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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Semmari Aade Semmari Aade

From Uzhavan Magan · 1987

Lyricist
Aabavanan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vijaya
Music director
Manoj – Gyan
Details
Uzhavan Magan1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Semmari aadae semmari aadaeO red sheep, O red sheep,
Semmari aadae semmari aadaeO red sheep, O red sheep,
Seivathu sariyaa solTell me, is what you are doing right?
Female :Mm….heemFemale: Mm....heem
Male :Sevaththa ponnu ivaththa ninnuMale: Should this fair girl stand here
Thavikkalaamaa solAnd suffer in longing? Tell me!
Male
Semmari aadae semmari aadaeO red sheep, O red sheep,
Seivathu sariyaa solTell me, is what you are doing right?
Female :Mm….heemFemale: Mm....heem
Male :Sevaththa ponnu ivaththa ninnuMale: Should this fair girl stand here
Thavikkalaamaa solAnd suffer in longing? Tell me!
Female
Thavikkindra nenjam indruCan this yearning heart today
Thunai ondru peralaamaFind a companion?
Thunai ingu nee endruThat you are the companion here,
Oor solla vendaamaaShouldn't the town say so?
Female
Thavikkindra nenjam indruCan this yearning heart today
Thunai ondru peralaamaFind a companion?
Thunai ingu nee endru mheemm…That you are the companion here... mheemm...
Male
Aahaah semmari aadae semmari aadaeAahaah, O red sheep, O red sheep,
Seivathu sariyaa solTell me, is what you are doing right?
Female :Mm….heemFemale: Mm....heem
Male :Sevaththa ponnu ivaththa ninnuMale: Should this fair girl stand here
Thavikkalaamaa solAnd suffer in longing? Tell me!
Female
Dingu daangu dingu daanguDingu daangu dingu daangu
Dingu daangu dingu daanguDingu daangu dingu daangu
Iyyaa iyyaa iyyaavo….Sir, sir, O sir...
Ellaa therinja aiyyaavoO wise sir who knows everything,
Ellaa therinja aiyyaavoO wise sir who knows everything,
Iyyaa iyyaa iyyaavoSir, sir, O sir,
Female
Sevalakkaala rendum poottiYoking both young bulls,
Vandi otta theriyaathaaDon't you know how to drive a cart?
Vandippaathai veettukku varuthaeThe cart path leads right to the house,
Parisham poda mudiyaathaaCan't you pay the bride price?
Male
Paathaiya kaattura ponnaeO girl who shows the path,
Parisaththa poduraen munnaeI will pay the bride price first,
Maalaikku yaaengidum kannaeO beloved who yearns for the garland,
Kazhuththula thaaliyum poduraen pinnaeI will tie the sacred knot around your neck later.
Female
Malar thedum mangai nenjam thadumaaruthuThe maiden's heart seeking a flower falters,
Manappanthal manathil katti dhinam paaduthuBuilding a wedding canopy in her mind, she sings daily.
Malar thedum mangai nenjam thadumaaruthuThe maiden's heart seeking a flower falters,
Manappanthal manathil katti dhinam paaduthuBuilding a wedding canopy in her mind, she sings daily.
Male
Mmheem semmari aadae semmari aadaeMmheem, O red sheep, O red sheep,
Seivathu sariyaa solTell me, is what you are doing right?
Female :Mm….heemFemale: Mm....heem
Male :Sevaththa ponnu ivaththa ninnuMale: Should this fair girl stand here
Thavikkalaamaa solAnd suffer in longing? Tell me!
Male
Mayilakkaala manasuThe mind as graceful as a peacock's leg,
Intha mayilukkuththaan theriyaathaaDoesn't this peacock know it?
Therinjirunthum purinsirunthumEven knowing and understanding it,
Veliyil solla mudiyaathaaCan't it be expressed outside?
Female
Thavikkuthu thavikkuthu manasuThe heart twinges and yearns,
Ada thayanguthu mayanguthu elasuOh, the youthful heart hesitates and swoons!
Nenaichchathum thudikkuthu vayasuYouth throbs as soon as it thinks,
Vetkam thadukkuthu anupavam pudhusuShyness stops it, as the experience is new.
Male
Manthai pogum aattukkutti ini pogattumLet the lamb going with the herd go,
Sontham ennum sollae ingu nilaiyaagattumLet the word of kinship become permanent here.
Manthai pogum aattukkutti ini pogattumLet the lamb going with the herd go,
Sontham ennum sollae ingu nilaiyaagattumLet the word of kinship become permanent here.
Female
Mmheem semmari aadae semmari aadaeMmheem, O red sheep, O red sheep,
Seivathu sariyaa solTell me, is what you are doing right?
Male :Mm….heemMale: Mm....heem
Female :Sevaththa ponnu ivaththa ninnuFemale: Should this fair girl stand here
Thavikkalaamaa solAnd suffer in longing? Tell me!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Semmari Aadae is a playful rural duet from Uzhavan Magan where the lovers tease each other using pastoral imagery and folk humor. The male lead playfully addresses a sheep in the field, asking whether it is fair for his beloved fair-skinned girl to suffer in silent longing without a partner. The girl responds with banter about marriage preparations, questioning why he delays paying the traditional bride price (parisham) if he truly loves her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Semmari aadae semmari aadae / Seivathu sariyaa sol

Addressing the sheep ('Semmari aadae') as a silent witness and mediator to express romantic angst.

Emoni (Second Letter Rhyme)

Sevaththa ponnu ivaththa ninnu / Thavikkalaamaa sol

The second consonant sound matches across consecutive lines, creating rhythmic harmony.

Monaai (Alliteration)

Malar thedum mangai nenjam thadumaaruthu

Repetition of initial consonant sounds enhancing the folk rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Uzhavan Magan' (1987), starring Vijayakanth and Radhika, was directed by R. Aravindraj. The music score was composed by the duo Manoj-Gyan with lyrics written by producer-lyricist Aabavanan, who was instrumental in bringing rural folk-flavored melodies into mainstream 1980s Tamil cinema.

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