Semmeni Ponno
From Kizhakku Africavil Sheela · 1987
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- K. J. Jesudass, K. S. Chitra
- Music director
- Bappi Lahiri
- Details
- Kizhakku Africavil Sheela1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Idhu poovaa kaarkuzhalo minnidaiyaal | Is this a flower, dark tresses, or a waist like lightning? |
| Ila manatho siru vayathi pennazhagae | Is it a tender heart or the beauty of a young girl? |
| Male | |
| Semmaeni ponno…… | Is your fair body made of gold? |
| Female :Thaththaththaththaththaa | Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa |
| Male :Sevvaai thaenoottraa….. | Male: Is your red mouth a spring of honey? |
| Female :Chachchachchachchaa | Female: Chachchachchachchaa |
| Male :Semmeenthaan kannaa….. | Male: Are your eyes like red carp fish? |
| Female :Thaththaththaththaththaa | Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa |
| Male :Ammaa nee ponnaa…. | Male: My dear, are you made of gold? |
| Female :Pappappappappaa | Female: Pappappappappaa |
| Male | |
| Yaedhedho themmaango | Some random folk song |
| Ennaalum panpaadum kannae | My dear, my heart sings it every day |
| Female | |
| Pappaa….pappaa…thaththa thaththaa maammaa | Pappaa... pappaa... thaththa thaththaa maammaa |
| Male | |
| Semmaeni ponno…… | Is your fair body made of gold? |
| Female :Thaththaththaththaththaa | Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa |
| Male :Sevvaai thaenoottraa….. | Male: Is your red mouth a spring of honey? |
| Female :Chachchachchachchaa | Female: Chachchachchachchaa |
| Male :Semmeenthaan kannaa….. | Male: Are your eyes like red carp fish? |
| Female :Thaththaththaththaththaa | Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa |
| Male :Ammaa nee ponnaa…. | Male: My dear, are you made of gold? |
| Female :Pappappappappaa | Female: Pappappappappaa |
| Male | |
| {Ithu malaithaan | {This is a mountain |
| Female :Ma….malaithaan | Female: M... mountain |
| Male :Neer veezhchchi | Male: Waterfall |
| Female :Neer veezhchchi | Female: Waterfall |
| Male :Idhu aaru | Male: This is a river |
| Female :Aah…aaru | Female: Ah... river |
| Male :Aahaah…..idhu kaadu | Male: Aahaah... this is a forest |
| Female :Ka…..kaadu… | Female: F... forest... |
| Male :Naan raja…. | Male: I am a king... |
| Female :Ra….raja | Female: K... king |
| Male :Nee raani | Male: You are a queen |
| Female :Ra….raani | Female: Q... queen |
| Male :Aahaah} (2) | Male: Aahaah} (2) |
| Male | |
| Yaedhedho themmaango | Some random folk song |
| Ennaalum pannpaadum kannae kannae | My dear, my heart sings it every day, my dear |
| Female | |
| Pappaa….pappaa…thaththa thaththaa maammaa | Pappaa... pappaa... thaththa thaththaa maammaa |
| Male | |
| Semmaeni ponno…… | Is your fair body made of gold? |
| Female :Thaththaththaththaththaa | Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa |
| Male :Sevvaai thaenoottraa….. | Male: Is your red mouth a spring of honey? |
| Female :Chachchachchachchaa | Female: Chachchachchachchaa |
| Male :Semmeenthaan kannaa….. | Male: Are your eyes like red carp fish? |
| Female :Thaththaththaththaththaa | Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa |
| Male :Ammaa nee ponnaa…. | Male: My dear, are you made of gold? |
| Female :Pappappappappaa | Female: Pappappappappaa |
| Male | |
| {Idhu siruththai… | {This is a leopard... |
| Female :Si….Siruththai…. | Female: L... Leopard... |
| Male :Idhu karadi | Male: This is a bear |
| Female :Ka….karadi | Female: B... bear |
| Male :Idhu aanai | Male: This is an elephant |
