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Isaimozhi
Anantha Poongatre album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Semmeena Vinmeena

From Anantha Poongatre · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Hariharan, Sujatha Mohan
Music director
Deva
Movie name
Anantha Poongatre
Movie release year
1999
Lyrics added on
16 Jan 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hae haei haei hae…ae…ae…
Hae haei haei hae…ae…ae…
…………………….
Semmeena vinmeena
Semmeena vinmeena
Kannodu vaalum kalaimaana
Illai kanthondri maraiyum poi maanaa
Kannirandum imaikkum silai thaana
En kanavukkul adikkum alai thaanaa
Vennilaavin theevaa
Aval vellai poovaa
Kamban kaalidhaasan
Sonna kaadhal thaenaa
Semmeena vinmeena
Semmeena aaa…vinmeena
…………………….
Irulai pinniya kuzhalo
Iruvizhigal nilavin nizhalo
Pon udhadugalin siru variyil
En uyirai pudhaippaalo
Ravivarman thoorigai ezhuththo
Illai sangil ooriya kazhuththto
Adhil ottrai viyarvai thuliyaai
Naan urundida maatteno
Boomi konda poovaiyellaam
Iru panthaai seithathu yaar seyalo
Chinna oviya sittridaiyo
Aval selai kattiya sirupuyalo
En penpaavai
Konda ponkaalgal
Avai manmathan thottathu
Maragatha thoongal
Tharara raaa
Semmeena vinmeena
Semmeena vinmeena
Haaa….aaa….aaa….aa….aaa….aaa…
Avalae en thunaiyaanaal
En aaviyai udaiyaai neiven
Aval meniyil udaiyaai thazhuvi
Pala melliya idam thoduven
Margazhi maadhathu iravil
En maangani kulirgira pozhuthil
En swaasathil thanigindra soottai
En sundharikku parisalippen
Mogam theerkkum mudhaliravil
Oru mega methai naan tharuven
Maadham irandil masakkai vanthaal
Oru maanthoppu parisalippen
Aval nadanthaalo
Idai adhirnthaalo
Kuzhal udhirkkira poovukkum
Poojaigal puriven
Tharara raaa
Semmeena vinmeena
Semmeena vinmeena
Kannodu vaalum kalaimaana
Illai kanthondri maraiyum poi maanaa
Kannirandum imaikkum silai thaana
En kanavukkul adikkum alai thaanaa
Vennilaavin theevaa
Aval vellai poovaa
Kamban kaalidhaasan
Sonna kaadhal thaenaa
Semmeena vinmeena
Semmeena aaa…vinmeena
………………………….
Hey hey hey hey... eh... eh...
Hey hey hey hey... eh... eh...
...
Is she a red fish, or a star in the sky?
Is she a red fish, or a star in the sky?
Is she a graceful deer living before my eyes?
Or an illusion of a deer that appears and disappears?
Is she a statue whose eyes blink?
Or a wave crashing within my dreams?
Is she an island on the bright moon?
Is she a pure white flower?
Is she the sweet honey of love
spoken of by Kamban and Kalidasa?
Is she a red fish, or a star in the sky?
Is she a red fish... or a star in the sky?
...
Is her hair woven out of darkness?
Are her two eyes shadows of the moon?
In the fine curve of her golden lips,
will she bury my soul?
Is she a stroke from painter Ravi Varma's brush?
Or a neck shaped like a smooth conch shell?
As a single drop of sweat upon it,
won't I roll down gently?
Who gathered all the flowers on earth
and shaped them into two round blossoms?
Is her slender waist a tiny work of art?
Or is she a gentle storm draped in a sari?
The golden legs
of my lovely girl,
are emerald pillars
touched by Manmatha (god of love).
Tra-ra-ra...
Is she a red fish, or a star in the sky?
Is she a red fish, or a star in the sky?
Haa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
If she becomes my companion,
I will weave my breath into a dress for her.
Embracing her body like that dress,
I will touch many tender places.
On a chilly night in the month of Margazhi (mid-winter),
when my sweet mango shivers in the cold,
the warmth that glows in my breath,
I will gift to my beautiful girl.
On our first night of passion,
I will give her a mattress of clouds.
When pregnancy cravings begin in her second month,
I will gift her an entire mango grove.
When she walks along,
and her waist gently sways,
even to the flowers that fall from her hair,
I will offer prayers.
Tra-ra-ra...
Is she a red fish, or a star in the sky?
Is she a red fish, or a star in the sky?
Is she a graceful deer living before my eyes?
Or an illusion of a deer that appears and disappears?
Is she a statue whose eyes blink?
Or a wave crashing within my dreams?
Is she an island on the bright moon?
Is she a pure white flower?
Is she the sweet honey of love
spoken of by Kamban and Kalidasa?
Is she a red fish, or a star in the sky?
Is she a red fish... or a star in the sky?
...
Female
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Semmeena Vinmeena is a mesmerizing romantic song from the 1999 Tamil film Anantha Poongatre, written by Vairamuthu and composed by Deva. The song portrays the protagonist's profound admiration for his beloved's ethereal beauty. He questions whether she is a living work of art, comparing her presence to classical poetry by Kamban and Kalidasa, paintings by Raja Ravi Varma, and celestial phenomena. As the song progresses, the mood shifts from aesthetic wonder to intimate devotion. The lover visualizes a life together, promising tenderness, warmth during cold winter nights, and lifelong adoration—even worshiping the flowers that drop from her hair as she walks.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani (Metaphor / Simile)

“Semmeena vinmeena”

Comparing the heroine's eyes and form to a red fish ('Semmeen'), a star ('Vinmeen'), and an illusory deer ('Poi maan').

Imagery & Allusion

“Ravivarman thoorigai ezhuththo”

Evoking the famous Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma to express that her beauty seems painted by a master artist's brush.

Uyervu Navirchi Ani (Hyperbole)

“En aaviyai udaiyaai neiven”

Exaggerating devotion by expressing a desire to weave one's soul into the fabric of her garment.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

“Irulai pinniya kuzhalo / Iruvizhigal nilavin nizhalo”

Rhyming of the second syllable across consecutive lines for poetic rhythm (e.g., Irulai / Iruvizhigal).

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Semmeena Vinmeena' was composed by Deva and famously rendered by singer Hariharan for the movie Anantha Poongatre (1999). Lyricist Vairamuthu weaves literary references to historic poets Kamban and Kalidasa, alongside painter Raja Ravi Varma, to elevate the lyrical quality of the romance.

Keep listening

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