaiyel yengumae
Ennudaiya aagayam
Jannal vazhi naal dhorum
Minnal ondru kai kaattum
Ammamma ennaithaan
Aasaigalil neeraattum
Ennakkum unakkum
Irukkum nerukkam
Ilamai thodarndhu
Mudhumai varaikkum
Iravum pagalum
Uravai valarkkum
Idaiyil irukkum
Thadayai thagarkkum
Vilagadhu sondhamanathu
Dheivam mudi pottu bandham anadhu
Sembaruthi sembaruthi
Poovai pola pen oruthi
Kadhalanai thedi vandhaal
Kannil vanna mai yezhuthi
Naarbin meedhu kann mayangi
Sainthidaththaan
Meni engum kaviri pol
Painthidaththaan
Kai thodum meni engum
Kaviri pol painthidaththaan
Sembaruthi sembaruthi
Poovai pola pen oruthi
Seeking a flower that never called,
the bee arrives on its own.
Does a parrot wait for a set date
to peck at a sweet guava?
Just like a poem that flows from deep thought,
when two eyes meet, it should blossom—
true love.
Hibiscus, oh hibiscus,
a girl as lovely as a hibiscus flower,
came searching for her lover,
with colorful kohl lining her eyes.
Swaying gently up and down,
her slender waist... ah,
is a library that I read
again and again,
all day long,
a library that I read
again and again.
Hibiscus, oh hibiscus,
a girl as lovely as a hibiscus flower!
Am I not your bridal chamber,
and the sweet nectar of the Parijata flower?
Just like teaching a lesson,
I have come to teach you love.
Teach me then, my dear lover!
Because of you, this sweet girl
has felt something wondrous,
discovering so much joy.
When youthful dreams
are born,
wings sprout,
and the heart takes flight.
Waves of deep emotion
gather and swell,
overflowing their banks
like two rushing rivers.
Just as the eyelid
belongs to the eye,
my young heart
has joined with yours.
Hibiscus, oh hibiscus,
a girl as lovely as a hibiscus flower!
Always and every day,
your morning song must rise;
without it, where
is my open sky?
Through the window every day,
a flash of lightning waves to me,
and oh my, it bathes me
completely in sweet desires.
Between you and me,
the closeness we share
will continue from our youth
all the way into old age.
Night and day,
it will nurture our bond,
breaking down every barrier
that stands in between.
Inseparable, it has become our own,
a sacred bond tied by God.
Hibiscus, oh hibiscus,
a girl as lovely as a hibiscus flower,
came searching for her lover,
with colorful kohl lining her eyes.
With swooning eyes, upon his chest
she leans gently,
and all over her body, like the Cauvery river,
sweet passion flows,
wherever hands touch her body,
flowing freely like the Cauvery river.
Hibiscus, oh hibiscus,
a girl as lovely as a hibiscus flower.
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic romantic duet from Vasanthakala Paravai celebrates the flowering of romantic love between two souls. The lyrics compare the heroine to a delicate hibiscus ('Sembaruthi') and describe the intense attraction, intimacy, and emotional unity between the lovers. Through beautiful nature imagery—bees seeking flowers, parrots pecking fruit, and rivers overflowing their banks—the song expresses how love naturally blossoms and bonds the lovers together for a lifetime.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile / Metaphor)

“Poovai pola pen oruthi”

Compares the heroine to a hibiscus flower ('Poovai pola pen oruthi') and her slender waist to a library to be read continuously ('Noolagam dhaan').

Emona / Rhyme (Monai and Ethirai)

“Paruva kanavu / Pirakkum poozhudhu”

Uses rhythmic Tamil rhyming patterns across lines such as 'Paruva kanavu / Pirakkum poozhudhu / Iragu mulaiththu / Parakkum manadhu'.

Uvamai (Simile)

“Meni engum kaviri pol”

Compares the rush of physical and emotional passion to the flowing waters of the River Cauvery ('Kaviri pol painthidaththaan').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Sembaruthi Sembaruthi' from Vasanthakala Paravai (1991) was composed by Deva and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki. Directed by Pavithran and produced by K. T. Kunjumon, the song's catchy melody and poet Vaali's playful metaphors made it one of the biggest chartbusters of 1991.

Keep listening

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