| Female :Aa….aanai | Female: E... elephant |
| Male :Aahaah….idhu koranku…. | Male: Aahaah... this is a monkey... |
| Female :Ko….korangu | Female: M... monkey |
| Male :Idhu pulithaan | Male: This is a tiger |
| Female :Pu ….pulithaan | Female: T... tiger |
| Male :Naan ilaingan… | Male: I am a young man... |
| Female :Ii….ilaingan | Female: Y... young man |
| Male :Aahha} (2) | Male: Aahha} (2) |
| Female | |
| Pappaa….pappaa…thaththa thaththaa maammaa | Pappaa... pappaa... thaththa thaththaa maammaa |
| Male | |
| Semmaeni ponno…… | Is your fair body made of gold? |
| Female :Thaththaththaththaththaa | Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa |
| Male :Sevvaai thaenoottraa….. | Male: Is your red mouth a spring of honey? |
| Female :Chachchachchachchaa | Female: Chachchachchachchaa |
| Male :Semmeenthaan kannaa….. | Male: Are your eyes like red carp fish? |
| Female :Thaththaththaththaththaa | Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa |
| Male :Ammaa nee ponnaa…. | Male: My dear, are you made of gold? |
| Female :Pappappappappaa | Female: Pappappappappaa |
| Male | |
| Yaedhedho themmaango | Some random folk song |
| Ennaalum panpaadum kannae | My dear, my heart sings it every day |
| Female | |
| Pappaa….pappaa…thaththa thaththaa maammaa | Pappaa... pappaa... thaththa thaththaa maammaa |
| Female | |
| Lal laalaa lal laalaa lal laalaa | Lal laalaa lal laalaa lal laalaa |
| Pappaapa….aa aahaa….. | Pappaapa....aa aahaa..... |
இது பூவா கார்குழலோ மின்னிடையாள்
இள மனதோ சிறு வயதோ பெண்ணழகே....
Is this a flower, dark tresses, or a waist like lightning?
Is it a tender heart or the beauty of a young girl?
செம்மேனி பொன்னோ......
தத்தத்தத்தத்தா
செவ்வாய் தேனூற்றா....
சச்சச்சச்சா
செம்மீன்தான் கண்ணா....
தத்தத்தத்தத்தா
அம்மா நீ பெண்ணா...
பப்பப்பப்பப்பா
Is your fair body made of gold?
Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa
Male: Is your red mouth a spring of honey?
Female: Chachchachchachchaa
Male: Are your eyes like red carp fish?
Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa
Male: My dear, are you made of gold?
Female: Pappappappappaa
ஏதேதோ தெம்மாங்கோ
எந்நாளும் பண்பாடும் கண்ணே
Some random folk song
My dear, my heart sings it every day
பப்பா..பப்பா...தத்தா...தத்தா மாம்மா
Pappaa... pappaa... thaththa thaththaa maammaa
செம்மேனி பொன்னோ......
தத்தத்தத்தத்தா
செவ்வாய் தேனூற்றா....
சச்சச்சச்சா
செம்மீன்தான் கண்ணா....
தத்தத்தத்தத்தா
அம்மா நீ பெண்ணா...
பப்பப்பப்பப்பா
Is your fair body made of gold?
Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa
Male: Is your red mouth a spring of honey?
Female: Chachchachchachchaa
Male: Are your eyes like red carp fish?
Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa
Male: My dear, are you made of gold?
Female: Pappappappappaa
{இது மலைதான்.....
பெண் : ம....மலைதான்
நீர் வீழ்ச்சி......
நீர் வீழ்ச்சி
இது ஆறு......
ஆஹ்.....ஆறு....
ஆஹாஹ்...இது காடு.....
க.....காடு....
நான் ராஜா....
ர...ராஜா..
நீ ராணி....
ரா...ராணி.....
ஆஹாஹ்} (2)
{This is a mountain
Female: M... mountain
Male: Waterfall
Female: Waterfall
Male: This is a river
Female: Ah... river
Male: Aahaah... this is a forest
Female: F... forest...
Male: I am a king...
Female: K... king
Male: You are a queen
Female: Q... queen
Male: Aahaah} (2)
ஏதேதோ தெம்மாங்கோ
எந்நாளும் பண்பாடும் கண்ணே கண்ணே
Some random folk song
My dear, my heart sings it every day, my dear
பப்பா..பப்பா...தத்தா...தத்தா மாம்மா
Pappaa... pappaa... thaththa thaththaa maammaa
செம்மேனி பொன்னோ......
தத்தத்தத்தத்தா
செவ்வாய் தேனூற்றா....
சச்சச்சச்சா
செம்மீன்தான் கண்ணா....
தத்தத்தத்தத்தா
அம்மா நீ பெண்ணா...
பப்பப்பப்பப்பா
Is your fair body made of gold?
Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa
Male: Is your red mouth a spring of honey?
Female: Chachchachchachchaa
Male: Are your eyes like red carp fish?
Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa
Male: My dear, are you made of gold?
Female: Pappappappappaa
{இது சிறுத்தை......
சி......சிறுத்தை....
இது கரடி.......
க.....கரடி
இது ஆனை......
ஆ.....ஆனை.....
ஆஹாஹ்.....இது கொரங்கு.....
கொ...கொரங்கு
இது புலிதான்......
பு.....புலிதான்.....
நான் இளைஞன்......
இ....இளைஞன்.....
ஆஹ்ஹ} (2)
{This is a leopard...
Female: L... Leopard...
Male: This is a bear
Female: B... bear
Male: This is an elephant
Female: E... elephant
Male: Aahaah... this is a monkey...
Female: M... monkey
Male: This is a tiger
Female: T... tiger
Male: I am a young man...
Female: Y... young man
Male: Aahha} (2)
ஏதேதோ தெம்மாங்கோ
எந்நாளும் பண்பாடும் கண்ணே கண்ணே
Pappaa... pappaa... thaththa thaththaa maammaa
பப்பா...பப்பா...தத்தா...தத்தா மாம்மா
Is your fair body made of gold?
Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa
Male: Is your red mouth a spring of honey?
Female: Chachchachchachchaa
Male: Are your eyes like red carp fish?
Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa
Male: My dear, are you made of gold?
Female: Pappappappappaa
செம்மேனி பொன்னோ......
தத்தத்தத்தத்தா
செவ்வாய் தேனூற்றா....
சச்சச்சச்சா
செம்மீன்தான் கண்ணா....
தத்தத்தத்தத்தா
அம்மா நீ பெண்ணா...
பப்பப்பப்பப்பா
Some random folk song
My dear, my heart sings it every day
ஏதேதோ தெம்மாங்கோ
எந்நாளும் பண்பாடும் கண்ணே கண்ணே
Pappaa... pappaa... thaththa thaththaa maammaa
பப்பா..பப்பா...தத்தா...தத்தா மாம்மா
Lal laalaa lal laalaa lal laalaa
Pappaapa....aa aahaa.....
லல் லாலா லல் லாலா லல் லாலா
பப்பாப.......அ ஆஹா.......
Idhu poovaa kaarkuzhalo minnidaiyaal
Is this a flower, dark tresses, or a waist like lightning?
Ila manatho siru vayathi pennazhagae
Is it a tender heart or the beauty of a young girl?
Semmaeni ponno……
Is your fair body made of gold?
Female :Thaththaththaththaththaa
Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa
Male :Sevvaai thaenoottraa…..
Male: Is your red mouth a spring of honey?
Female :Chachchachchachchaa
Female: Chachchachchachchaa
Male :Semmeenthaan kannaa…..
Male: Are your eyes like red carp fish?
Female :Thaththaththaththaththaa
Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa
Male :Ammaa nee ponnaa….
Male: My dear, are you made of gold?
Female :Pappappappappaa
Female: Pappappappappaa
Yaedhedho themmaango
Some random folk song
Ennaalum panpaadum kannae
My dear, my heart sings it every day
Pappaa….pappaa…thaththa thaththaa maammaa
Pappaa... pappaa... thaththa thaththaa maammaa
Semmaeni ponno……
Is your fair body made of gold?
Female :Thaththaththaththaththaa
Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa
Male :Sevvaai thaenoottraa…..
Male: Is your red mouth a spring of honey?
Female :Chachchachchachchaa
Female: Chachchachchachchaa
Male :Semmeenthaan kannaa…..
Male: Are your eyes like red carp fish?
Female :Thaththaththaththaththaa
Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa
Male :Ammaa nee ponnaa….
Male: My dear, are you made of gold?
Female :Pappappappappaa
Female: Pappappappappaa
{Ithu malaithaan
{This is a mountain
Female :Ma….malaithaan
Female: M... mountain
Male :Neer veezhchchi
Male: Waterfall
Female :Neer veezhchchi
Female: Waterfall
Male :Idhu aaru
Male: This is a river
Female :Aah…aaru
Female: Ah... river
Male :Aahaah…..idhu kaadu
Male: Aahaah... this is a forest
Female :Ka…..kaadu…
Female: F... forest...
Male :Naan raja….
Male: I am a king...
Female :Ra….raja
Female: K... king
Male :Nee raani
Male: You are a queen
Female :Ra….raani
Female: Q... queen
Male :Aahaah} (2)
Male: Aahaah} (2)
Yaedhedho themmaango
Some random folk song
Ennaalum pannpaadum kannae kannae
My dear, my heart sings it every day, my dear
Pappaa….pappaa…thaththa thaththaa maammaa
Pappaa... pappaa... thaththa thaththaa maammaa
Semmaeni ponno……
Is your fair body made of gold?
Female :Thaththaththaththaththaa
Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa
Male :Sevvaai thaenoottraa…..
Male: Is your red mouth a spring of honey?
Female :Chachchachchachchaa
Female: Chachchachchachchaa
Male :Semmeenthaan kannaa…..
Male: Are your eyes like red carp fish?
Female :Thaththaththaththaththaa
Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa
Male :Ammaa nee ponnaa….
Male: My dear, are you made of gold?
Female :Pappappappappaa
Female: Pappappappappaa
{Idhu siruththai…
{This is a leopard...
Female :Si….Siruththai….
Female: L... Leopard...
Male :Idhu karadi
Male: This is a bear
Female :Ka….karadi
Female: B... bear
Male :Idhu aanai
Male: This is an elephant
Female :Aa….aanai
Female: E... elephant
Male :Aahaah….idhu koranku….
Male: Aahaah... this is a monkey...
Female :Ko….korangu
Female: M... monkey
Male :Idhu pulithaan
Male: This is a tiger
Female :Pu ….pulithaan
Female: T... tiger
Male :Naan ilaingan…
Male: I am a young man...
Female :Ii….ilaingan
Female: Y... young man
Male :Aahha} (2)
Male: Aahha} (2)
Pappaa….pappaa…thaththa thaththaa maammaa
Pappaa... pappaa... thaththa thaththaa maammaa
Semmaeni ponno……
Is your fair body made of gold?
Female :Thaththaththaththaththaa
Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa
Male :Sevvaai thaenoottraa…..
Male: Is your red mouth a spring of honey?
Female :Chachchachchachchaa
Female: Chachchachchachchaa
Male :Semmeenthaan kannaa…..
Male: Are your eyes like red carp fish?
Female :Thaththaththaththaththaa
Female: Thaththaththaththaththaa
Male :Ammaa nee ponnaa….
Male: My dear, are you made of gold?
Female :Pappappappappaa
Female: Pappappappappaa
Yaedhedho themmaango
Some random folk song
Ennaalum panpaadum kannae
My dear, my heart sings it every day
Pappaa….pappaa…thaththa thaththaa maammaa
Pappaa... pappaa... thaththa thaththaa maammaa
Lal laalaa lal laalaa lal laalaa
Lal laalaa lal laalaa lal laalaa
Pappaapa….aa aahaa…..
Pappaapa....aa aahaa.....
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful track from Kizhakku Africavil Sheela (1987) depicts an interactive duet in a wild, jungle setting. The male protagonist admires the physical beauty of his jungle-dwelling companion, comparing her traits to natural wonders like gold, honey, and fish, while playfully teaching her Tamil words for landscape features (mountains, rivers, waterfalls, forests) and wild animals (leopard, bear, elephant, monkey, tiger). The song blends folk melody rhythms (Themmaangu) with rhythmic vocal scats, echoing the innocent bond between the characters.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagom)
“Sevvaai thaenoottraa”
Compares her red lips to a flowing spring of honey.
Metaphor (Uruvagom)
“Semmeenthaan kannaa”
Compares her bright eyes to vibrant red carp fish.
Initial Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai)
“Semmaeni ponno / Sevvaai thaenoottraa / Semmeenthaan kannaa”
Repetition of the 'Se' sound at the start of consecutive lines creates a rhythmic melodic effect.
Onomatopoeia / Scatting
“Thaththaththaththaththaa / Pappappappappaa”
Rhythmic gibberish and vocal sounds used to emulate primitive or childlike communication in the jungle.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kizhakku Africavil Sheela (1987) is a Tamil action-adventure film based on the popular Sheena, Queen of the Jungle motif. The soundtrack was composed by Bappi Lahiri with lyrics written by Vaali, bringing a distinctive pop-and-jungle hybrid musical style to Tamil cinema.
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